LOUISVILLE, Ky. Vapormax Plus Femme Pas Cher . -- A horse with a humble pedigree. A couple of working stiff owners. A 77-year-old trainer with his first Kentucky Derby horse. Even Hollywood couldnt have made this up. California Chrome made it look easy on Saturday, pulling away down the stretch to win the Derby by 1 3/4 lengths. In a sport dominated by wealthy owners and regally bred horses from Kentuckys bluegrass country, this was a victory for the little guys. Owners Perry Martin and Steve Coburn bred an $8,000 mare to a $2,500 stallion to produce the winner of the worlds most famous race with their one-horse stable. "This is just a dream come true and a great birthday present," said Coburn, who turned 61 on Saturday. California Chrome ran 1 1/4 miles in 2:03.66 and paid $7, $5.60 and $4.20. The chestnut colt was sent off as the 5-2 favourite by the crowd of 164,906, the second-largest in the Derbys 140-year history. His trainer, Art Sherman, became the oldest trainer to win the Derby, 59 years after he travelled from California as an exercise rider for Derby winner Swaps. He watched that race from the barn area; this time he smelled red roses in the winners circle. Sherman was all smiles after the race. "He gave me the biggest thrill I ever had in my life," he said. California Chrome has the unlikeliest pedigree for a Derby champion. His mother, named Love the Chase, won just one race. She was purchased by Coburn and Martin, a move that prompted a trainer to call them "dumb asses" for getting involved in racing. Feeling inspired, they named their operation DAP Racing, which stands for Dumb Ass Partners. Their silks include an image of a donkey. Coburn lives near Reno, Nevada, rising at 4:30 a.m. for his job as a press operator at a 13-employee company that makes magnetic strips for credit cards and driver licenses. Martin lives on the California side of the border near Reno, running a laboratory that tests high-reliability equipment, like car air bags and medical equipment. Coburn and Martins partnership is based on a handshake, and their wives are friends who enjoy the sport, too. The group came up with California Chromes name by drawing it out of a hat. The horse hadnt even been out of his home state until this week. "Sometimes you dont get a lot of respect," Sherman said. "Were in Kentucky and you know most of the Derby winners are bred here and few outside of Kentucky." Sherman visited Swaps grave near the Derby museum earlier in the week and whispered a prayer: "I hope hes another Swaps." He sure was. California Chrome extended his winning streak to five races, won by a combined 26 lengths. It was the second Derby win for Espinoza, who rode War Emblem to victory in 2002. "I thought he rode him perfect," said Sherman, a former jockey. "I was riding the last 70 yards with Victor, so I think he was riding two. He had a lot of weight on him, I can tell you that." We Miss Artie, bred by Richard Lister of Toronto, placed 10th. Espinoza had California Chrome sitting comfortably in third in the 19-horse field as Uncle Sigh and Chitu set the early pace. California Chrome made his move on the final turn in tandem with Samraat. It looked like those two would decide the outcome, until California Chrome sped away to become the first California-bred to win the Derby since Decidedly in 1962. "This horse has so much talent," Espinoza said. "By the three-eighths pole I knew that was it. I could see other horses struggling a little bit, and he was just smooth." Dale Romans, who trained eighth-place Medal Count, quickly changed his tune about California Chrome after believing the colt had no chance to win. "Im very impressed the way he came into it, the way he looked, the way he was prepared and the way he ran," Romans said. "Now he has a new fan." Commanding Curve, a 37-1 shot, rallied for second, with Danza third. Wicked Strong was fourth and Samraat finished fifth. Commanding Curve returned $31.80 and $15.40, giving trainer Dallas Stewart his second straight runner-up finish with a double-digit longshot. Danza, named for actor Tony Danza of "Whos the Boss?" fame, paid $6 to show as the 8-1 third choice. Trainer Todd Pletcher came up empty with his four starters, finishing third with Danza, 10th with We Miss Artie, 12th with Intense Holiday, and 17th with Vinceremos. Wicked Strong, the 6-1 second choice, was fourth. Samraat