Medien Diskussion » 360 degrees and ending up in the gravel. T

In the early evening of June 6, 2015, with more than half of the thoroughbred racing season still to go, the contest for 2015 Horse of the Year was over. It didnt matter what American Pharoah would do, or not do, from that point forward. After becoming the first horse to win the Triple Crown in 37 years, there wasnt any doubt whatsoever, even with so many important races yet to be decided, that American Pharoah had clinched Horse of the Year honors.In truth, 2015 was an aberration, because youre just not supposed to know the Horse of the Year that early. This, not surprisingly, is a very different year.(American Pharoah, of course, also accomplished very important things after his Triple Crown, romping in the Haskell and Breeders Cup Classic.)This 2016 racing season, while different, is actually unfolding in a totally conventional manner. At this point, some divisions seem crystal clear, while others are there for the taking. And Horse of the Year is far from settled, which adds an extra layer of intrigue to each weekends major stakes events.Last week, Songbird shipped all the way east for the first time to compete in Saratogas Coaching Club American Oaks and crushed Carina Mia, arguably the second-best 3-year-old filly in the country, to extend her unbeaten streak to nine. In the process, Songbirds lead for the championship of her division, already very large, likely became insurmountable.Also last week, California Chrome made a successful return to U.S. racing at Del Mar with a thrilling victory in the San Diego Handicap. California Chrome is arguably the current leader for Horse of the Year and top older dirt male on the strength of his powerful victory in the Dubai World Cup.However, the Dubai Cup was run half a world away, and California Chromes two victories this year on these shores came in Grade 2 races. So while merely winning last week means he lost nothing in terms of Eclipse Award position, the above combined with the fact that Dortmund gave him everything he wanted in the San Diego says California Chrome hasnt clinched anything yet.There are major championship considerations at stake this weekend, too. The amazing Beholder, already a three-time Eclipse Award winner, again meets last years champion 3-year-old filly, Stellar Wind, in Saturdays Grade 1 Clement L. Hirsch Stakes at Del Mar. Beholder toyed with Stellar Wind in last months Grade 1 Vanity, and if she wins again (shes going for her ninth straight score), Beholder will make it only more difficult to overtake her in the older female division while enhancing her very live Horse of the Year candidacy.On Saturday at Saratoga, Flintshire -- whose victory in the Grade 1 Manhattan on the Belmont Stakes undercard in his only start this year was so impressive that it made him the clear leader in the male turf division -- goes in the Grade 2 Bowling Green Stakes. Flintshire is in a tricky spot. He is an absolute layover on paper, and if he doesnt win, and win big, it could hurt his title position, even if the Bowling Green is only a bridge to bigger and better races.But perhaps the biggest Eclipse Award implications this weekend involve the 3-year-old male division, in the Grade 1 Haskell Sunday at Monmouth Park and in the Grade 2 Jim Dandy, also Saturday at Saratoga and the local springboard to the critical Travers Stakes on Aug. 27.The Jim Dandy came up very salty with Creator and Destin, just a nose apart when first and second in the Belmont Stakes, and Mohaymen, who was the favorite for the Kentucky Derby until Nyquist handed him his first defeat in the Grade 1 Florida Derby.However, as solid as the Jim Dandy is, the Haskell carries greater importance. This Haskell is being billed as a renewal of the rivalry between Kentucky Derby winner Nyquist and Preakness winner Exaggerator, a meeting made possible by the surprising and abrupt rerouting of Exaggerator from Saratoga to Monmouth. But Im not sure it is as much of a rivalry right now as the public relations folks would have you think.Exaggerator was 0-for-3 against Nyquist before finally getting the best of him in the Preakness, but an ugly 11th as the favorite in the Belmont Stakes (a race Nyquist missed due to illness) served to refocus the spotlight on the questions Exaggerator must address.Simply put, Exaggerator must prove he is not a creation of wet tracks and incredibly favorable pace setups. The three best races Nyquist ever ran, and by a long way, were his wins in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby and Preakness and his second to Nyquist in the Kentucky Derby. The thing is, Exaggerator caught wet tracks in those outings -- the official track condition for the Kentucky Derby was fast, but a heavy rainstorm right before the race left standing water in spots. And perhaps even more important, all three of those races featured scorching early paces that favored Exaggerators late kick. Exaggerator got neither a wet track nor a fast pace in the Belmont, and the result was not pretty.Nyquist has no such questions to address. Even though last years champion 2-year-old male lost for the first time in the Preakness after winning the first eight starts of his career, people are wisely not holding that defeat against him. Handicappers know that the outcome of the Preakness might have been very different had Nyquist not foolishly and needlessly been involved in a senseless early speed duel, and they give him credit for finishing as well as third. Moreover, Nyquists game try was certainly no surprise because he was on top of that very fast early pace in the Kentucky Derby -- the pace that set up so well for Exaggerator -- and still won decisively.The 3-year-old male division still goes through Nyquist, and he could take a huge step toward locking up another divisional title with a win in the Haskell. Daniel Jones Giants Jersey . Malkin got tangled up with Detroits Luke Glendening early in the third period and his left skate took the brunt of collision with the boards behind Pittsburghs net. Lawrence Taylor Youth Jersey .Y. -- Sabres defenceman Tyler Myers had no intention of changing his hard-hitting style before taking part in a disciplinary hearing for his illegal check to New Jersey forward Dainius Zubrus head. http://www.authenticnygiantspro.com/Mark-bavaro-giants-jersey/ . LOUIS -- Attorneys for the St. Darius Slayton Womens Jersey . "It was nerve-wracking, but we pulled through," said Collaros, who threw four touchdown passes to lead the Toronto Argonauts (8-4) to a 33-27 win over the Calgary Stampeders (9-3) in front of 28,781 fans at McMahon Stadium. Evan Engram Youth Jersey . Collaros, 25, was solid last season, posting a 5-2 record as the starter while incumbent Ricky Ray was injured. Collaros also started Torontos 23-20 regular-season finale loss to Montreal — Ray didnt dress because the Argos had already clinched first in the East Division — but was one of three quarterbacks to play that day. SPIELBERG, Austria -- Sebastian Vettel said brake distribution was shifted too far rearwards when he spun in the closing stages of the second practice session for the Austrian Grand Prix.Vettel locked his rear tyres under braking for Turn 2, spinning through 360 degrees and ending up in the gravel. The mistake saw his session come to an early end, but he said no major damage was done.Yeah, we had an issue with the brake distribution, he said. It caught me by surprise, but it didnt matter too much and fortunately nothing happened. I lost a couple of minutes [of the session], so it didnt make a big difference.Asked if he thought Ferrari could win this weekend, Vettel added: Always. I think every race iss an opportunity.dddddddddddd. It was a decent day, but Im not entirely clear where we are because we didnt get much running, in the afternoon in particular, but overall it should be okay.During first practice Max Verstappen labelled the big kerbs on the exits of Turn 5 and Turn 8 as dangerous after he broke his front wing and his right front suspension on them. But Vettel said the simple solution was to avoid them.Maybe they need to build stronger front wings! Then they would stop complaining. I dont know, I havent been on them and I havent experienced how harsh they are. ' ' '