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TUESDAY, JUNE 3, 2014 SPORTS Trainer revels in California Chrome’s Crown bid LOS ANGELES: Triple Crown contender California the inevitable injuries-a broken ankle, broken collar- markings has a chance to become just the 12th In keeping with his training philosophy, Sherman Chrome is taking trainer Art Sherman on the ride of bone, fractured cheekbone. horse to capture US flat racing’s coveted Triple raced California Chrome relatively frequently as a his life, 59 years after his prior brush with racing Along the way he met his wife, Faye, while riding Crown of the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and two-year-old, his seven starts last year including two greatness as a teenage stable hand. in Chicago, and in 1980 he became a trainer, plying Belmont Stakes. wins in his first six races before jockey Victor “If this is my fate, I’m all for it,” the 77-year-old his trade at tracks around California near The last to achieve the feat was Affirmed in 1978, Espinoza climbed aboard for a December 22 stakes Sherman said after California Chrome made him the Sacramento, San Francisco and now at Los Alamitos, and since then a dozen horses have won both the race at Hollywood Park in Los Angeles. oldest trainer to saddle a Kentucky Derby winner in a Southern California track better known for quarter- Kentucky Derby and Preakness, only to come up California Chrome won that race by six lengths May. That Run for the Roses had Sherman recalling horse racing. Sherman, who is assisted by his son empty at the 1 1/2-mile Belmont, dubbed The Test of and hasn’t been beaten since. That success had his only previous trip to Kentucky’s Churchill Downs, Alan, has saddled more than 2,000 winners and won the Champion. “It’d be great to win the Belmont,” thrust Sherman into the spotlight going into the in 1955 when the 18-year-old Sherman rode in a $38 million, but until this year the best horse to pass Sherman said. “Believe me, it’s everybody’s dream.” Kentucky Derby. That spotlight has become white- train box car to Louisville with Swaps, the California- through his hands was gelding Lykatill Hill, who won California Chrome’s everyman owners Perry hot heading to Belmont Park. bred colt who defeated favored Nashua in a show- back-to-back Governor’s Handicaps in 1996 and Martin and Steve Coburn entrusted their horse to The genial, down-to-earth Sherman insists he’s down of equine giants. 1997 during the California State Fair. Sherman because, according to Coburn, “he’s old enjoying it. “I just didn’t think something like this Sherman, just a stable hand and exercise rider at It wasn’t until California Chrome landed in his school.” “He’s a regular guy,” Coburn said before the would happen to me, at this stage of my career,” the time, went home to California and embarked on barn that Sherman found himself on the road to rac- Kentucky Derby. “He doesn’t have a huge barn. He Sherman said as he was courted at Pimlico prior to a career as a jockey that lasted more than two ing’s big time. In the Belmont Stakes on June 7, the can spend quality time with every horse. You can tell the Preakness. “I rode for 23 years and loved it. Now decades. He rode some 1,600 winners and endured modestly bred chestnut colt with splashy white Chrome likes him, and he really loves this horse.” this.” — AFP Kings beat Blackhawks CHICAGO: Alec Martinez scored at 5:47 in overtime as the Los Angeles Kings beat the Chicago Blackhawks 5-4 in Game 7 of the Western Conference finals Sunday and advance to the Stanley Cup finals. Martinez’s shot went off Blackhawks defenseman Nick Leddy and over goalie Corey Crawford, stun- ning the sellout crowd at the United Center and leading to wild on-ice celebration for Los Angeles. Leddy was disconsolate as the Kings gathered in a big huddle along the boards. Los Angeles improved to 7-0 in elimination games with its third Game 7 win on the road this postseason. It will host the New York Rangers in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup finals on Wednesday night. “We’ve battled back so many DUBLIN: Hideki Matsuyama of Japan, holds the trophy after winning the Memorial times this year and so many times in these golf tournament on the first playoff hole. — AP playoffs, we said, ‘Why not again today?’” said Justin Williams, who had a goal and an assist. Matsuyama wins