Latest news with #Sovereignty
Los Angeles Times
11 hours 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.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Nick Offerman Says ‘Dumb People Insist Ron Swanson' Voted for Trump: Ron ‘Would Despise' Trump ‘Because He's Disrespectful to Women'
Nick Offerman said in an interview with IndieWire while promoting his film 'Sovereignty' that only 'dumb people' think Ron Swanson, his beloved 'Parks and Recreation' character, is a Donald Trump supporter. Offerman played Ron on all seven seasons of the NBC sitcom, which ran for 126 episodes between 2009 and 2015. The actor said that MAGA supporters think Ron 'must be one of us' just because he has a shotgun or something. 'Dumb people insist that Ron Swanson would've voted for Trump. And I don't deign to answer myself,' Offerman said. 'I take it to Mike Schur, the main creator of Ron, and he said, 'Swanson would've despised Trump, because Ron loved capitalism. And Trump made the stupidest move you could make as a capitalist, which is to go into public service.'' More from Variety European Producers Praise New Czech Investment Obligation for Major Streamers, Say Trump Tariffs Turned U.S. Market 'Stone Cold' White House Photoshops Trump Onto 'Superman' Poster, Touts the 'American Way' Amid MAGA Outrage Over James Gunn's 'Immigrant' Comment Podcaster Andrew Schulz Voted for Trump but Is Turning on Him: 'I Voted for None of This... I Want Him to Stop Wars. He's Funding Them. Reduce the Budget. He's Increasing It.' 'He would think he's an absolute idiot,' Offerman continued about Ron's thoughts on Trump. 'He would also despise him because he's disrespectful to women and many others. And that's just an example of all the people and value sets that Ron would despise, because Ron is a good person.' Offerman has always been protective over Ron since 'Parks and Recreation' wrapped. Earlier this year, the actor defended the LGBTQ+ community against homophobic hate on X after Michael Flynn Jr., son of retired Army lieutenant general and Trump's former U.S. national security advisor Michael Flynn, attempted to use a clip of Ron Swanson to denounce Pride Month. 'Just wanted to post how I feel about 'pride' month,' Flynn Jr. wrote on X accompanied by a 'Parks and Rec' clip showing Swanson throwing a rainbow flag into a dumpster. Only the clip was doctored to make it appear as if Offerman's character was homophobic. The real scene, from the fourth season episode 'The Trial of Leslie Knope,' sees Ron throwing his computer in the trash. The edit Flynn Jr. shared on X replaced the computer with the rainbow flag. 'Ron was best man at a gay wedding you dumb fuck,' Offerman fired back on X. 'Happy Pride.' Offerman was referring to the 'Parks and Recreation' series finale, 'One Last Ride,' where Ron serves as the best man to his hairdresser, Typhoon (Rodney To). Best of Variety Final Emmy Predictions: Talk Series and Scripted Variety - New Blood Looks to Tackle Late Night Staples Oscars 2026: George Clooney, Jennifer Lopez, Julia Roberts, Wagner Moura and More Among Early Contenders to Watch New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week
Buzz Feed
12-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Buzz Feed
Nick Offerman Says Ron Swanson Is Not A Trump Supporter
Nick Offerman is shutting down "dumb people" who think his most beloved TV character would be a Trump supporter. In an interview with IndieWire to promote his new film Sovereignty, Nick made it clear that Ron Swanson from Parks and Recreation would not be an unwavering supporter of the 47th president. Nick played Ron in Parks and Rec for seven seasons and 126 episodes between 2009 and 2015. Since then, the character Ron has lived on as a prime choice for clips, memes, and GIFs shared across the interwebs. The actor boiled it down to the fact that MAGA supporters might believe, "Well, he had a shotgun, so he must be one of us," he said. "Dumb people insist that Ron Swanson would've voted for Trump. And I don't deign to answer myself," Nick continued. "I take it to Mike Schur, the main creator of Ron, and he said, 'Swanson would've despised Trump, because Ron loved capitalism. And Trump made the stupidest move you could make as a capitalist, which is to go into public service.'" Nick believes that Ron wouldn't be MAGA at all, and he would despise its leader. "He would think he's an absolute idiot. He would also despise him because he's disrespectful to women and many others. And that's just an example of all the people and value sets that Ron would despise, because Ron is a good person." As a fan of Parks & Recreation who relates so hard with the series (I'm a Donna Meagle with a Tom Haverford rising at my job), it's obvious that Ron wouldn't be a Trump supporter. For one, he's not even a Republican. "Ron Swanson, a wonderful creation from much more brilliant minds than my own, people hold up for the wrong reasons, and take their own reading of this true Libertarian who was cool with everybody," Nick said in the interview. Ron fired back with a reference to the series finale, "One Last Ride," which included the wedding of Ron's hairdresser, Typhoon. "Ron was best man at a gay wedding you dumb fuck," Nick wrote. "Happy Pride." So that's that! Ron is a Libertarian LGBTQ+ ally. Period.
