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LONDON -- Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino has said it would be "embarrassing" to talk about his own future ahead of the Champions League final against Liverpool on Saturday.
Pochettino has been linked with Italian champions Juventus following the departure of Massimiliano Allegri, and has indicated previously that the backing of chairman Daniel Levy in the transfer market would determine whether he has a future at Spurs.
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But ahead of the Madrid final, Pochettino stressed his future means nothing in comparison to the biggest week in the club's history.
"Today, no one is more important that the game ahead," Pochettino said at a news conference on Monday. "We can make history, we can provide our fans and our people the best happiness in football that you can provide and I think today to talk about individual things would be embarrassing and a shame.
"I am not important. I am not more important than the Champions League and the possibility to win a trophy.
"Of course rumour is rumour and of course you are going to ask me about me, but today the focus is 200 percent on the final. After the final we will have time to talk but today my commitment is about Tottenham."
Meanwhile, Pochettino said Harry Kane's progression remains positive but added no further details on his recovery from a serious ankle injury.
Kane returned to full training on Friday and remains in line to play some part against Liverpool.
"I started to feel my way back with the team at the end of last week," Kane said. "There have been no problems so far.
"For me, this week now is to get the fitness as high as possible. Then it's down to the manager. Like I said, I feel good. The manager will assess it and decide whether I'm ready to go or not. But so far, I feel good and ready.
"I'm back with the team. I did a lot of work on my own to get me into a good place to go back with the team. Since I've been with them, I've been full training, doing everything. I'm at a place now where I'm ready to go for any game but again, it's down to the manager."
Asked whether he was concerned of injuring his ankles further, he added: "For me, it's just doing everything I can to strengthen them. We've got three games coming up in this short period over the next couple of weeks and then we will probably have four weeks off in the off-season.
"In those four weeks it's for me to do a lot of rehab, continue the process and not just switch off. When you look at a lot of the injuries, a lot of them have been contact, tackles. I've been unfortunate but of course when something happens four or five times you always look to see if there are any improvements can I make.
"That will be my goal over the off-season: of course to carry on being fit and to strengthen the ankle as much as possible."
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Tigres lifted their seventh Liga MX title on Sunday, overcoming Leon 1-0 on aggregate after a 0-0 tie in the second leg in Estadio Leon.
A solitary goal from Andre-Pierre Gignac in the first leg was enough to give Tigres the 2019 Clausura championship, although they had to rely on keeper Nahuel Guzman making two smart saves in the last 10 minutes to keep Leon from scoring.
The title was Tigres' fifth this decade, continuing the northern Mexican club's period of recent success in the league.
Leon flew at Tigres from the kick-off and came close twice in the early minutes, first through Joel Campbell and then when a mis-timed shot from Luis Montes was fumbled by Guzman, with the ball falling the wrong side of the post for Leon.
Tigres gradually established a foothold in the game, mainly through counter-attacks with Leon pushing forward, but didn't manage a shot on target in the first half.
Leon's cause wasn't helped when Angel Mena, who recorded 14 goals in the regular season, has forced off with an into in the 32nd, to be replaced by Jean Meneses.
This was a rare occasion in which Tigres didn't have the majority of possession in a Liga MX game and the away team was made to suffer in the second half, as fans inside Estadio Leon willed their team to attack.
Costa Rica international Joel Campbell sent a shot from outside the area just wide in the 52nd, with Yairo Moreno and William Tesillo clashing into each other from a Meneses cross from the right wing on the hour mark.
But Tigres also had opportunities on the counter-attack, with Chile international Eduardo Vargas and then Enner Valencia failing to convert in the second half after going through on goal.
Leon center-back Andres Mosquera was sent off for a late challenge in second half injury-time.
Tigres head coach Ricardo Ferretti won his seventh title in Liga MX to pull him level on seven titles with Ignacio Trelles, who managed between 1951 and 1991, the same year Ferretti took his first head coaching job at Pumas.
Leon had won 14 of its 17 games in the regular season, including a historic streak of 12 victories, and was looking to win its eighth Liga MX title.
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It was quite the week for most of the top five teams in the Power Rankings, with three sides going down in defeat, but losing very little ground.
Of note were the big climbs from the New York Red Bulls and Portland Timbers. Just when everyone is ready to write off the Red Bulls, they string together three wins and a draw in their last four matches, including a 2-0 win in Cincinnati after a midweek duel with Vancouver. The more things change in Harrison, NJ, the more they stay the same.
