HORSE RACING
Effinex wins Clark
Effinex, the runner-up to Triple Crown winner American Pharaoh last month in the Breeders' Cup Classic, won the 141st running of the Grade 1 Clark Handicap by three-quarters of a length Friday at Churchill Downs. The 4-year-old son of Mineshaft made a four-wide bid entering the final turn, took the lead at the top of the stretch and held off a late charge from Hoppertunity for his first Grade 1 victory. He ran 1 1/8 miles in 1:48.92. Ridden by Mike Smith, Effinex paid $7, $3.60 and $3.20 as the 5-2 favorite in the field of eight. Hoppertunity, last year's Clark winner, returned $3.20 and $2.60. Looks to Spare, an 88-1 long shot, held off Keen Ice for third and paid $10.80. Effinex is owned by Tri-Bone Stables and trained by Jimmy Jerkens. Effinex earned his fourth victory in eight starts this year to cap an impressive 4-year-old campaign that included victories in the Grade 2 Suburban and Grade 3 Excelsior in New York. He now has a 7-2-3 record in 20 lifetime starts. The $300,700 winner's share of the $500,000 purse boosts his career earnings to $2,112,950. In earlier stakes action, Almasty led from the start to win the Grade 3 Commonwealth Turf Cup for 3-year-olds by 4 1/4 lengths.
• Midnight Storm won the $250,000 Seabiscuit Handicap for older horses by 1 3/4 lengths Friday at Del Mar. Ridden by Victor Espinoza, Midnight Storm ran 1 1/16 miles on turf in 1:42.70 and paid $9.60, $6 and $5.60. Bal a Bali returned $4.20 and $3.40, while Toowindytohaulrox was another three-quarters of a length and paid $11.80 to show. Seek Again, the 2-1 favorite, finished fourth. Midnight Storm tracked pacesetter Macro Access until the head of the stretch, where he surged into the lead and continued strongly to the finish line. The victory, worth $150,000, increased Midnight Storm's career earnings to $562,110, with five victories in 13 starts for trainer Phil D'Amato.
• Taris proved added distance was no obstacle, winning the $300,000 Go For Wand Handicap for fillies and mares by 2 1/2 lengths Friday at Aqueduct. The 4-year-old was had already demonstrated her talent in shorter races. She was third in her previous start, the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint at seven furlongs last month. The Go For Wand was a stretch out to a mile for a runner who was 5-1-2 in eight races at shorter distances. She handled the added furlong in style, sitting second in the early stages before swinging wide in the lane to prevail as the 4-5 favorite. Joel Rosario was the substitute jockey for trainer Simon Callaghan. Gary Stevens had flown in from California but was too ill to ride. The time was 1:36.10 on the fast track. Taris paid $3.80, $2.90 and $2.40. Mei Ling was second, returning $7.40 and $4.50. Spelling Again paid $3.50 to show. It capped a big day for Rosario, who also won the $147,000 King's Swan Stakes for 2-year-olds aboard 21-1 shot Jan's Reserve. It was the second consecutive victory for the colt trained by Michael Dilger.
TENNIS
Murray tops Bemelmans
Andy Murray kept Britain in contention in the Davis Cup final when he beat Belgium's Ruben Bemelmans in straight sets to leave the two nations level at 1-1 after the opening singles Friday in Ghent, Belgium. Murray, ranked No. 2 in the world, made a smooth transition to clay and won 6-3, 6-2, 7-5 against his left-handed opponent, who is ranked No. 108. Earlier, David Goffin rallied to beat Kyle Edmund 3-6, 1-6, 6-2, 6-1, 6-0, overcoming a two-set deficit for the first time in his career to put Belgium ahead. Belgium is seeking its first Davis Cup title, while Britain has not won the team competition in 79 years. Murray was briefly in trouble in the third set but he broke back with a passing return. He also had to save a set point after double-faulting in the 10th game and celebrated wildly. He won the match with a service winner that Bemelmans returned long. Murray was docked a point for a second warning in the third set for cursing loudly. Bemelmans played some delicate drop shots and other winners but his 33 unforced errors, more than twice as many as Murray's, made the difference.
BASKETBALL
No Okafor investigation
Boston police said they do not plan to investigate an apparent nightclub scuffle involving Philadelphia 76ers center Jahlil Okafor unless someone involved comes forward to say they were the victim of a crime. Officer James Kenneally said Friday that police responded to reports of a fight outside the nightclub hours after the winless Sixers lost to the Boston Celtics on Wednesday night. But Kenneally said the participants were gone by the time officers arrived and nobody was arrested or charged. TMZ posted cellphone video of the altercation on Thursday showing Okafor yelling and later shoving a man. The website reported that the confrontation started when someone taunted the 76ers player. Philadelphia has 16 losses and is the only team in the NBA without a victory. An agent for the No. 3 pick in the 2015 draft did not immediately return a message Friday seeking comment. Okafor said after a shootaround Friday that he was embarrassed about the scuffle and that it was "definitely dumb on my part." The 76ers said they are gathering information and declined further comment.
• The NBA has suspended Milwaukee Bucks Coach Jason Kidd for one game without pay for his aggressive conduct toward a referee. His actions came during Wednesday night's 129-118 home loss to Sacramento. Kidd served his suspension Friday night when the Bucks played at Orlando. Kidd was assessed a technical foul and ejected with 1:49 left in Wednesday's game. The league on Friday cited him for "pursuing and confronting" the official, slapping the ball out of his hands and not leaving the court in a timely manner when ejected.
MOTOR SPORTS
Rosberg has fastest practice
Nico Rosberg set the fastest time in Friday's practice for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix ahead of Mercedes teammate Lewis Hamilton. Hamilton has already secured the Formula One title but Rosberg has won the past two races and will target a sixth consecutive pole position in today's qualifying. Rosberg's best lap was 0.138 seconds faster than Hamilton at the Yas Marina circuit, although he believed the British driver eased off during his flying laps on the softer tire Friday. Hamilton had complained during the first practice session about the handling of the car, and although some adjustments improved its performance in the evening session, he believed there was room for further improvement ahead of qualifying. Force India driver Sergio Perez was an impressive third fastest despite brake problems which ended his night early. Red Bull drivers Daniel Ricciardo and Daniil Kvyat were fourth and sixth. Ferrari drivers Sebastian Vettel and Kimi Raikkonen were fifth and seventh. Force India driver Nico Hulkenberg had the eighth-fastest time ahead of McLaren rival Fernando Alonso and Lotus driver Pastor Maldonado.
GOLF
Jones leads Open
Jordan Spieth and Adam Scott went in opposite directions at the Australian Open on Friday, while Matt Jones used home-course advantage to shoot a 3-under 68 and take a three-stroke lead. Jones, a member at The Australian Golf Club in Sydney, had a 7-under 135 total on a course that was playing only slightly easier a day after brutal wind and heat sent scores soaring. Australia's Todd Sinnott was second after a 70, while the top-ranked Spieth (68) and playing partner Geoff Ogilvy (71) were in a group of five tied for third, four behind Jones. Spieth won last year. Scott shot a 73 and was at 2 over, nine strokes out of the lead.
• South Africa's Charl Schwartzel shot a 5-under 67 to open a five-stroke lead Friday in the European Tour's season-opening Alfred Dunhill Championship in Malelane, South Africa. Schwartzel had an 11-under 133 total at Leopard Creek. He won the event in 2005, 2012 and 2013. Spain's Pablo Martin Benavides (69), South Africa's Richard Sterne (70), France's Benjamin Hebert (70) and the Netherland's Joost Luiten (70) were tied for second.
Sports on 11/28/2015