‘Brilliant’ race by Flightline
Unbeaten Flightline posted another dominating run, overtaking Life Is Good entering the top of the stretch and pulling away to an 8¼-length victory in the $6 million Breeders’ Cup Classic on Saturday at Keeneland in Lexington, Kentucky, and all but locking up honors as Horse of the Year.
“Brilliant is his normal,” trainer John Sadler said. “He didn’t disappoint, and never has.”
The 4-year-old bay colt improved to 6-0 lifetime after the Grade 1 victory. Ridden by Flavien Part, Flightline covered the 1¼ mile in 2:00.05.
Filly Malathaat provided day’s most exciting finish by winning the $2 million Distaff by a nose over Stripe and Clairiere and in a three-wide photo.
TENNIS
Djokovic nips Tsitsipas in Paris Masters semi
Novak Djokovic edged Stefanos Tsitsipas in an entertaining semifinal 6-2, 3-6, 7-6 (4) to stay on track for a record-extending seventh Paris Masters title. In the final, Djokovic will face unseeded Danish teenager Holger Rune, who downed eighth-seeded Felix Auger-Aliassime 6-4, 6-2.
♦ Top-ranked Carlos Alcaraz will miss the rest of the season, including the ATP Finals and the Davis Cup Finals, with an abdominal muscle tear.
MISCELLANEOUS
Wolves split weekend series with Monsters
A third-period comeback against the Monsters fell short during a 4-2 loss by the Wolves, who settled for a split of the weekend series in Cleveland. Jamieson Rees and Nathan Sucese scored for the Wolves (3-4-1-0). Emil Bemstrom paced the Monsters (5-50-0) with two goals and an assist.
♦ Alex Ovechkin scored his 787th career goal to break Gordie Howe’s record for scoring with one team, but the Coyotes scored three times in the third period to rally for a 3-2 victory over the host Capitals.
♦ Russell Henley rolled in a 25-foot birdie putt on his first hole and never really let up until he had a 6-under 65 that doubled the size of his lead to six shots in the World Wide Technology at Mayakoba in Playa Del Carmen, Mexico.
♦ Bernhard Langer carded a 9-under 63, giving him a one-shot lead over Paul Goydos in the PGA Tour Champions TimberTech Championship in Boca Raton, Florida.
♦ Gareth Bale tied it at 3 on a header in the eighth minute of extra-time stoppage time, goalkeeper John McCarthy stopped two shots in the shootout, and host Los Angeles FC beat the Philadelphia Union 3-0 on penalty kicks to claim its first MLS Cup.
♦ Ty Gibbs took the lead with 21 laps left and held off rival Noah Gragson for his first NASCAR Xfinity Series championship at Phoenix Raceway.