The Timbers sent a clear message to the rest of their league on Saturday in a 3-1 win at Eastern Conference leaders Philadelphia Union. New arrival Brian Fernandez is here, and he's ready to punish any mistakes. In MLS, those defensive miscues are aplenty, which bodes well for the Argentine.
Previous rankings: Week 12 | Week 11 | Week 10 | Week 9 | Week 8 | Week 7 | Week 6 | Week 5 | Week 4 | Week 3 | Week 2 | Week 1
1. LAFC (10 wins, 4 draws, 1 loss)
Previous ranking: 1
Next MLS match: Saturday, June 1, 10:30 p.m. ET at Portland, ESPN 2
LAFC at home: Carlos Vela scores, Carlos Vela has an assist, LAFC win in dominating fashion. This time it was the Montreal Impact getting the lather, rise and repeat treatment in the City of Angels in a 4-2 final for the hosts. You knew it was going to be a good night for LAFC when Christian Ramirez scored on this howler.
2. Seattle Sounders (7-5-2)
Previous ranking: 2
Next MLS match: Saturday, June 1, 8 p.m. ET at FC Dallas, ESPN+
The Sounders endured a defensive nightmare in Sunday 3-2 loss at Sporting Kansas City, at times rolling out the red carpet for Johnny Russell to get his hat trick. It was a performance that evoked memories of last month's 4-1 loss at LAFC. That said, they never threw in the towel and could have come away with a point.
3. Houston Dynamo (7-2-3)
Previous ranking: 3
Next MLS match: Saturday, June 1, 8:30 p.m. ET vs. Sporting Kansas City, ESPN+
In Saturday's 1-0 loss at Minnesota United, Dynamo fans got a small glimpse of what life could be like without Alberth Elis, should the Honduran leave this summer for a move abroad. Elis was out with a concussion and the Houston attack was not its usual potent self. There were chances to pull level, only for some wayward finishing proving costly.
4. LA Galaxy (8-1-5)
Previous ranking: 6
Next MLS match: Wednesday, May 29, 8:30 p.m. ET at Sporting Kansas City, ESPN+
Are the Galaxy back? Well, Friday's 1-0 win at Orlando City SC was definitely a step in the right direction, and winning without Zlatan Ibrahimovic always has to be considered a positive. Most importantly though, was that Guillermo Barros Schelotto's defense returned to its stingy ways in recording a clean sheet, thanks in part to a penalty save from goalkeeper David Bingham.
5. Philadelphia Union (7-3-4)
Previous ranking: 4
Next MLS match: Wednesday, May 29, 7:30 p.m. ET vs. Colorado, ESPN+
Saturday's 3-1 home loss to Portland is one that Union boss Jim Curtin will want to forget. Usually, center backs Jack Elliot and Auston Trusty as so good on the Philadelphia back line, but they were each gutted by a rampaging Timbers attack. This is arguably the first real sign of adversity for the Union in 2019.
6. D.C. United (7-4-4)
Previous ranking: 5
Next MLS match: Wednesday, May 29, 8:00 p.m. ET vs Chicago, ESPN+
There are some worrisome signs there for DC United following the 1-1 draw at New England on Saturday. Ben Olsen's team are now winless in their last three and the attack is not firing like it was earlier in the season. Nevertheless, a late Wayne Rooney penalty was enough to nudge them to the top of the Eastern Conference standings.
7. New York City FC (4-6-1)
Previous ranking: 7
Next MLS match: Saturday, June 1, 7:30 p.m. ET at Columbus, ESPN+
Getting a 1-1 draw in Chicago on Saturday was a satisfactory result for NYCFC, who are now unbeaten in their last eight. Alexandru Mitrita announced his return from injury with a strong goal, and if the trio of Mitrita, Heber and Maxi Moralez can start getting a string of games together, NYCFC could make a move upward.
8. New York Red Bulls (6-2-5)
Previous ranking: 11
Next MLS match: Saturday, June 1, 7 p.m. ET vs. Real Salt Lake, ESPN+
Well, well, well, look who is back in the mix. The New York Red Bulls are playing their best soccer of the season and pocketed another victory, this time a 2-0 win at Cincinnati after a midweek affair with Vancouver that ended in a tie. Remember when Thierry Henry was rumored to replace Chris Armas? Seems like a lifetime ago. Armas has righted the ship.
