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Time of India
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Travis Kelce took Taylor Swift obsession to the racetrack with surprise stake in horse named ‘Swift Delivery'
From touchdowns to thoroughbreds, Travis Kelce's love for Taylor Swift finds a poetic stride with 'Swift Delivery' (Getty Images) Two years into their whirlwind romance, Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift have become a cultural phenomenon that bridges the worlds of sports and music. With every public display of affection—from tour stop shout-outs to championship game cuddles—their relationship has only grown stronger. But in a throwback that left even their fans amused and impressed, Kelce took his admiration for Swift from the football field to the racetrack in a gesture that felt straight out of a love story. A surprise stake from Travis Kelce that galloped with symbolism Long before they became one of the most talked-about celebrity couples, few would've imagined that Travis Kelce's obsession with Swift would one day inspire a racehorse connection. Yet, that's exactly what happened when the Kansas City Chiefs star quietly bought a stake in a 3-year-old racehorse—named, rather poetically, Swift Delivery. This unique investment was made public through a press release by Florida-based Team Valor International, revealing: 'Travis Kelce joins Team Valor International & Gary Barber in ownership of 3-year-old SWIFT DELIVERY.' According to reports, Kelce's stake was acquired via his existing ties with the Zoldan family, a move that surprised many and delighted fans who follow the couple's journey. Travis Kelce buys stake in Ontario-based horse named Swift Delivery Interestingly, Barry Irwin, CEO of Team Valor, recalled his first meeting with Kelce at the Kentucky Derby. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Indian Investors Are Buying These Dubai Apartments—Here's Why Binghatti Developers FZE Explore Undo They bonded over horses and racing, and when Swift Delivery entered the scene—already owned by one of Irwin's partners—he thought to himself, 'this has got to be a no-brainer.' Yet, in an ironic twist, Irwin emphasized that the horse's name was a 'total coincidence' and 'not inspired by the pop star.' Still, fans couldn't help but connect the dots—and neither, it seemed, could Kelce. The Taylor Swift effect gallops beyond headlines Kelce's rise in cultural relevance has mirrored the timeline of his relationship with Swift. While he was already a household name in the NFL , his visibility soared after their romance began. From breaking podcast records to dominating Super Bowl storylines, Kelce's life has turned into what many dub 'The Taylor Swift Effect.' Nowhere was this more evident than with his New Heights podcast, which Kelce co-hosts with his brother, Jason. The show skyrocketed in popularity—especially after Travis made it known he had tried (and failed) to give Swift a friendship bracelet during her Eras Tour stop. Since then, the podcast inked a whopping $100 million deal with Amazon's Wondery, with the third season currently on pause, likely due to the growing demand for both brothers' time. Even if the name Swift Delivery was a happy accident, Kelce's choice to back that particular horse seems far from coincidental. For a man whose heart is clearly set on Taylor, owning a horse that carries her name—accidentally or not—feels like yet another chapter in their very public, very endearing love story. FAQs 1. Did Travis Kelce really name a horse after Taylor Swift? No, the horse Swift Delivery was not named by Kelce, but he later acquired a stake in it. 2. What is the connection between Travis Kelce and Team Valor? Kelce joined Team Valor International through his partnership with the Zoldan family. 3. When did Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce meet? They first connected after Kelce attended Swift's Eras Tour concert in July 2023. Also Read: Gabriella Zuniga quits OnlyFans after cashing in on $50M Shannon Sharpe lawsuit — was it all just a payout plan? Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
UPI
2 days ago
- Sport
- UPI
Journalism wins Haskell Stakes at Monmouth Park
