$506,533 20% 8% SMILING ANGELO IS SET FOR SATURDAY’S THOR’S ECHO 50% 18% 13 LATEST CONTENT FROM XBTV: Oliver (Outside) and Seeking Refuge works 4 furlongs. 6-14-19 (O’Neill)Reedley (Outside) and Victory Element works 4 furlongs. 6-14-19 (Baffert)Emtech (Outside) and Rapport worked 4 furlongs. 6-14-19 (Callaghan)Richard Mandella gives an update on Omaha Beach after returning to Santa Anita Park.Shedrow Stroll: Phil D’Amato’s Turf Sprinter Master Ryan. 6-13-19Shedrow Stroll: Phil D’Amato’s King Abner. 6-13-19Shedrow Stroll: Phil D’Amato’s Stakes Winner Lombo. 6-13-19Shedrow Stroll: Phil D’Amato’s Veteran Kenjisstorm. 6-13-19Quick Questions: With Trainer Dan Blacker. 6-13-19Stronach 5: All-Star Ticket for June 14th, 2019XBTV Friday: What to Watch for at Santa Anita Park on June 14th, 2019Roadster (Inside) and Kingly worked 4 furlongs. 6-12-19 (Baffert)Paradise Woods works 4 furlongs. 6-12-19 (Sherriffs)More Ice works 4 furlongs. 6-12-19 (Hollendorfer)All Good (Outside) and Mucho Gusto works 5 furlongs.6-9-19 (Baffert)Gift Box (Outside) in company with Higher Power works 5 furlongs. 6-9-19 (Baffert)FINISH LINES: Rafael Bejarano has two scheduled mounts today and if he wins with them both, he’ll reach a career milestone of 4,000 victories . . . Abel Cedillo, runaway winner of the riding title at Golden Gate Fields which ended its meet Sunday, makes his debut as a Santa Anita regular aboard 4-1 morning line chance Thanks in today’s eighth race. Cedillo captured 124 races at the Bay Area track to 96 for runner-up Juan Hernandez . . . The ink wasn’t even dry on their “contract” when Agapito Delgadilloparted company with fledgling agent Ryan Glatt and hired Saul Marquez, who retains Ruben Fuentes. Ryan now works with agent Tom Knust . . . Fuentes has been suspended five days (June 23, 29, 30 and July 4 and 5) for causing interference on his mount, Oh Man, in Saturday’s third race, his second offense in 60 days . . . Trainer Ben Cecil, who saddled California-bred Listing to win last Sunday’s Desert Code Stakes against open company, currently is in his native England at Royal Ascot . . . Handicapper and bloodstock agent Larry Zap and Golden Gate track announcer Matt Dinerman and his father, David, will be Tom Quigley‘s guests Saturday and Sunday, respectively, 11:50 a.m. in the XBTV studios . . .Desmond Doss, the three-year-old Grazen colt that won last Saturday’s fourth race by nearly two lengths, is named for the United State Army corporal who served as a combat medic with an infantry company in World War II. He was twice awarded the Bronze Star for actions in Guam and the Philippines. Doss further distinguished himself in the Battle of Okinawa by saving 75 men, becoming the only conscientious objector to receive the Medal of Honor for his actions during World War II. His life has been the subject of books, the documentary The Conscientious Objector, and the 2016 film, Hacksaw Ridge. The horse is owned and bred by Nick Alexander and is trained by Phil D’Amato. $893,253 6 10 73% 2nd 46% Bob Baffert30 Money Won Flavien Prat109 ITM% 64% 20 24% 10 ROADSTER RETURNS IN SUNDAY’S AFFIRMED STAKES 12 7 18 16 $1,236,229 47% Martin Garcia59 Vladimir Cerin42 45% $976,679 6 Kent Desormeaux62 53% $1,067,737 35% $158,373 8 7 15% 37% 23% 8 $757,793 57% 17 52% MANDATORY SOLO TICKET JACKPOT MAY HIT $5 MILLION Mark Glatt68 $1,887,967 13 6 5 24% 13 14 3rd 15% 17 $798,131 14% 13% Philip D’Amato71 Mario Gutierrez62 $511,120 7 5 JockeyMts 7 46% 12 5 GRATEFUL MANDELLA REUNITED WITH OMAHA BEACHPre-race Kentucky Derby favorite Omaha Beach who missed the May 4 classic due to an entrapped epiglottis, is back with Richard Mandella at Santa Anita after a recovery of more than a month in the Blue Grass State.“He arrived here Monday night, we scoped him yesterday and he’s near-perfect,” Mandella said Friday morning. “We’re riding him under the shed row for a couple days and will increase his exercise every few days.“He won’t be working for a while, we’re not looking for a race yet, but he’s back and ready to get going.”The Hall of Fame trainer expressed his gratitude to Omaha Beach’s caregivers in Kentucky, specifically Destin Heath, trainer at WinStar Farm, and veterinarian Dr. Rolf Embertson of Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital in Lexington. “Heath cared for him like he was his son,” Mandella said. “He really did a great job.