Author: staff

When Rick Dawson decided his Kentucky Derby winner, Rich Strike, would skip the Preakness, he reignited a decades-old debate about the spacing of the Triple Crown series, which many horsemen and racing analysts see as out of step with modern practices.Dawson and trainer Eric Reed have said that if they had a month to prepare for the second jewel of the Triple Crown instead of the traditional two weeks, Rich Strike would be on his way to Baltimore. Instead, they opted to give him five weeks to rest for the Belmont Stakes.AdvertisementWith a 94-word statement, Dawson eliminated the possibility for a Triple Crown winner in 2022.Healthy Derby winners typically don’t bypass the Preakness. It had not happened since 1985, when Spend a Buck eschewed the race in favor of the greater riches available on the New Jersey racing circuit of that era.AdvertisementBut students of modern racing said it was only a matter of time until an owner and trainer decided that two weeks was not enough prep time for the Preakness.“Inevitable,” NBC racing analyst Randy Moss said, noting that most current trainers prefer to wait a month or more between races.Preakness contender Simplification is comforted by owner Tami Bobo as he is washed following a morning workout Tuesday. The 147th Preakness Stakes gets underway on Saturday. (Jerry Jackson/Baltimore Sun)Animal wellness advocates applauded Dawson and Reed’s decision.“Hopefully, this will prompt the racing industry to modernize the demanding Triple Crown schedule by extending the time between the three races to less-inhumane intervals of one month each,” said PETA Senior Vice President Kathy Guillermo.That would mean an early-June Preakness and a Belmont Stakes run closer to July 4. But with no overarching authority to mandate reform, such change is easier said than done, and plenty of people in the sport are reluctant to alter a tradition that has elevated some of the greatest champions in history, from Citation to Secretariat to American Pharoah.For the Triple Crown calendar to change, officials from 1/ST Racing, the forward-facing arm of The Stronach Group, which owns and operates Pimlico Race Course, and the New York Racing Association, which operates the Belmont Stakes, would have to agree on a new timeline.Preakness organizers have an incentive; the Preakness field suffers every year because trainers are reluctant to run their Kentucky Derby contenders on two weeks’ rest. But the allure is less obvious for New York racing officials, who annually welcome talented horses that have skipped a trip to Pimlico in favor of resting up for the Belmont Stakes.Though 1/ST Racing offered no formal comment on a possible calendar change, a representative said the company “is looking at this internally and intends to speak with our other Triple Crown partners once we are through Preakness 147.”AdvertisementKentucky Derby runner-up Epicenter a 6-5 morning-line favorite in nine-horse Preakness field; will break from No. 8 post https://t.co/ia5KJER5AU— Baltimore Sun Sports (@BaltSunSports) May 16, 2022

Dave O’Rourke, president and CEO of the New York Racing Association, nodded to tradition in his statement on the issue: “The Triple Crown galvanizes the attention of the sports world precisely because of its difficulty. To sweep the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont Stakes requires an extraordinarily talented horse to perform heroically at three different racetracks over a period of just five weeks.“This condensed schedule helps to sustain the excitement and enthusiasm that surrounds a Triple Crown quest and plays a role in the lasting success of each leg of the series. NYRA is always willing to engage in thoughtful conversation around issues that will impact the future of horse racing. Fundamental changes to the sport’s most successful and important institution, however, would demand careful and deliberate consideration among all relevant parties.”Debate around the schedule — three races in five weeks, starting with the Kentucky Derby on the first Saturday in May — intensified during the 37-year gap between Affirmed’s Triple Crown in 1978 and American Pharoah’s Triple Crown in 2015. As the 1970s dominance of Affirmed, Seattle Slew and Secretariat faded deeper into the past, fans wondered if modern thoroughbreds were cut out for the test.Secretariat