Page 15 - aruba-today-20220611

A15
sports Saturday 11 June 2022
Derby winner Rich Strike faces another stiff test in Belmont

By STEPHEN WHYNO "He's got a lot to think
AP Sports Writer about," said Bailey, who is
After so many things went now an NBC Sports ana-
right for Rich Strike to win lyst. "The Belmont's different
the Kentucky Derby, he'll because you can actually
likely need even more affect the trip you get. In
good fortune at the Bel- the Derby, they just outran
mont Stakes with so much him, so he just played the
stacked against him. hand that was dealt to him.
Rich Strike won't go off at He can pretty much be in
odds of more than 80-1 this control of his own hand if
time, but even after by- he chooses to be because
passing the Preakness to he's not going to be nearly
run in the final leg of the as far back, so he's going
Triple Crown, he's not ex- to have to decide where
pected to be the horse to he wants his horse early in
beat in the field of eight. the race and then when it
That distinction belongs to comes time to move, when
2-1 morning line favorite he actually moves, based
We the People, a newcom- upon how fast — or in this
er to the Triple Crown trail case maybe how slow
who could set the pace they've been going."
in the 1 1/2-mile race and It looks to be a slow go.
thrive if it rains in New York We the People, ridden by trainer Rodolphe Brisset, trains before the 154th running of the Belmont Among the others in the
on Saturday. Stakes horse race, Wednesday, June 8, 2022, in Elmont, N.Y. race, including Derby hors-
If it's a wet track similar to Associated Press es Mo Donegal and Barber
We the People's romp to Road, two back from the
victory in the Peter Pan before, the withdrawal of the People looking like the pass 19 horses is asking an Preakness in Creative Minis-
Stakes at Belmont Park last Ethereal Road to get into only speed horse going up awful lot," trainer Eric Reed ter and Skippylongstocking
month, trainer Mark Casse the field, a hot pace, the against Rich Strike and six said this week. "Hats off to and filly Nest, there's a lack
doesn't like anyone else's perfect trip and the kind of other closers on a big, san- him. That's one of the best of early speed.
chances. acceleration he had never dy track that doesn't tend rides ever." That appears to set up per-
"We're all going to be run- shown before in a race. to favor late charges. But Leon has never rid- fectly for We the People
ning for second, even the "Is that his lifetime best? I "The mile and a half is just den at Belmont Park be- to go wire to wire if jockey
Derby winner," said Casse, don't know," retired jockey an entirely different race," fore and is not scheduled Flavien Prat can control the
who's set to saddle Golden Jerry Bailey said. "History will said Casse, who won the for a mount on the main, race.
Glider in the Belmont. Gold- only tell us that. But I think Belmont three years ago dirt track before getting "Flavien Prat, does he slow
en Glider finished a distant he's going to have to run with Sir Winston. "You don't aboard Rich Strike in the the pace down as much
second to We the People better than that, actually, want to be too far away." $1.5 million Belmont Stakes. as he can and then try
in the Peter Pan on May 14. to win." The onus for that is on jock- Having seen Calvin Borel at and have so much left at
Rich Strike ran past 19 other That's in part because hors- eys, and most notable Rich the top of his game in 2009 the end they'll never catch
horses in shocking fashion es don't typically run as fast Strike's Sonny Leon, whose misjudge when to make his him?" Bailey said. "Does he
on May 7 to become the early in the longer Belmont, navigation through traffic move with Derby winner try and spread the race out
second biggest long shot which is known as the "test at the Derby will go down Mine That Bird and other somewhere in the middle
to win the Derby. Even of a champion." The 154th as one of the best rides in jockeys make costly mis- and get a cushion? A lot
that took myriad factors to edition of the race is par- the history of the sport. takes in this race, Bailey be- of it is going to depend on
happen: sharp training at ticularly shaping up for a "We never expected to get lieves it's a big task for Leon how Flavien decides to run
Churchill Downs the week plodding pace with We the trip we got because to to undertake. the race."q

DeChambeau joins Saudi golf series; Schwartzel leads in UK

By ROB HARRIS wealth fund. DeCham- decision to sign up given
ST. ALBANS, England (AP) beau is yet to explain why Saudi Arabia's human rights
— Former U.S. Open cham- he made an about-turn to violations.
pion Bryson DeChambeau join that list, having previ- On the course, Schwartzel
became the latest big ously said he would con- shot a 4-under 66 to take a
name to sign on with the tinue playing on the PGA three-shot lead over fellow
Saudi-funded breakaway Tour. That may not be pos- South African Hennie Du
series LIV Golf, and Charl sible now, as the PGA Tour Plessis in the fight for the $4
Schwartzel remained on announced Thursday that million individual first prize
course Friday to win the players who defect to the at the 54-hole event, which
maximum prize of $4.75 mil- renegade series will face will be decided on Satur-
lion at its inaugural event banishment from future day. Both players are on
outside London. tour events. the Stinger team which is
That kind of big money has DeChambeau will be join- leading the way to share a
already convinced a long ing a series that already $3 million purse for the best
line of leading golfers — al- features Dustin Johnson four-man team.
though none from the top and Phil Mickelson, who DeChambeau's signing Bryson DeChambeau hits from the 18th tee during the second
10 so far — to accept offers are also among the golf- was announced as the round of the Memorial golf tournament Friday, June 3, 2022, in
from the series bankrolled ers to have spent the week second round was taking Dublin, Ohio.
by the Saudi sovereign facing questions about the place.q Associated Pres