Gypsy holds on in $75K Southern Park Stakes

Gypsy holds on in $75K Southern Park Stakes

AUSTINTOWN

Barefoot Gypsy ($17.40) scored her second win in as many starts as she registered a front running victory in the $75,000 Southern Park Stakes for registered Ohio bred three-year-old fillies Saturday afternoon at Hollywood Gaming at Mahoning Valley Race Course. Sent right to the front under jockey Albin Jimenez, the daughter of Daaher led all the way holding off multiple challengers in the stretch to win by a diminishing head.

The running time for the six furlong on a track labeled fast was 1:14.55.

Heavenly Mine, who was also making her second career start, rallied in the stretch just coming up short. Fast Justice was next across the finish line in 3rd, followed by Tune Up, Purple Flowers, and Dreaminofjustice. Sheza Fine Justice finished 7th, with Talkaholic 8th. Touch of Bling, the .80 to 1 favorite, faded in the stretch finishing 9th, with Honey Twists and Ibelieveinmiracles rounding out the complete order of finish. Sunny Daze was a late scratch.

A $17,500 yearling purchase at Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Sale in October, 2014, Barefoot Gypsy earned $45,000 for the win, and has now earned $59,700 for owner Hat Creek Racing.

North Dakota earns Frozen Four bid

CINCINNATI

Rhett Gardner broke a tie midway through the third period and North Dakota beat Michigan 5-2 on Saturday night in the NCAA Midwest Regional final to advance to the Frozen Four.

Gardner deflected Paul LaDue’s shot off goalie Steve Racine’s glove.

The Fighting Hawks (32-6-4) reached the Frozen Four for the third straight year and 22nd time overall. They won the last of their seven titles in 2000.

Luke Johnson, Drake Caggiula, Coltyn Sanderson and LaDue — into an empty net — also scored goals for North Dakota, and Cam Johnson made 23 saves.

JT Compher scored twice for Michigan (25-8-5).

In the semifinals Friday, North Dakota beat Northeastern 6-2, and Michigan topped Notre Dame 3-2 in overtime.

Nadal retires from Miami Open match

KEY BISCAYNE, FLA.

Rafael Nadal faded in the subtropical heat and retired after falling behind in the third set of his opening match Saturday at the Miami Open against Damir Dzumhur.

The No. 5-seeded Nadal trailed 2-6, 6-4, 3-0 when he called it quits after losing a point to fall behind 30-15.

He had earlier consulted with a trainer three times at his chair between games, and had his blood pressure checked.

The match lasted less than two hours, but the weather was sunny and humid with a temperature approaching 90 degrees, and even higher on the stadium hardcourt.

It had been 443 matches since Nadal last retired — in the 2010 Australian Open quarterfinals against Andy Murray.

Dzumhur, a 23-year-old Bosnian ranked 94th, came from behind using a variety of tactics.

Auburn’s first black football player dies

AUBURN, ALA.

Auburn’s first black scholarship football player, James Owens, has died after battling heart problems. He was 65.

Owens’ wife, Gloria, told the Opelika-Auburn News that he died of renal and heart failure shortly after noon Saturday at his Auburn home. She says he was surrounded by family.

A fullback, Owens played for the Tigers from 1970-72.

Auburn created the James Owens Courage Award in 2012 to honor current or former players who had persevered through adversity.

The New Orleans Saints drafted Owens in the 11th round of the NFL Draft after his senior season at Auburn.

Tigers coach Gus Malzahn says Owens was a trailblazer who “changed Auburn for the better and opened doors for countless young men and women.”

Staff /wire reports