TUESDAY, MAY 26, 2015 SPORTS Pharoah aims to defy history in Triple Crown bid WASHINGTON: History suggests that opportunity to see a piece of sports his- longshot named Birdstone blew by the But the Belmont Stakes’ punishing dis- Course. there will be nothing easy about US tory when Espinoza gets an unprecen- favorite just yards (metres) from the fin- tance is so taxing for a thoroughbred, “Before, I said I really want to win the jockey Victor Espinoza’s attempt to ride dented third crack at the coveted prize ish line, turning the mood from giddy to most never run that long again. Triple Crown,” said Espinoza. “At this American Pharoah to a Triple Crown vic- when he rides American Pharoah at morgue-like in a matter of seconds. The 20-horse Derby is run on the first point, I have no pressure. If it happens, it tory next month. Belmont Park to the cheers of a 90,000- There was an audible gasp from the Saturday in May, followed by the happens. If it doesn’t it just wasn’t There has not been a Triple Crown strong crowd. crowd of 120,000, followed by an eerie Preakness two weeks later. The Belmont meant to be. I’ll just move on with my winner since 1978 and one of the last Espinoza, 43, is vying to become the silence. Stakes is three weeks after the life.” Last year, Espinoza tried vigorously attempts, by hugely popular Smarty 12th winner of the Triple Crown, one of Of the 11 Triple Crown victors, no Preakness, capping a series so tough to get California Chrome in position Jones, ended in crushing disappoint- the rarest feats in all of sports, having one had a harder path than Cauthen, that some horses never recover and down the stretch but conceded the ment. failed at Belmont Park with War Emblem whose colt had to battle Alydar in dra- have to be retired. colt’s gas tank was “empty.” They fin- As Smarty Jones barreled down the in 2002 and California Chrome a year matic stretch drives in all three races. “You just have to have everything go ished fourth, losing to Tonalist, who home stretch at Belmont Park in 2004, ago. The two rivals were by themselves right even if you have the best horse,” skipped both the Derby and the jockey Stewart Elliott knew his mount No horse has won the Belmont for most of the Belmont Stakes before said Cauthen, now 55. “You need for Preakness. would fall short, disappointing a world- Stakes after finishing first in the Affirmed won by a head to win and your horse to be at his best on all three Baffert is also aiming for his first wide audience hoping to see the colt Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes claimed a rarified place in horseracing occasions.” Triple Crown, having been denied with complete the Triple Crown. Toward the since Affirmed turned the trick in 1978 history. Before he takes to the track known as Silver Charm in 1997, Real Quiet in 1998 end of the grueling 1-1/2-mile (2.4-km) and Steve Cauthen became the “It was fantastic, especially the way it “Graveyard of Triple Crown Dreams,” and with War Emblem. He knows course, the journeyman rider said he youngest jockey to win a Triple Crown happened,” said Cauthen. “They were all Espinoza insists he is ready for his third Espinoza has a target on his back. could feel the thoroughbred running at just 18 years of age. tough battles. But in the Belmont, to get shot, even though he knows American “I know everybody right now is out of gas and realized then that the This year, spectators will gather at across the line 3 or 4 inches (7.5 cm to Pharoah will be facing fresh horses, sharpening their knives, getting ready,” Belmont Stakes was about to claim yet Belmont Park in Long Island, New York, 10 cm) ahead after a mile-long (1.8 km) some that skipped the Derby or he said minutes after his colt’s another victim. hoping to witness a different fate from battle was extremely satisfying. “A mile- Preakness, or both. Preakness victory. But ordinary fans “I knew if any other horse was run- the one that befell Smarty Jones, a and-a-half wasn’t Affirmed’s best dis- Trained by Hall of Famer Bob Baffert, always thirst for a Triple Crown winner. ning, we were going to get beat,” Elliott diminutive chestnut who was perhaps tance, but what got him across the line American Pharoah won the Derby by a Just ask Edgar Prado, the Birdstone jock- said softly, recalling the pain of the 2004 the most popular horse of his genera- was his desire and his heart.” The Triple mere length, but roared back to win the ey who beat Smarty Jones 11 years ago. race, “and we did.” tion. Crown is only for 3-year-olds and its Preakness by an astonishing seven “I apologize to everybody,” he said after On June 6, the world will get another On that afternoon in 2004, a 36-1 three races are each different distances. lengths at Baltimore’s Pimlico Race the race.