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  • Associated Press

Nov 3, 2023, 08:43 PM ET

ARCADIA, Calif. — Mike Repole has been down this path before. A promising colt of his wins the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, goes to the Kentucky Derby as the early favorite and then nothing.

Now, he’s pausing before getting consumed by Derby fever.

Fierceness won the $2 million Juvenile by 6 1/4 lengths at Santa Anita on Friday, a race won by trainer Todd Pletcher and owner-breeder Repole last year with Forte.

“They will all tell you to start thinking about the Derby,” Repole said. “I’m not going to think about the Derby with this race.”

Forte came into the Kentucky Derby on a five-race winning streak and was the morning-line favorite only to be scratched hours beforehand because of a bruise in his right front foot. Repole’s Uncle Mo, the early Derby favorite in 2011, had to be scratched the day before the race because of a gastrointestinal infection.

“I might be skipping it,” Repole said of the 150th Derby next May.

Fierceness made quite the turnaround from a 20-length defeat in the Champagne Stakes nearly a month ago. He won his debut in the mud at Saratoga by 11 lengths before getting trounced.

“The Champagne was a head scratcher,” Pletcher said. “We had to go based on what we had been seeing from him all summer, before he was training for the Champagne and after the Champagne. Mike’s not afraid to take a shot. He said if you like the way he’s training, let’s take another shot.”

Pletcher earned his 15th Cup victory, while John Velazquez notched his 20th, second among jockeys on the career list.

Fierceness ran 1 1/16 miles in 1:41.90 and paid $35 to win at 16-1 odds.

“This one’s really special because 14 years ago the horse that won this race called Uncle Mo put the Repole Stable on the map. And Johnny Velazquez rode him,” Repole said. “We were in our 30s, now we’re in our 50s. These wins feel a lot better now.”

Muth, trained by Bob Baffert, was second. Locked, the 2-1 favorite also trained by Pletcher, was third.

Baffert’s other entries, Prince of Monaco and Wine Me Up, were fifth and eighth, respectively. Pletcher’s third horse, Noted, finished last in the nine-horse field. The Wine Steward and Ecoro Neo were scratched.

Five of the seven horses that were scratched from Cup races Friday were for veterinary reasons, while the other two were by order of the stewards.

Racing resumes Saturday with nine Cup races, including the $6 million Classic.

Two potential contenders died in the days leading up to the two-day world championships. Geaux Rocket Ride was injured in a workout and didn’t recover after having surgery. Practical Move collapsed after a gallop in what Cup officials said was a “suspected cardiac event.”

Unquestionable won the $1 million Juvenile Turf to salvage the day for Irish trainer Aiden O’Brien.

River Tiber, his best prospect, was scratched earlier Friday by the veterinarians. “We thought he was ready to run, but obviously the vets didn’t agree,” O’Brien said.

That left O’Brien with two horses in the field and they went 1-2 as Unquestionable beat Mountain Bear by 1 1/2 lengths.

Unquestionable paid $5 to win as the 3-2 favorite. He ran a mile in 1:33.65.

Mountain Bear left the track in an equine ambulance. His status was not immediately known, although he didn’t appear to be in any obvious distress.

Big Evs kicked off the day’s five races for 2-year-olds with a half-length victory over Valiant Force in the $1 million Juvenile Turf Sprint.

Starlust took third as European runners swept the first three places in the five-furlong dash. The winning time was 55:31 seconds.

Big Evs paid $8.40 to win as the 3-1 second choice. The colt improved to 4 for 6 as the first North American starter for both trainer Michael Appleby and jockey Tom Marquand.

Just F Y I extended her unbeaten streak to three with a 7-1 win in the $2 million Juvenile Fillies, giving Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott his 13th Cup win.

Tamara, the 4-5 favorite, grabbed the early lead but soon had company as Just F Y I, breaking from the outside post in the 12 horse field, quickly took up the chase. The relentless pressure paid off as Tamara faded at the top of the stretch, finishing seventh. Just F Y I and jockey Junior Alvarado were all out to hold off Jody’s Pride by a neck at the wire with Candied third.

Just F Y I paid $16 to win. The time was 1:44.58 for the 1 1/16 miles.

