BC Classic: Invasor conquers Classic
LOUISVILLE, Ky., Nov. 4 (UPI) -- Invasor overcame a bobbled start to win Saturday's Breeder's Cup Classic at Churchill Downs by a length over favorite Bernardini.
The Argentine-bred 4-year-old settled nicely as jockey Fernando Jara took him three-wide to advance between horses on the backstretch. He went after the leaders approaching the final quarter, fanning seven-wide into the stretch and had to be roused from drifting for the final drive past Bernardini, who had captured the lead at the mile mark. Premium Tap was third and Giacomo, fourth.
Invasor covered the 1 1/4-mile track in 2:02.18 and takes home $2.7 million of the $5 million purse.
Rick Nicholls, a spokesman for Invasor owner Shadwell Farms, said the colt's future is up in the air.
"With the fact of winning the Classic, it would be very tempting to go retire him, but it's also very tempting to win the Dubai World Cup in Dubai next March," Nicholls said. "That will be his (Sheik Hamden's) decision to make once we've had time to think about things. (We'll) talk to (trainer) Kairan (McLaughlin), see how the horse comes out of this race, see how he looks tomorrow, and make that decision probably in a few days."
McLaughlin said when the owners first laid eyes on Invasor, they had no inkling what he could do.
"Just a light framed horse, looked like a regular horse," he said. But "I saw the tapes, they were impressive, ... Once he started training, he never made a mistake. He's always done everything right, very classy. He has a lot of presence about him, and he did everything right in training."
Invasor paid $15.40, $5.80 and $4; Bernardini, $3.40 and $3; and Premium Tap, $8.80. The $2 Exacta paid $39.60.
Chris Simms is done for the season
TAMPA, Fla., Nov. 4 (UPI) -- Tampa Bay quarterback Chris Simms has been placed on the injured reserve list after having surgery on his spleen.
The four-year veteran out of the University of Texas suffered a spleen injury on Sept. 24 against Carolina.
The designation means Simms, who led the Buccaneers to the NFC South title in 2005, will not play again this season.
He completed 58 of 106 passes for 585 yards, one touchdown and seven interceptions.
In the 2005 campaign, Tampa Bay finished with an 11-5 record after Simms replaced an injured Brian Griese in Week 5.
"I knew there was at least some possibility I could miss the season," Simms told the Tampa Tribune. "It's not the most surprising thing in the world."
Simms' roster spot will be filled by Luke McCown, who was activated from the reserve/physically unable to perform list.
McCown was a fourth-round pick by Cleveland in the 2004 NFL Draft.
Scott has 3-shot lead at Tour Championship
ATLANTA, Nov. 4 (UPI) -- Adam Scott posted a 3-under 67 Saturday to take a three-stroke lead after three rounds of the PGA Tour Championship at Atlanta.
Scott birdied the 14th and eagled No. 15 to move to 7-under- 203. Second-round leader Joe Durant and Vijay Singh are tied for second. Scott is the only player with three rounds in the 60s this week.
All three of Scott's PGA Tour wins came when he held at least a share of the 54-hole lead. His last PGA win, the 2005 Nissan Open, was unofficial because it was cut to 36 holes by rain. His last official win came at the 2004 Booz Allen Classic.
Davydenko, Hrbaty in Paris final
PARIS, Nov. 4 (UPI) -- Russia's Nikolay Davydenko and Dominik Hrbaty of Slovakia Saturday advanced to the final at the Paribas Masters tennis tournament in Paris.
Davydenko, the fourth seed, beat No. 6 Tommy Robredo of Spain, 6-3, 5-7, 6-2, in their semifinal match.
Hrbaty advanced when 10th-seeded Tommy Haas of Germany retired in the second set because of gastroenteritis. Hrbaty was ahead a 6-4, 1-0.
After splitting the first two sets, Davydenko was dominant in the third. He broke Robredo's serve twice and didn't face a break point in that set.
It was a tough break for Haas, who needed to win the event to claim the last berth in the season-ending Masters Cup in Shanghai. With his loss, the spot will be filled by American James Blake.
Davydenko, who already earned a spot in the Masters Cup, will play in his seventh ATP final of the year Sunday.
Clijsters will play for title in Hasselt
HASSELT, Belgium, Nov. 4 (UPI) -- Native Belgian Kim Clijsters Saturday advanced to the final at the Gaz de France tennis tournament in Hasselt, Belgium.
She got there with a 6-4, 3-6, 6-4, come-from-behind victory against Russian Vera Zvonareva, the sixth seed, in the semifinals.
In the other semifinal match, little-known qualifier Kaia Kanepi of Estonia downed Michaella Krajicek of the Netherlands, 6-4, 6-4.
When Clijsters and Kanepi play for the title Sunday, it will be another milestone in Clijsters' return from a left-wrist injury in August.
The injury occurred at a tournament in Montreal, and prevented her from mounting a title defense at this year's U.S. Open.
"It was very close," Clijsters said of Saturday's match. "This was the type of match where every single point was important. But it was fun."
The two finalists have never faced each other.