had raced 12 times — four of those on two weeks’ rest or less — before he reached the Triple Crown series in 1973. Affirmed had raced 13 times — five of those on two weeks’ rest or less — before he entered the starting gate for the 1978 Kentucky Derby.Preakness contender Skippylongstocking is led to the Pimlico Race Course track early Tuesday for a workout in preparation for Saturday’s Preakness Stakes. (Jerry Jackson/Baltimore Sun)Such early workloads are unheard of for today’s top 3-year-olds. (Rich Strike had raced seven times, usually on at least a month’s rest, going into the Derby.) Thus, many see the Triple Crown schedule as a relic from a bygone era.In 2014, former Maryland Jockey Club president Tom Chuckas tried, unsuccessfully, to force discussion of a new calendar.Advertisement“I respect tradition,” he said at the time, “but I also think tradition cannot impede the growth or betterment of the industry.”American Pharoah and Justify put this conversation on hold when they won Triple Crowns in 2015 and 2018, respectively, proving supremely gifted horses still could pull it off.But Rich Strike’s withdrawal from the Preakness revived the same issues in a slightly different context, as Dawson and Reed said they would be uncomfortable rushing their Derby champion back to the starting gate two weeks after the greatest effort of his life.It’s a reservation other Derby-winning trainers such as Todd Pletcher have expressed in recent years, though they bowed to tradition and raced their horses in the Preakness anyway.Trainers who have participated in the Triple Crown series are as divided as fans and track operators on the merits of the traditional schedule.At age 86, D. Wayne Lukas has won the Kentucky Derby four times and the Preakness six times. Though he never minded bringing his Derby champions to Pimlico on two weeks’ rest — “Being old school, I think we can handle it” — he said the Preakness would benefit from a longer lead-up time.AdvertisementAt age 86, trainer D. Wayne Lukas has won the Kentucky Derby four times and the Preakness six times. Though he never minded bringing his Derby champions to Pimlico on two weeks’ rest — “Being old school, I think we can handle it” — he said the Preakness would benefit from a longer lead-up time. (Jerry Jackson/Baltimore Sun)“I think it would make for a better field here,” Lukas said Tuesday morning, as he prepared his filly, Secret Oath, to run in this year’s Preakness. “More trainers would participate because the two-week turnaround limits some horses making it. You’d get more of the Derby horses in the field if you stretch it out to say, Memorial Day, and then maybe run the Belmont on the Fourth of July. I think it would work.”On the other side, trainer Saffie Joseph Jr., who was born the year before Lukas won his first Kentucky Derby in 1988, said he’d prefer to see the schedule remain the same.“The reason the Triple Crown is what it is, it’s not supposed to be easy,” Joseph said. “Are we going to lower the bar to make it easier for the horses? No. There’s a reason it’s that way, and it takes a special horse to do it.”If his Derby contender, White Abarrio, had run well in Kentucky (he finished 16th), Joseph said he would not have felt reluctant to take him on to the Preakness.Maryland-based trainer Graham Motion, who won the 2011 Derby with Animal Kingdom, also said “it would be a shame” if the Triple Crown calendar was extended.“It’s not meant to be easy,” Motion wrote on Twitter, adding that he was surprised how much energy Animal Kingdom had going into the Preakness 11 years ago.AdvertisementRegardless of such arguments for the old way, Moss, the NBC analyst, said the Preakness will continue to suffer as an event if the schedule remains the same. He hopes the New York Racing Association will take a long view and consider a change that might not immediately help the Belmont Stakes. Otherwise, he expects to see more cases akin to Rich Strike.“There’s no good reason other than an antiquated desire to cling to history,” Moss said. “Hopefully, this will spur Pimlico to be aggressive about changing the date of the Preakness and spur NYRA to go along with changing the date of the Belmont. Then, things like this could be just a historical blip on the radar.”147th Preakness StakesPimlico Race CourseSaturdayTV: Chs. 11, 4 (coverage begins at 4 p.m.)

