GOLF
Pair share Moscow lead
Scott Jamieson and Daniel Gaunt took a share of the lead at the Russian Open with 6-under 65s in Thursday's first round. Jamieson started his day at Skolkovo Golf Club in Moscow with four consecutive birdies. Gaunt had an eagle on No. 12. Lee Slattery and Bradley Dredge (both 66) are tied for third place, one stroke ahead of a group of eight others, including Made in Denmark winner David Horsey. Former top-ranked tennis player Yevgeny Kafelnikov shot a 77 and was tied for 121st.
• The Champions Tour will play an event in Richmond, Va., next season as part of the 50-and-over circuit's first playoffs. The Dominion Charity Classic will be played Nov. 4-6, 2016, on The Country Club of Virginia's James River Course. The tour said Thursday that the tournament will be the last event before the season-ending Charles Schwab Cup Championship. The PGA Tour's Championship Management will operate the 54-player, $2 million tournament, and Steve Schoenfeld will serve as executive director. The tour said full details of the Champions Tour Playoffs will be announced in November at the Charles Schwab Cup Championship in Arizona.
NFL
Bronco's safety suspended
Pro Bowl safety T.J. Ward has been suspended for the Denver Broncos' opener against Baltimore over a nightclub incident that happened more than 15 months ago. Ward was charged with misdemeanor assault and disturbing the peace for allegedly throwing a glass mug at a female bartender at a Denver strip club in May 2014. Those charges were later dropped. According to court documents, Ward was seen on video surveillance picking up the mug from the bar and throwing it after being told he couldn't bring a drink into the club. The incident came shortly after Ward signed a four-year, $22.5 million deal in Denver. Ward is the second Denver defender to get suspended. Derek Wolfe received a four-game ban for violating the NFL's drug policy.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
Rutgers suspends five
Five Rutgers football players have been suspended after one was charged in two home invasions and four others were charged with assaulting a group of people in New Brunswick, N.J., in April. The charges Thursday are the latest blow to a program whose head coach is embroiled in an academic investigation. Prosecutors said defensive back Ruhann Peele, 22; defensive back Nadir Barnwell, 20; fullback Razohnn Gross, 20; and defensive back Delon Stephenson, 22, were charged with aggravated assault, riot and conspiracy to commit a riot for a fight that left a man with a broken jaw. Defensive back Andre Boggs, 20, was charged in two home-invasion robberies in April and May. It wasn't immediately clear if any of the men had attorneys. Coach Kyle Flood is being investigated about whether he violated school or NCAA rules by contacting a faculty member about the academic status of a player.
BASEBALL
Royals: Chickenpox over
The AL Central-leading Kansas City Royals are confident no other players will come down with chickenpox after reliever Kelvin Herrera and left-fielder Alex Rios were diagnosed last weekend. Royals Manager Ned Yost said Thursday that Herrera and Rios were both recovering quickly, and they could come to the ballpark early today for a workout. They would be sure to leave before the rest of the team arrived to start a three-game series against the White Sox. Herrera and Rios came down with chickenpox while in Tampa Bay, raising concern that others in the organization may have been exposed. The virus tends to be more serious in adults, though Yost said it appears both players only experienced minor symptoms.
• Washington Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper is back in the starting lineup, a day leaving the game because of tightness in his left glute. Manager Matt Williams said Harper would get physical therapy and go through his normal pregame routine. Harper exited Wednesday night's game in St. Louis in the fourth inning. Also, Stephen Strasburg threw a bullpen session and is expected to rejoin the rotation next week against the Mets. He's been slowed by a back problem and Tanner Roark will start tonight in Strasburg's place. In a roster move, Washington reinstated first baseman/outfielder Tyler Moore from the 15-day disabled list and recalled right-hander A.J. Cole from Class AAA Syracuse. In 79 games this season, Moore has hit .200 with 4 home runs and 22 RBI. He'd been out with a sprained left ankle.
HORSE RACING
Texas taking bets again
Texas tracks will be able to again take bets on horse and dog races -- at least temporarily -- following a deal that resumes operations for the state racing commission. The commission suspended operations Tuesday amid legislative squabbles over funding, forcing horse and dog racing tracks to stop taking bets on live races. However, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick announced late Tuesday that House Appropriations Chairman John Otto and Senate members of the Legislative Budget Board had reached agreement to fund the commission for 90 days. Commission spokesman Robert Elrod said all commission offices were open for business Thursday. Commissioners recently voted to let tracks install "historical racing" terminals, allowing betting on already-run races stripped of identifying information. State lawmakers opposed to the move threatened to withhold funding in response.
• Harmonize won the $100,000 P.G. Johnson Stakes by four lengths in a driving rainstorm Thursday at Saratoga Race Course. The winner, trained by Bill Mott, came from just off the pace to pass front-running favorite Ava's Kitten at the top of the stretch. Harmonize was making her second career start and first in a stakes. Under jockey Junior Alvarado, she ran 1 1/16 miles in 1:41.41 over the turf course and returned $6.40, $3.30 and $2.80. Thrilled, trained by Todd Pletcher, was second. She was 1 3/4 lengths ahead of Finn's Girl, who edged Ava's Kitten by a head for third. Thrilled paid $4.70 and $2.70, and Finn's Girl returned $3.90. This was the 11th running of the P.G. Johnson, named for the Hall of Fame trainer who died in 2004 at 78 following a 60-year career.
HORSE RACING
American Pharoah will race again
NEW YORK — Triple Crown winner American Pharoah will get another chance to race before being retired, with the goal the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic next month.
Owner Ahmed Zayat said Thursday that racing’s 12th Triple Crown winner and first in 37 years remains in top form after his loss to Keen Ice in the Travers following eight consecutive victories.
“The champ deserves another chance!” Zayat tweeted.
After the Travers, an emotional Zayat was leaning against running again. He said his “gut feeling” was retirement.
But after a four-hour meeting with trainer Bob Baffert, assistant Jimmy Barnes, jockey Victor Espinoza and his son and racing manager Justin Zayat, the owner decided to move forward.
“I have discussed all aspects of American Pharoah’s race last Saturday in the Travers, and his condition since the race, with our whole team,” Zayat said in a statement.
After the Travers, which drew a sellout crowd of 50,000 to Saratoga Race Course, plus 15,000 to watch a morning gallop, American Pharaoh traveled back to his home base at Del Mar Racetrack in California.
He is scheduled to be paraded for fans at the track this weekend, and then move to Santa Anita to resume training. There also is a chance he could travel to Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky., for training in the weeks leading to the Classic at nearby Keeneland in Lexington, Ky.
There is a chance for a race before the Classic, but the call would be up to Baffert.
American Pharoah’s breeding rights were sold to Coolmore’s Ashford Stud for an unknown fee, likely in the tens of millions of dollars. Since the horse is still racing, a stud fee has not been announced.
American Pharoah has won eight of 10 races and earned nearly $6 million. The loss in the Travers was his first since Aug. 9, 2014, in his first career start.
Sports on 09/04/2015