Quick Hitters
Always Dreaming, Classic Empire are neighbors in Preakness
BALTIMORE — The two best horses in the Preakness will be eyeball to eyeball coming out of the starting gate. There’s no avoiding each other for Kentucky Derby winner Always Dreaming and rival Classic Empire.
Always Dreaming is the early 4-5 favorite for the race Saturday at Pimlico, where he’ll break from the No. 4 post. Classic Dreaming is the 3-1 second choice and will be right next door in the No. 5 hole.
“Hopefully, they both have good trips, break good and it could be interesting,” said Mark Casse, who trains Classic Empire. “They could go at it right from the start.”
Four of Always Dreaming’s rivals are back to take him on in the second leg of the Triple Crown. Altogether, he’ll face nine other horses in the 1 3/16-mile race worth $1.5 million.
Thirteen winners have started from the No. 4 post, most recently Curlin in 2007.
“It’s fine,” said Todd Pletcher, noting that Always Dreaming had the No. 4 post in the Florida Derby and No. 5 in the Kentucky Derby, two of his four victories this year. “He’s usually a very good horse coming away from the gate.”
Post positions were drawn Wednesday on a steamy, unseasonable 92-degree day.
Cowboys RB McFadden files 2nd lawsuit over finances
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Dallas Cowboys running back Darren McFadden has filed a second lawsuit in Arkansas over the management of his finances.
The former University of Arkansas football standout initially filed a lawsuit in June against Michael Vick, a family friend who served as McFadden’s business manager and financial adviser. McFadden alleges Vick misappropriated millions of dollars and mishandled his duties.
McFadden filed a lawsuit Friday in Little Rock against Ameriprise Financial Services Inc., the company Vick worked for when he managed McFadden’s finances, the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reported.
The suit alleges the company was negligent and actively concealed Vick’s actions as he “manipulated” McFadden at a young age to seize control over his professional income, assets and retirement savings.
Vick has denied all allegations. The first lawsuit is scheduled for trial in April 2018.
The second lawsuit accuses Ameriprise with allowing Vick to persuade McFadden, when he was just 20 years old, “to sign virtually the broadest and most sweeping Arkansas General Durable Power of Attorney contemplated, relinquishing to Vick the unfettered power and ability to control all of McFadden’s income and financial transactions.”