Latest news with #BoysinBlue
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Chester May Festival 2025: Lambourn wins the Chester Vase to book Derby ticket
-Credit:Lambourn (11-8 favourite) gave Aidan O'Brien another victory in the Boodles Chester Vase Stakes on day one of the 2025 Boodles Chester May Festival. And with success in the Group Three feature on the opening day on the Roodee the three-year-old looks to have booked his ticket to next month's Betfred Derby at Epsom. Lambourn is a best-priced 25-1 with Ladbrokes and William Hill for the Colts' Classic behind stable-mate The Lion In Winter – who is likely to run in next week's Dante Stakes at York – and Godolphin's Betfred 2,000 Guineas hero Ruling Court, who are both at the head of betting at around 7-2. The Ballydoyle handler had already won this race a record 10 times and several of his previous winners have gone on to contest the Derby, with Ruleroftheworld winning both races in 2013 and Treasure Beach finishing second at Epsom before taking the Irish Derby following his Vase victory two years earlier. 2017 Derby hero Wings of Eagles was also runner-up on the Roodee before his success in Flat racing's blue riband. READ MORE: Two horses dead after Scottish Grand National as jockey suffers injury in horror fall READ MORE: Chester May Festival 2025 day one: Lambourn can win the Chester Vase Lambourn has given himself the chance of following some of those to Epsom on June 7 with victory in the extended 1m4f Group Three contest at Chester. The three-year-old son of O'Brien's 2014 Derby hero Australia won two of his three starts as a juvenile and was second to stable-mate and another who is likely to head for the Derby, Delacroix, on his seasonal return in the Group Three Beresford Stakes over 1m2f at the end of March. Stepped up in trip again to 1m4f he made Moore work to keep in touch with the frontrunning Convergent (9-2) and Lazy Griff (25-1). But he came through to lead inside the final two furlongs and battled on well to eventually beat Lazy Griff by a length-and-a-half with Convergent another two lengths back in third The weekend was all about Godolphin with the 'Boys in Blue' landing the first two Classics – the Betfred 2,000 Guineas and 1,000 Guineas with Ruling Court and Desert Flower respectively – but their great rivals Coolmore hit back in the trials for the Derby and Oaks with Minnie Hauk and now Lambourn. Coolmore representative Paul Smith said: "I'm very happy with this colt, a lovely colt by Australia. As you can see, he's lazy in the way he runs and he's first off the bridle often and a little bit green. He will learn a lot from today, he's got a big engine and Ryan likes him, he's a big, honest horse. I think he's a good horse who will stay the trip, will do anything for you and he has to be in the Derby mix. I think the key is to get the trials out of the way (before we know what type of horse he is). It's an old cliche but we won't know until they are all over and we have a better picture then, then we can make an assessment." On the runner-up Lazy Griff, trainer Charlie Johnston said. "It was a fantastic run, particularly given he missed a bit of work three weeks ago and it was touch and go whether we'd get here for a short while. I'm sure we can have him fitter than he was today, he was only about 80 per cent fit, so that bodes well going forwards. Joe (Fanning) said he appreciated the juice in the ground. Any other week, I'd have been on the phone having a go about watering, but he needed it! "We'd be a little bit hesitant about very fast ground going forwards, which might dictate where we go. He's in the English, Irish and German Derbies and you'll certainly see him in one. He'd been overlooked in the betting because he'd been beaten three times in his life but on ratings he should have finished second. I'm sure as he's owned by a syndicate they are all thinking of one Derby, while I'm probably thinking he can win a different one!" Moore, who had ridden Minnie Hauk to victory in the Cheshire Oaks earlier in the day, said: "He came forward today and was suited by the mile-and-a-half. It's the first time I've ridden him a race and he's still learning a little about the job but is a relaxed horse who stays well and finds plenty off the bridle.' Hammer The Hammer (9-2) ran out a wide-margin winner of the Love Federal Capital Handicap (3.40pm). Tom Eaves got the Kevin Ryan-trained three-year-old over to lead early on in the six-furlong sprint despite his wide draw in stall 10 a course. And he dictated from the front and blitzed his rivals to score by an impressive four-and-a-quarter lengths from Diligently (10-1) with Cyclonite (14-1) a nose back in third with 6-5 favourite three-and-a-quarter lengths further adrift in fourth.
