La Cañada Sports Briefs: Baffert’s top horse taken down by second-best colt
Arrogate upset by another Baffert horse
La Cañada Flintridge resident Bob Baffert was hoping to land in the winner’s circle at Saturday’s Grade I $1 million TVG Pacific Classic at the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club race track. The trainer did, however, at the expense of perhaps his pride.
Baffert’s top horse Arrogate entered the race as the favorite at 1-1 odds and was ridden by jockey Mike Smith. Arrogate, however, was upset at Del Mar by Baffert’s other horse, Collected, ridden by Martin Garcia.
Collected outlasted Arrogate by a half-length for the victory in the seven-horse race.
Though Arrogate is the all-time winningest horse in terms of money (more than $17 million won), the 4-year-old colt was bested again on the track after finishing fourth at the San Diego Handicap in July.
Morikawa named to Walker Cup
La Cañada High graduate Collin Morikawa, a four-time All-Area Boys’ Golfer of the Year, was named to the United States Walker Cup team Sunday.
Morikawa, a junior at the University of California who advanced to the round of 16 at the United States Amateur Championship, was one of 10 players chosen for the event, which will be held Sept. 9-10 at the Los Angeles Country Club’s North Course. The United States will compete against England and Ireland.
The United States, captained by John Miller, will feature Morikawa, Cameron Champ, Doug Ghim, Stewart Hagestad, Maverick McNealy, Doc Redman, Scottie Scheffler, Braden Thornberry, Norman Xiong and Will Zalatoris.
The event will be played with 18 singles and eight foursomes (alternate-shot) matches. The United States owns a 35-9-1 record, though the squads have split the last 14 meetings.
Turley called up, sent down by Twins
La Cañada Flintridge resident Nik Turley was summoned by the Minnesota Twins on Thursday from the triple-A Rochester Red Wings. He was then sent back to Rochester on Tuesday.
It marked the second time this year that Turley, a pitcher, was called up by Minnesota. The Twins played a doubleheader Thursday against the Cleveland Indians and another doubleheader Monday versus the Chicago White Sox.
The left-hander was assigned to the bullpen. He went 2/3 of an inning in Minnesota’s 10-3 win against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Friday and retired the two batters he faced. In the first game of a doubleheader Monday, Turley surrendered two runs (both earned) on two hits and struck out three in 3 2/3 innings in a 7-6 defeat.
Turley was first brought up June 11 and was optioned back to Rochester on June 23.