“Dr. Embertson performed the surgery and checked him every day. It was an amazing effort and a good job by everyone involved.”ROADSTER HEADS BAFFERT TRIO IN AFFIRMEDSanta Anita Derby winner Roadster makes his first start Sunday in the Grade III Affirmed Stakes since finishing 15th via disqualification in the Kentucky Derby on May 4.“He didn’t show up in the Derby at all,” Bob Baffert said of the gray son of Quality Road, who will be reunited with Mike Smith in the 1 1/16-mile Affirmed, which is named for the 1978 Triple Crown winner. “Hopefully, this will set him up for a bigger race.”Roadster is but one of three horses entered in the Affirmed by Baffert, the other two being three-time graded stakes winner Mucho Gusto and California Derby winner Kingly, who was supplemented to the race for $2,000.The field: Visitant, William Antongeorgi III, 4-1; Always Forgiven, Kent Desormeaux, 12-1; Manhattan Up, Tiago Pereira, 12-1; Kingly, Mario Guttierez, 5-1; Roadster, Mike Smith, 6-5; and Mucho Gusto, Joe Talamo, 2-1.Quipped trainer Keith Desormeaux on entering maiden winner Always Forgiven: “We’ve got Roadster right where we want him. If Toronto can beat the Warriors, surely my horse can beat Baffert.”Trainer Dean Pederson, a staunch Warrior fan, might take umbrage with that comment, when one considers Golden State super star Kevin Durant missed last night’s NBA Finals game with an injury, and Klay Thompson, the game’s greatest step and shoot three-point specialist, was lost during crunch time with an injury in last night’s 114-112 defeat, leaving Steph Curry to carry the scoring load.“You can only overcome so much,” lamented Pederson.PANTSONFIRE WARMS UP IN POSSIBLY PERFECT STAKESPantsonfire will make her first start in five months in Sunday’s $75,000 Possibly Perfect Stakes for fillies and mares, three and up, at 1 ¼ miles on turf.A marathon specialist on the grass, the five-year-old Irish-bred daughter of Sir Percy last raced on Jan. 20, winning the Grade III Astra Stakes at a mile and a half on a good course.“She had a little foot issue and I had to give her some time off,” trainer Richard Baltas said. “I sent her to the farm for about 30 days and then brought her back. Hopefully, she’ll return with the form she had winning the Astra by 5 ¼ lengths.“Distance should be no issue for her.”The field: Zaffinah, Norberto Arroyo Jr.; Pantsonfire, Flavien Prat; Confidentially, Evin Roman; Mirth, Martin Garcia; Lynne’s Legacy, Alonso Quinonez; Pulpit Rider, Aaron Gryder; Siberian Irish, Rafael Bejarano; and Lemoona, Mario Gutierrez.SMILING ANGELO RETURNS IN THOR’S ECHO STAKESSmiling Angelo returns to the races in Saturday’s $100,000 Thor’s Echo Stakes for three-year-olds and up at six furlongs after an absence of 10 months. Favored in three of his four career starts, the four-year-old Smiling Tiger ridgling weakened to eighth in his most recent outing, a five furlong turf dash at Del Mar last Aug. 25.“He runs really well fresh, and we’re taking the blinkers off,” said trainer Phil D’Amato. “He acts like a horse that will harness his speed better and carry it a long distance.”The Thor’s Echo, one in the lucrative Golden State Series: Coil Me Home, Drayden Van Dyke, 2-1; Prodigal Son, Mario Gutierrez, 15-1; Tap the Wire, Evin Roman, 12-1; Smiling Angelo, Joe Talamo, 5-2; Smokey Image, Flavien Prat, 9-2; Desert Law, Rafael Bejarano, 9-5; and Fire When Ready, Abel Cedillo, 12-1.MANDATORY RAINBOW PICK SIX JACKPOT COULD HIT $5 MILLIONThe beat goes on but it will end on closing day, June 23.With the prospect of a $5 million total pool at stake, Santa Anita will offer fans a mandatory 20 cent Single Ticket Rainbow Pick Six Jackpot payout on Father’s Day, this Sunday, June 16.Although Sunday’s mandatory payout provision is contingent upon there being no Single Ticket winner on Friday, the popular wager is on schedule to produce a massive pool at week’s end, as $1,161,294 in “live” money will be carried into Friday’s eight-race card.Sunday’s Jackpot pool is difficult to predict, but this past Sunday’s total pool of $1,353,571 would indicate that a Father’s Day Jackpot of $5 million is within reach.With Santa Anita’s closing day set for Sunday, June 23, fans will be treated to another  mandatory Rainbow Six payout, as all exotic pools must be distributed.To purchase tickets, or for more information on Santa Anita’s Father’s Day Mandatory Payout and a variety of Father’s Day events and packages, please visit Santaanita.com or