Judge denies request for Baffert-trained Muth to run in Kentucky Derby
LOUISVILLE, KY. » A judge has denied a request by the owner of Bob Baffert-trained Arkansas Derby winner Muth for the colt to run in next month’s 150th Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs.
Jefferson County Circuit Judge Mitch Perry declined Thursday to grant a temporary injunction to Zedan Racing Stables, which had argued that the ban of Baffert was “illegal.”
Muth won the Arkansas Derby on March 30 but is ineligible to receive the 100 points that would have put him in the Run for the Roses because of Baffert’s suspension. ZRS sued Churchill Downs days later.
In his ruling, Perry expressed concern about “innocent third parties” having to remove eligible horses from the Derby on May 4 to accommodate the horse trained by the Hall of Famer, whose suspension by Churchill Downs was extended through 2024.
Eric Andrus, a spokesman for ZRS, said an emergency appeal would be filed “as soon as possible.”
UConn’s Karaban declares for draft
STORRS, CONN. » UConn forward Alex Karaban announced Thursday that he has declared for the NBA draft while retaining his college eligibility.
Karaban made the announcement on social media, saying his experience at UConn “has exceeded my expectations.”
The 6-foot-8 sophomore averaged 13.3 points and 5.1 rebounds this season, helping UConn to its second straight NCAA title.
He joins 7-2 center Donovan Clingan in declaring for the draft.
Paris Olympics opening ceremony will last nearly 4 hours
PARIS » With sunset and moonlight gleaming on the river, the grandiose opening ceremony for the Paris Olympics will last nearly four hours.
A total of 205 delegations will parade on more than 80 boats on the Seine. The ceremony will drift slowly from east to west, bridge to bridge, snaking 3.7 miles from Pont d’Austerlitz to Pont d’Iéna.
Proceedings begin at 3:45 p.m. and finish at 11:15 p.m. local time with artistic performances preceding the athletes’ parade.
The athletes will motor past about 320,000 fans wedged in behind security cordons on upper and lower tiers on the embankments. Others will gaze at giant screens beaming images of the ambitious ceremony.
AJ Storr is transferring to Kansas after leading Wisconsin in scoring this past season.
Storr said Thursday in a social media post that he was making this decision “with great excitement and humility.” Later Thursday, Kansas announced the additions of Storr and former South Dakota State guard Zeke Mayo.
It was a busy day for transfer news involving Wisconsin, as Badgers point guard Chucky Hepburn announced on social media that he also was entering the portal. Tennessee announced the signing of Hofstra transfer guard Darlinstone Dubar.
Storr, who is 6-foot-7, averaged 16.8 points and 3.9 rebounds for Wisconsin this past season while helping the Badgers go 22-14. Wisconsin earned a No. 5 seed in the NCAA Tournament, but lost 72-61 to James Madison in the opening round.
Palestinian soccer renews call for sanctions against Israel
GENEVA » Calls for action against Israel in international soccer because of the conflict with Hamas will be stepped up by Palestinian officials at the annual FIFA congress next month.
The Palestine Football Association proposal to 211 member federations in Thailand calls for “appropriate sanctions, with immediate effect, against Israeli teams,” according to FIFA documents released late Wednesday, one month before the May 17 meeting.
The motion notes “international law violations committed by the Israeli occupation in Palestine, particularly in Gaza” and cites FIFA statutory commitments on human rights and against discrimination.
Vu withdraws with back injury
THE WOODLANDS, TEXAS » Defending champion and world No. 2 Lilia Vu withdrew from the Chevron Championship on Thursday before the first round because of a back injury.
She issued a statement on Instagram saying she had “severe discomfort” in her back during warmups Thursday to force her withdrawal.
“I have been dealing with a back injury for a while now,” she said in the statement. “Some days are better than others, and today was unfortunately not a good day. During my normal warmup routine, I had severe discomfort in my back and I felt that I could not compete up to my standards and made the decision to withdraw from the tournament ahead of my tee time.”