HOT SPRINGS, Ark. — Win Willy shook up the road to the Kentucky Derby on Saturday, passing heavily favored Old Fashioned in the stretch to win the Rebel Stakes in a stunning upset.
Previously unbeaten Old Fashioned was a 2-5 favorite as the nine-horse field entered the starting gate, and he appeared to be in control after easily passing Silver City on the second turn. Win Willy then came up on the outside, seemingly out of nowhere, and passed Old Fashioned with room to spare.
Win Willy paid $115.60 on a $2 win bet. Old Fashioned held on for second, and Poltergeist was third.
Old Fashioned might have been the overall favorite for the Kentucky Derby before the race. He hadn’t lost in four career starts, including the Southwest at Oaklawn last month.
• Smooth-striding Pioneer of the Nile romped to a 1 1/4-length victory in the $200,000 San Felipe Stakes in Arcadia, Calif., taking another successful step toward the Santa Anita Derby and the Run for the Roses.
• Friesan Fire surged ahead down the stretch and left the field in his muddy wake, winning the $600,000 Louisiana Derby at the Fair Grounds in New Orleans by more than seven lengths.
• Musket Man overtook Join in the Dance in the final length to win the $300,000 Tampa Bay Derby in Oldsmar, Fla.
Dixon leads top fuel qualifiers
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Larry Dixon earned his second consecutive No. 1 qualifying spot in top fuel at the ACDelco NHRA Gatornationals.
Dixon’s run of 3.886 seconds at a top speed of 308.28 mph earned him the 33rd top qualifying effort of his career.
Bob Tasca (funny car), Mike Edwards (pro stock) and Matt Smith (pro stock motorcycle) led their categories into today’s eliminations.
Sanchez in cycling lead
FAYENCE, France — Luis-Leon Sanchez took the lead of the Paris- Nice cycling race, pulling away from the pack about 9 miles from the finish to win the seventh stage.
Sylvain Chavanel climbed to second place in the overall standings, 1:09 behind Sanchez, while Alberto Contador slipped to fourth, 1:50 off the pace.
Footnotes.
Lance Mackey, the defending champion of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, arrived at the Eagle Island, Alaska, checkpoint on the frozen Yukon River hours ahead of the competition.
• Christine Nesbitt of Canada won the gold medal in the 1,000 meters at the world single distances speedskating championships in Richmond, British Columbia. Sven Kramer of the Netherlands became a three-time world champion in the men’s 10,000.
• Markus Keller of Switzerland won a men’s World Cup snowboard halfpipe, and Norway’s Kjersti Buaas earned her first win of the season in the women’s event in La Molina, Spain.
• Galen Rupp cruised to a title in the 3,000 meters, and Oregon did the same in the team race at the NCAA indoor track and field championships in College Station, Texas. The Tennessee women won their second team title since 2005.
The Associated Press