call (626) 574-RACE.HALL OF FAME RIDERS HONOR PEERS AT JOCKEYS AND JEANS FUNDRAISERFifteen Hall of Fame riders are expected to attend the sixth annual Jockeys and Jeans Fundraiser benefitting the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund at Santa Anita on Saturday, June 22. They will be there to honor the seven permanently disabled riders who attend, mix and mingle with attendees, and sign autographs.Braulio Baeza, Steve Cauthen, Kent Desormeaux, Victor Espinoza, Pat Day, Earlie Fires, Sandy Hawley, Julie Krone, Chris McCarron, Donald Pierce, Laffit Pincay, Jr., Alex Solis, Mike Smith, Bobby Ussery and Jorge Velasquez are scheduled to be on hand.There will be a free autograph signing from 11:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. in the Paddock Gardens area and a free Silent Auction for all on-track fans from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. adjacent to the autograph signing area.Tickets starting at $65 are on sale at santaanita.com. Walk-up tickets will be available. It includes a Chandelier Room party during the races featuring a buffet and a specialty drink.Fans can also participate in an on line auction for valuable memorabilia at this website link: https://www.32auctions.com/www32auctionscomJockey.For more information contact Jockeys and Jeans VP Marketing, Eddie Donnally at (818) 653 3711 edjockeysandjeansy@gmail.com or Alexis Garske, Santa Anita Media Relations at  Alexis.Garske@santaanita.com (626) 574-6413 Geovanni Franco85 46% 41% 20 14 19 7 Win% 0 7 19% 5 Aaron Gryder75 12 7 John Sadler60 46% $573,355 16 Ruben Fuentes106 14 12 24% 47% Andrew Lerner13 16% 17 52% 11 8 26 5 13 6 17 Steve Knapp30 48% 3 8 1st 19% 42% OMAHA BEACH FINALLY LANDS HOME AT SANTA ANITA 22 $773,879 8 6 12 Richard Mandella25 52% 1st 16% 21% 48% Edwin Maldonado68 $236,907 Jerry Hollendorfer48 19 19 $1,090,897 Richard Baltas67 20% 12 52% Money Won (Current from April 12 through Sunday, June 9) 49% 1 $387,073 0 18% 6 ITM% $269,713 4 6 William Spawr21 $578,365 Rafael Bejarano118 $1,072,330 9 Joseph Talamo101 24% $212,105 Win% Victor Espinoza53 12 24 J. Keith Desormeaux27 16% Drayden Van Dyke93 $621,569 $1,111,438 50% 25% 5 9 Norberto Arroyo, Jr.44 $456,790 Tiago Pereira118 Martin Pedroza39 5 $289,839 13 13 PANTSONFIRE COMES BACK IN MARATHON TURF EVENT 5 60% 57% 8 19% 10 46% 10 $930,333 24 15 18 5 24% 13 48% 8 John Shirreffs21 5 59% 2 24% 3rd 24% $287,292 5 3 2nd 52% 12% 6 SANTA ANITA STATISTICS 5 $757,767 TrainerMts 20% $724,436 6 12 $194,167 11 $516,229 17% 7 Doug O’Neill93 read more

OMAHA BEACH CRUISES TO 2 ¾ LENGTH WIN IN GRADE I, $300,000 RUNHAPPY MALIBU STAKES IN PENULTIMATE START; SMITH & MANDELLA TEAM FOR SEVEN FURLONG WIN IN 1:22.33SMITH NOTCHES 217TH GRADE I WIN, SURPASSING RETIRED HALL OF FAMER BAILEY ARCADIA, Calif. (Dec. 28, 2019)–A mere 24 hours earlier, Mike Smith advised the racing world that Omaha Beach “might do something really special” in Saturday’s Grade I, $300,000 Runhappy Malibu Stakes at Santa Anita.  Mission accomplished.  In what is scheduled to be his penultimate performance, Omaha Beach, who was unhurried early, made short work of four rivals in winning by 2 ¾ lengths in a fashion that left many racegoers pining for what might have been had the imposing son of War Front not been forced to miss this year’s Kentucky Derby with an entrapped epiglottis.Owned by Rich Porter’s Fox Hill Farms, Inc., and trained by Richard Mandella, Omaha Beach, who is out of the Seeking the Gold mare Charming, got seven furlongs in 1:22.33 with his reigns dangling and Smith, who notched his record setting 217th Grade I win, sitting dead-still.“It’s just amazing and this horse speaks for everything,” said Smith, who also registered his fourth stakes win of the day.  “He’s just beautiful, so fun to be around, so fun to ride, and so fun to train.  It just shows how great this horse really is.  I’m so happy and blessed to be a part of it.”When reminded he had just surpassed retired Hall of Famer Jerry Bailey as racing’s all-time Grade I stakes winning jockey, Smith replied, “Jerry is someone that comes from my hometown.  I was born in New Mexico, but raised in Texas in El Paso, where he’s from.  