9. FC Dallas (5-3-6)
Previous ranking: 8
Next MLS match: Saturday, June 1, 8 p.m. ET vs. Seattle, ESPN+
It was one of those days that FC Dallas would like to forget, as they coughed up two goals in the first half in a 2-1 loss at Vancouver on Saturday. Both were preventable, but once behind by two, FC Dallas' lack of offensive firepower reared its head.
10. Toronto FC (5-2-6)
Previous ranking: 9
Next MLS match: Friday, May 31, 10:00 p.m. ET at Vancouver, ESPN+
While Toronto FC certainly missed the cutting edge offered in attack by Alejandro Pozuelo in Sunday's 2-1 home loss to San Jose, that does not excuse the TFC defense from failing to mark the scorching hot Chris Wondolowski not once but twice in the area. TFC could have and maybe should have won this, but a pair of lapses left them empty-handed.
0:59
Wondolowski delivers for Quakes in Toronto
Chris Wondolowski found the net twice, as the San Jose Earthquakes came back from a goal down to secure a 2-1 victory over Toronto.
11. Montreal Impact (6-3-6)
Previous ranking: 10
Next MLS match: Wednesday, May 29, 7:30 p.m. vs. Real Salt Lake, ESPN+
Evan Bush's horrific mistake to gift LAFC an early goal set the tone in Friday's 4-2 loss at LAFC. The Canadians were never really in this one, and truth be told Ignacio Piatti still does not look 100 percent.
12. Minnesota United (6-3-4)
Previous ranking: 13
Next MLS match: Wednesday, May 29, 7 p.m. ET at Atlanta, ESPN+
Minnesota frankly should have scored more than one goal in Saturday's 1-0 home win over Houston, but a clean sheet will never fail to disappoint head coach Adrian Heath. Darwin Quintero has gone six games without a goal, but he showed on Saturday that he's too good for that to last much longer.
13. Real Salt Lake (6-1-6)
Previous ranking: 14
Next MLS match: Wednesday, May 29, 7:30 p.m. ET at Montreal, ESPN+
Real Salt Lake gave Atlanta fits in Friday's 2-1 win at home, and the fact that they were tied 1-1 into the final second would have been a harsh result. However, the football gods were smiling on RSL and Jefferson Savarino. The Venezuelan hit an absolute rocket to beat the champs. Sebastian Saucedo's opener wasn't too bad either.
14. Portland Timbers (4-2-6)
Previous ranking: 16
Next MLS match: Saturday, June 1, 10:30 p.m. ET vs. Los Angeles FC, ESPN 2
Buckle up, because here comes Portland. The Timbers have completed their 12-game road trip to open the season and have emerged in decent shape. They sent a message to the entire league in Saturday's 3-1 win in Philadelphia about what is coming down the pipe. New striker Fernandez already has three goals in less than three halves of play. This team is ready to fly.
15. Atlanta United (6-2-5)
Previous ranking: 12
Next MLS match: Wednesday, May 29, 7 p.m. ET vs. Minnesota United, ESPN+
While Atlanta were mere seconds away from getting a road point until the Savarino winner, their performance was largely poor. Passes were misplayed and sprayed everywhere, gestures of discontent all over the field. Bad body language all around. No one fears them anymore.
1:11
Savarino scores stunner in stoppage time for RSL
Major League Soccer: Jefferson Savarino (90'+4) RSL 2-1 Atlanta United
16. Vancouver Whitecaps (4-4-6)
Previous ranking: 18
Next MLS match: Friday, May 31, 10 p.m. ET vs. Toronto FC, ESPN+
The schedule has been unkind to Vancouver and you could forgive them if they wanted to settle for a home draw against FC Dallas after a midweek trip to take on the Red Bulls, but credit the Whitecaps for getting a 2-1 win over the Texans. A good sign to see Ali Adnan and Lucas Venuto get on the scoresheet.
17. San Jose Earthquakes (5-2-6)
Previous ranking: 19
Next MLS match: Saturday, June 1, 8:00 p.m. ET at DC United, ESPN+
Whatever Chris Wondolowski is having for breakfast, we want some of that. The league's all-time leading scorer now has an astounding six goals in his last two games after a brace in Sunday's 2-1 win at Toronto FC. The Wondo-Cristian Espinoza duo is suddenly a thing. The Argentine was so good at picking out Wondo on both goals.
18. Columbus Crew (5-1-9)
Previous ranking: 15
Next MLS match: Saturday, June 1, 7:30 p.m. ET vs. NYCFC, ESPN+
When the league's worst team guts you for three goals, that's not a good thing, but that's what happened to Columbus in a 3-2 loss in Colorado. Even with the two goals on Saturday, the Crew's offense is still anemic at best, with just 14 goals on the season. Caleb Porter will have to hope that Gyasi Zardes' goal will provide a confidence boost.