New York Post
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Breaking down every facet of upcoming Saratoga meet
With the new Belmont Park grandstand under construction, New York racing fans have been left with the Aqueduct fall meet, the Aqueduct winter meet, the Aqueduct spring meet, the Belmont at the Big A summer meet, the Belmont at the Big A fall meet and the Finger Lakes at the Big A meet. OK, maybe not that last one, but you get the point. Sure, the Belmont Stakes was run upstate as well as the short and sweet July 4th Racing Festival, but now we get a full 40 days as the Saratoga summer meet commences. Big days Got your calendar ready? The Diana is this Saturday, July 12. The Coaching Club American Oaks and the Vanderbilt on July 19. The Jim Dandy is July 26. Four Grade 1 races on Saturday, August 2 including the Whitney and Fourstardave. The Sword Dancer is Aug. 9. The Alabama is on Aug. 16. There are five Grade 1 races on Travers Day on Aug. 23, including the Forego and the Personal Ensign. The Spinaway is on Aug. 30, the Jockey Club Gold Cup is on Aug. 31 and the Hopeful is on closing day, Labor Day, September 1. It's all about the horses While Preakness winner Journalism may run in the Haskell at Monmouth Park, he still may ship north to challenge arch rival Sovereignty in the Travers. Mindframe, Fierceness, Sierra Leone, White Abarrio and Skippylongstocking make this year's edition of the Whitney a must-see. 5 Sovereignty won the Belmont Stakes at Saratoga Race Course last month and is being pointed to run in the Travers Stakes on Aug. 23. Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images Thorpedo Anna, the 2024 Horse of the Year, was defeated by Raging Sea in May. Thorpedo Anna will attempt to turn the tables when they meet in the Personal Ensign. Trainers Two words. Chad Brown. He ran away (with a little help from his four-legged friends) with the 2024 meet. Brown saddled 45 winners and it was a long way back to Todd Pletcher and Mike Maker who dead-heated for second with 22 winners. While Linda Rice (18) and Bill Mott (15) rounded out the top five, it was Mark Casse who had the higher win percentage (28.3 percent). 5 Chad Brown, who had the most wins at Saratoga in 2024, will be the favorite to win the 2025 meet. Jason Szenes for New York Post Riders up! Irad Ortiz Jr. visited the winners circle 52 times last summer but it was Flavien Prat who set records for most stakes wins (18) and graded stakes wins (14) at a Saratoga meet. Expect Luis Saez, Junior Alvarado, Manny Franco and Dylan Davis to get their fair share of wins and Jose Ortiz may give his brother, Irad, a run for his money. One thing for sure. You will both love and curse every rider before the meet is over. 5 Jockey Flavien Prat had a dominant 2024 Saratoga meet in stakes races. AP On the turf Chad Brown is a smart bet on dirt. And an even safer bet on the grass. Of Brown's 45 winners last summer, 26 were on the lawn. That number was three times larger than the rest of the conditioners. Baby races First impressions are important and there will be plenty of 2-year-olds making their career debuts at Saratoga over the 40-day meet. A look back shows Chad Brown, yes him again, led last year's standings with 10 juvenile wins, but only one more than the nine that Mark Casse trained. Casse's Ewing, a son of Knicks Go, slam-dunked his debut on July 5, winning by a dozen lengths and may reappear in the Hopeful later in the