Dear Amy: My partner, “Chris” just showed me a gift he bought for his adult son. This gift is a “verified” personal calling card once owned by Adolf Hitler (Hitler allegedly gave them out to people he would meet).Chris purchased this card from an American museum’s rare items collection and spent quite a bit of money for it.AdvertisementHe finds this gift funny and amusing.Chris is a nice and kind person, and he doesn’t have any prejudice against any ethnic groups.AdvertisementI felt very disturbed, angry, disappointed, and perplexed by the nature of this gift. I don’t find anything related to Hitler an appropriate item for gift-giving, laughter, or amusement.The night I learned of this gift, I was plagued by horrific images and thoughts of the crimes against humanity brought about by this monster.I wrote a note to my partner about how I felt about it and invited him to do some soul searching about his choice. He read my note, stated that he felt angry and frustrated by it, and said, “I knew I shouldn’t have shown it to you.” He then said, “I don’t want my day ruined by this.”I feel perplexed as how this sweet and kind partner could come up with such a gift, honoring an evil person.I wonder how I can be at peace with it.– Perplexed Partner!Dear Perplexed: Using information supplied by you, I verified that the place where your partner purchased this artifact is less a “museum” and more an individual’s private collection located in the dealer’s home.Diving into this disturbing topic, I’ve also learned that there is quite a market for these artifacts, and that collectors use various justifications for purchasing them.AdvertisementIn my opinion, unless a purchaser intends to use artifacts as teaching tools to illustrate both the banality (“calling cards”) and the monstrosity of evil, then there is absolutely no ethical reason to purchase them.It is certainly not “funny,” in any context.So yes, I’d say that at the least, your “nice and kind” guy is sensitive regarding himself (he didn’t want your reaction to “ruin his day”), and not actually sensitive to the reality of suffering experienced by millions of people that should be brought to mind by any Hitler artifact.So yes, I agree that the act itself of purchasing this item as an “amusing” gift is tasteless and troubling. Additionally, his reaction to your honest feedback and concern will quite naturally make you ponder his personal ethics.You ask how to be “at peace” with this choice. Perhaps – when you are less reactive and he is less defensive – you two will be able to come to an understanding about his choice.But there are times when you should stand up for your own values. Doing so is rarely peaceful.AdvertisementDear Amy: A dear friend, whom I met through my ex-husband, recently died.The family has requested that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the deceased’s favorite charity. I intend to make such a donation.My partner of 15 years thinks that I should ask my ex to contribute to the donation and make it from my ex and me.I strongly disagree for a variety of very valid reasons. While I did meet this friend and his wife through my ex, I have maintained a friendship with them while my ex has not.For a variety of very valid reasons, I only communicate with my ex-husband when absolutely necessary.In spite of knowing all this, my partner still insists that he is right. I maintain that it is entirely inappropriate as my ex and I are no longer a couple.AdvertisementAnd your opinion is…?– Perplexed Re: The ExDear Perplexed: I’m surprised that this is even up for discussion.Let your partner know that joint donations between hardly speaking ex-spouses would be the exception – not the norm.More important, this is your friend, your money, and your choice.Dear Amy: Your advice to “Bay Area Stepmom Cook” was, as usual, tasteless.AdvertisementYou NEVER tell a cook how to cook! Ever. Especially when they are doing it for free, as a favor.If this son-in-law does not like his mother-in-law’s cooking, then he can cook his own or eat out of a can.Ask AmyDailyNo-nonsense advice for better living delivered to your inbox every morning. For a limited time, sign up for the Ask Amy newsletter and get the book “Ask Amy: Essential Wisdom from America’s Favorite Advice Columnist” for $5.– DisgustedDear Disgusted: Even though she was aware of her son-in-law’s extreme aversion to onions, this mother-in-law insisted on including them in everything.He isn’t telling her how to cook.She is telling him how to eat.AdvertisementGot a question for Amy? Enter it here and we’ll send it to her.Sign up here to receive the Ask Amy newsletter to get advice e-mailed to your inbox every morning, and for a limited time — get the book “Ask Amy: Essential Wisdom from America’s Favorite Advice Columnist” for $5.©2021 Amy Dickinson.