19. Sporting Kansas City (3-5-4)
Previous ranking: 21
Next MLS match: Wednesday, May 29, 8:30 p.m. ET vs. LA Galaxy
The story this season with Sporting Kansas City has been their long list of injuries, but Peter Vermes' men sparked to life in Sunday's 3-2 win over Seattle. Johnny Russell had such a great start to the season and Sunday's hat trick might be a sign that things are turning around.
20. Chicago Fire (4-5-5)
Previous ranking: 20
Next MLS match: Wednesday, May 29, 8:00 p.m. ET at DC United, ESPN+
It was business as usual for the Fire at home, putting in a fairly good shift in a 1-1 draw with NYCFC. The problem for Veljko Paunovic is that his team is unable to create the same opportunities away from home, where they are still winless.
0:46
Mitrita saves points for NYCFC against Fire
Alexandru Mitrita's leveler ensured NYCFC wouldn't add another game to the loss column, as they tied the Chicago Fire 1-1 on the road.
21. Orlando City (4-3-7)
Previous ranking: 17
Next MLS match: Saturday, June 1, 5 p.m. ET at Montreal, ESPN+
After posting a five-spot last Sunday against Cincinnati in what fans hoped would be the catalyst for a scoring spark, Orlando's woeful finishing was back on display in Friday's 1-0 loss to the Galaxy. Even a penalty kick from someone as seasoned as Nani could not even yield a goal.
22. New England Revolution (3-4-8)
Previous ranking: 22
Next MLS match: Sunday, June 2, 10:30 p.m. ET at LA Galaxy, ESPN+
The Revs continue to look better each time they take the field since Brad Friedel's departure and they were good value in Saturday's 1-1 home draw with DC United, limiting Rooney & Co. It's an improved team and things stand to be better when new boss Bruce Arena will finally be on the sidelines next week.
23. FC Cincinnati (3-2-9)
Previous ranking: 23
Next MLS match: Saturday, June 1, 8:30 p.m. ET at Colorado, ESPN+
For a good chunk of Saturday's clash with the New York Red Bulls, it looked like Cincinnati might gut out a point, but alas the dam burst late with two late goals for the visitors in a 2-0 loss. Eleven goals in 14 games is a painful reality.
24. Colorado Rapids (2-2-9)
Previous ranking: 24
Next MLS match: Saturday, June 1, 8:30 p.m. ET vs. Cincinnati, ESPN+
Break up the Rapids! Colorado has won two in a row after beating Columbus 3-2 on Saturday. It's not enough to pull them out of the Power Rankings cellar, but there is a proof of life under Conor Casey in the Mile High City. Jonathan Lewis has been a nice fit, too.
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Welcome to ESPNcricinfo's live updates and analysis of England and Afghanistan's final tune-up before the World Cup kicks off (If the blog doesn't load for you straightaway, please refresh your page).
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England are 'favourites' for the World Cup - Glenn McGrath
Published in
Cricket
Monday, 27 May 2019 05:22

Glenn McGrath, who has turned making pre-series predictions into a mini-sport of its own, has come out with perhaps his most surprising prediction yet, naming England - arch-rivals during his playing career - as the favourites for the 2019 World Cup.
McGrath retired from international cricket in a blaze of glory, as Player of the Tournament in the 2007 World Cup in which Australia smothered all opponents, and remains one of the game's all-time greats. He is now the director of cricket at the MRF Pace Foundation in Chennai where his role is to mentor and finetune young fast bowlers.
During his playing career, McGrath was part of an Australia team that regularly beat England, but it is the hosts' recent one-day prowess that has made him back Eoin Morgan's team as the one to beat. "England, a very good one-day unit," McGrath told ESPNcricinfo recently during his trip to India. "To me they are the favourites going into this World Cup, so I think they'll do very well."
Who will win the World Cup? Play Cricket Picks and win
Was this the first time McGrath has called England a 'favourite' for any cricket tournament?
"Probably! I can't remain biased my whole life," he laughed. "You've got to go on current form. The England team - the way they go about it, they have impressed me. They have scored some big, big totals. Most teams used to go hard in the first 15 and the last 15, and consolidate in the middle. But teams like England, India are just going hard the whole 50 overs, and that's the impact T20 cricket has had. So yeah, I don't think I've ever said 'England are the team to beat' or the 'favourites'.