meet. Might as well jump 5 There are a couple of traditional steeplechase races at this Saratoga meet. AP Steeplechase racing has long been a staple of the Saratoga meet. Stakes on this year's schedule include the A.P. Smithwick Memorial on July 23 and the Jonathan Sheppard Memorial on Aug. 20. Freebies Giveaway days this summer: July 11: T-shirt July 20: Hawaiian shirt July 25: Blanket Aug. 8: Pennant Aug. 22: Tote bag Aug. 31: Saratoga quarter zip sweatshirt The forecast Likely more losers than winners but hopefully the weather will cooperate this season more than it has the past two years. 2023 was bad. 2024 was worse. Not only did the 40-day meet shrink to 39, but 45 turf races were taken off the grass and moved to the dirt/slop. Rooting for my picks and Mother Nature as well. 5 Spectators had to battle the rain on Belmont Stakes Day at Saratoga Race Course on June 7, 2025. Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images Turn on the races Fox Sports offers exclusive coverage of all races from Saratoga. If you don't want to pick your own winners, Greg Wolf, Laffit Pincay, Andy Serling, Richard Migliore, Jonathon Kinchen, Maggie Wolfendale, Acacia Clement and Sara Elbadwi will do it for you. That's enough handicappers to field a softball team. Did I forget anyone? Oh yes, Paul Lo Duca will bat cleanup. Post time is 1:10 p.m. May all the photo finishes go your way.
Yahoo
05-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Sovereignty Pleases In Breeze For Jim Dandy
Sovereignty Pleases In Breeze For Jim Dandy originally appeared on Paulick Report. Kentucky Derby (G1) and Belmont (G1) winner Sovereignty breezed a half-mile in 48.99 seconds over Saratoga's Oklahoma training track Friday in preparation for an planned start in the $500,000 Jim Dandy (G2) July 26 at the Spa. Advertisement With usual exercise rider Neil Poznansky aboard, Sovereignty started about a length in front of workmate Jefferson Street, going his first quarter in 24.56 seconds, Daily Racing Form reports. Jefferson Street went to the outside Sovereignty heading into the stretch and Sovereignty finished in 24.12 seconds, about a length in front of his workmate at the wire. Friday's tune-up followed Sovereignty's lone half mile breeze June 27 in a slower :50.85 on the Oklahoma training track. 'I didn't want them head and head because they're going to go too fast,' said trainer Bill Mott told the Form about Friday's breeze. 'I didn't want the other horse joining him until they turned into the stretch, I just wanted something for him to finish with. I just figured he had one easy one, just pick it up a little bit today.' Godolphin's homebred Sovereignty, an Into Mischief colt, could have two more breezes prior to his expected start in the Jim Dandy, a springboard to the $1.25-million Travers (G1) Aug. 23 at Saratoga. Advertisement Baeza, third in both the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes, worked six furlongs in 1:11.20 at Santa Anita on Friday morning. Trainer John Shirreffs has previously said he is targeting the Jim Dandy and Travers. Others possible for the Jim Dandy are Arkansas Derby (G1) winner Sandman, and Peter Pan (G3) winner Hill Road. Also on Friday's work tab at Saratoga was Metropolitan Handicap (G1) runner-up and Whitney (G1) hopeful Fierceness, who breezed a half-mile in 48.72 seconds over Saratoga's main track. This story was originally reported by Paulick Report on Jul 4, 2025, where it first appeared.