Senior pitcher Anthony Johnson has a knack for getting out of jams for Batavia.It’s nothing new, really.Advertisement“I guess I’ve always done that,” Johnson said. “My freshman year, I would always load the bases in the first inning and somehow I would get out of it every time. “I guess it just puts the pressure on me to pitch well and then I pitch well.”AdvertisementBatavia’s Henry Saul (2) and Anthony Johnson (20) look to the dugout during a DuKane Conference game against St. Charles North in St. Charles on Tuesday, May 17, 2022. (H. Rick Bamman / The Beacon-News)Johnson went to that well again Tuesday, and his experience in those tense situations came in handy during a 4-0 DuKane Conference win over St. Charles North.While Johnson and reliever Blake Sotir ended up allowing 15 runners, they stranded 14 and the Bulldogs also cut down the other one on the bases.That allowed Batavia (17-10-1, 14-7) to close out the series by taking two of three games from St. Charles North (17-12, 12-8).Kudos to the starter on the mound.“He seemed to be making the pitches at the right time,” Batavia coach Alex Beckmann said of Johnson. “He put himself in those spots and really executed when he needed to. “That was great to see from him. He kind of finds another level of focus when he needs to. He definitely showed that (Tuesday).”Batavia’s Austin Winslow (1) fields a ground ball against St. Charles North during a DuKane Conference game in St. Charles on Tuesday, May 17, 2022. (H. Rick Bamman / The Beacon-News)The North Stars left the bases loaded in the second, fifth and sixth innings. Johnson recorded a strikeout to escape the second and induced a fly out to finish off the fifth for Batavia. Sotir got a pop out to end the sixth.Advertisement“I’m just excited to pitch,” Johnson said. “I like to go out there. I like to compete and help my team win as much as possible. I just go out there and pitch.”Johnson only hits the upper 70s with his fastball, but he finds a way to wiggle out of tough situations while working in tandem with catcher Henry Saul.“I like to mix up my pitches with curveballs and sliders,” Johnson said. “I developed a new two-seam (fastball) two weeks ago thanks to my pitching coach. “That helps a lot. My catcher being there, he’s great behind the plate. I love pitching to him.”Batavia’s Jackson Bland (26) applauds after reaching third base against St. Charles North during a DuKane Conference game in St. Charles on Tuesday, May 17, 2022. (H. Rick Bamman / The Beacon-News)Johnson went 5 2/3 innings, allowing no runs on three hits and four walks. He struck out five.“This was the hardest I’ve seen him throw,” Beckmann said. “He’s not going to overpower many people, but he’s just a good baseball player. Advertisement“Good hitter, good pitcher, can play the field if we need him.”After taking a series from DuKane Conference champion St. Charles East, the North Stars took a step back in losing to Batavia. Clutch hitting was the main culprit, according to St. Charles North coach Todd Genke.“It was unfortunate,” Genke said. “You come out and your goal is to get guys on base. You try to execute and move those guys across the plate, and for whatever reason, it didn’t happen. “We’ve been having some issues with that. Guys are getting on base and we’re not getting that big hit. We don’t get shut out at home very often. It just happened.”Batavia scratched across runs in the first, second, fourth and sixth to support Johnson. AdvertisementBatavia’s Ryan Boe (21) gets greeted by teammates Jackson Bland (26), Henry Saul (2) and Connor Desmet (14) after scoring a run in the first inning against St. Charles North during a DuKane Conference game in St. Charles on Tuesday, May 17, 2022. (H. Rick Bamman / The Beacon-News)Charlie Saul singled in his brother Henry in the first. Eric Newberry singled and scored on an error in the second. Henry Saul doubled in Newberry in the fourth.Alex Taylor singled in Austin Winslow in the sixth to cap the scoring.Johnson also made his case to be in the playoff rotation for the Bulldogs, who have a final nonconference tuneup Friday against Kaneland at Northwestern Medicine Field in Geneva.“We have some options,” Beckmann said. “We don’t really have one dominant guy. We have to think about that the next few days, what we want to do. “We have some starters for the playoffs, and Anthony is definitely one of them.”Paul Johnson is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.