His father was my dentist…So he’s always meant a lot to me, so to surpass him means a whole lot.”With the Grade I, $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitation pegged as his career finale prior to what promises to be a lifetime at stud at Spendthrift Farm in Kentucky, Omaha Beach, who won both the Grade II Rebel and Grade I Arkansas Derby this past spring, made amends for a disappointing second place finish as the even money favorite in the Grade I Breeders’ Cup Mile here on Nov. 2.“He was supposed to run like this,” said Mandella.  When asked if Omaha Beach is as good as any he’s trained in his illustrious Hall of Fame career, he responded, “I can’t think of one better…The few times he ever got beat were my fault…This is really special for us, opening day at Santa Anita.  After all the trouble we have been through this year, this place is The Great Race Place and we all need to remember that.”Off as the 2-5 favorite in a field of five 3-year-olds, Omaha Beach paid $2.80, $2.10 and $2.10.Winless in his first four starts, three of them on turf, Omaha Beach has now won five out of his last six starts, three of them Grade I stakes.  With today’s winner’s share of $180,000, he now has earnings of $1,651,800 from an overall mark of 10-5-4-1.Roadster, winner of this year’s Santa Anita Derby, was last with a half mile to run and rallied to be second, 2 ¼ lengths in front of longshot Manny Wah.  Ridden by Joel Rosario, Roadster was off at 9-1 and paid $3.60 and $3.00.Ridden by Channing Hill, Manny Wah was easily third and paid $3.80 to show while off at 20-1.Fractions on the race were 22.43, 45.02 and 1:09.55. read more

The match review panel put no grading on the charge of dangerous contact with the head or neck on Sunday as it sent Soliola to a Tuesday evening judiciary hearing with no provision for an early plea.Referees boss Tony Archer had already declared the Canberra forward should have been sent off for the ugly incident which forced Melbourne star Slater off GIO Stadium on a medicab on Saturday.Beaten and losing touch with the top eight, Canberra’s season of woe is set to get even worse with winger Jordan Rapana also facing suspension.Rapana faces a one-two week ban after being cited for a shoulder charge on Storm forward Nelson Asofa-Solomona.Soliola’s late, swinging arm to Slater’s head wasn’t enough to convince referee Matt Cecchin to give him his marching orders early in the second half.In Soliola’s defence, Slater’s body height was dropping when struck but rugby league great Andrew Johns saw no excuse.”The ball was passed,” Johns said on the Nine Network’s The Sunday Footy Show.”It’s a cheap shot, he should’ve been sent off. I know Sio Soliola’s a lovely guy, but that was a cheap shot; as cheap as they come, and (he) should’ve been sent off.”Johns claimed there was a defensive trend of late tackles in the game that was contributing to a scarcity of high-standard playmakers.”Every weekend I see halfbacks go to the line and pass, and then a second or two later the guy 22 kilos bigger than him just smashes him from behind in the ribs or kidneys.”How can we produce smaller guys who are creative when they pass the ball and big blokes come from behind and smash them in the kidneys and ribs.”Archer issued a statement on Sunday night saying that, based on a review of the tackle, the incident met the indicators for a sendoff.”The match officials always have the option of a send off and I expect them to use it in instances of serious foul play,” he said.Melbourne coach Craig Bellamy had no doubt.”If it’s not a sending off then I don’t know what is a sending off,” Bellamy said.He compared it with Cameron Munster’s sin-binning in the final minute for a professional foul.”An incident like that happens, and you’re on report so he’s going to come under scrutiny without doubt, but then we lose a player for 10 minutes for holding on to someone,” Bellamy said.Photo: PHOTOSPORT Sia Soliola playing for Samoa. read more

With a challenging three-week stretch on the road coming on the back of an ill-disciplined 21-0 loss to the Raiders on Sunday night, Brennan will put his faith in two carpenters in a restoration project of a different kind.Scans on Monday confirmed that Roberts will miss up to three weeks with an Achilles tendon strain while Taylor’s 2019 campaign won’t commence until round three at the earliest as he spends another week recovering from a quadriceps injury.Brimson, who completed his carpentry apprenticeship last year, was thrust into the starting side against the Raiders for Taylor but became the senior half when Roberts left the field after just 12 minutes.He has vowed