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What to watch for at the Preakness
Category: Sports Written by Associated Press
In this photo taken on Saturday, May 4, jockey Joel Rosario, third from left, celebrates as Orb crosses the finish line to win the 139th Kentucky Derby horse race at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
by Richard Rosenblatt
BALTIMORE (AP) — All eyes will be on Kentucky Derby winner Orb in the Preakness Stakes on Saturday. The 3-year-old colt will take on eight challengers in the second leg of the Triple Crown. If he wins, Orb will attempt to become the first Triple Crown champion since Affirmed in 1978 at the Belmont Stakes on June 8. In the Preakness, Orb will be facing five horses he defeated in the Derby and three who did not run in the race.
Here's a guide to watching the race:
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— INSIDE START. Orb will start from the inside, No. 1 gate. If this was the Kentucky Derby that could be a major problem because there would be more of a chance of getting squeezed back in the pack. The Derby field was 19; the Preakness is nine, with a longer run to the first turn than at Churchill Downs. However, since 1961 only one horse — Tabasco Cat in 1994 — has won from the No. 1 post.
— FIRST TURN. By the first turn, we'll know whether Orb, under jockey Joel Rosario, has established clear-running position. The question is how far back he'll settle. In the Derby, with its much larger field, Orb dropped 18 lengths off the pace. Look for him to be much closer as Govenor Charlie, Goldencents, Itsmyluckyday and Titletown Five vie for the early lead.
— BACKSTRETCH: Around the turn and into the backstretch, Orb should find a comfortable groove as the field sorts into clusters: speed horses, midpack runners and closers. If the early pace is fast, Orb could be farther back; if it's slow, he could be in the middle.
— FINAL TURN: Heading into the final turn is when Orb should be making his move. In the Derby, Rosario waited patiently to make the call and when he did, Orb went from 16th to the lead in the final half-mile and won by 2½ lengths.
— HEADED FOR HOME: The stretch run is anyone's guess, but if all goes according to form, Orb should be in the mix to win no matter what the pace. Among proven closers in the field are Mylute, Departing and Will Take Charge. If the sloppy track was the reason both Goldencents and Itsmyluckday ran so poorly, then either or both could rebound with a big race and prove hard to catch in the lane.
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Follow Richard Rosenblatt on Twitter at: http://www.twitter.com/rosenblattap
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Last Updated on Sunday, 19 May 2013 09:23
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Dropped fly ball gives Pirates 5-4 win over Astros
Category: Sports Written by Associated Press
Pirates' Russell Martin (55) is congratulated by coach Dave Jauss after Astros shortstop Jake Elmore, and right fielder Jimmy Paredes collided as they tried to catch a pop fly by Martin with the bases loaded and two outs in the ninth inning of a baseball game May 17. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)
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Category: Sports Written by Bill Neal
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The event, showcasing the area’s best basketball talent, was held at the new and magnificent Penn Hills High School and also featured the top middle school boys and girls in the early day tournament.
The games were attended by more than 1,000 people including coaches from 27 Pennsylvania colleges. To date, seven participating students have received scholarship offers.
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Last Updated on Friday, 17 May 2013 17:19
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Category: Sports Written by Associated Press
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by Will Graves
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Last Updated on Saturday, 18 May 2013 13:43
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Mayweather Jr. ranks No. 1 on SI Fortunate 50
Category: Sports Written by Courier Newsroom
Floyd Mayweather Jr., right, poses for photos with his father, Floyd Mayeather Sr. after defeating Robert Guerrero by unanimous decision in a WBC welterweight title fight, May 4, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
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Last Updated on Friday, 17 May 2013 07:24
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