Triple Crown champion Justify retired from racing
DEL MAR, Calif. — Triple Crown winner Justify was retired from racing Wednesday because of fluid in his left front ankle.
Trainer Bob Baffert and Justify’s owners said caution over the horse’s ankle condition made it impossible to tell if he’d be healthy enough to race by the fall.
“He is just not responding quick enough for a fall campaign,” Baffert said. “We all wanted to see Justify run again, but ultimately it is my responsibility to make sure he is perfect. Without 60-90 days, I can’t be definite.”
The goal was for Justify to run in a major race this summer, likely the Travers Stakes at Saratoga, and be pointed toward the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic on Nov. 3 at Churchill Downs. Instead, he was taken out of training earlier this month because of swelling in his ankle.
“The timing is bad for another start in 2018, and therefore, we have to retire him,” said Elliott Walden of WinStar Farm, which co-owns Justify.
Justify won all six career starts, becoming the first horse since Apollo in 1882 to capture the Kentucky Derby after not racing as a 2-year-old. He won the Preakness and Belmont Stakes to become the 13th Triple Crown winner and second in the past four years after American Pharoah.
Skeeters blank New Britain 7-0
Konnor Wade and two relievers combined on an eight-hit shutout as Sugar Land won 7-0 at New Britain, Conn., in an Atlantic League game Wednesday.
Wade went six innings, allowing seven hits and no walks. Barrett Barnes and Matt Chavez homered for the Skeeters.
Ledecky cruises; Manuel sets mark
Katie Ledecky cruised to a nearly 11-second victory in the 800-meter freestyle on the opening night of the U.S. national championships at Irvine, Calif.
Ledecky was under her own world-record pace through the first 300 meters before dropping off and finishing in 8 minutes, 11.98 seconds.
Ledecky earned the 14th national title of her career.
Defending world and Olympic champion Simone Manuel won the 100 freestyle in 52.54 seconds, setting a U.S. Open record.
Teen signs for MLS record fee
Bayern Munich has agreed to sign Canadian teenage forward Alphonso Davies from the Vancouver Whitecaps for up to over $22 million, a record for a Major League Soccer player. The Bundesliga champion says the 17-year-old Davies will join the team on Jan. 1 and his contract will run through June 2023.
Wild, Zucker agree to terms
The Minnesota Wild have agreed to terms with left wing Jason Zucker on a five-year, $27.5 million contract.
The 26-year-old had 33 goals and 31 assists in 82 games while leading the team with seven gamewinning goals and 54 takeaways last season, all career highs. Zucker will carry a $5.5 million annual salary cap hit through the 2022-23 season. In other news:
Dallas Stars forward Mattias Janmark signed a $2.3 million contract for the 2018-19 season. Janmark was a restricted free agent before the deal was announced by the team.
After missing all of 2016-17 because of a preseason knee injury, the 25-year-old Swede played 81 games last season for the Stars. He had 19 goals and 15 assists, including two shorthanded goals and four game-winning goals.
The Nashville Predators signed defenseman Dan Hamhuis to a twoyear contract worth a total of $2.5 million.
Hamhuis’ contract will pay him $1.5 million during the 2018-19 season and $1 million in 2019-20.
The Vancouver Canucks signed forward Jake Virtanen to a twoyear deal with an average annual value of $1.25 million. The 21-year-old had 10 goals and 10 assists in 75 games for the Canucks in 2017-18.