Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan to run in Preakness
NFL rookies call off $10K bet amid gambling policy concerns
ASHBURN, Va. – Two of the top picks in the NFL draft had some scratch on who would receive more votes for Offensive Rookie of the Year.
But since one of the two former LSU teammates made the wager public, both Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels and New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers said Friday during their respective rookie minicamps the bet had been canceled, citing that they were previously “uneducated” on the NFL’s gambling policy.
“We were uneducated on the gambling policy in the NFL. We learned about it last night,” Daniels said.
Nabers went on “The Pivot” podcast and first spilled the beans about the $10,000 wager. Former NFL wideout Keyshawn Johnson followed up with Daniels when the quarterback appeared on his podcast, “All Facts No Brakes.”
“He wasn’t supposed to tell anybody,” Daniels, who confirmed the bet amount, told Johnson. “We got a little something going on.”
Nabers and Daniels spoke Thursday night and called off the deal, Daniels
Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan will run in the Preakness Stakes to continue his pursuit of the Triple Crown, his trainer announced Saturday.
“All systems go,” trainer Kenny McPeek said. “The horse is doing fantastic.”
The Preakness Stakes is scheduled for Saturday, May 18 at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore.
McPeek said he consulted with the horse’s owners because of the short turnaround between the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness.
Mystik Dan won a thrilling Kentucky Derby, beating Sierra Leone and Forever Young after securing a spot on the rail to win the 1 1/4-mile race. Officials had to go to photos to determine the winner.
The Preakness recently upped the incentives for horses to run in the race, increasing the purse to $2 million from $1.5 million in 2023 after last year’s Kentucky Derby winner Mage was the only horse to compete in the first two legs of the Triple Crown.
Nadal unclear on French Open participation after Rome exit
ROME – Rafael Nadal said he was still in two minds about whether he will play in the French Open starting this month after he was eliminated from the Italian Open in straight sets by seventh seed Hubert Hurkacz on Saturday.
Poland’s Hurkacz beat Nadal 6-1 6-3 in the second round to end the Spaniard’s run at the tournament he has won a record 10 times, his last title coming in 2021.
Nadal had come through a three-set win over Zizou Bergs on Thursday but was broken four times by Hurkacz before he bowed out in 93 minutes.
The 37-year-old Spaniard, who has said he expects to retire after this season, spent most of last year nursing a hip issue that required surgery, before a muscle tear in Brisbane stalled his comeback in January.
Nadal has won the French Open a record 14 times but competing at his favourite Grand Slam is still not certain for the 22-times Grand Slam winner.
“You can see today on the court how difficult is,” Nadal told reporters.
Mariners RHP Brash undergoes Tommy John surgery
Seattle Mariners right-hander Matt Brash underwent Tommy John surgery on Wednesday and will be sidelined for at least part of the 2025 season, general manager Justin Hollander told reporters prior to Friday’s home game against the Oakland Athletics.
Hollander said the UCL was repaired and a brace was installed in Brash’s pitching arm.
“We anticipate 12 months and back at it, so hopefully June of next year he’ll be back and ready to go,” Hollander said. “This is a tough one. Usually I don’t give more detail than the injury.”
Brash, who turns 26 on Sunday, led the majors with 78 appearances last season and went 9-4 with four saves and a 3.06 ERA.
“What he did last year was unbelievable how many times he came through for us,” Hollander said. “… (He) was rapidly turning himself into one of the best relievers in the American League. To have the season go away like this stinks for him and stinks for us.”
– Wire reports