When the Chicago Cubs drafted Brandon Hughes in 2007, the 16th-round pick hoped one day to roam the outfield at Wrigley Field.He finally got to do that Tuesday during batting practice. Except Hughes’ first big-league call-up came as a pitcher and not an outfielder.AdvertisementThe 26-year-old left-hander converted to pitching in 2019 and quickly ascended through the Cubs farm system. His big-league dream came true amid a flurry of transactions.The Cubs put outfielder Jason Heyward on the injured list without a distinction, an indicator it’s COVID-19-related. Left-hander Conner Menez was optioned to Triple-A Iowa, infielder/outfielder Christopher Morel got called up from Double-A Tennessee and Hughes’ contract was selected from Iowa.Advertisement“He throws a lot of strikes and there’s a lot of deception,” vice president of player development Jared Banner said of Hughes. “Guys just don’t take comfortable swings. So I don’t know whether it’s natural or something specific that he’s learned along the way, but he’s had a tremendous amount of success.”[ [Don’t miss] Willson Contreras’ 1st-inning grand slam — his 100th career home run — sparks the Cubs’ 9-0 win ]Hughes has not allowed a run in 16⅔ innings with 22 strikeouts and three walks between Double A and Triple A this year. He expected family, including his parents, and friends to be at Tuesday night’s game against the Pittsburgh Pirates.“It’s cool to see the guys that I came up with in the system get opportunities, throw in the games and have success,” Hughes said. “And that takes the nerves off of me a little bit knowing that others have come in and done the job. So I’m ready to do my job.”Morel’s 40-man roster status and defensive flexibility — he has played everywhere except catcher and first base — made him an attractive option while Heyward is sidelined. Morel had a .306/.380/.565 slash line in Double A.[ [Don’t miss] Andrelton Simmons’ return provides the Cubs a timely boost with shortstop Nico Hoerner on the injured list ]“He’s a really energetic, infectious player,” Banner said. “He can play all over the field, and that makes him really valuable. He can run, he can hit with power — he can do so many things on the field that this is a great opportunity for him.”Morel, 22, received the news Monday night from Double-A manager Mike Ryan. His first phone call to share the news went to his parents.“I never thought they were going to call me and make my dream here,” Morel said. “I feel confident with myself. I’m working hard, I’m having fun again. That’s why I’m here.”

CHICAGO — The Orlando Magic won the NBA draft lottery Tuesday night and landed the No. 1 pick for the first time since they got Dwight Howard in 2004.It’s the fourth time lottery luck struck for the Magic, who won in back-to-back years in 1992 and 1993, taking Shaquille O’Neal and then trading the rights to Chris Webber for Penny Hardaway.AdvertisementThe Magic finished with the worst record in the Eastern Conference at 22-60 and missed the playoffs for the eighth time in 10 years. But they got a huge win in the lottery, which they had a 14% chance of winning.Duke’s Paolo Banchero, Gonzaga’s Chet Holmgren, Purdue’s Jaden Ivey and Auburn’s Jabari Smith are considered the most likely candidates to be taken first. The draft is June 23 in New York.AdvertisementThe Oklahoma City Thunder got the second pick, followed by the Houston Rockets and Sacramento Kings.The Detroit Pistons pick fifth, with the Indiana Pacers, Portland Trail Blazers, New Orleans Pelicans and Washington Wizards rounding out the top 10. The rest of the lottery results had the New York Knicks, the Thunder, the Charlotte Hornets and the Cleveland Cavaliers.The lottery, with 14 ping-pong balls numbered 1 through 14 placed into a hopper, sets the first four picks. The remainder of the non-playoff teams go in reverse order of finish.The Rockets, Magic and Pistons had the best odds of winning the lottery at 14%. All three had young teams that finished at the bottom of the NBA.The Magic are committed to building through the draft after trading veterans Nikola Vučević and Aaron Gordon in March 2021 for first-round draft picks in 2023 and 2025. But this past season they were missing two of the young players they are trying to build around with Jonathan Issac and Markelle Fultz recovering from knee injuries.The Pelicans might be one of the biggest winners as the lone playoff team with a lottery pick. They got it in the 2019 trade that sent Anthony Davis to the Los Angeles Lakers.With the Lakers struggling to a 33-49 record, eighth-worst in the NBA, that put the Pelicans in position to cash in. They needed the pick to fall in the top 10 in order to keep it, and there was a 99.6% chance of that.Now they’re in position to add a lottery pick to go with All-Star Brandon Ingram.AdvertisementBanchero, Holmgren and Smith decided to turn pro after one college season, while Ivey spent two years at Purdue.The 6-foot-10, 250-pound Banchero was viewed as a likely one-and-done player before he arrived at Duke from Seattle as part of a talented recruited class. He lived up to it, helping the Blue Devils reach now-retired coach Mike Krzyzewski’s record 13th Final Four before losing to archrival North Carolina.