Daily Mail
03-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Ruling Court rules the roost at Newmarket as he storms to victory in the 2000 Guineas ahead of next month's Epsom Derby
The vibes were right. All week the whispers from Newmarket revolved around Ruling Court being primed to run for his life — and how he delivered. It takes a special kind of horse to win the Betfred 2,000 Guineas but Ruling Court, whose sleek, bay coat glistened and muscles rippled as he limbered up, might just be of the highest calibre. His next start is likely to be the Epsom Derby, the race which cements legends. To see the reaction of Charlie Appleby, the colt's trainer, and William Buick was to appreciate the joy of a plan coming together and their judgement being vindicated. Buick, after all, had a fiendish choice whether to ride Ruling Court or his high-class stablemate Shadow Of Light. Every jockey's worst nightmare is seeing the horse they could have ridden loom up alongside the one they are on but, thankfully for Buick, Ruling Court was strong as he thundered up the Rowley Mile's final furlong. He is good over this trip — he might be brilliant over a mile-and-a-half. 'We'll let the dust settle and enjoy the moment,' said Appleby, who was winning the 2,000 Guineas for the third year in quick succession after Coroebus (2022) and Notable Speech 12 months ago. 'Then we can map out the rest of the season. It's special to win this. You have to enjoy these days.' Whether John Gosden enjoyed it, however, is a point that can be debated at length. He and his son, Thady, saddled the 7-4 favourite Field Of Gold but despite travelling with power and purpose, he was momentarily caught flat-footed and so Team Gosden's wait to win this Classic will go into a 36th year. 'William took a length-and-a-half out of us,' Gosden said, a statement that will only strengthen the resolve of some that jockey Kieran Shoemark should have set Field Of Gold alight sooner. 'He has run a superb race and I loved how he finished. But it's not easy to peg back a horse of that quality.' Appleby, a man who is widely respected for how he always treats the twin impostors of triumph and disaster with grace, was eager to stress how this success reflected well on his team at Moulton Paddocks as a whole and put others front and centre of the celebrations. He operates under a high level of pressure, with the expectation on him to produce big-race winners for owners Godolphin, and having first and third in the 2,000 Guineas is a fine start to the summer; the 'Boys in Blue', as they are known, also had fourth-placed Tornado Alert. It might get even better this afternoon. Appleby and Buick will combine again in the Betfred 1,000 Guineas with Desert Flower, who did a piece of work here two weeks ago that needed to be seen to be believed. She is odds-on favourite for a reason and, in all likelihood, will take some stopping. 'This is what it is all about,' said Buick. 'She is in great nick and we will see what she can do. It is amazing to win these races and this horse (Ruling Court) is a joy to ride. I work for great people and when you get a result like this, it makes it all the more special. 'Shadow Of Light gave me something to think about but I was riding an exceptional horse. I let him do his thing and he had good momentum when he came down into The Dip (the trickiest part of the straight mile). He has got a huge engine.'
CBS News
27-03-2025
- Sport
- CBS News
Going to the Dodgers game? Here's how to get there
The city of Los Angeles is getting ready for the Boys in Blue to take the field at Dodger Stadium for their home opener of the 2025 MLB season. The Dodgers will be hosting the Detroit Tigers for the first game of a three-game series. This will be the first time the team will be playing in front of a home crowd since beating the New York Yankees for the 2024 World Series Championship. The Dodgers are coming off a two-game sweep of the Chicago Cubs in the Tokyo Series. With thousands of fans expected to travel to Elysian Park, there are several ways of getting there. The first pitch is scheduled to be thrown at 4:10 p.m. and will be broadcast on ESPN. Here are different ways to get to the Dodgers game: Dodger Stadium can be reached by several freeways , it just depends on which direction you're coming from. Drivers can take both directions on the 101 Freeway, the northbound 5 Freeway, the southbound 110 Freeway and the eastbound 10 Freeway. Traffic getting to Dodger Stadium tends to be heavy, so drivers are urged to account for traffic delays. The stadium can also be reached by taking surface streets. Once fans get to the stadium, they are instructed by parking staff to find an open space in the general parking lots or the preferred parking, the MLB website says. Parking passes can be purchased ahead of time. "In order to maintain a safe and convenient environment, the Dodgers ask that all fans follow the directives of the Dodger Stadium parking staff who are there to assist you," the MLB website says. All Dodgers game ticket holders are able to ride the Dodger Stadium Express for free. The express can be reached at Union Station and the South Bay. There are six Metro rail lines across LA County that connect to the express. Service to the stadium from Union Station begins 2.5 hours before game time and runs through the end of the 2nd inning for all home games, the Metro website says. Buses drop off fans behind center field and at the top deck. Service after the game back to Union Station, pick up at the same spots. Return service ends 45 minutes after the final out or 20 minutes post-game events. Parking at Union Station starts at $8, the Metro website says. If you are traveling from the South Bay area, service runs every 30 minutes starting 2.5 hours before game time. The last bus leaves Harbor Gateway Transit Center at game time. Fans can board the express at the Slauson, Manchester, Harbor Freeway, Rosecrans, or Harbor Gateway Transit Center Metro stations. Buses coming from the South Bay drop off fans behind right field. Return service pick up at the same stop after the game. Service back to the South Bay begins after the end of the 7th inning and the last bus departs 45 minutes after the final out or 20 minutes post-game events. "Free parking is available at Harbor Gateway, Rosecrans, Harbor Freeway, Manchester and Slauson stations on a first-come, first-served basis," the Metro website says. "Note, Harbor Gateway Transit Center is subject to a $3 rate for Sunday games during the NFL season." Ticket holders can also take the Metro Rail or other buses to Dodger Stadium from various directions. The Blue A Line can be taken to the Chinatown Station at the intersection of Alameda Street and College Street. Dodger Stadium is only a .25-mile walk from there. Riders can also walk .50 miles to the Broadway stop and hop on the Dodger Stadium Express at Union Station. Several rideshare options are also available to take to Dodger Stadium.