was fifth, followed by Dance With Fate, Ride On Curlin, Medal Count, Chitu, We Miss Artie, General a Rod, Intense Holiday, Candy Boy, Uncle Sigh, Tapiture, Harrys Holiday, Vinceremos, and Wildcat Red. Vicars In Trouble, ridden by Rosie Napravnik, finished last. Before the Derby, Coburn had told anyone who would listen that California Chrome "would go down in history." He remains just as unabashed. "I believe this horse will win the Triple Crown," he said, something that hasnt been done since 1978, when Affirmed swept the Derby, Preakness and Belmont in a five-week span. "Thats where were going." Air Max Plus Pas Cher Destockage . -- Brendan Leipsic had two goals and an assist and Nicolas Petan extended his point streak to 11 games as the Portland Winterhawks slipped past the Red Deer Rebels 5-4 on Saturday in Western Hockey League action. Vapormax Plus Noir Solde . Brazilian striker Brandao opened the scoring with a header in the 55th minute before winger Franck Tabanou volleyed home from close range to double the lead in the 61st. Winnipeg Jets 2 Phoenix Coyotes 1 Shootout (Jets 34-33-10, Road 17-18-4) – The game concluded a five game road trip for the Jets, and the win was huge considering how the game in Anaheim the night before ended, as the Jets had the 4-0 lead, only to have it slip away and end in a 5-4 overtime loss to the Ducks. The Jets finish the trip 2-2-1 and stay alive in the playoff race. A loss in regulation to the Coyotes would have mathematically eliminated the Jets. They are eight points back with five games to go. A strong contingent of Jets fans at the game, perhaps as many as 5,000. For the Jets, it seemed like a home game. Devin Setoguchi was back in the lineup after missing the last three games (coaches decision), with Anthony Peluso coming out. Andrew Ladd with his 23rd opened the scoring, with Brian Little drew the only assist to extend his point streak to seven (2-6-8), tying his career high. Little has points in 11 of his last 13 games and is 3-10-13 in the last 13 games played. The goal for Ladd was the seventh time this season he has scored the first goal of the game. In the last nine games where the Jets scored first, Ladd has been the scorer four times. Shots in the first were eight apiece. Phoenix tied the game early in the second, with Zbynek Michalek getting his second of the year, 19 seconds into the period. Coyotes outshot the Jets 14-6 forcing Ondrej Pavelec to make a number of big saves to keep the game tied. No scoring in the third as the game really tightened up. Shots favoured Phoenix 7-6. Late in overtime, Blake Wheeler went off for high sticking, but the Jets killed it off, sending the game to a sshootout. Fausse Tn Pas Cher. In overtime the Jets outshot Phoenix 2-1, but on the game the Coyotes outshot the Jets 30-22. The only goal of the shootout came off the stick of Ladd, who is now 7-13 in shootouts this season. His shot went off the post, off the leg of Thomas Greiss and in. It was Ladds seventh career shootout winner.? For the Jets, eight of their last 18 games have gone to overtime; they have won three. It was their 44th one-goal game of the year. They are now 2-6-1 in the second game of back-to-backs. Toby Enstrom at 24:15 led the Jets in ice time, Jacob Trouba was 24:10. Matt Halischuk and Blake Wheeler each had four shots on goal. Eric Tangradi had six hits to lead the Jets in that category. Wheeler, who had his three game goal scoring streak snapped, credited Paul Maurice for getting the team refocused after the tough loss in Anaheim. “He told us it was a statement game,” Wheeler said. “ We had to bounce back.” For Maurice the game was a solid test for his team. ?“I couldnt be happier for the guys,” Maurice said. “It was one eventful road trip. Going 2-2-1 with the group we have missing, says a lot for our room. To rebound and find a way. Our goaltender was the difference a number of times; the big penalty kill in overtime.” As for teams pre-game preparation: “We had a list of things in the adversity column. We went through it and what it would mean to win this game with all that was against you.” The Jets return home to play Pittsburgh Thursday (TSN Jets, TSN 1290), before heading to Toronto for a game on Saturday (TSN 1290). ' ' '
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CHAMPIONNAT JURASSIEN DE JASS
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