Derby No. 3 Dullahan to skip Preakness
DES MOINES, Iowa, May 11 (UPI) -- Donegal Racing announced Friday that Dullahan, third-place finisher in the Kentucky Derby, will not run in the Preakness but will be in the Belmont Stakes.
The Preakness will be run May 19 in Baltimore, the Belmont June 9 in New York.
Donegal's Jerry Crawford said it was decided the horse's future "is best served by" by having him skip the Preakness.
The chestnut 3-year-old, ridden by Kent Desormeaux, finished behind the winner, I'll Have Another," and Bodemeister in the Derby.
Dullahan won the Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland April 14.
Guerrero gets minor-league deal with Jays
MINNEAPOLIS, May 11 (UPI) -- Nine-time all-star Vladimir Guerrero, 37, long considered one of baseball's most feared hitters, is now in the Toronto Blue Jays' organization.
The Toronto club announced Thursday in Minneapolis, where the Jays have a series with the Minnesota Twins, that Guerrero was signed to a minor-league contract.
The Jays haven't said exactly how they plan to use Guerrero once he is called up.
"He has power off the bench ... which is something we are lacking," Toronto slugger Jose Bautista told the Toronto Star. "I think he's a great addition to this or any other team in the league. I'm surprised it took as long as it did for someone to sign him."
Guerrero had a one-year contract with Baltimore last season and then became a free agent. He hit .290 with 13 home runs and 63 RBI in 145 games with the Orioles.
The outfielder-designated hitter has a .318 batting average with 449 homers and 1,496 RBI in 16 seasons in the major leagues, mostly with Montreal and the Los Angeles Angels. He also played for Texas.
Guerrero won the American League Most Valuable Player award with the Angels in 2004.
He is to report to the Blue Jays' extended spring training in Dunedin, Fla.
Putin: Inflated Oly pricing unacceptable
SOCHI, Russia, May 11 (UPI) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin said he will be on guard for inflated prices by contractors at sites for the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi.
Putin said at a meeting for official preparations for the Olympics he is "aware of the desire" of ... both ordering parties and subcontractors to increase the cost of Olympic sites ... at the final stage of construction," ITAR-Tass reported Friday.
Putin called the price increases unacceptable and said each instance will be addressed.
"If the investor or the subcontractor has formed the price of the facility independently, the risk of a higher price and additional expenses is shouldered [by] the relevant private organization," Putin said.
"We will not step aside from the generally recognized norms and rules of civil legal relations."
Vikings stadium wins legislative approval
ST. PAUL, Minn., May 11 (UPI) -- The Minnesota Senate gave final legislative approval to a plan to build a new home for the state's National Football League team.
Gov. Mark Dayton has said he would sign the bill that passed the House 71-60 and then cleared the Senate Thursday by a 36-30 vote.
The stadium for the Minnesota Vikings will cost $975 million. It appeared unlikely to become a reality until the team recently agreed to take on a larger portion of the cost.
The Vikings originally agreed to contribute $427 million to the project, but their final cost climbed to $477 million. The city of Minneapolis has committed $150 million for the stadium and the state will pay $348 million.
Although the Minneapolis City Council must still approve its share of the costs, a majority of the council members have said they would vote in favor.
The Vikings, founded in 1961, have played in the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome since 1982. The new stadium will be built on the site of the Metrodome, where the Vikings will play this season.
The team will play at the University of Minnesota while the new stadium is being constructed.
