Times wires
Sunday, April 3, 2011
HORSES
ZITO'S DIALED IN TAKES FLORIDA DERBY
HALLANDALE BEACH — Nick Zito was a bundle of nerves in the paddock at the Florida Derby, and his eyes were filling with tears as he watched Dialed In run. To Zito, those are good signs.
Dialed In made a late charge — his signature move — to beat 69-1 long shot Shackleford by a head Sunday and win one of the biggest Kentucky Derby prep races on the 3-year-old calendar at Gulfstream Park. The colt covered 11/8 miles in 1:50.07 to take home $600,000 of the Grade 1 race's $1 million purse.
"The last time I got this emotional was 20 years ago with Strike The Gold," Zito said.
That was his first Kentucky Derby winner. Barring any health issues, Dialed In will be in the Derby as well, possibly the second choice behind widely touted favorite-to-be Uncle Mo.
"I wouldn't trade Dialed In for any horse on the Derby trail," owner Robert LaPenta said.
Dialed In, ridden by Julien Leparoux, returned $7.80, $4.80 and $4. Shackleford, who went to the lead early, paid $36.60 and $15.20. To Honor and Serve was third, paying $4.20.
BOXING
Female boxer shot by stepfather before bout
An undefeated female boxer from Germany was shot by her stepfather before a fight, injuring her hand, knee and feet. Rola El-Halabi, 25, was shot Friday at close range; her injuries are not life-threatening. According to the Bild newspaper, El-Halabi was to fight Irma Balijagic Adler for the vacant IBF lightweight title in Berlin. Roy El-Halabi, 44, shot her in her dressing room. He also shot two security guards before he was arrested, Berlin police said. The victims went to a hospital for surgery. Bild reported that El-Halabi split from her stepfather as a manager in January.
SKIING
Youth rules slalom at U.S. nationals
Youngsters Mikaela Shiffrin and Colby Granstrom won slalom titles in sloppy conditions at the U.S. championships. Shiffrin, 16, held off Sarah Schleper by 0.52 seconds in Winter Park, Colo. Julia Mancuso skied off the course and didn't finish. Granstrom, 20, beat Tommy Ford by 1.33 seconds.
SOCCER
FC Tampa Bay tops USF in stadium finale
In the last match at the USF Soccer Stadium before it makes way for a new on-campus facility, FC Tampa Bay of the NASL defeated USF 3-0 in a fundraising match for the Bulls' program. It was the preseason finale for FCTB, which opens its season Saturday against Montreal at Al Lang Stadium in St. Petersburg.
ET CETERA
COLLEGES: The University of Texas' TV network will be called the Longhorn Network. Texas struck a 20-year, $300 million deal with ESPN to create the network, which is scheduled to launch in August.
CYCLING: Nick Nuyens of Belgium won the Tour of Flanders, beating Sylvain Chavanel and 2010 winner Fabian Cancellara in a three-way sprint to the line in Meerbeke, Belgium.
Times wires