—Reuters Kirk wins at Colonial TEXAS: American Chris Kirk coolly got up and down from off the green at the 18th hole to salvage par and clinch his fourth PGA Tour title by one shot on Sunday at the $6.5 million Crowne Plaza Invitational in Fort Worth, Texas. After watching playing partner Brandt Snedeker nar- rowly miss a 12-footer for birdie at the last, Kirk sank a clutch seven-foot par putt to seal victory with a closing four-under 66 at a rain-saturated Colonial Country Club. That left Kirk at 12-under 268 after an intriguing last-day shootout at Colonial where five players held at least a share of the lead in the final round. “Unbelievable, to be a part of the history of this tourna- ment is just amazing to me,” Kirk told CBS Sports after adding his name to a list of winners at Colonial where golf- ing great and Fort Worth resident Ben Hogan triumphed five times. “I’ve always loved this golf course and this has been my favourite tournament on the tour. “I didn’t really feel like I was swinging that great early on in the week but somehow I was able to get it done,” said the 30-year-old, who never relinquished the lead after sinking a birdie putt at the 15th. Asked if winning on the PGA Tour was becoming any easier, Kirk replied: “Absolutely not. I was as nervous as I have ever been today, for sure. Those up-and-downs the last couple of holes, and especially making that putt on 18, INDIANA: Colin Montgomerie of Scotland putts for birdie on the 17th hole during the was pretty sweet.” final round of the Senior PGA Championship. —AFP Snedeker signed off with a 67 to share second place at 11 under with fellow Americans Jason Bohn, who fired a best-of-the-day 63, and Masters champion Jordan Spieth Monty retains Senior title (65). “Very disappointed,” said Snedeker. “I played great and INDIANA: Colin Montgomerie of Scotland “I spent 22 proper years trying to do this just didn’t make putts on the last three holes like you are retained his Senior PGA Championship and three (wins) have come at the one supposed to to win golf tournaments.” crown by a commanding four shots on time,” said the Scot, who was a runner-up American Kevin Na, who had been a stroke in front Sunday at French Lick, Indiana as he earned five times in regular majors during a glitter- overnight, briefly stretched his lead to three with a birdie- his third major title in the over-50 ranks. ing career that also yielded a record eight birdie start but his title bid unravelled when he followed a Three ahead overnight, Montgomerie European Tour order of merit titles. bogey at the third with a double at the ninth. Na finished rebounded from a bogey on the opening “It’s a fantastic time I am having. The with a 72 to share 10th place at nine under. hole with a superb display on the challeng- American crowd have embraced me and The start to the final round was delayed by three hours ing Pete Dye course at the French Lick I’ve embraced them and I’m having fun out due to thunderstorms, and improved lies were permitted Resort, piling up six birdies and just two here. I think that’s what it’s all about. I from anywhere on the par-70 layout after just under two more bogeys on the way to a three-under- enjoyed this layout.” inches of rain had saturated the course since Saturday TEXAS: Chris Kirk poses with the champion’s trophy after winning the Colonial golf par 69. Montgomerie never allowed his pur- afternoon.—Reuters tournament. —AP That left the 51-year-old Scot at eight- suers to get any closer than two shots on under 280, four strokes ahead of Mexico’s Sunday and he effectively secured victory Esteban Toledo who closed with a 69 on a with a sizzling run of five birdies in eight blustery afternoon. holes from the fifth. Montgomerie became the first player “Finishing second is not that bad but Lightning strikes to close since American Hale Irwin (1996-1998) to Colin ... just an outstanding job he did successfully defend the Senior PGA today,” said Toledo, a former professional Championship.