Secretariat is the winner of the virtual Kentucky Derby
Secretariat won a virtual Kentucky Derby against 12 fellow Triple Crown winners, 47 years after the chestnut colt won the real race at Churchill Downs.
The 1¼-mile race featuring computergenerated imagery was held Saturday, the same day the 146th Derby had been scheduled until it was postponed by the coronavirus pandemic. The Derby has been reset for Sept. 5.
Secretariat was the 7-2 favorite, although there was no wagering. Instead, fans selecting the winning horse online were entered to win a VIP experience at the Derby this fall. Churchill Downs pledged to match $1 million in fan donations to COVID-19 relief.
The virtual Derby was part of NBC’S threehour telecast that re-showed portions of the 2015 coverage in which American Pharoah won on his way to becoming racing’s first Triple Crown champion in 37 years.
A virtual Seattle Slew, who won the 1977 Triple Crown, led much of the way until being overtaken in the stretch.
Citation, the 1948 Triple Crown champion, finished second. Seattle Slew was third. Affirmed, the 1978 champion, was fourth, followed by American Pharoah. BAFFERT SWEEPS ARKANSAS DERBY >> Charlatan romped to victory by six lengths in the first division of the Arkansas Derby and Nadal won the second division, giving Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert a sweep in Hot Springs, Ark.
Twenty 3-year-olds ran in two divisions at Oaklawn, each worth $500,000. Each race was worth 170 qualifying points for the Kentucky Derby, including 100 to the winners. It was the first time since 1960 that the race was split.
Charlatan improved to 3-0 after not racing at age 2. His first two wins by a combined 16 lengths came at Santa Anita, where the colt is based. Charlatan was timed in 1:48.49. Nadal, named for tennis star Rafael Nadal, won his division in 1:48.34. He is 4-0 in his young career.
Powerlifting
ACTOR BREAKS WORLD RECORD >> The Mountain is at the top of the deadlift world.
“Game of Thrones” actor Hafthor Bjornsson, who played Gregor “The Mountain” Clegane in the HBO series, set a deadlift world record by lifting 1,104 pounds in Kopavogur, Iceland.
Bjornsson, the 2018 World’s Strongest Man, made the successful attempt at Thor’s Power Gym in his native Iceland.
Eddie Hall set the previous record in 2016 at the World Deadlift Championships, with the Englishman lifting 1,102 pounds.
NFL
BEARS DECLINE OPTION ON TRUBISKY >> The Chicago Bears declined their fifth-year option for quarterback Mitchell Trubisky for the 2021 season, multiple sources reported.
The move is hardly a surprise considering the way Trubisky struggled in his third season since the Bears drafted him with the No. 2 overall pick. His yards (3,138), completion rate (63.2%) and touchdowns (17) all dropped from the previous year.
The Bears acquired 2018 Super Bowl MVP Nick Foles from Jacksonville in March and plan to hold an open competition for the starting job.
General manager Ryan Pace largely staked his reputation to Trubisky when he traded up a spot with the 49ers to draft him ahead of Kansas City’s Patrick Mahomes and Houston’s Deshaun Watson. CHARLTON TO CHIEFS >> The Chiefs agreed to a contract with defensive end Taco Charlton, adding a 2017 first-round pick who flamed out in Dallas and Miami.