Willkommen » Sunday for his second straight loss and second outing in

Sometimes its okay to just watch them run, to strip away all the folderol that has nothing to do with the heart of the matter and simply enjoy the sight of a remarkable Thoroughbred in action.It happened that way with Tom Fool on Oct. 24, 1953, when he faced just two in the Pimlico Special, the final start of his career. There was no betting on the race -- I mean, whats the point? -- and Tom Fool already had secured his Horse of the Year title with nine straight wins. But the 18,965 fans were there to see the big horse run, as well as gamble on eight other races, and Tom Fool did not disappoint. He won by eight in track-record time.The New York fans who gathered at Aqueduct on Sept. 22, 1965, had no way of knowing that the featured Stymie Handicap would be Kelsos last moment in the sun. Yes, he was 8 years old, but he was also a force of nature who had been Horse of the Year at 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7. The sight of Kelso entering the stretch in splendid isolation that day moved the crowd to applaud in cadence with his every stride --- a rare tribute usually saved for Olympians and opera divas -- as he drew off to win by eight.And what if a tree falls in a forest and no ones there to bet which way it lands? Foregos followers found out on May 23, 1977, when a parimutuel clerks strike shut down wagering at Belmont Park. They ran the races anyway, for the benefit of OTB. But save a place in the racing fans Hall of Fame for the 7,514 who showed up to watch the three-time Horse of the Year in the flesh win a seven-furlong allowance race that set him up to take the Met Mile one week later.The 5,023 fans who filled tiny Los Alamitos on Saturday afternoon to watch California Chrome strut his considerable stuff were a far cry from the 164,906 who jammed into Churchill Downs for his 2014 Kentucky Derby victory, or even the 72,811 who witnessed his donnybrook with Arrogate in last months Breeders Cup Classic at Santa Anita.never have five thousand souls been more thoroughly entertained. This was Springsteen playing the local club, Picasso fingerpainting in day care, Fred Astaire dancing at a father-daughter ball. Last Saturdays Winter Challenge was a fitting thank you to the neighborhood that has played host to racings latest Cinderella story.Ive loved having California Chrome here, said Dr. Ed Allred, owner of Los Alamitos. But Ill have to admit I wont be sorry to see him go.The message was clear. California Chromes evolution from a promising 3-year-old to an international star with a ripe stallion career on the horizon has put his every move under a microscope, with pressure increased accordingly. Even a setup like the Winter Challenge could not be taken lightly.To tell you the truth, Im a little nauseous, confessed Art Sherman an hour before California Chromes race.Good for him. Trainers should have butterflies every time they send a horse into battle, no matter whats at stake. Anyone who believes that any race is routine has not been paying attention. The Winter Challenge was serious because there were nine others in the field, purse money was offered -- along with scaled-back gambling opportunities -- and California Chrome would be asked to uncork a fast one in ongoing preparation for his final start in the Pegasus World Cup next month.If nothing else, California Chromes track-record win by a dozen lengths served to file a little bit of the edge off a horse who was spoiling for a fight. That morning, as the stallion was leaving the track after a routine jog, he went up on his hind legs right in front of his trainer.It seemed like forever, but it was probably for about 10 yards, Sherman said. I wouldve got a nosebleed if Id been on him.Hes been doing some crazy things with me lately. Thats why its very important with this horse to get a race into him. He gets bored with all the workouts. He knows his routine, and he knows when its not for real.A mile and one-sixteenth in 1:40.03 is real enough under any circumstances, even over a track that had been sealed tight a few days earlier because of heavy rain. California Chrome returned to the Los Alamitos winners circle to a house full of standing fans, waves of cheering, and a Chrome-Chrome-Chrome chant that had his ears twitching in appreciation.The last time a horse got this kind of reception here was more than 40 years ago, said Brad McKinzie, who runs the Los Alamitos Thoroughbred meet for Allred. His name was Kaweah Bar.Known as the Palomino Express, Kaweah Bar was a beer-drinking, crowd-pleasing Quarter Horse legend who was twice voted World Champion, in 1968 and 1970. California Chrome, Horse of the Year in 2014, is favored to receive a similar honor of non-consecutive titles in the Eclipse Award voting that commenced this week. McKinzie is not alone in thinking it should be a done deal.This race ought to just about clinch it for him, he said. Dont you think?Custom Pirates Jerseys . Calgary scored on the first shift, and Michael Cammalleri scored twice as the Flames cruised to a 5-2 win over the Washington Capitals on Saturday. Willie Stargell Jersey Large . "I dont know that were close," said general manager Alex Anthopoulos. "I just think, right now, the acquisition cost just doesnt work for us right now. I dont know if I can quantify how far off or things like that that they might be but I would say we continue to have dialogue. http://www.custompiratesjersey.com/custom-willie-stargell-jersey-large-77t.html . -- San Francisco 49ers linebacker Ahmad Brooks was fined $15,570 by the NFL on Wednesday for his hit on Saints quarterback Drew Brees last Sunday. Custom Pirates T-shirts . Miikka Kiprusoff had just announced his retirement after a decade-long run in Calgary and it would be up to Berra and Ramo to fill the void. Pirates Jerseys China . Nine days before the opening ceremony, organizing committee chief Dmitry Chernyshenko said Wednesday that Sochi is "fully ready" and will deliver safe, friendly and well-run games that defy the grim reports that have overshadowed preparations. SAN FRANCISCO -- The Philadelphia Phillies placed two-time Cy Young Award winner Roy Halladay on the 15-day disabled list Monday because of inflammation in his throwing shoulder. Manager Charlie Manuel said Halladay had travelled to Los Angeles, where he was scheduled to be examined by Dr. Lewis Yocum on Tuesday. "Im sure hell find out his problem tomorrow," said Manuel, noting he appreciated the pitchers will to do his job despite the shoulder injury. "Ive been around the game a long time and I never liked to tell someone I couldnt play. I played with a broken arm, I played with a whole lot of things. I got hit in the face and my lip was over my eye and I missed one day. ... Yeah, I understand that. He felt like he could go out there and still pitch. He wasnt thinking about pitching bad, he wanted to try. Hes an upstanding guy, hes a straight guy. There should be more guys like that." Halladay is 2-4 with an 8.65 ERA in seven starts this season after missing nearly two months last season -- from late May to mid-July -- with a strained right lat muscle. He allowed nine runs in 2 1-3 innings against Miami on Sunday for his second straight loss and second outing in a row of less than four innings -- third in all this year. The 35-year-old right-hander is in the final season of his contract, making $20 million this year.dddddddddddd Halladay said Sunday this is a new injury for him, and he started feeling discomfort the morning after an April 24 start against Pittsburgh. He has struggled his two times out since and has given up at least five earned runs in four of his seven outings this season. Halladay was replaced on the roster by left-hander Joe Savery, recalled from Triple-A Lehigh Valley in time to join the club before the start of a three-game series in San Francisco. "Hes on our team and well use him when we have to," Manuel said. Yet the Phillies hadnt decided how to cover what would have been Halladays next turn to pitch, Friday at Arizona. Manuel didnt speak with Halladay on Sunday night during the teams cross-country trip, saying Halladay was sleeping when the skipper walked back to see him. "I didnt want to wake him up," Manuel said. Manuel is hopeful his club is better equipped to handle the loss of Halladay this season than a year ago, when the team struggled during his absence and wound up missing the playoffs for the first time in six years. "If you look and you see our rotation and you our bullpen, the back end of our bullpen has been pretty consistent," Manuel said. "Weve been inconsistent from the middle until we get to the eighth inning." ' ' '