In brief: War Pass still aiming for Kentucky Derby

War Pass is still on the Kentucky Derby trail despite his last-place finish in the Tampa Bay Derby.

Trainer Nick Zito told the Associated Press on Sunday that his colt suffered a few cuts on his leg after being jostled at the start of Saturday’s race at Tampa Bay Downs at Oldsmar, Fla.

War Pass had won his first five races in front-running style and was considered the leading contender for the Derby on May 3. Big Truck won the Tampa Bay Derby, with War Pass seventh and last.

War Pass is set to run next in the Wood Memorial at Aqueduct in New York on April 5 in his final prep race before the Derby.

“Liberty Bull, the favorite at 3-1, powered ahead down the stretch to win the $600,000 WinStar Derby by two lengths at Sunland Park, N.M.

Cycling

Italian wins Paris race

Davide Rebellin of Italy won the Paris-Nice race by three seconds in the closest finish in the history of the cycling event.

The start was delayed several minutes when riders protested in support of Kevin van Impe, the Belgian cyclist who had an unannounced doping test while taking care of funeral arrangements for his baby son.

Van Impe was talking with the funeral director when the regional Flemish authorities called his home for an out-of-competition test. Van Impe said he had no option but to comply.

Rebellin was followed in the final standings by Italy’s Rinaldo Nocentini. Ukraine’s Yaroslav Popovych was third, 48 seconds behind. Rebellin was the runner-up in 2007 and 2004.

Winter sports

Neuner wins biathlon

Magdalena Neuner finished ninth in the season-ending mass start race at Oslo, Norway, and became the youngest woman to win an overall World Cup biathlon title.

The 21-year-old German finished 13 points ahead of Sandrine Bailly of France, who finished sixth in the race and was the only biathlete with a chance to catch Neuner.