Gormley triumphs at Santa Anita by half-length
ARCADIA >> It’s almost like old times for John Shirreffs and Jerry Moss.
The trainer and the Rock ‘n Roll Hall of Fame member are headed back to the Kentucky Derby together. This time, they’ve got two contenders.
Gormley won the $1 million Santa Anita Derby by a half-length, while stablemate Royal Mo finished third Saturday in Southern California.
In 2005, Shirreffs and Moss won the Kentucky Derby with 50-1 shot Giacomo, named for a son of Sting. Moss made the rock hall as co-founder of A&M Records.
“It’s been such a great time bringing both of these horses up and both came through beautifully,” Moss said in the winner’s circle at Santa Anita.
Two other horses broke into the 20-horse Kentucky Derby field with victories Saturday.
Irap won the $1 million Blue Grass by three-quarters of a length in a 31-1 upset at Keeneland, while Irish War Cry took the Wood Memorial at Aqueduct in New York by 31/2 lengths.
Irap pulled away from 7-2 third choice Practical Joke in the stretch to win, not only becoming the first to earn his maiden victory in the Blue Grass but snatch 100 points from 8-5 favorite McCraken.
Tennis: U.S. wins doubles to stay alive
BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA >> Late substitute Jack Sock and partner Steve Johnson kept the United States alive in its Davis Cup quarterfinal with Australia, beating Sam Groth and John Peers 3-6, 6-3, 6-2, 2-6, 6-3 in Saturday’s doubles.
The win on a hard court at Brisbane’s Pat Rafter Arena reduced Australia’s advantage to 2-1 ahead of Sunday’s reverse singles.
U.S. captain Jim Courier replaced scheduled doubles player Sam Querrey with Sock about an hour ahead of Saturday’s match, despite Sock having lost his singles match to Jordan Thompson on Friday.
After losing the opening set, the Americans steadily gained confidence, defending strongly and forcing Australia to stay in long rallies.
NFL: Falcons sign Trufant to extension
FLOWERY BRANCH, GA. >> The Atlanta Falcons agreed to a $69 million, five-year contract extension with cornerback Desmond Trufant, locking up another key member for the team that won the NFC title.
The deal was Atlanta’s top priority of the offseason and includes $42 million in guaranteed money.
General manager Thomas Dimitroff says the 2013 first-round pick “has improved each year and we believe his best ball is still in front of him.”
Soccer: U.S., Mexico and Canada to make joint bid
NEW YORK >> The United States, Mexico and Canada are going to announce a joint bid for the 2026 World Cup on Monday, a person familiar with the decision said.
The Confederation of North and Central America and Caribbean Association Football is moving ahead with the bid that was widely expected before Donald Trump was elected president. The confederation made the final decision to go ahead with the bid at its meeting Saturday in Aruba, the person said.