1 of 4 | Journalism win the Grade I Haskell at Monmouth Park on Saturday. Photo courtesy of Monmouth Park July 21 (UPI) -- The Triple Crown races are well in the rearview mirror, but the 3-year-old battle rages on with Preakness Stakes winner Journalism scoring the weekend's biggest triumph in the Grade I Haskell at Monmouth, while Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes champ Sovereignty awaits next weekend's Jim Dandy at Saratoga. Other big names on the weekend winner's list include Scottish Lassie, Book'em Danno, Randomized and Redistricting. Globally, Coolmore had an excellent Irish Oaks meeting in the lads' own back yard, and now face the issue of what to do with dual Oaks winner Minnie Hauk. While they ponder that, peruse this: Classic The Triple Crown wars just won't end. In a virtual replay of the finish of this year's Preakness Stakes, Journalism delivered right on deadline in Saturday's $1 million Grade I NYRA Bets Haskell Stakes at Monmouth. It was not quite the stunner he unleashed at Pimlico, but Journalism again needed a last-gasp surge in the final sixteenth to catch Gosger for the victory -- again by 1/2 length. Before the heroics, it appeared Gosger had won a duel with Goal Oriented, but that one eventually settled for third, another neck back. Winning trainer Michael McCarthy said he "looked at the wire and I looked at Journalism and I looked at the leaders [Gosger and Goal Oriented], and I'm glad we had a couple of extra jumps there to get the job done." The victory earned Journalism a "Win and You're In" spot in the Breeders' Cup Classic, which is academic, as his record already ensured a spot there. On Sunday at Woodbine, Sedburys Ghost rallied to score a 1 1/4-length victory over Notorious Gangster in the $150,000 (Canadian) Plate Trial for Canadian-bred 3-year-olds. Distaff Scottish Lassie was bonnie good in Saturday's $500,000 Grade I Coaching Club American Oaks at Saratoga. The McKinzie filly won last year's Grade I Frizette by 9 lengths, but then was a well-beaten fourth in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies, won by eventual Eclipse Award winner Immersive. This season, Scottish Lassie recorded two third-place finishes, leading to obvious questions. She had the answer in the CCA Oaks, and against Immersive, no less. Leading into the stretch turn with Immersive closely in her wake, Scottish Lassie and jockey Joel Rosario said good bye and ran away to a 15 1/2-length victory. Immersive did hold second. Trainer Jorge Abreu said Sunday morning all was well with the filly, with the Alabama Stakes back at the Spa on Aug. 16 or September's Cotillion at Parx Racing potential next targets. "She looks good, she ate up everything and is in good shape. I think the Alabama. If not, the Cotillion. I'll let her tell me," Abreu said. Randomized led throughout Saturday's $500,000 Grade III Molly Pitcher Stakes at Monmouth Park and strode clear in the late going to win by 3 lengths over Magic Oops. Leslie's Rose reeled in pacesetting Dazzling Move at mid-stretch in Friday's $200,000 Grade II Shuvee at Saratoga and drew off to score by 3 3/4 lengths over that rival. Up north, No Time rallied to the front inside the final furlong in Sunday's $500,000 (Canadian) Woodbine Oaks for Canadian-bred fillies and kicked away under John Velazquez to win by 3 3/4 lengths from Shifty. Winterberry was third, giving trainer Mark Casse a sweep of the trifecta slots. Sprint Book'em Danno, the Jersey flash, showed 'em how it's done in Saturday's $400,000 Grade II Alfred G. Vanderbilt at Saratoga. The 4-year-old Bucchero gelding drafted in behind a decent early pace, moved up heading around the turn and got outside of his main rival, Mullikin, into the final furlong. Mullikin gave it a go, but couldn't keep pace and settled for second, 2 1/2 lengths back of Book'em Danno. The owners have been eyeing the Breeders' Cup Sprint, and trainer Derek Ryan indicated Book'em Danno could return to Saratoga on Aug. 23 for the Grade 1 Forego, a "Win and You're In" for that race. But the trainer said he's "not worried about the Breeders' Cup. It's not one of my main goals. We'll just take it one race at a time and go from there. In this game, you don't get ahead of yourself." Speaking