to take greater control of the team against the Sharks but will be able to work in conjunction with fellow ‘chippie’ Ryley Jacks who will make his Titans debut.The pair were opposing halves when Brimson made his NRL debut against the Storm in round 10 last year and have formed a strong friendship since Jacks returned to the Gold Coast in the off-season.Brimson’s recovery from a shoulder reconstruction and an elbow injury suffered by Jacks late in pre-season has limited their time together on the training field but the 21-year-old livewire is confident they can construct a strong combination in a short space of time.”I was always rotating in and out of each position (during pre-season) so I did end up getting to spend a bit of time with Ryley and the time that we did spend together was good,” Brimson told NRL.com.”I only played against him once last year when he was playing for Storm and I’ve done a bit of video on him when I was playing for Tweed in the Q Cup competition.”He’s a good leader and marches the team around well.”He’s got a real calm head out there, he’s got a good kicking game and is just a really good halfback.”Singled out as the Titans’ Mr Fix-It to start the year, Brimson is eager to make one of the Titans’ halves positions his own.He admits that he failed to control of the team following the departure of Roberts early against the Raiders but will spend the week at training asserting himself more on the playing group.”My role before Tyrone got injured was to help Tyrone out with a few calls and some of the kicks but just really focus on running the ball,” Brimson said.”I’ve done that sort of a role most of pre-season where I am more of a running half instead of the controlling half but obviously with the injury to Tyrone I had to go into that position.”At times we were in control and knew what we wanted to do but for a lot of it I don’t think there was enough control from myself which is something that I’ll be working on going forward.”It just comes down to confidence and what we do at training.”If I’m doing it each week at training then it will just come naturally on the field.”The louder and more confident I am in myself the more confident the players will be around me and the more they will react to what I tell them to do.”Despite the disruption in the playmaking stocks and horrendous weather for their opening game of the year, Brimson said the chance to make amends for their disappointing performance against Canberra can’t come quick enough.”What we showed as a team in round one is not what we are capable of this year,” Brimson said.”I’m really keen to get back out there as soon as we can and show the competition what we’re actually made of and what we can do.”I take those kinds of losses pretty hard. I’ve got to try and learn to move on but it’s pretty hard when you have a disappointing loss like that.” read more

The Warriors looked to have the match in the bag through 60 minutes of play, before the under-manned Panthers exposed shaky tackling to score with three minutes left, then former Warriors pivot Maloney delivered a field goal killer blow.Even a stunning second half try by a flying David Fusitu’a – a contender for try of the season – couldn’t get the home side the win.Warriors centre Patrick Herbert kicked a 40 metre penalty goal to send the match into extra time, but that turned the game into the Maloney show, as the Warriors slumped to another loss in Auckland.Penrith overcame two yellow cards and an 11-5 penalty count, leaving Warriors coach Stephen Kearney with a tough Monday morning review ahead of him.Rubbing salt into the wound, the Warriors will also likely be without the services of Nate Roache for a while, the young hooker suffering what appeared to be another serious knee injury.The Panthers did start the match the better of the two sides, and looked good shifting the ball to their edges in the opening exchanges by running big Viliame Kikau at Blake Green to great effect.But it was the Warriors who got on the board first through Peta Hiku, who crossed to score against his former club first after just eight minutes after some great lead up work from his halves. It was all the Warriors early, as Green was able to control field position and starve Penrith of possession.But while there was plenty of intent with the ball, defensively the home side were falling off tackles left and right. And off the back of some poor