Bernardini validates Preakness win
Bernardini blew away the field in the Jim Dandy Stakes at Saratoga (N.Y.) Race Course on Saturday, and proved his victory in the Preakness Stakes was far from a fluke.
In his first start since winning the May 20 Preakness, a race everyone remembers as the one in which Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro shattered his right hind leg, Bernardini put on another dazzling performance.
Bernardini took the lead around the first turn and by the time the six-horse field reached the turn for home, the son of A.P. Indy was just warming up. Under jockey Javier Castellano, Bernardini widened his lead with every stride and glided through the slop to a nine-length victory over Minister’s Bid.
“The medical updates on Barbaro seem encouraging, yet the trainer of the ailing Kentucky Derby winner isn’t allowing himself to become too optimistic.
“I’m not getting my hopes up,” trainer Michael Matz said. “I’m just taking it one day at a time — but he’s trying.”
Boxing
Erdei retains title
Hungary’s Zsolt Erdei retained his WBO light-heavyweight title in Oberhausen, Germany, outpointing Germany’s Thomas Ulrich in a one-sided decision.
Erdei (25-0, 15 KO’s) cut his stablemate and former sparring partner on the nose, and closed Ulrich’s left eye from persistent jabs.
The judges scored it 120-108, 118-100 and 116-112 for Erdei in his sixth title defense.
Tennis
Clijsters reaches finals
Top-seeded Kim Clijsters overcame her inconsistencies to beat Czech teen Nicole Vaidisova 7-5, 6-2 to reach her fifth straight championship match at the Bank of the West Classic in Stanford, Calif.
Clijsters will play Patty Schnyder of Switzerland in the final.
“Dmitri Tursunov upset Fernando Gonzalez to move into his first ATP Tour championship match, and 2004 champion Tommy Haas beat Dominik Hrbaty in other semifinal in the Countrywide Classic in Los Angeles.
“Anna Smashnova of Israel beat Germany’s Martina Muller 6-4, 6-3 in the semifinals of the Budapest Grand Prix in Budapest, Hungary, moving closer to becoming the first repeat champion in the tournament’s 11-year history.
Smashnova will now face fifth-seeded Lourdes Dominguez Lino of Spain.
“ Serbia’s Novak Djokovic upset four-time champion Carlos Moya 6-1, 7-5 to advance to the final of the Croatia Open.
The 19-year-old, who won his first ATP title last Sunday in Amersfoort, Netherlands, has now won nine matches in a row. Djokovic will face unseeded Stanislas Wawrinka of Switzerland in the final.
Miscellany
Villwock victorious
Dave Villwock drove Miss Elam Plus to a come-from-behind victory in the first elimination heat for the Atomic Cup race for unlimited hydroplanes on the Columbia River in Kennewick.
Villwock started in lane four and worked his way past three other boats. In a dramatic move, he passed Jimmy King in the final turn and won the sprint to the finish line.