Carvana, the company known for selling used cars out of glass tower buildings, has run into legal and financial roadblocks that cast uncertainty on its plans…

Carvana, the company known for selling used cars out of glass tower buildings, has run into legal and financial roadblocks that cast uncertainty on its plans…

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Dylan Cease had to deal with traffic in every inning of Tuesday’s start against the Kansas City Royals.The Chicago White Sox right-hander made the big pitches each time.AdvertisementCease allowed seven hits and struck out nine in 5⅔ innings, leading the Sox to a 3-0 victory in Game 1 of a doubleheader at Kauffman Stadium.“(The Royals) did a really good job of getting on,” Cease said. “There was a lot of traffic today, but fortunately I executed pitches with guys in scoring position pretty well and got some big strikeouts.”AdvertisementCease surrendered a season-high six runs in four innings in his last start Thursday against the New York Yankees. He bounced back, combining with four relievers for the shutout.“He gave us all that he had,” Sox manager Tony La Russa said. “He got into the sixth with two outs and that’s outstanding.”Cease faced challenges from the start, as Royals leadoff batter Whit Merrifield doubled in the first. He moved to third with one out, but Cease struck out Salvador Perez and Ryan O’Hearn to end the inning.The Royals had runners on second and third with one out in the third. Cease again struck out Perez and O’Hearn.“I have enough experience now to where I know when I’m doing too much and not enough,” Cease said. “It’s just staying the course and trusting it.”[ [Don’t miss] Lucas Giolito expected to start Wednesday for the White Sox after returning from the COVID injured list ]The Royals came up empty again in the fourth when Hunter Dozier was thrown out at the plate trying to score from first on a single. The play at the plate wasn’t close.All three runs came in the fifth. Reese McGuire doubled and scored on AJ Pollock’s sacrifice fly to left. José Abreu made it 3-0 with a two-out, two-run double.Abreu went 2-for-3 with a walk.Advertisement“Looking more like himself, isn’t he?” La Russa said.Abreu fielded a grounder and beat O’Hearn to first for the third out of the fifth as the Royals stranded two more runners.Cease exited after striking out MJ Melendez for the second out of the sixth on his 94th pitch.“He worked hard,” La Russa said. “I didn’t want to push him there in the sixth. He gave us what he had. He worked out of some jams.”Bennett Sousa struck out pinch hitter Michael A. Taylor with a runner on second to end the sixth.[ [Don’t miss] Johnny Cueto pitches 6 scoreless innings in his White Sox debut ]Joe Kelly allowed a double and two walks to begin the seventh. Kelly bounced back, striking out pinch hitter Carlos Santana (Perez left with a left thumb sprain) and O’Hearn and getting Dozier to pop out to second.Advertisement“His command you can tell, he hasn’t been here,” La Russa said of Kelly, who was on the injured list April 4 to May 9 as he recovered from a right biceps nerve injury. “He’s got outstanding stuff. He’s a great competitor. He’s got great guts.“You see that pitch he made on Santana and O’Hearn. … He’s tough as nails. When he had to, he made pitches. It’s the sign of a champion.”White Sox shortstop Tim Anderson (7) and first baseman José Abreu (79) celebrate after the first game of a doubleheader Tuesday, May 17, 2022, in Kansas City, Mo. (Charlie Riedel/AP)The Royals went 0-for-12 with runners in scoring position and struck out 14 times.“The way that I was taught to look at it is what did they have to hit,” La Russa said. “We pitched Perez (1-for-3 with two strikeouts) like the Hall of Famer he is. There were very few mistakes in RBI situations.”Before the first game, the Sox selected the contract of pitcher Davis Martin from Triple-A Charlotte, added reliever Kyle Crick from Charlotte as the 27th player for the doubleheader, placed starting pitcher Michael Kopech on the paternity list and transferred reliever Garrett Crochet (season-ending Tommy John surgery) to the 60-day IL.Martin, 25, made his major-league debut as the Game 2 starter. He is 4-1 with a 2.50 ERA and 41 strikeouts in seven starts between Charlotte and Double-A Birmingham this year.AdvertisementHe allowed two runs or fewer in four of his five starts at Birmingham before being promoted to the Knights on May 5. He is 2-0 with a 1.50 ERA and eight strikeouts in two outings with Charlotte.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said indictments may be filed over a shortage of infant formula, during a news conference Tuesday in which House Democrats detailed a…

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said indictments may be filed over a shortage of infant formula, during a news conference Tuesday in which House Democrats detailed a…