discipline, Penrith easily crossed for their first through James Tamou after 20 minutes of playing mostly in their own half. Maloney converted to give the visitors a 6-4 lead.The Warriors looked to have answered back through hooker Karl Lawton moments later, only for his dummy-half attempt to be turned down by the bunker for an obstruction. They would settle for two points of the tee shortly after, the Panthers continuing to infringe inside their own 10m zone.Things went from bad to worse for Penrith, with Liam Martin sent to the sin bin – the unfortunate casualty of nine first half penalties.Three minute before halftime Warriors then rubbed salt into that wound through prop Bunty Afoa, who crashed over to score his side’s second from 10m out. Herbert converted from beside the uprights and the Warriors went into the sheds 12-6 up.Two minutes into the second and the Panthers were down to 11 men, with Jarome Luai was sent to the bin for taking out Warriors skipper Roger Tuivasa-Sheck in a scoring position.Immediately the Warriors shifted to the edges and a flying Fusitu’a went in to score the Warriors third – and a contender for try of the season in the process.But the visitors wouldn’t go quietly and 15 minutes into the second, centre Brent Naden pounced on a perfectly weighted Maloney kick to score and draw his side to within four points. An arm-wrestle ensued and Penrith were able to control field position for much of the second half.Brent Naden then broke out from his own end to score a brilliant solo try and looked to have won the match for his side with just two minutes left on the clock.The Warriors went short from the kick-off and earned the vital penalty that Herbert was able to nail and send the match to golden point.But the visitors kicked the vital one pointer to crush the Warriors hearts in the 90th minute. read more

This follows their 9-6 win over Port Moresby Kaks in yesterday’s grand final at the Bisini softball grounds.POM Kaks took an early 1-0 lead in the first inning after a run scored by Bernard Toalbert from a safe hit by Kolish Pagal.The lead increased to 2-0 in the second inning after Darius Kero snuck home.The lead changed at top of the third inning when Meros scored 3 quick runs to now lead 3-2.A scoreless bottom 3 brought the game into the top of the fourth where the Meros went into full attack.Smart batting by the Meros batters led by Misiel Puipui allowed them to place their hits and score at will.5 runs were scored by the Meros in this inning.POM Kaks showed they were not out of the game narrowing the deficit at their turn of bat in the same inning scoring two runs.This put the score to 8-4 in favor of Meros to set up a big finish heading into the fifth and final inning.Meros only run at their last turn at bat came from Puipui who smashed a homer to center outfield.POM Kaks again showed their fighting spirit with late two runs to Matupit islanders Graham Kinavai and Demas Tovia.But with two down, Meros pitcher Mosley Obed ensured the win steering his side to their first ever men’s softball title striking out the last batter. read more

Ernesto Valverde appeared before the media after Atlético traced the match to Barça and left him with no Super Cup final. The defeat points to the Barca coach …Do you think this defeat can weaken your figure?Of course, it has been a match in which we have dominated it. It seemed we had it in hand. It has been a complete match except in specific moments.What happened in the last quarter of an hour?The tie to two has come to us in a situation in which we have not known how to stop the game. They have put playing with fast players up and surprised us. I do not think it was an accumulation of situations, but two actions that cost us dearly. Why are they eliminated?They have had great success, they are a great team. There is a great team that was going to stay out. In certain situations they have hit us with danger and hurt us.Inputs come that there is some nervousness in the club. Do you think there may be instability around your position?Coaches always move with the idea of ​​working. We know what football is like and that there is always instability when you lose. We will talk about this, it is inevitable. But I do my thing, which is training. read more