Trainer Chad Brown continued his dominance of the $1 million Juvenile Fillies Turf with his sixth win in the race as 9-1 shot Hard to Justify dug in for a half-length victory over Ireland-bred Porta Fortuna.

It was Brown’s 17th Cup win, and it came with a filly making only her third start while facing a strong field sprinkled with more experienced European runners.

Flavien Prat positioned Hard to Justify into a stalking trip, sitting right behind the pacesetting Dreamfyre. Hard to Justify surged past the tiring leader at the top of the stretch and held on for her third straight win. She ran a mile in 1:34.42. The daughter of 2018 Triple Crown winner Justify paid $20.20 to win.

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October 7, 2025

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Phillies’ 2025 ballpark bite to beat: the ‘Fall Classic Shake’

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October 6, 2025

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Phillies' 2025 ballpark bite to beat: the 'Fall Classic Shake'

Move aside, hot dogs, peanuts and Cracker Jack. Baseball teams are becoming more innovative and stepping up their food game in 2025.

One of those creations is the Philadelphia Phillies‘ limited-edition “Fall Classic Shake,” which includes a vanilla soft serve, blended with dulce de leche. If that wasn’t enough, an apple cider donut tops it off. Philadelphia has been on a heater in the kitchen recently — it also unveiled a postseason 9-9-9 challenge box last Friday.

Here are more ballpark innovations that can be found at MLB concession stands this season:

Houston Astros: Fried chicken waffle sandwich

Washington Nationals: Jake and Jake’s Smoked Brisket Sandwich

In collaboration with Joe’s Kansas City BBQ, the Royals will offer a new item this season: the Z-Man Sandwich. It includes slow-smoked beef brisket and provolone cheese on a toasted kaiser roll, topped with two onion rings.

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Braves GM: No candidate list yet for manager

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October 6, 2025

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Braves GM: No candidate list yet for manager

  • Associated Press

Oct 4, 2025, 01:22 PM ET

ATLANTA — Braves general manager Alex Anthopoulos said Saturday that he hopes to move quickly as he begins his search for a successor to Brian Snitker as manager but that he has not conducted any interviews.

Snitker, 69, announced Wednesday that he won’t return after 10 seasons as the Braves’ manager.

Even though Snitker’s decision wasn’t a surprise, Anthopoulos insisted he wasn’t going to begin compiling a list of candidates before giving the manager time to finalize his plans.

Asked what the Braves would have done if Snitker wanted to return for the 2026 season, Anthopoulos said: “He would have been back. That’s why we were going to wait and give him the time he needed.”

Former Braves catcher and Chicago Cubs skipper David Ross told The Associated Press on Thursday that he wants to manage again. Ross said an opportunity to manage the Braves “would be amazing.”

Anthopoulos insisted “we do not currently have a list” and said “I wanted to get some things done internally” before beginning his search.

“I will now turn my attention to the manager,” Anthopoulos said. “… We have not spoken with anybody.”

Snitker led the Braves to the 2021 World Series championship as the highlight of almost a half-century with the organization. He will remain in an advisory role and will be inducted into the team’s hall of fame next season.

Anthopoulos said he and Snitker have an agreement on a five-year term as senior adviser but added that could change.

Two coaches on Snitker’s staff have experience as a manager. Bench coach Walt Weiss is the Colorado Rockies‘ former manager. Third base coach Fredi González is a former manager with the Braves and Miami Marlins.

There has been speculation that other possible candidates are former Braves infielder Mark DeRosa and Cubs bench coach Ryan Flaherty. Former Marlins manager Skip Schumaker was named the Texas Rangers‘ skipper Friday night.

“Before Skip Schumaker was named, there were eight openings,” Anthopoulos said. “That’s a lot of openings. … That makes it incredibly challenging.”

Anthopoulos said his timeline to make a hire could be impacted if he focuses on a candidate who is also of interest to another team.

“Of course as soon as possible with so many openings,” Anthopoulos said when asked how soon he hopes to make a hire. “You can’t just rush it or force it. … You’d love to be able to do it sooner than later.”

Snitker posted a record of 811-688 as manager. He ranks third in franchise history in wins, trailing Bobby Cox (2,149) and Frank Selee (1,004). He led the Braves to seven postseasons, including six National League East titles.

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