of New Jersey, Triple Crown refugee Neoequos dueled to the lead in Friday's $100,000 Jersey Shore Stakes for 3-year-olds at Monmouth Park and drew off to a 3 3/4-lengths score over Donut God. Book'em Danno won the 2024 Jersey Shore. On Sunday at Ellis Park, Banishing stuck his nose in front of pacesetting Booth on the line to win the $175,000 Jeff Hall Memorial. Filly & Mare Sprint Halina's Forte slipped through along the rail to win Sunday's $200,000 Grade II Honorable Miss Stakes at Saratoga by 1/2 length over R Disaster. The favorite, Scylla, missed the break slightly and got up for third with a mild rally. Factorbella stalked the pace set by Ms. Bucchero in Sunday's $100,000 Regret Stakes at Monmouth Park, rallied by that rival and went on to win by 3 1/4 lengths. Turf Redistricting came from a stalking spot to win Saturday's $612,000 Grade II United Nations Stakes by 1 1/2-lengths over Grand Sonata. Filly & Mare Turf Segesta pressed the pace in Saturday's $300,000 Grade III WinStar Matchmaker at Monmouth Park, eased her way to the lead and dueled to the finish with the favorite, Sacred Wish, before securing the victory by a neck. Ready for Shirl won Sunday's $200,000 (Canadian) Grade II Canadian Stakes by a head. Turf Mile In action at Del Mar's opening weekend, Thought Process took Saturday's $200,000 Grade II San Clemente Handicap for 3-year-old fillies by 1 3/4 lengths, Game Warrior won Friday's $100,000 Caesar's Sportsbook Oceanside Stakes by 1/2 length, Almandares scored in Saturday's $100,000 Wickerr Stakes for 3-year-olds and up and Medoro won Sunday's $200,000 Osunitas Stakes. Turf Sprint Cruden Bay won Sunday's $175,000 (Canadian) Grade II bet365 Connaught Cup at Woodbine by 1 1/2 lengths over Northern Invader. Future Is Now won Saturday's $175,000 Grade III Caress Stakes for fillies and mares at Saratoga. Fierce and Strong was up late to win Saturday's $102,000 Wolf Hill Stakes at Monmouth Park. Around the world, around the clock Ireland Minnie Hauk worked her way past a stubborn Wemighttakedlongway in the final 150 yards of Saturday's Group 1 Juddmonte Irish Oaks and kept on to complete the Oaks double with a 1 1/4-length score with Ryan Moore up. The challenge for Trainer Aidan O'Brien and the Coolmore lads now is whether Minnie Hauk is ripe for the Prix d'Arc de Triomphe on Oct. 5 at Longchamp, a plan that would require a layup soon. The alternative would be next month's Yorkshire Oaks. A hint? Racing Post quoted O'Brien as saying: "Looking at her, she probably would love York." Coolmore, O'Brien and Moore also took the Group 2 Gain Railway Stakes for 2-year-olds as True Love, a No Nay Never filly, drew off in the last of 6 furlongs to win by 5 lengths over stablemate Puerto Rico. Al Riffa found his best stride in the final furlong of the Group 2 Michael John Kennedy Curragh Cup, jetting away to a 5-length score over Shackleton and likely booking a jet ride to Australia for this autumn's Melbourne Cup.
3 days ago
- Sport
Journalism rallies with final burst to win Haskell Invitational
OCEANPORT, N.J. -- Journalism launched a dramatic rally to win the $1 million Haskell Invitational on Saturday at Monmouth Park. It was Journalism's first race since the Triple Crown. He was the only colt to contest all three legs, winning the Preakness while finishing second to Sovereignty in the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes. Heavily favored at 2-5 odds, Journalism broke poorly under jockey Umberto Rispoli and wound up trailing the early leaders. He kicked into gear rounding the final turn to find Gosger and Goal Oriented locked in a dogfight for the lead. It appeared one of them would be the winner until Journalism roared down the center of the track to win by a half-length. 'You feel like you're on a diesel,' Rispoli said. 'He's motoring and motoring. You never know when he's going to take off. To do what he did today again, it's unbelievable.' Gosger held on for second, a neck ahead of Goal Oriented. The Haskell victory was Journalism's sixth in nine starts for Southern California-based trainer Michael McCarthy, and earned the colt a berth in the $7 million Breeders' Cup Classic at Del Mar on Nov. 1. Journalism paid $2.80, $2.20 and $2.10.