CBS News
27-03-2025
- Sport
- CBS News
Dodgers set to welcome faithful fans for first home series of 2025 season
The Boys in Blue will welcome their faithful fans to Dodger Stadium for the first time since their 2024 World Series Championship on Thursday, which is Major League Baseball's official Opening Day. In what will be the Dodgers third game of the 2025 season, after kicking things off with a two-game sweep of the Chicago Cubs in the Tokyo Series , they'll send newly-acquired left-handed ace Blake Snell to the mound against the Detroit Tigers and reigning American League Cy Young Award winner in Tarik Skubal. First pitch is scheduled for 4:10 p.m. and will be broadcast on ESPN. Los Angeles' lineup, daunting for any pitcher, will be highlighted as always by their two-way phenom in Shohei Ohtani and former MVP Mookie Betts, who appears to have finally recovered from an illness that kept them out of their two games in Japan and two of the three games of the Freeway Series against the Los Angeles Angels to wrap up Spring Training. Related: MLB star Shohei Ohtani on return to Japan, 2025 season and his impact on kids: "I feel a strong responsibility" Ohtani already has one home run on the season, setting him up to chase last season's total of 54, a career-high and one half of the history making 50 homer - 50 stolen base season he compiled in his first season with the Dodgers. Not to mention, he hasn't pitched since 2023, meaning that he could somehow top what he did last year while starting for the Boys in Blue. Ohtani is expected to return to the mound by at least June. He'll likely hit leadoff, as he did all last season, followed by a slew of familiar faces — World Series MVP Freddie Freeman included — and some new additions, including outfielder Michael Conforto and South Korean infielder Hyeseong Kim. Speaking of old friends, the Dodgers did lose a couple of key pieces in the months after the season ended, including starting pitcher Walker Buehler. He ended a six-year stint in Los Angeles by securing the final three outs in the 2024 World Series, topped off by a strike out to end it all. They'll follow up Thursday's game at 7:10 p.m. on Friday, where they'll probably see another acquaintance in Jack Flaherty. He was a part of last year's team after being acquired at the trade deadline from the Tigers and turned into one of their key pieces as they secured their eighth title in franchise history. He re-signed with Detroit during the offseason on a multi-year deal. Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who dazzled during the international opener against the Cubs, will start the second game of the series, followed by rookie Roki Sasaki.
CBS News
18-03-2025
- Sport
- CBS News
Dodgers quest for back-to-back World Series titles begins in Japan
The Los Angeles Dodgers will begin their quest for back-to-back World Series titles every Tuesday morning when they face off against the Chicago Cubs in Tokyo, Japan. First pitch, which is scheduled for 3:10 a.m. in California, will officially begin the 205 MLB Season, ending a months-long drought without "meaningful baseball." The last time the Boys in Blue took the field was Game 5 of the 2024 World Series, when they wrapped up what was one of the most memorable seasons in franchise history and earned their eighth title. Japan native Yoshinobu Yamamoto will toe the mound first for the Dodgers, facing off against fellow countryman Shota Imanaga. It will mark the first time in MLB history that an opening day pitching matchup is all-Japanese. The two were teammates on Japan's 2023 World Baseball Classic team, which also featured the Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani and Roki Sasaki. The latter, who the Dodgers inked to a contract in the offseason, is slated to start for Los Angeles in the second game of the series, in which the Dodgers will be the away team. Sasaki was one of the many high profile additions that the Dodgers made in the months following their World Series win. They also signed left-handed ace Blake Snell to a five-year, $182 million contract, standout relievers Tanner Scott and Kirby Yates and South Korean infielder Hyeseong Kim. Those adds come just a year after what was inarguably the biggest offseason the team has ever had, highlighted by the Ohtani, Yamamoto and Teoscar Hernández signings and a trade that landed Tyler Glasnow from the Tampa Bay Rays. All of the previously named Japanese pitchers, plus Cubs outfielder Seiya Suzuki, experienced incredible success playing in Nippon Professional Baseball, the country's top professional baseball league. Both the Dodgers and Cubs played a series of exhibition games against NPB's Yomiuri Giants and Hanshin Tigers. On top of all those connections, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts also has distinct ties to Japan. He was born in Naha, Okinawa in 1972 to his mother Eiko, an Okinawa native and his father Waymon, who was stationed in Japan with the US Marine Crops. Last season, his first since leaving Japan, Yamamoto performed exactly as expected, hurling 90 innings to the tune of a 3.00 ERA, 105 strikeouts and a 7-2 record. He made four postseason starts for the Boys in Blue as well, each of which they wound up winning. Ohtani put together what may be the finest season ever in 2024, when he became the first and only member of the 50 home run and 50 stolen bases club, which made him the clear favorite and eventual winner of his third Most Valuable Player Award. It was his first since he left the Los Angeles Angels, with whom he won the award in 2021 and 2023. Despite these two games marking the official start of the season, the Dodgers will return to Southern California next week for a three-game series of exhibitions against the Angels, what many know and love as the Freeway Series. Those games will lead up to March 27, when the Dodgers host the Detroit Tigers and the rest of the league begins the 2025 campaign.
