NEW YORK — Summer Bird made it a sweep of the top races in New York as the chestnut colt fought off a determined Quality Road in a long battle down the stretch to win the $750,000 Jockey Club Gold Cup on Saturday by a length on a sloppy track at Belmont Park.
The victory may have clinched a divisional championship for Summer Bird, who is the first 3-year-old since Easy Goer in 1989 to win the Belmont Stakes, the Travers and the Gold Cup.
Since a sixth-place finish in the Kentucky Derby, Summer Bird has been defeated only by Rachel Alexandra, the presumptive horse of the year, in the Aug. 2 Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park, where he was second.
• Grazen, a colt that was expected to run in next month’s Breeders’ Cup, suffered a career-ending injury at Santa Anita in Arcadia, Calif., while leading in the stretch of the $200,000 California Cup Classic.
Crew’s home streak is kaput
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Roger Levesque scored as the Seattle Sounders ended the Columbus Crew’s 24-game home MLS unbeaten streak with a 1-0 victory.
• Chivas USA used host D.C. United’s own goal in the first half to stay alive in the playoff hunt with a 2-0 victory, while struggling United’s postseason hopes dimmed.
• Ryan Johnson converted a first-half penalty kick as the San Jose Earthquakes beat the visiting New York Red Bulls 1-0.
Chamberlain bullpen bound
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — New York Yankees pitcher Joba Chamberlain is scheduled to work in relief today and appears headed to the bullpen for the first round of the playoffs.
• J.P. Ricciardi is out as the Toronto Blue Jays’ general manager, but acting president and CEO Paul Beeston said embattled manager Cito Gaston isn’t going anywhere.
Footnotes.
Michael David Barrett, an Illinois insurance man, was ordered back to California to face charges that he stalked ESPN reporter Erin Andrews and video- taped her by aiming a cellphone camera through an altered peephole in her hotel room door.
• Frustrated with a lack of a decision by local government to approve or reject a major developmental plan that would provide the New York Islanders with a new, refurbished arena, owner Charles Wang said he will explore all other options — including relocation.
• Maria Sharapova won her first tennis tournament since returning from a 10-month injury layoff when Jelena Jankovic retired because of an arm injury in the first set of the Toray Pan Pacific final.
• Minnesota Vikings quarterback Brett Favre, who has been limited in practice all week because of a sore right foot, will make his 273rd consecutive start Monday against the Green Bay Packers.
• The Seattle Seahawks signed offensive tackle Kyle Williams from the practice squad and released fullback Justin Griffith.
• Kansas junior guard Brady Morningstar was suspended for the first semester after his arrest for suspicion of driving while in- toxicated.
The Associated Press