NBC Sports
3 days ago
- Sport
- NBC Sports
Journalism rallies with final burst to win $1 million Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park
OCEANPORT, N.J. — Journalism launched a dramatic rally to win the $1 million Haskell Invitational on Saturday at Monmouth Park. It was Journalism's first race since the Triple Crown. He was the only colt to contest all three legs, winning the Preakness while finishing second to Sovereignty in the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes. Heavily favored at 2-5 odds, Journalism broke poorly under jockey Umberto Rispoli and wound up trailing the early leaders. He kicked into gear rounding the final turn to find Gosger and Goal Oriented locked in a dogfight for the lead. It appeared one of them would be the winner until Journalism roared down the center of the track to win by a half-length. 'You feel like you're on a diesel,' Rispoli said. 'He's motoring and motoring. You never know when he's going to take off. To do what he did today again, it's unbelievable.' Gosger held on for second, a neck ahead of Goal Oriented. The Haskell victory was Journalism's sixth in nine starts for Southern California-based trainer Michael McCarthy, and earned the colt a berth in the $7 million Breeders' Cup Classic at Del Mar on Nov. 1. Journalism paid $2.80, $2.20 and $2.10.
Los Angeles Times
3 days ago
- Sport
- Los Angeles Times
Journalism wins the $1 million Haskell Stakes to earn trip to Breeders' Cup
Journalism proved again what a great competitor and super horse he is, rallying from next to last on the backstretch to win the $1 million Haskell Stakes on Saturday at Monmouth Park in Oceanport, N.J. The stretch run was vintage but Journalism's start in the 1 1/8-mile race was poor as the 3-year-old broke seventh in the eight-horse field. He seemed to struggle, taking a fair amount of kickback from the somewhat muddy track. But around the far turn he moved to the outside and started to pick off horses, almost coming even with Gosger and Goal Oriented, who were side-by-side on the rail, at the top of the stretch. He still looked beaten mid-stretch but with about a furlong to go he got real interested, running in about four path, well clear of the other horses. Then his stride got more powerful and he breezed to a half-length win. It was his sixth win in nine lifetime races. 'I don't think he broke as well as we would have liked [Saturday],' said Michael McCarthy, Journalism's trainer. 'As soon as they got to the backside, he started engaging a little bit, but not quite like we've seen in previous races. It took him a little while to get to the front. I'm not sure if that was by design from [jockey] Umberto [Rispoli], but with a target in front of him. He's just a different horse. Journalism, who went off at 2-5, paid $2.80 to win. Gosger was second followed by Goal Oriented, Bracket Buster, Burnham Square, National Law, Kentucky Outlaw and Wildncrazynight. The win gave Journalism a free, expenses paid trip to the Breeders' Cup on Nov. 1 at Del Mar. The Haskell is part of the win-and-in program that helps to get the best horses to the Breeders' Cup. The big question is where will Journalism run next. Given that he is based in Southern California, it wouldn't be surprising to see him in the Pacific Classic on Aug. 30 at Del Mar. It would be a good prep for the Breeders' Cup Classic for a couple reasons. It would be his first race against older horses (defined as horses 4 and older) and also that the Breeders' Cup is at Del Mar. Journalism broke his maiden at Del Mar on Nov. 17. It would also mean little travel, a big plus considering Journalism has not run in Southern California since April 5 when he won the Santa Anita Derby. Saturday was his sixth race in five months and in five different states. Another option, and likely the one favored by most fans, could be the Travers Stakes at Saratoga on Aug. 23 for a potential rematch with Kentucky Derby and Belmont winner Sovereignty. The Journalism-Sovereignty rivalry has been the best the sport has seen in a few years. Sovereignty has won both of their meetings, the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes, while Journalism won the Preakness, a race that Sovereignty skipped because of the two weeks of spacing between the first and second legs of the Triple Crown. Journalism was the only horse to run in all three Triple Crown races. Trainer McCarthy played his cards close when asked after the race what was up next for Journalism. 'Judging by the amount of mud on him, a pretty hot bath, a nice hot bubble bath and we'll get him back to the barn,' McCarthy said. 'We'll enjoy this tonight and kind of think about what we're going to do from here.' Journalism was an $825,000 purchase by Eclipse Thoroughbreds, which includes Don Alberto Corp. as an investor. He was sired by Curlin with Mopotism as the mare. The daughter of Uncle Mo was euthanized on July 15 after complications from colic, a gastrointestinal issue. Mopotism, who ran in Southern California for trainer Doug O'Neill, was 11 when she died.