Absent in the Classic, the Super Cup, the derby …Hazard will reappear on the same stage as he retired limping and helped by two auxiliaries of the coaching staff there on November 26. Ten weeks and two days of absence in which 14 meetings have been lost. A period in which the star has been deprived of living his first Classic, playing the first Madrid derby before his audience and celebrating with the Spanish Supercup conquered in Jeddah his first Madrid title. Although he has consoled himself by collecting recognition: the BBC included him in the ideal eleven of the decade in the Premier; The fans of his country chose him for the third consecutive year as the best player of the Roberto Martínez team and in the ‘Golden Boot of Belgium’ awards he also received the award for best footballer abroad for the third consecutive year.Despite what has been lost, the international arrives in time for a promising season finale, with Madrid I live in all competitions. It is four games to be able to raise the Cup, leader in the League with a more favorable schedule than that of its rivals and with the options fully in the Champions League. An unknown situation for Madrid at this time of season in recent campaigns. Away from their numbers: one goal and two assistsThe great white signing was flying after having shown only a small sample of its potential. He started the season with another injury that delayed his official debut until September 14. Between some things and others, he has not yet reached the 1,000 minutes played. He has been 982 ’and during his injury Valverde, Modric, Mendy, Marcelo, Rodrygo, Isco and even Bale have surpassed him in participation, until relegating Hazard to 15th position in the minutes distribution table.Total, Hazard has only played 13 official matches with Real Madrid. Of them, 12 holder and 8 complete. He has scored a goal (to Granada in the League) and given two assists (one in that same game and another one the pass back to Kroos for the goal of the German against the Galatasaray in Istanbul). A scarce card for the dozen goals that he exceeded comfortably in his last three seasons at Chelsea. But beyond the numbers, the sensations he is leaving have been growing, like his great performance in Ipurua against Eibar.Come back on time. In the best case, he has almost four months of competition ahead of him (the Champions League final closes the club calendar on May 30) to relaunch his numbers as a Real Madrid player and contribute to prolonging the streak of 21 games without losing that Madrid chains from that already distant defeat in Mallorca three and a half months ago …Take three workouts with the groupHazard completed yesterday monday your third training fully integrated into the group’s routine. Its recovery process has been gradual while cautious. Although in previous days he already exercised on the lawn with more comfortable footwear, until January 20 he did not put on the heel boots. After several solo sessions, ten days later, on Thursday 30 he returned to work with his colleagues. The goal of being in the derby seemed too rushed: “We will never risk,” he said Zidane, always prudent, on Friday in the previous clash against Atletico, but without discarding it categorically. The technician sees how he is empty nursing. Asensio is also burning the last stages of his recovery and the club, after the march of Odriozola, He entered the list for the Champions League. The wait comes to an end. 72 days after being injured in the Champions League game against PSG, Hazard is ready to return to the pitch. After not arriving in time for the derby, this Thursday’s Cup match against Real Sociedad (7:00 p.m.) emerges on the calendar for the reappearance of the Belgian star.They have been weeks of waiting with goals repeatedly delayed. First, a simple blow to the ankle that would lead to a few days off; later, a more thorough examination revealed a microfissure that turned those days into weeks, with a horizon in the derby that was unattainable. Thursday will finally be the day that Eden Hazard returns to a call with Madrid. The Belgian will dress again short in the putting of the white team in the Copa del Rey before his audience. In the first single-match eliminator of the KO tournament (separate finals) hosted by the Bernabéu; which will also be the premiere cupbearer in Spain of 7. Encouragement to feed the appeal of a meeting before the Royal Society dull by an atypical schedule: Thursday at 19:00 (DAZN). read more

