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Diasabra 11 Juni 2022

Derby winner Rich Strike faces another stiff test in Belmont

After so many things went undertake. “He’s got a lot to
right for Rich Strike to think about,” said Bailey, who
win the Kentucky Der- is now an NBC Sports ana-
by, he’ll likely need even lyst. “The Belmont’s differ-
more good fortune at the ent because you can actually
Belmont Stakes with so affect the trip you get. In the
much stacked against him. Derby, they just outran him,
so he just played the hand
Rich Strike won’t go off at that was dealt to him. He can
odds of more than 80-1 this pretty much be in control of
time, but even after bypass- his own hand if he chooses
ing the Preakness to run in to be because he’s not going
the final leg of the Triple to be nearly as far back, so
Crown, he’s not expected to he’s going to have to decide
be the horse to beat in the where he wants his horse ear-
field of eight. That distinc- ly in the race and then when
tion belongs to 2-1 morning it comes time to move, when
line favorite We the People, he actually moves, based
a newcomer to the Triple upon how fast — or in this
Crown trail who could set case maybe how slow they’ve
the pace in the 1 1/2-mile been going.”
race and thrive if it rains in It looks to be a slow go.
New York on Saturday. Among the others in the race,
If it’s a wet track similar to including Derby horses Mo
We the People’s romp to vic- Donegal and Barber Road,
tory in the Peter Pan Stakes drawal of Ethereal Road to looking like the only speed 19 horses is asking an awful two back from the Preak-
at Belmont Park last month, get into the field, a hot pace, horse going up against Rich lot,” trainer Eric Reed said ness in Creative Minister and
trainer Mark Casse doesn’t the perfect trip and the kind Strike and six other closers on this week. “Hats off to him. Skippylongstocking and filly
like anyone else’s chances. of acceleration he had never a big, sandy track that doesn’t That’s one of the best rides Nest, there’s a lack of early
“We’re all going to be run- shown before in a race. tend to favor late charges. ever.” speed.
ning for second, even the “Is that his lifetime best? I “The mile and a half is just an But Leon has never ridden That appears to set up per-
Derby winner,” said Casse, don’t know,” retired jockey entirely different race,” said at Belmont Park before and fectly for We the People to go
who’s set to saddle Golden Jerry Bailey said. “History Casse, who won the Belmont is not scheduled for a mount wire to wire if jockey Flavien
Glider in the Belmont. Gold- will only tell us that. But I three years ago with Sir Win- on the main, dirt track before Prat can control the race.
en Glider finished a distant think he’s going to have to ston. “You don’t want to be getting aboard Rich Strike “Flavien Prat, does he slow
second to We the People in run better than that, actually, too far away.” in the $1.5 million Belmont the pace down as much as he
the Peter Pan on May 14. to win.” The onus for that is on jock- Stakes. can and then try and have so
Rich Strike ran past 19 other That’s in part because hors- eys, and most notable Rich Having seen Calvin Borel at much left at the end they’ll
horses in shocking fashion on es don’t typically run as fast Strike’s Sonny Leon, whose the top of his game in 2009 never catch him?” Bailey
May 7 to become the second early in the longer Belmont, navigation through traffic at misjudge when to make his said. “Does he try and spread
biggest long shot to win the which is known as the “test the Derby will go down as move with Derby winner the race out somewhere in
Derby. Even that took myr- of a champion.” The 154th one of the best rides in the Mine That Bird and other the middle and get a cushion?
iad factors to happen: sharp edition of the race is particu- history of the sport. jockeys make costly mistakes A lot of it is going to depend
training at Churchill Downs larly shaping up for a plod- “We never expected to get the in this race, Bailey believes on how Flavien decides to
the week before, the with- ding pace with We the People trip we got because to pass it’s a big task for Leon to run the race.”

DeChambeau joins Saudi golf series;

Schwartzel leads in UK

the renegade series will face announced as the second against more players who are
banishment from future tour round was taking place. up there in the world rank-
events. “He is passionate about the ings ... it’s also proof that this
DeChambeau will be join- sport, innovative in his ap- tour here and this tourna-
ing a series that already fea- proach and committed to ment is going into the right
tures Dustin Johnson and pushing the boundaries in direction.
Phil Mickelson, who are also pursuit of excellence,” LIV “They are staying in their
among the golfers to have Golf CEO Greg Norman frame, they are doing what
spent the week facing ques- said in a statement. “He’s not they promised to do with the
tions about the decision to afraid to think outside the game of golf, and within a
sign up given Saudi Arabia’s box and supports our mission few weeks, that event so far
ST. ALBANS, England already convinced a long human rights violations. of doing things differently to has been great, especially in
(AP) — Former U.S. Open line of leading golfers — al- On the course, Schwartzel grow our game. The power the time frame.”
champion Bryson De- though none from the top shot a 4-under 66 to take a and energy he brings to the
Chambeau became the 10 so far — to accept offers three-shot lead over fellow course will deliver added
latest big name to sign from the series bankrolled by South African Hennie Du electricity to our competition
on with the Saudi-fund- the Saudi sovereign wealth Plessis in the fight for the $4 in Portland and beyond.”
ed breakaway series LIV fund. DeChambeau is yet million individual first prize The 28th-ranked American
Golf, and Charl Schwartz- to explain why he made an at the 54-hole event, which could make his LIV Golf
el remained on course Fri- about-turn to join that list, will be decided on Satur- debut at Pumpkin Ridge in
day to win the maximum having previously said he day. Both players are on the Portland, Oregon, from June
prize of $4.75 million at its would continue playing on Stinger team which is leading 30.
inaugural event outside the PGA Tour. That may not the way to share a $3 million “I don’t know how the field
London. be possible now, as the PGA purse for the best four-man will look in Portland,” two-
Tour announced Thursday team. time major winner Martin
That kind of big money has that players who defect to DeChambeau’s signing was Kaymer said. “If you can play