"I didn't say they were going to win the World Cup though! So they are the favourites and are going to be tough to beat in their own conditions, but fingers crossed, Australia can do well."
India and Australia, McGrath said, were the other clear contenders based on the form and past history.
"The two standouts to me were India and England, with fingers crossed, Australia doing well. South Africa are always a good team, West Indies are bit of a dark horse - they can play really well or badly, probably similar to Pakistan. So it's going to be an interesting World Cup. England and India are tough to beat, but with Australia's form, I think we'll see them make the final.
"I was a little bit concerned how Australia were going to go, but their form of late has really impressed me. They've performed really well in conditions that are not suited to them, so that bodes well for their chances. I'd like to think that they'll make the finals. India are a quality one-day unit as well. They'll be in the running."
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Mark Wood has been cleared of serious injury and will remain part of England's World Cup squad.
Wood, one of two England bowlers who regularly generate pace in excess of 90 mph - Jofra Archer is the other - pulled up during his fourth over of the warm-up match against Australia in Southampton on Saturday. Given his history of foot and ankle problems, there was some trepidation in the England camp when he was subsequently sent for scans.
But those scans have shown no sign of injury. Instead the England medical team believe Wood simply jarred his foot while bowling.
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While Wood will not take part in Monday's warm-up match against Afghanistan, he was seen bowling on a pitch on the edge of the square at The Oval shortly before play. England believe he will be available for selection for their first World Cup match, against South Africa, at The Oval on Thursday.
England have also had good news about the fitness of their captain, Eoin Morgan. Morgan was diagnosed with a small fracture in a finger on Thursday, but has recovered sufficiently to play on Monday in a 12-man side. Adil Rashid, who missed Saturday's game with a shoulder injury, also returns to the side.
Chris Woakes, who played as a specialist batsman on Saturday, is expected to take a full part as a bowler against Afghanistan, while Liam Plunkett has been rested for the game. Liam Dawson, who cut his finger on Saturday, has also been given more time to recover.
Teams are allowed to utilise substitute fielders from outside their 15-man squads for the warm-up games. Once the tournament starts, however, only players from within those squads will be allowed to come on as substitute fielders.
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Priyank Panchal, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Rahul Chahar lead India A to innings win
Published in
Cricket
Monday, 27 May 2019 06:33

India A 622 for 5 decl (Abhimanyu 233, Panchal 160, Anmolpreet 116*, Vishwa Fernano 2-83) beat Sri Lanka A 232 (Dickwella 103, Chahar 4-78) and 185 (Samarawickrama 48, Chahar 4-45) by an innings and 205 runs
India A completed a three-day rout of Sri Lanka A in their first four-day match in Belgavi, courtesy compelling batting performances from captain Priyank Panchal, Abhimanyu Easwaran and Anmolpreet Singh, and Rahul Chahar's wizardry with the ball.
Panchal and Abhimanyu set the tone with a 352-run opening stand on the first day that paved the way for India A's declaration after scoring a mammoth 622 for 5. Panchal, who made 160 of those runs, carried on his good form from the series against England Lions in February, where he registered scores of 206 and 50 in the two four-day games.
Abhimanyu, meanwhile, recorded a career-best 321-ball 233 - his second double-century - to leave his mark and give the selectors another option for the top of the batting order in Test cricket, outside of the current top three - KL Rahul, Mayank Agarwal and Prithvi Shaw.
Anmolpreet registered a fourth first-class century in just his 15th game. His unbeaten 116 took his career average to an impressive 54.95. It's these batting performances that gave India A the cushion of enforcing the follow-on, which was made possible courtesy legspinner Chahar's four-wicket haul in the first innings.
Despite boasting of a number of international cricketers in their ranks, all Sri Lanka A managed was 232 in 62.4 overs, with Niroshan Dickwella, the Test wicketkeeper, top-scoring with a typically aggressive 113-ball 103. The next best was the 49 made by Ashan Priyanjan, the captain. Chahar's efforts were backed up by Sandeep Warrier and allrounder Shivam Dube, who picked up two wickets apiece.
In the second innings, Sri Lanka A fared worse. Facing a 390-run deficit, they slumped to 4 for 3 courtesy Ankit Rajpoot and Warrier. Priyanjan and Sadeera Samarawickrama led a brief revival, before they fell to Chahar again. The 20-year-old, who enjoyed a breakout IPL season with Mumbai Indians, picked up four more wickets to take his match tally to an impressive 8 for 123. Rajpoot, Warrier and offspinner Jayant Yadav got two wickets each too.
