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LOUISVILLE, Ky. cheap jerseys from china . -- Bob Baffert is down to one horse for the Kentucky Derby after early 6-1 second choice Hoppertunity was scratched Thursday because of a sore left front foot. The colt was to have been ridden Saturday by Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith. "Bad news travels fast," Baffert said outside his barn, where onlookers gathered as word spread around Churchill Downs. "The horse is OK. Hes just not 100 per cent and its too close to the race, so I pulled the plug." Baffert first noticed signs something wasnt quite right on Wednesday, when Hoppertunity took a few steps. The inside quarter of his left foot was sore, so part of his shoe was cut off. As the colt walked to warm up, he didnt appear bothered. But Baffert decided to scratch him anyway. Hoppertunity will have a full scan Thursday to eliminate any other possible problems than a sore foot, which will be soaked. In a bit of gallows humour, Baffert joked, "We missed a Hoppertunity." He said the colt could return in time for the Preakness on May 17. Churchill Downs oddsmaker Mike Battaglia revised the Derby morning line odds, although California Chrome remained the favourite at 5-2. Wicked Strong, the colt named for the victims of last years Boston Marathon bombings, replaced Hoppertunity as the early second choice at 6-1. Arkansas Derby winner Danza and Intense Holiday were installed as the co-third choices at 8-1. Tapiture was made the fifth choice at 12-1. The odds for Candy Boy were lowered to 15-1 from 20-1. Louisiana Derby winner Vicars In Trouble, to be ridden by Rosie Napravnik, dropped to 20-1 from 30-1. Smith will still be busy on Derby day, ridding in seven of the 13 races on the card. "I could still have a pretty good day," he said. "Id rather lose it this way than something happen on the track." The scratch moved also-eligible horse Pablo Del Monte into the maximum 20-horse field. However, the 50-1 shot would have to start from the No. 20 post position. It wasnt immediately known if Pablo Del Montes owners want to start under that condition. "Its amazing to have the opportunity to run," said Wesley Ward, who trains and co-owns the colt. "With my 25 per cent there is nothing Id love better, with a horse that I bred, than to run. But I have to go with what my partners want to do." The original plan for Pablo Del Monte, who was third in the Blue Grass, was to wait for the Preakness. His other owners are in Europe, and Ward expected to learn their decision later Thursday or early Friday. Hoppertunity had drawn the No. 11 post. With his scratch, the other horses in the outside starting gate all moved up one spot. Blue Grass winner Dance With Fate will now break from the 11th spot. Baffert has another horse in the race, 20-1 shot Chitu. That colt also has had foot problems and recently threw one of his shoes. "Ive had a lot of luck here," said Baffert, a three-time Derby winner, "so I cant really complain." cheap nfl jerseys .C. -- Major League Soccers Vancouver Whitecaps and the City of New Westminster have signed a memorandum of understanding towards bringing a United Soccer Leagues Pro franchise to the British Columbia city. cheap jerseys . - The Washington Wizards are in a great position to make the playoffs for the first time in six years, and John Wall has a lot to do with it.SAN DIEGO - Jason Hammel listened to some smart advice, and it paid off in a big way.Hammel pitched inside more and it helped him get into the seventh inning as the Colorado Rockies beat the San Diego Padres 3-2 on Friday night.The six-foot-six right-hander was urged by Colorados coaching staff to start going inside more, and he paid attention.I had a sit down and was told that my M.O. around the league is the way hitters look at me, Hammel said. Obviously, I need to be able to pitch inside more. I was able to do that effectively enough.Colorado scored three times in the second inning and earned its 10th win in its last 13 games at Petco Park. The Rockies also have won two in a row after losing four straight.Hammel (6-10) was charged with two runs and five hits in 6 1-3 innings. He snapped a personal two-game slide and earned just his second victory in his last seven starts.(Hammel) got punched there in the (third) inning, Colorado manager Jim Tracy said. You were anxious to see how he was going to respond once that happened. What was great to see was that he punched back and gave us some more good innings.Hammel left after losing pinch-hitter Kyle Blanks to a walk, and the Rockies used three relievers to finish the inning.Matt Lindstrom came in and struck out Cameron Maybin before allowing a single to Orlando Hudson that moved Blanks to third. Matt Reynolds then walked Chase Headley to load the bases before Matt Belisle retired Ryan Ludwick on a popup.I dont think he is pressing, Padres manager Bud Black said of Ludwick, the subject of much speculation ahead of Sundays non-waiver trade deadline. Hes taking good rips, the results arent there. He has to get to the point where his timing is a bit more precise.Rafael Betancourt worked the eighth and Huston Street finished for his 28th save in 30 chances. Cameron Maybin doubled with two out in the nninth, but Street got Orlando Hudson to ground out to end the game. wholesale jerseys. The bullpen did a wonderful job, Tracy said. We got backed into a corner there in the seventh inning and Belisle made a pitch with the slider to Ludwick.Maybin finished with three hits and is batting .387 since the all-star break. He has hit safely in 13 of 14 games.Padres starter Tim Stauffer (6-8) gave up eight hits in seven innings. He hurt himself with a costly balk, the first of his career.Troy Tulowitzki and Seth Smith began the second with consecutive singles and each runner moved up on a groundout. Ian Stewart and Chris Iannetta then had RBI singles to make it 2-0.Stewart and Iannetta pulled off a double steal without a throw with Hammel at the plate. Before the next pitch, Stauffer was called for a balk, allowing Stewart to score.It was a combination of things, Stauffer said. They hit some decent pitches, pitches I left out over the plate. But they were down and out hunting fastballs and were fortunate to get a couple of knocks there.The Padres thwarted another Colorado run by pitching out when Hammel attempted a suicide squeeze. Catcher Luis Martinez took the pitch and fired to Headley at third base, who tagged out Iannetta.San Diego cut the lead to 3-2 in the third. Maybin doubled, went to third on a wild pitch and scored when Hudsons infield hit bounced off the glove of a diving Tulowitzki at shortstop. Hudson then stole second and scored on Headleys single.NOTES: Hammel is 3-0 with a 2.92 earned-run average in four career starts at Petco Park. ... Padres LHP Clayton Richard underwent season-ending arthroscopic shoulder surgery. ... The Rockies are without a homer in five straight games, their longest streak in nearly a year. ... San Diego scratched RF Will Venable (back spasms) and SS Jason Bartlett (tight right hamstring) from the starting lineup. cheap jerseys ' ' ' |