Garbiñe Muguruza (16 WTA) is essentially the most common tennis participant within the WTA circuit thus far in 2020. The Spanish defeated Russian Veronika Kudermetova on Wednesday by 7-5, 4-6 and 6-Four and superior to the quarterfinals of the Dubai WTA Premier including her thirteenth victory for the reason that starting of the 12 months. That is the fourth time in 4 tournaments within the 2020 season during which Muguruza reaches the quarter-final spherical. Tomorrow for a place within the semifinals can be measured by the American Jennifer Brady (52 WTA), it is going to be the primary time they each meet in an official match.Why was it so troublesome?Properly, I believe she is enjoying very nicely. It’s the primary time I play in opposition to her. At present, even when it isn’t the very best identified identify, the match is troublesome. I believe she performed tremendous aggressive, tremendous robust providers. I’ve adopted his outcomes and it’s clear that he’s doing higher and higher.What did you consider your individual sport at present?There are a lot of issues that I might have accomplished higher. However I’m glad to have gained and given myself one other probability to be within the quarterfinals, simply conserving me within the struggle I believe is constructive, as a result of she was enjoying very nicely, with out giving up till the final level.What are you most glad together with your sport for the time being?There may be nothing particularly. I’m completely happy to win these troublesome matches. Truthfully, the distinction could be very, very small. There are occasions whenever you don’t really feel you may get it, and there are occasions whenever you really feel that I’m doing higher. I’m merely completely happy, as I stated earlier than, to present me one other probability to be within the quarterfinals. Brady is enjoying nicely this 12 months. How a lot have you ever seen of her and what do you do with the development she has made?Everyone seems to be enjoying nicely at present. If you end up within the quarterfinals, you play with ladies who’re profitable matches within the event which can be enjoying nicely. She is enjoying nicely. So glad to play together with her for the primary time too, to get to know her tennis.Are you able to discuss a little about your relationship with Conchita? You discuss a lot? Are you able to describe that?Properly, first we have now to begin speaking about I do know her, I believe she was between 14 and 15 years previous once I first met her. So a few years have handed. From the primary second we had a lot of complicity and good relationship. By all these years, it has been enhancing. Additionally when she was captain of the Fed Cup. We talked. In fact we share. Now we have good vitality collectively. So it’s superb.Is she one thing like an older sister?No. I believe I see her as a legend, as somebody from whom I’ve to be taught a lot as a result of she has been in precisely the identical conditions, solely with 15 years extra expertise. So positively not a sister. Merely extra like a true coach.Within the step you talked in regards to the internal calm you are attempting to have. How was the method to seek out that calm and collect it whenever you want it most?Not that I’m doing something particularly at the moment. I really feel like I’m engaged on it since I began enjoying on the WTA Tour. It’s not a secret, we play troublesome video games, lengthy fights. Every rival makes you have got a exhausting time. You simply have to remain within the sport and don’t miss it till, nicely, you get one thing. read more

Croatian Marin Cilic and Australian Nick Kyrgios will play the Queen’s event, conventional prelude to Wimbledon, the group introduced Tuesday.Croatian and Australian be a part of Spanish on this method Feliciano López, the Russian Daniil Medvedev, the British Andy Murray and the Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas.Cilic has performed this event for the final 13 years, successful it in 2012 and 2018, whereas for Kyrgios his greatest consequence on the London grass courts have been the semifinals he reached in 2018. “I really like taking part in on grass and Queen’s tracks are pretty much as good as any on the planet. I’d like to make a lot progress this yr within the footage of Queen’s and Wimbledon. I’m taking part in effectively and I’m ready for what’s coming “, Kyrgios mentioned.The 2020 version of the event of Queen’s will happen June 15-21. read more