NEW YORK — Hall of Fame trainer Nick Zito has two of the top three choices for Saturday’s final leg of the Triple Crown: Ice Box is the 3-1 morning-line favorite and Fly Down is the 9-2 third pick.
A field of 12 was entered Wednesday for a Belmont that will be run without Kentucky Derby winner Super Saver or Preakness winner Lookin At Lucky.
Preakness runner-up First Dude, with Ramon Dominguez, drew the No. 11 post and is the 7-2 second choice. Ice Box will leave from the No. 6 post and be ridden by Jose Lezcano, with Fly Down and John Velazquez aboard just inside at No. 5.
The field from the rail out is Dave in Dixie (20-1), Spangled Star (30-1), Uptowncharlybrown (10-1), Make Music for Me (10-1), Fly Down (9-2), Ice Box (3-1), Drosselmeyer (12-1), Game On Dude (10-1), Stately Victor (15-1), Stay Put (20-1), First Dude (7-2) and Interactif (12-1).
• Richard Migliore, known for overcoming terrible injuries as much as for his skill as a jockey, retired after a 30-year career. Although he never won a Triple Crown race, “The Mig” rode 4,450 winners.
Welker returns to Patriots
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Receiver Wes Welker, who had surgery for a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee Feb. 2, returned to the New England Patriots and is running pass routes again.
• Packers cornerback Al Harris said he will be on the field with Green Bay this year after a major knee injury ended his 2009 season.
• St. Louis Rams free safety Oshiomogho Atogwe, the team’s top playmaker the last four seasons, became an unrestricted free agent after failing to come to an agreement on a multiyear contract.
Armstrong off to solid start
LUXEMBOURG, Luxembourg — Lance Armstrong finished tied for fourth place in the Tour of Luxembourg prologue.
The seven-time Tour de France champion finished the 1.66-mile ride in 3 minutes, 51 seconds, according to the provisional results. Jimmy Engoulvent of France, who finished 10 seconds ahead Armstrong, took the race leader’s jersey.
Footnotes.
Texas Rangers designated hitter Vladimir Guerrero was taken to a hospital after a ball he hit in batting practice ricocheted off the cage and struck him above the left eye, resulting in heavy swelling. He is day to day after X-rays showed no structural damage.
• Arizona State has taken away the interim tag from baseball coach Tim Esmay.
• Chris Wondolowski scored his sixth goal of the MLS season in the 79th minute and the San Jose Earthquakes salvaged a 2-2 tie with the Columbus Crew in Santa Clara, Calif.
• Juan Pablo Angel scored with seconds remaining in extra time to give the New York Red Bulls a 2-1 victory over the Houston Dynamo in Harrison, N.J.
• Fabio Capello signed a contract to remain England’s soccer coach until the 2012 European Championship.
• Two-time Olympic champion Haile Gebrselassie, widely considered one of the greatest distance runners ever, will make his debut in the New York City Marathon on Nov. 7.
The Associated Press
