Off the wire

Midnight Hawk and jockey Mike Smith won the $100,000 Sham Stakes at Santa Anita on Saturday. The Sham Stakes is an early prep race on the road to the Kentucky Derby. Midnight Hawk ran a mile in 1:36.48 and paid $2.80 and $2.10 as the 2-5 favorite.

Midnight Hawk and jockey Mike Smith won the $100,000 Sham Stakes at Santa Anita on Saturday. The Sham Stakes is an early prep race on the road to the Kentucky Derby. Midnight Hawk ran a mile in 1:36.48 and paid $2.80 and $2.10 as the 2-5 favorite.

Sunday, January 12, 2014

HORSE RACING Hawk takes Sham

Midnight Hawk battled Kristo around the track before taking the lead coming out of the stretch in a 1 3/4-length victory Saturday at Santa Anita in the $100,000 Sham Stakes, an early prep on the road to the Kentucky Derby. Midnight Hawk, a 3-year-old gray colt trained by Hall of Famer Bob Baffert, is co-owned by Chicago Blackhawks Coach Joel Quenneville and newly hired Atlanta Falcons offensive line coach Mike Tice, who was on hand at Santa Anita. Midnight Hawk ran a mile in 1:36.48 and paid $2.80 and $2.10 as the 2-5 favorite in the field of four that was reduced by the scratches of Life Is a Joy and Top Fortitude. Midnight Hawk earned 10 points in the system used by Churchill Downs to decide the 20-horse field for the Kentucky Derby on May 3. Kristo returned $2.20, while Ontology was another 3 1/4 lengths back in third. There was no show wagering.

FOOTBALL

Patton leads bowl victory

Florida receiver Solomon Patton had 98 all-purpose yards and set up all three touchdowns to help the American squad to a 20-3 victory over the National team at the inaugural Medal of Honor Bowl on Saturday. The game between college seniors was played at The Citadel’s Johnson Hagood Stadium in Charleston, S.C. D.J. Adams of Portland State had touchdown runs from the 19 and the 1 for the American team, led by former Maryland coach Ralph Friedgen. Patton had three catches for 50 yards, a 33-yard rush and a 15 yard kickoff return to earn his team’s MVP honors. Linebacker Deron Furr of Fort Valley State was the National MVP with six tackles and two pass breakups. Former Dallas Cowboys and Buffalo Bills coach Chan Gailey guided the National team.

BASEBALL Gonzalez has surgery

Colorado Rockies slugger Carlos Gonzalez is recovering from an emergency appendectomy after intense stomach pain sent him to a Denver hospital Friday night. The news was first reported on Gonzalez’s Twitter account and confirmed by the Rockies. Gonzalez has a six-week window before position players have their first workout at spring training in Arizona. Gonzalez won a Gold Glove last season. However, the Rockies are moving him from left field to center field at Coors Field in 2014 after trading Dexter Fowler to the Houston Astros last month. Gonzalez hit 26 homers with 70 RBI in 110 games last season, but he was limited after the All-Star break by a nagging finger injury.

MOTOR SPORTS Chilton retained

British driver Max Chilton has been retained by Marussia for the 2014 Formula One season. The 22-year-old Chilton failed to win a point in his debut season last year but impressed by finishing every race. With Jules Bianchi having also secured his seat for 2014, Marussia will keep the same driver lineup for the coming season.

FIGURE SKATING Davis, White take title

Defending Olympic silver medalists Meryl Davis and Charlie White earned their sixth consecutive national ice dance title Saturday at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Boston. They finished with 200.19 points for a cushion of almost 20 points over the second-place team of Madison Chock and Evan Bates. Their sixth national championship broke the record for ice dance set by Tanith Belbin and Ben Agosto. The reigning world champions gave an energetic and emotional routine to “Sheherazade” to win. Bates and Chock were second with 181.44 points. Siblings Maia and Alex Shibutani were third with 170.44 points. Earlier, Simon Shnapir and Marissa Castelli won the pairs championship. The U.S. Olympic figure skating teams will be announced today. The top three in dance and top two in pairs are expected - but not guaranteed - to get spots.

Sports, Pages 20 on 01/12/2014