Memorial “It was a total team effort, every single guy here giving everything they’ve got.” DUBLIN: Hideki Matsuyama earned his first vic- par-5 15th that it went over the trees and into a The Kings became the first team to play 21 tory in America and validation as one of golf’s neighborhood, far out-of-bounds. That led to games through the first three rounds of the young stars Sunday with birdie on the 18th hole double bogey and he never recovered. Watson playoffs and make it to the NHL finals. The 2002 to force a playoff and a 10-foot par putt on the closed with a 72 and finished one shot out of Avalanche and 1993 Maple Leafs also played first extra hole to win the Memorial. the playoff. the maximum amount of games through three In a tournament that Masters champions “It’s tough,” said Watson, who was going for series, but they lost in Game 7 of the confer- Bubba Watson and Adam Scott threw away on a his third win of the year. “I made one bad deci- ence championships. wild back nine, Matsuyama looked certain to sion. If I hit 4-wood off the tee instead of driver Los Angeles is the only team to play all join them. He lost the lead by dropping three on the par 5, we make 5 and we win by one. But three of those Game 7s on the road. “You need shots on two holes, and he didn’t look like a win- I made double, so we lost by one.” everybody when you get to Game 7. You’re not ner when he pushed his drive toward the Scott had a share of the lead after 11 holes into the individual part of it,” Kings coach CHICAGO: Los Angeles Kings goalie Jonathan Quick (32) blocks a shot by Chicago Blackhawks bunkers on the final hole. Lightly slamming his and was poised for his second straight PGA Tour Darryl Sutter said. “There’s always guys that driver to the turf in disgust, the head broke off. win. But he put his tee shot into the water on right wing Marian Hossa (81) as Los Angeles Kings defenseman Jake Muzzin (6) defends dur- score big goals, make big plays. But you need But the 22-year-old from Japan followed the par-3 12th for double bogey, took two shots ing the third period in Game 7 of the Western Conference finals. — AP with an approach to just outside 5 feet for birdie to get out of a bunker on the 14th for bogey, everybody in your lineup.” and a 3-under 69. That forced a playoff with and then dropped another shot at the 15th Tyler Toffoli had a goal and an assist for the formance for Sutter’s team. Los Angeles trailed most coaching wins in Game 7s. Kevin Na, who finished his round of 64 about when his wedge hit the pin and caromed back Kings, who once held a 3-1 lead in the series, San Jose 3-0 in its first-round series and was Sharp sent a big power-play drive past two hours earlier. into the fairway. He closed with a 71 and tied for only to have the defending champion down 3-2 to top-seeded Anaheim in the sec- Quick to give the Blackhawks a 4-3 lead at Matsuyama chose not to replace his broken fourth with Chris Kirk (68). Blackhawks come back to force Game 7. ond round before rallying each time. 18:25 of the second. But Gaborik responded driver in the playoff, and his 3-wood on the 18th “The whole thing is frustrating as I stand here Marian Gaborik had the tying score midway “It’s just a great group to be part of,” Quick with his NHL-best 12th playoff goal at 7:17 of hole went into the bunker. Na drove left into the right now,” the Australian said. “But everyone is through the third period. Patrick Sharp scored said. “I feel very fortunate to be with the guys. the third, setting the stage for a frantic finish to creek and still had about 10 feet for bogey when going to feel like that. We all could have done two goals for the Blackhawks, who blew a 2-0 Obviously our journey’s not done yet and regulation. Matsuyama made his par putt. something different. If we all did, who knows lead. Brandon Saad had a goal and an assist, we’ve got a lot of work here coming up. New Quick turned away prime opportunities for “Right from the 15th hole, I had a lot of what the result would be?” Na was in the club- and Patrick Kane had two more assists. York’s an awesome team. They beat great Sharp and Bryan Bickell before he made a ter- missed shots,” Matsuyama said. “The double house at Muirfield Village, leaning against two Chicago’s loss means Detroit remains the teams, so they’re battle-tested as well so we’ve rific save on Andrew Shaw in the final seconds.