Horse racingOrb shaping up well post-Derby
Kentucky Derby winner Orb galloped 1¼ miles under exercise rider Jenn Patterson at Belmont Park on Friday, and trainer Shug McGaughey said he's "pleased with everything I've been seeing."
Orb closed from 17th to win the Derby by 2½ lengths last week, and is expected to have a final workout on Monday before being vanned to Baltimore for next Saturday's Preakness.
The 3-year-old colt has won five in a row, and seems to be getting better with every race.
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"He's filled out so much physically. I look at him and I can't believe what I'm seeing from last November to now," McGaughey said. "Mentally, everything's come together. ... I couldn't be more pleased with his development."
Meanwhile, Orb's jockey Joel Rosario continues to stay on a winning role, riding the winners at Belmont Park's feature races the past two days.
In other Preakness news:
Itsmyluckyday, 15th in the Derby, galloped at Monmouth Park Friday morning, and trainer Eddie Plesa Jr., says the colt with have his workout by Monday, depending on the weather, and be shipped to Pimlico on Tuesday.
Goldencents, 17th in the Derby, galloped about six furlongs at Pimlico under regular rider Kevin Krigger. Trainer Doug O'Neill is expected to arrive Monday to watch his Santa Anita Derby winner's final workout before the Preakness.
Illinois Derby winner Departing galloped 1½ miles at Churchill Downs. The colt owned by Claiborne Farm and Adele Dilschneider is scheduled to work Sunday before heading to Pimlico on Wednesday.
Others expected to run the Preakness include Mylute, Normandy Invasion and the D. Wayne Lukas trio of Oxbow, Will Take Charge and Titletown Five. Govenor Charlie, Vyjack and Street Spice are possible for the second leg of the Triple Crown.
Power Broker wins Churchill feature
Gary and Mary West's Power Broker grabbed the lead at the top of stretch and drew off to a 21/2-length victory in the $51,384 allowance feature for 3-year-olds and up on Friday afternoon at Churchill Downs. Trained by Bob Baffert and ridden by Rosie Napravnik, Power Broker completed the 11⁄16 miles on a sloppy track in 1:44.59.
UK sports
Baseball reschedules match vs. Vandy
With heavy rains in the Central Kentucky area, the series opener between the Kentucky and Vanderbilt baseball teams has been rescheduled. The two teams will instead play a doubleheader on Saturday. Game one of the series starts at 2 p.m. at Cliff Hagan Stadium, with the second game set for 7 p.m.
Kentucky (28-19, 10-14 Southeastern Conference) host the blistering-hot Commodores (42-6, 21-2 SEC) in a three-game series. It will mark UK's fourth doubleheader of the season, with UK posting a 3-3 record in doubleheaders in 2013.
The women's golf team concluded round two of the NCAA East Regional in 12th place with an 8-over-par, 296. Junior Liz Breed had the low score on the day for the Wildcats, shooting an even-par 72.
Alabama's Emma Talley, a graduate of Caldwell County, was tied for second place with a 6-under 138.
NFL
Jets' Smith gives himself an 'F'
Geno Smith was surrounded by a throng of reporters, a crowded scene usually more appropriate for a No. 1 draft pick than a second-rounder.
But Smith, of course, isn't your ordinary No. 39 selection. And, the New York Jets are certainly used to their quarterbacks — and backup quarterbacks, for that matter — getting this type of attention.
Smith has taken lots of criticism for his abilities on the field — despite a record-breaking career at West Virginia — and his attitude off it. Various published reports painted Smith as an immature diva who didn't always take football seriously enough.
"Maybe I don't know what the diva behavior looks like," coach Rex Ryan said. "I never saw that at all."
There's plenty to do, if you ask Smith, who said all the right things after his first practice of rookie minicamp.
"I'm going to be tough on myself," Smith said. "I'll let the coaches do the grading, but if I say it, it's an F because I want to be an A-plus. Hey man, that's just the way I do things."
Tyler Eifert lined up here, there and just about everywhere during his first practice with the Cincinnati Bengals. Felt like old times. The Bengals got started on their new tight end-heavy passing game Friday at the start of a weekend rookie minicamp. A lot of the focus was on Eifert, chosen in the first round to give quarterback Andy Dalton another target.
Softball
SEC semifinals move to Saturday
Inclement weather caused Friday's semifinal games of the Southeastern Conference Softball Tournament to be postponed until Saturday.
Play at the University of Kentucky's John Cropp Stadium is scheduled to resume Saturday morning at 11 with top-seeded Florida taking on No. 5 Georgia. Then, it will be second-seeded Tennessee versus No. 3 Missouri at 1:30 p.m.
The championship game remains as scheduled, Saturday at 8 p.m.
College basketball
Morehead signs 6-foot-10 Juco transfer
DeAndre Leatherwood, a 6-foot-10 post player from Prince George's Community College (Md.), has signed a National Letter of Intent with the Morehead State men's basketball program. He has two seasons of eligibility remaining and will be able to play in 2013-14.
"DeAndre has only played three years of organized basketball, but his potential is off the charts," Coach Sean Woods said.
Leatherwood, who was reportedly 5-foot-8 as a high school freshman , didn't play competitive basketball until his senior year. He started high school as a football player, but made the transition to hoops after growing 14 inches in just five years.
Georgia coach Mark Fox says assistant Kwanza Johnson has resigned so he can accept a similar job at Texas Christian. Johnson worked for Fox for seven seasons, including four years at Georgia. He previously coached under Fox at Nevada.
Johnson played for coach Tubby Smith at Tulsa before Smith became Georgia's coach. He earned his law degree from Tulsa in 1999.
College football
Sooners quarterback arrested
Oklahoma sophomore quarterback Kendal Thompson has been arrested for public intoxication and refusing to obey a police officer's orders. School spokesman Pete Moris issued a statement Friday saying OU officials are aware of the arrest "and are handling it internally."
Oklahoma City television station KOCO says Norman police were investigating a loud party early Friday when they found Thompson lying in the grass outside an apartment. Authorities say Thompson reportedly refused to obey orders and tried to walk away.
Thompson was in a three-way battle for the starting quarterback job at OU. He is the son of former Sooner quarterback Charles Thompson.
The last word
Houston Texans first-round draft pick DeAndre Hopkins was glad to get to work after a whirlwind couple of weeks filled with appearances and interviews.
"It felt great just to put on the helmet. I've been doing a bunch of talking, and I felt like a president almost being up on podiums and talking. So it felt great just to come out here just doing what I love."
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