Breeders’ Cup offers intrigue
LEXINGTON, Ky. — This year’s Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing unfolded over 3 1/2 months instead of six weeks and shuffled the marquee Kentucky Derby from its traditional first Saturday in May to Labor Day weekend — as the middle jewel. Numerous tracks canceled meets, some returned with abbreviated schedules and many cards went off without the noise of spectators, demonstrating the coronavirus pandemic’s impact on horse racing that continues to this day. While it has made for a strange year and compacted path to this weekend’s $31 million Breeders’ Cup world championships at Keeneland, the 14 races set for today and Saturday at the picturesque track will provide some relief after a season of upheaval. “It’s certainly getting back to normal in a feel way,” trainer Ken McPeek said this week. “It’ll be exciting to get fans back in. I know that a lot of them miss it, but I also know that a lot of them are watching real close. The sport’s done a good job staying out there in the limelight to some extent.” High-quality competition helps, and once again this weekend could determine the Eclipse Award favorites as the year’s best in several divisions. Saturday’s marquee $6 million Classic highlights the depth with a rematch between Belmont Stakes champion
Tiz the Law and Kentucky Derby winner Authentic, the Bob Baffert- trained horse that went wire to wire and beat the race favorite by 1 1/4 lengths at Churchill Downs in Louisville. Still, both 3-year-olds are listed as betting choices below veterans and Baffert stablemates Improbable (5-2) and
Maximum Security (7-2), which crossed the finish line first in the 2019 Kentucky Derby before becoming the first horse in 145 years to be disqualified for interference. The Classic nearly had all three Triple Crown race winners before filly and Preakness winner Swiss Skydiver opted to compete against her own gender in the $2 million Distaff. She’s the 2-1 second choice behind
Monomoy Girl ( 8-5), the top 3-year- old filly in 2018, when she won the Distaff.
GOLF
› HOUSTON — Brandt Snedeker found a lot of fairways and greens at difficult Memorial Park, top- ranked Dustin Johnson returned from the coronavirus and fans were back, too, Thursday at the Houston Open. Snedeker shot a 5-under 65 to take a two- stroke lead over six players in the last event before the Masters. He’s one of 37 players in the field this week set to compete next week at Augusta National, which will host what is typically the year’s first major championship seven months later than usual. The Houston Open is limiting ticket sales to 2,000 a day, but it’s the first domestic PGA Tour event to have fans since March. Johnson was tied for 63rd after he shot a 72 in his return after a positive virus test kept him out of two events he planned to play in October. Luke List ( 71) was tied for 44th, and fellow Baylor School graduate Keith Mitchell ( 78) was 124th.
FOOTBALL ›
FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — Atlanta Falcons receiver Calvin Ridley missed practice for the second straight day because of a foot injury. Ridley was hurt early in the second quarter of the team’s 25-17 NFC South road win against the Carolina Panthers on Oct. 29 and hasn’t practiced since. He leads the Falcons this season with 43 catches for 657 yards and six touchdowns. Also, defensive end Dante Fowler Jr. hasn’t been able to practice this week because of a hamstring injury, and defensive end Takk McKinley has been held out with a groin injury. Cornerback Kendall Sheffield was a full participant Thursday after being limited the day before with a concussion and a wrist injury, and receiver Russell Gage was limited with shoulder and knee injuries. Atlanta (2-6) is set to host the Denver Broncos (3-4) on Sunday.