Pirate Galaxy » Torontos 13 hits. The Blue

DEL MAR, Calif. -- It is possible to list on one hand the starts remaining for California Chrome, who leads Saturdays $200,000 San Diego Handicap at Del Mar.For California Chrome, the San Diego Handicap is a prep for the $1 million Pacific Classic on Aug. 20, which is expected to be followed by the $300,000 Awesome Again Stakes at Santa Anita on Oct. 1 and the $6 million Breeders Cup Classic at Santa Anita on Nov. 5. California Chromes final start is expected to be in the $12 million Pegasus World Cup at Gulfstream Park on Jan. 28. After that, he is scheduled to go to stud in Kentucky.Ill really miss him, trainer Art Sherman said.California Chrome has not raced since his win in the $10 million Dubai World Cup at Meydan Racecourse in the United Arab Emirates on March 26. Early in the race at 1-1/4 miles, California Chromes saddle slipped backward. Jockey Victor Espinoza maintained control and rode California Chrome to a convincing win by 3-3/4 lengths.After spending most of April at Taylor Made Farms in Kentucky, California Chrome resumed training with Sherman at Los Alamitos on May 1. In the last 12 weeks, Sherman has seen gradual improvement from California Chrome, notably since his arrival at Del Mar on July 12.Sherman has been pointing California Chrome to the Grade 2 San Diego Handicap at 1-1/16 miles for months.I thought this was perfect timing for everything, Sherman said. When he got down here, he got into the game. Hes more focused.Owned by Perry Martin and Taylor Made Farms, California Chrome has won 12 of 21 starts. He has earned $12,532,650, making the 5-year-old California-bred the richest North American-based horse in history.The San Diego will be California Chromes first start in the United States since he won the Grade 2 San Pasqual Stakes at 1-1/16 miles at Santa Anita in January. He is not the only world-class runner in the field of seven returning from a layoff. He will have a target in the speedy Dortmund, a multiple-stakes-winning millionaire trained by Bob Baffert and owned by Kaleem Shah.California Chrome will carry the top weight of 126 pounds, five more than Dortmund. The remaining five runners have been assigned weights ranging from 118 pounds for Hard Aces, the winner of the Grade 1 Gold Cup at Santa Anita in 2015, to 114 pounds for Crittenden, a winner of two minor stakes in 2015.A win by either of them or the other three runners in the race -- Follow Me Crev, Soi Phet, and Win the Space -- would be a surprise.Key ContendersCalifornia Chrome, by Lucky PulpitLast 3 Beyers: 104-105-96California Chrome has been a stalker throughout his career, and Sherman is banking on jockey Espinoza employing those tactics to neutralize any threat from the front-running Dortmund.You know Baffert will send, Sherman said. His horse has speed. We cant let Dortmund get an easy lead.In the Dubai World Cup, California Chrome raced off the rail and took the lead in the final quarter-mile. The same tactics worked in the San Pasqual Stakes in January.Dortmund, by Big BrownLast 3 Beyers: 103-105-78Dortmund was third in the Kentucky Derby and fourth in the Preakness Stakes in 2015, then was taken out of training until last fall. Dortmund won both of his starts last fall with little difficulty against secondary competition, including the Grade 3 Native Diver on Nov. 28.Dortmunds winter campaign was derailed because of foot issues.Dortmund has trained forwardly in recent weeks, with a six-furlong workout in 1:12 last Sunday. Still, Baffert cautions not to expect too much from Dortmund on Saturday.You dont want to hook a horse like California Chrome first time out, he said.Ernie Stautner Jersey . Once again Jordan Cieciwa (@FitCityJordan) and I (@LynchOnSports) go head to head in our picks. Last weekend at UFC Fight Night 32 my #TeamLynch got the best of #TeamJC by a score of 9-6. Let us know which side youre on for UFC 167 use the hashtag #TeamLynch or #TeamJC on Twitter. Benny Snell Jr. Jersey . -- Canadian Andrew Wiggins got the ball on the wing, made a nifty spin move and then let go with a soft floater from about 10 feet that swished through the net in Allen Fieldhouse. http://www.steelerspronfl.com/Youth-Franco-Harris-Elite-Jersey/ . Halladay signed a one-day contract with the Toronto Blue Jays on Monday that allowed the veteran right-hander to retire as a member of team with which he broke into the majors and spent the bulk of his distinguished 16-year career. Jack Ham Womens Jersey . Olli Jokinen, Mark Scheifele, and Bryan Little each had a goal and an assist as Winnipeg won 5-2, handing Calgary its record-setting seventh consecutive loss on home ice. Lynn Swann Womens Jersey . Jason Zucker and Matt Cooke also scored for Minnesota, which has won five of six. Kuemper made five saves in the first, nine in the second, and nine in the third. The rookies best save came with 2:17 left in the third period when he denied former Wild forward Matt Cullen from just outside of the crease on the right side.ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Catcher Jose Lobaton had a game-ending triple, two RBIs and a big RBO for the Tampa Bay Rays on Friday night in a 5-4 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays. RBO? Runs Blocked Out. Rays manager Joe Maddon used to keep track of them when he managed in the minor leagues. With the potential go-ahead run on third base in the ninth inning, Lobaton blocked a pitch in the dirt keeping the Maicer Izturis on third. "I hope I can keep blocking and making triples," said Lobaton, who was showered with Gatorade, a whipped-cream pie and even ice cream after driving in Yunel Escobar with his opposite-field triple. "I didnt know I got ice cream for triples," he said. "Ill hit more triples, but Im happy with doubles." Maddon, an ex-catcher, was most happy with the block of Fernando Rodneys pitch in the dirt. "When (pitchers) are not confident in their catcher to be able to do that, then thats when they hang pitches," he said. "But when was the last time you heard of a catcher hitting a walk-off triple?" Lobatons triple came off Aaron Loup (4-6) after Escobar walked. Lobaton had three hits in the Rays third straight win, which pulled them to within one game of the AL-East leading Boston Red Sox. Rodney (5-3) gave up two hits to start the ninth but worked out of the jam, one of Torontos many squandered chances. The Blue Jays had 13 hits, including leadoff hits in the seventh, eighth and ninth innings, but left 11 men on base. "We had the lead, we gave it up," said Toronto manager John Gibbons. "Had plenty of opportunities, couldnt get it done. Thats why theyre at the top and were at the bottom. Its pretty simple." The Blue Jays had tied it in the eighth when, with runners on second and third and one out, Anthony Gose hit a grounder to shortstop. Escobars throw was off line to home plate and Brett Lawrie scored. In his fifth start this season against Tampa Bay, R.A. Dickey gave up six hits and four runs over seven innings. He had pitched a two-hit shutout here on June 26. Adam Lind, Edward Encarnacion and Gose drove in runs againnst Jeremy Hellickson to put Toronto up, 3-1.dddddddddddd. Playing in his first game since being recalled up from Triple-A Buffalo, Gose bounced a two-out single up the middle after a triple by Josh Thole. Matt Joyce cut the Blue Jays lead to 3-2 with a home run off Dickey in the sixth. It was Joyces first home run since June 15, ending a career-long span of 43 homerless games. "I feel like its been years. I almost forgot what that felt like," said Joyce. "Dickey was tough. Youre just trying to stay on it as long as possible and hopefully you run into one. It kind of got us going a little bit." Escobar and Sam Fuld drove in runs to lift the Rays to a 4-3 lead in the seventh, chasing Dickey. "Tonight for me was tough because I had a good knuckleball," Dickey said. "This is a good place for me. Its not often you give up eight baserunners and four of them score. A very bizarre night. We should have won that game in regulation." Hellickson pitched six innings, giving up nine hits and three earned runs. "I gave em a chance to win," said Hellickson, who is 0-3 in his last four starts. "Its amazing what these guys can do when you keep em within striking distance." Izturis had three of Torontos 13 hits. The Blue Jays led off each of the last three innings with hits, but left 11 men on base. NOTES: Only two other catchers (Cincinnatis Dioner Navarro and Minnesotas Ryan Doumit) have hit walk-off triples since 1994, and both were within the last year. ... The Blue Jays activated LHP J.A. Happ from the bereavement list and placed INF Munenori Kawasaki on the paternity list. Happ, Saturday nights scheduled starter, was hit in the head by Desmond Jennings drive on May 7, and will be pitching for the first time at Tropicana Field since getting hurt. ... Wil Myers was the Rays DH for the second consecutive game. Regular DH Luke Scott is out of the lineup due to back spasms. ... Toronto RHP Steve Delabar (shoulder) resumed playing catch. ... Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon is hopeful that Jennings (broken left middle finger) will return next week. ' ' '