Injury ends Afleet Alex’s career
ELS, WITH 72, RETURNS TO COMPETITIVE GOLF
Afleet Alex’s recovery to win the Preakness after nearly crumpling to the dirt was a dazzling highlight in the colt’s career. The frightening collision also may have played a role in the horse’s early retirement.
Afleet Alex was retired Thursday because of a new injury discovered before the horse was shipped to Gulfstream Park in Florida this week. Another ankle injury had already sidelined Afleet Alex since his June 11 victory in the Belmont.
‘‘This injury probably started with that Preakness and, unfortunately, it’s been something we haven’t seen,’’ trainer Tim Ritchey said. ‘‘It’s going to take too long to heal, and he has to go on to another career where he’ll be safe and happy.’’
Afleet Alex retires with eight wins in 12 starts and earnings of $2,765,800 for the Cash Is King Stable, and he nearly became the sport’s 12th Triple Crown winner.
He finished third in the Kentucky Derby by a length, won the Preakness after nearly being knocked down by Scrappy T in the turn for home and won the Belmont by seven lengths.
Golf
Ernie Els, returning to competitive golf 4½ months after injuring his left knee in a boating accident, shot a par 72 in the Sunshine Tour’s Nedbank Challenge in Sun City, South Africa. ‘‘It felt like my first round back,’’ Els said. ‘‘I hit some funny shots, but my knee stood up very well.’’
Darren Clarke, after a 67, holds a one-shot lead over Jim Furyk.
■ In Winter Garden, Fla., Michael Allen shot a 4-under 68 to build a six-shot lead after two rounds of PGA Tour qualifying. The top 30 finishers and ties in the sixround event earn PGA Tour cards for 2006.
‘‘It’s nice to have played so well up to this point, but with four days left, the tournament hasn’t even started yet,’’ Allen said. ‘‘But if I could pick up another six or seven strokes on the field over the next two days, then even I might be comfortable.’’
■ In Daytona Beach, Fla., Ai Miyazato fired a 3-under 69 to build a three-shot lead over Lee Ann Walker-Cooper after two rounds of the five-round LPGA Tour qualifying tournament.
Miyazato, a six-time winner on the Japan LPGA this year, is at 9-under 135.
Morgan Pressel, 17, who shared the lead with Miyazato after the first round, started with a bogey and a double bogey and wound up with a 75. That left her tied for third with May Wood (73) and Nina Reis (70).
The top 24 finishers will earn LPGA Tour cards for next year.
Team USA will face Japan on Feb. 10 at SBC Park as both soccer teams continue preparations for next summer’s World Cup in Germany. It will be the first appearance for the U.S. team in San Francisco in 26 years.
The World Cup draw to determine group pairings for the 32 qualifiers is Dec. 9 in Leipzig, Germany.
■ In Beaver Creek, Colo., U.S.
star Bode Miller was one of 17 skiers who failed to finish a World Cup super-G race. Austria’s Hannes Reichelt — overcoming falling snow and 50 mph wind gusts — won with a two-run time of 1:17.33 seconds. American Daron Rahlves was fifth.
Miscellany
Golf scores, skiing results in Scoreboard, Page 15C.