Pletcher considering his filly for Belmont
Trainer Todd Pletcher will decide today whether to run his fabulous filly Rags to Riches in the Belmont Stakes.
The nation’s top trainer, still seeking his first win in a Triple Crown race, also could enter Circular Quay, who ran sixth in the Kentucky Derby and fifth in the Preakness.
“I’m not going to make any decision until I look at the horses tomorrow,” Pletcher said Sunday at Belmont after Rags to Riches put in a five-furlong workout in 1:03.84. “She’s in very good form.”
The addition of the filly would certainly spice up a Belmont without a Triple Crown on the line and Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense in the field.
She would be the first filly in eight years and 22nd ever to take on the boys in the 1 1/2 -mile Belmont, the longest and most grueling of the Triple Crown races.
As of Sunday, the field for Saturday’s $1 million Belmont stood at six: Preakness winner Curlin, Derby runner-up Hard Spun, Imawildandcrazyguy, Slew’s Tizzy, Tiago and late addition Digger.
Cycling
Di Luca wins Giro
Italian cycling needed a new star after 2006 Giro d’Italia champion Ivan Basso acknowledged his involvement in a blood-doping scandal.
It got one Sunday when Danilo Di Luca won the 90th edition of the prestigious race, at Milan, Italy.
Di Luca, who rides for Liquigas, completed the 2,166-mile, 21-stage race in 92 hours, 59 minutes, 39 seconds. It was his first win in a major race and 42nd career victory.
Andy Schleck was 1:55 behind, followed by Eddy Mazzoleni in third, 2:25 off the lead.
“I’m not sure it’s all down to me, but this Giro has certainly given a strong signal that cycling is still loved,” Di Luca said. “Before the Giro I thought I could win, but certainly not in this way. Today, I crowned a dream.”
Alessandro Petacchi won the 115-mile final leg from Vestone in a sprint finish in 5 hours, 18 minutes, 54 seconds.
Miscellany
12 soccer fans crushed
At least 12 soccer fans were crushed to death as a crowd rushed from the stadium after Zambia’s victory in an African Cup qualifier at Lusaka, Zambia, official media said.
Fans were in a hurry to leave because the match against Republic of Congo, which Zambia won 3-0, started an hour late – the Sudanese referee arrived only three hours before kickoff, the state-owned Sunday Times reported.
•At Valencia, Spain, Emirates Team New Zealand relied on superior speed to beat Luna Rossa and extend its lead to 3-0 in the Louis Vuitton Cup sailing final.
The fourth flight of racing resumes Tuesday.
•At San Diego, Kenyan Daniel Yego pulled away from the lead pack just after the mile 19 marker and ran away with the Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon, finishing in 2 hours, 9 minutes, 4 seconds.
Hellen Kimutai of Kenya won the women’s race in 2:32:40. She finished 10 seconds ahead of Svetlana Pretot of France.