Eclipse Awards finalists revealed
Southern California’s grip on horse racing’s Eclipse Awards continues to wane with only three horses and one person among the 16 groups of finalists announced Saturday. Though the number is small, the region does have the entry that should easily win the most important award, horse of the year.
Flightline, trained by John Sadler and undefeated in six races over two years, including big wins in the Pacific Classic and Breeders’ Cup Classic, should win horse of the year and is a finalist in Older Dirt Male. Finalists for horse of the year were not announced.
Other Santa Anita- and Del Mar-based horses are Taiba and Cave Rock, both trained by Bob Baffert. Flavien Prat, who rides part of the year in Southern California and has a home near Santa Anita, is a finalist for jockey of the year.
— John Cherwa
Doctors describe Damar Hamlin’s neurological function as “excellent,” and the Buffalo Bills safety continues to breathe on his own but remains in critical condition at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center . ... Baltimore waived veteran wide receiver DeSean Jackson the day before their regular-season finale at Cincinnati and elevated quarterback Brett Hundley from the practice squad.
Florida State standout defensive end Jared Verse, a projected first-round NFL draft pick, is staying for another season.
Novak Djokovic beat
Daniil Medvedev 6-3, 6-4 to advance to the Adelaide International final despite sustaining a leg injury during the match. Djokovic will play
Sebastian Korda in Sunday’s final. Teenage qualifier
Linda Noskova advanced to the women’s final by beating top-seeded Ons Jabeur, 6-3, 1-6, 6-3. Noskova will take on
Aryna Sabalenka. ... Twotime champion Naomi Osaka confirmed she will not play at the Australian Open . ... Italy will play the U.S. in Sunday’s final of the inaugural United Cup.
The Philadelphia Phillies acquired reliever Gregory Soto and utility player Kody Clemens from Detroit for infielder
Nick Maton, outfielder
Matt Vierling and
Donny Sands.
Former Mt. San Antonio College coach Don Ruh, a prominent figure at the school and in the track and field community for almost six decades, died at 90.
Kaillie Humphries
of the U.S. remained in the World Cup monobob season points lead after finishing second in 2023’s first race . ... Mikaela Shiffrin’s tie for sixth in a giant slalom race ended a fiverace win streak and left her with 81 career wins, one shy of Lindsey Vonn’s record . ... USA Luge got its fifth World Cup medal this season with the women’s doubles team of Chevonne Forgan and Kirkby winning silver.