The second four-dayer will be played in Hubli from May 31.
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Usman Khawaja injury worries Australia ahead of World Cup opener
Published in
Cricket
Monday, 27 May 2019 05:44

Usman Khawaja hobbled off the field with what appeared to be a knee injury during Australia's warm-up match against Sri Lanka in Southampton.
Khawaja was fielding at mid-off when he dived to his left to stop a ball that had been driven firmly by Jeevan Mendis of the bowling of Steven Smith. The ball appeared to strike Khawaja directly on his left kneecap and he immediately called for the medical staff before limping heavily back to the dressing room.
A CA spokesperson later said Khawaja hadn't suffered any major damage, and expected that he would be fit to bat during Australia's chase.
Khawaja has had ongoing issues with his left knee. In 2014 he required reconstructive surgery after tearing his left anterior cruciate ligament and then in October 2018 he suffered a meniscal tear when he twisted his left knee during a warm-up fielding drill during Australia's Test series against Pakistan in the UAE.
Australia have been rotating Khawaja, David Warner and Shaun Marsh in their World Cup warm-up matches, as they attempt to settle on their best batting line-up. Warner was left out of the team against Sri Lanka, amid reports that he had complained of tightness or soreness to his upper leg.
Warner's absence during the year-long ban for his involvement in the Newlands ball-tampering scandal allowed Khawaja to cement his place at the top of the order, forming a formidable opening partnership with captain Aaron Finch. Warner's return, alongside that of Smith in the middle order, has left selectors with something of a conundrum as they try to fit in a number of batsmen who have been performing at their best while opening the batting.
Australia play their first World Cup game against Afghanistan in Bristol on Saturday.
Melinda Farrell is a presenter with ESPNcricinfo
© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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Third horse in 9 days dies at Santa Anita track
Published in
Breaking News
Monday, 27 May 2019 00:42

ARCADIA, Calif. -- Santa Anita had its third horse death in nine days when a gelding pulled up during a race Saturday and was euthanized Sunday.
Twenty-six horses have died in racing or training at the Southern California track since Dec. 26.
The Los Angeles Times reported that Kochees sustained an injury to its left front leg in a 5 1/2-furlong race on Saturday.
Kochees was taken off the course with a splint. The newspaper said that during surgery Sunday, it was determined the 9-year-old horse had lost blood flow to the leg, and the decision was made to euthanize.
Santa Anita is scheduled to host the Breeders' Cup Nov. 1-2. It is considered the biggest two-day event in U.S. horse racing.
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PARIS -- Former No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki wasted a perfect start when she lost 0-6, 6-3, 6-3 to 68th-ranked Veronika Kudermetova in the opening match of the day on Court Philippe Chatrier.
"Definitely wasn't the best match I've ever played," said the 13th-seeded Wozniacki.
Wozniacki's record this year dropped to 9-8 after her fourth straight loss -- including first-round defeats in Madrid and Rome -- since reaching the final of a clay-court event in Charleston, South Carolina, last month.
Wozniacki, 28, announced in October that she has rheumatoid arthritis.
The match marked Kudermetova's debut in the main draw at Roland Garros and the biggest win of her career in terms of ranking. The Russian player hit a whopping 40 winners to Wozniacki's 15.
Wozniacki's preparation for Paris had been hampered by an injured left calf, which was heavily wrapped Monday, but she said that was not an issue against her 22-year-old opponent. The Danish player also said she was not bothered by her rheumatoid arthritis, an autoimmune condition that can cause pain and swelling in the wrist and other joints.
"I played really well in the first set. I played aggressive. I played the way I wanted to play. And then I think she got very lucky at the start of the second set and took advantage of the opportunities she got," Wozniacki said, her chin resting on her left hand. "And then I think I just lost a little steam in the end."
She made only three unforced errors in that opening set, but 18 over the last two.
Wozniacki's results have not been the sort she is accustomed to. She made it to the quarterfinals and the fourth round in Paris in the last two years.
"You want to win, you're competitive, you work hard and you want to see results. So, it hasn't been a great year for me so far. And I'm just going to try and work hard and try to turn that around. Right now, there's not much I can do about the first six months of the season. I had some good weeks where I felt great, and then I've had some weeks where I've been sick and some weeks where I've been injured," Wozniacki said.
"I just have to try and stay positive, and obviously it's not as easy to stay positive when things aren't going your way. But I think that's when you really need to -- and you need to just keep grinding."
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