Post by lingzi on Sept 12, 2012 8:24:33 GMT 1
BALTIMORE -- Hall of Fame jockey Kent Desormeaux wont ride in Saturdays Preakness after failing a Breathalyzer test in New York. Andrew Luck Jersey . Desormeaux, a two-time Preakness winner, was removed as the rider of 30-1 long shot Tiger Walk by owner Kevin Planks Sagamore Farm and trainer Ignacio Correas, and replaced by Ramon Dominguez. The 42-year-old Desormeaux failed the test at Belmont Park, and was taken off all three of his scheduled mounts. He has not been suspended, but the New York State Racing and Wagering Board is conducting an investigation. According to a rule in New York that went into effect April 27, every jockey named to ride is required to undergo a test for alcohol consumption. "This was a team decision and sometimes things happen for a reason," Sagamore Farm general manager Tom Mullikin wrote on the farms Twitter account. "Were trying to run a professional operation & cant have any distractions this weekend. We spoke w/ Kent and wished him well." Dominguez is a two-time Eclipse Award winner as the nations leading jockey, and is looking for his first Preakness win. Hes 0 for 9 but has finished second two times, with First Dude in 2010 and Scrappy T in 2005. "Ramon Dominguez is a great rider and we plan to have a lot of fun tomorrow," Mullikin added. Desormeaux had one other mount Saturday, in a maiden race following the Preakness. He is eligible to ride, but its not immediately clear whether the jockey will come to Baltimore. Jockeys at Pimlico are not required to take a Breathalyzer test, but the track stewards may order one if they have "reasonable cause." According to the Racing Form, Desormeaux failed a Breathalyzer test at Woodbine in July 2010 and was removed from his mount, Hold Me Back, in the Dominion Day Handicap. Hold Me Back won that race with Tyler Pizarro aboard. Desormeaux is a three-time Eclipse Award winner with more than 5,400 wins, including Kentucky Derby and Preakness victories aboard Real Quiet in 1998 and Big Brown in 2008. Elvis Dumervil Jersey . -- Longtime NFL assistant coach Bill Muir followed through on his plans to retire, informing the Kansas City Chiefs on Wednesday that he wouldnt return for a 35th season in the league. Cameron Wake Jersey . Kinsler and the Rangers had been talking for several weeks about a new deal, but the second baseman has long insisted on a self-imposed deadline of opening day to negotiate. Tim Tebow Jersey . -- Ai Miyazato added another LPGA win to her resume on Sunday with a closing birdie at the NW Arkansas Championship. Tamba Hali Jersey . -- Alberta is off to a terrific start at the M&M Meat Shops Canadian Juniors curling championship with both the mens and womens teams sitting at 2-0 after three draws Saturday. Evan Moore Jersey . PETERSBURG, Fla. CHICAGO -- The starting rotation is on a roll and the question is whether the Chicago Cubs can keep it going. Matt Garza threw seven shutout innings and Darwin Barney homered to lift the Chicago Cubs to a three-game sweep of the Arizona Diamondbacks with a 3-1 win Sunday. Garzas outing was his best since late April and continued a five-game stretch during which Chicagos pitchers have posted a 1.23 ERA. "I felt good today," Garza said. "I was able to stay in my mechanics today, and when I didnt I was able to catch myself and adjust quick." Barney clubbed a Trevor Cahill pitch into the left-field bleachers for a two-run homer in the second inning to help Chicago match a season high with its fourth straight win. "Its not my approach but youve got to make adjustments at this level," Barney said. "Two strikes, Im looking to hit the ball the other way toward second, but luckily I ran into something." Garza (5-7) held Arizona to five hits and one walk, striking out seven en route to his first win in July. Hes allowed three earned runs or fewer in his last 18 starts at Wrigley Field. "Who knows why certain people pitch better in certain ballparks, pitch better at home than on the road?" Cubs manager Dale Sveum said. "Hes been pretty outstanding at home, theres no doubt about it." Carlos Marmol got the last two outs for his 10th save. He allowed a pair of baserunners, but struck out Geoff Blum and got Gerardo Parra on a comebacker to end it. Cahill (7-8) allowed three runs on four hits over 5 1-3 innings, losing for the third time in his last four decisions. Aaron Hill hit his 12th homer in the eighth and reached base three times to pace the struggling Arizona offence. "When youre not hitting, it magnifies things," Arizona manager Kirk Gibson said. "The story of the series was our lack of offence and inconsistency." Barneys homer was his fourth of the season, doubling his total from 2011. He reported to spring training this year with a bulkier physique in response to last season, when he wore down. "Losing 20 pounds last year, that was hard. Its hard on your body," Barney said. "Ive done a decent job of maintaining this year. It just gives you more energy." Barney added a sparkling play up the middle on Gerardo Parras grounder to end the Arizona seventh and extended his errorless streak at second base to 75 games. "Likee I said before, theres nobody thats been better at second base than he has," Sveum said. Knowshon Moreno Jersey. Rookie Anthony Rizzo singled up the right-field line to score David DeJesus in the first. Rizzo is hitting .356 with 10 RBIs in 15 games since being recalled from Triple-A Iowa. "When we brought up the kid, it was real exciting," Garza said. "Real exciting. Putting his presence in the lineup, you see what happens." The streaking Cubs have won 12 of their last 16 games since June 25, the best record in baseball over that span. Chicago outscored Arizona 15-3 in the series. Nevertheless, Chicago has had to deal with rumours about the team being broken up through trades. "You think about that a lot," Sveum said. "You dont dwell on it, but just to be having a streak like this and win a lot of ballgames, you dont want to lose pieces to that puzzle." Garza and fellow starter Ryan Dempster in particular have been the subject of ubiquitous trade rumours. With scouts of several teams in attendance Sunday, Garza was in control throughout, allowing more than one baserunner in just two of his seven innings. Garza said he has a good reason to ignore trade scuttlebutt. "Ive got a wife who is due in about 23 days, so rumour mill can wait," Garza said. "Thats the last thing on my mind right now. Ive got a wife who is just ready to pop." Garza struck out Justin Uptown swinging with two on to end the third, getting the struggling slugger on an off-speed pitch. He repeated the trick against Parra, who chased a pitch in the dirt with two runners on to end the fourth. As for the trade rumours, Barney -- another name that has cropped up -- echoed Garzas sentiment that hes content to stay put. "Being a Cub since I was drafted, you dont like hearing those things," Barney said. "Its nice to know people are interested. But I want to be here. Whatever happens, happens. Its a business." NOTES: Arizona OF Jason Kubel was held out of the starting lineup for a second straight day because of tightness in his right hamstring. He suffered the injury while slipping on a wet field in Fridays game. ... Former Cubs pitcher Kerry Wood paid a visit to his old clubhouse before the game, his first trip to Wrigley Field since his retirement ceremony on May 19. ... Cahill, who entered the game with just three hits in 45 at-bats, singled twice for his first career two-hit game. ' ' '