Premium Tap pulls off upset

Premium Tap gained the lead in a stretch duel with Second of June and pulled off a huge upset in the $500,000 Woodward Stakes at Saratoga on Saturday in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.

The Woodward featured several well-known older horses in Funny Cide and Flower Alley, but neither had anything left when the field of 10 turned for home.

Under jockey Kent Desormeaux, the 4-year-old Premium Tap wore down the front-running Second of June after sitting second through most of the 1 1/8-mile race. The son of Pleasant Tap edged in front at the top of the stretch won by a half length, with late-running Sun King getting up for third.

Funny Cide, the 2003 Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner, finished eighth. Flower Alley, the winner of last year’s Jim Dandy and Travers Stakes, finished seventh.

Track and field

U.S. tops Russia

American sprinters led the United States to victory over Russia at the Russia’s Challenge meet in Moscow.

The U.S. and Russia split the 10 events, but the visitors won 98.5-93.5. Russia had won the previous two meets.

American Shawn Crawford won the 100 meters in 10.15 seconds, while compatriot Stephanie Durst won the women’s 100 in 11.28.

Khadevis Robinson of the U.S. won the men’s 800 in 1:47.52.

American Terrence Trammel won the 110 hurdles in 13.44, while Michelle Perry of the U.S. took the women’s 100 hurdles in 12.84.

Boxing

Toney stopped

Samuel Peter wobbled James Toney with overhand rights several times in the early rounds and went on to take a majority decision in their 12-round heavyweight fight in Los Angeles. Toney, fighting for the sixth time as a heavyweight, lost for the first time since 1997 when he was a cruiserweight.

“Clinton Woods survived a ninth-round battering to keep his IBF light-heavyweight title after a split decision over Glencoffe Johnson in Bolton, England.

Miscellany

Chesbro dies

Tommy Chesbro, who wrestled for Oklahoma State before leading his alma mater to an NCAA championship as a coach, has died in Stillwater, Okla., from a heart attack. He was 66.

“Alicia Hollowell pitched a one-hitter to lead the undefeated U.S. team past South Africa 10-0 in five innings and into the playoffs of the world softball championships in Beijing. The U.S. will face second-seeded Australia today.

“Shortstop Brandon Wood hit a three-run homer in the seventh inning to lead the U.S. to a 5-2 win over Nicaragua at the Americas Olympic Baseball Qualifier in Havana. The U.S. plays Panama tonight.