Always a Runner has won the 152nd edition of the Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs, securing a maiden victory in the prestigious race for trainer Chad Brown.
Ridden by Jose Ortiz, the undefeated three-year-old filly produced a thrilling late surge to triumph in the first prime-time running of the event.
Making a decisive move around the final turn, she required every inch of the stretch to overtake Bob Baffert’s Explora and Michael McCarthy’s Meaning.
Meaning ultimately secured the runner-up spot, while Counting Stars finished in third place.
Resilience rewarded after illness
The victory marks a remarkable turnaround for the star horse, who suffered a severe bout of pneumonia during her two-year-old season.
Having successfully completed her treatment, the resilient filly has now maintained a flawless career record of three wins from three starts.
“What an unbelievable talent. This filly is very resilient, very tough.”
Prime-time scheduling falls flat
While the 1⅛-mile race made history by shifting to a late slot under the floodlights, the atmosphere was noticeably subdued.
Large sections of the grandstand were visibly empty, with many spectators who attended earlier daytime races choosing to depart before sunset.
Traditionally, this premier fixture for fillies has always been contested before 18:00 local time.
Derby double in sight
Following this milestone triumph, the victorious handler will now aim to complete a rare Oaks-Kentucky Derby double.
Brown saddles Emerging Market in Saturday’s marquee race, hoping to secure his first ever victory in the legendary Kentucky Derby.
Northern Irish golfer Rory McIlroy has revealed he skipped Donald Trump’s Cadillac Championship in Florida to focus entirely on major tournaments following his second successive Masters victory.
The 36-year-old recently became only the fourth player in history to claim back-to-back titles at Augusta National.
He joins an exclusive group of golfing legends alongside Jack Nicklaus, Nick Faldo and Tiger Woods.
Following the historic triumph, US President Trump publicly congratulated the champion and branded him a legend.
Trump also stated he was looking forward to watching the world number two compete at his Doral course.
Targeting major championships
However, the four-time major winner opted to withdraw from the Cadillac Championship to take a well-earned break.
Speaking at the Laureus World Sports Awards, the former world number one explained his intention to prioritise the sport’s biggest prizes.
“Completing the career Grand Slam, I always felt like that was going to be the highlight of my career. But I’m still competitive, I still feel like I have a lot left to give.”
“I’m at a point in my career where I really have to target the bigger events, the four Major championships, the Ryder Cup. Trying to add to that number is something that’s really important to me.”
Finding inspiration from sporting greats
To prolong his success at the highest level, the defending Masters champion is looking towards iconic figures from other sports.
He cited tennis legends Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal as prime examples of prolonged athletic dominance.
“I look at Messi or Ronaldo in soccer, I look at Tom Brady in American football.”
“I take inspiration from those guys and what they were able to achieve later into their careers.”
Validating Augusta success
Reflecting on his recent achievements, the Northern Irishman admitted his latest triumph felt more definitive than his previous victory.
“This year it felt more real, more complete.”
“When I won in 2025, I kept thinking to myself, ‘is this real life?’, the way it happened, and there was this outpouring of emotion. This year it was like validation.”
The 152nd running of the Kentucky Derby presents a multitude of historic storylines, with Cherie DeVaux bidding to become the first female trainer to win the prestigious race.
DeVaux will saddle Golden Tempo when the iconic event gets underway on Saturday evening.
Fans seeking a feel-good narrative have several compelling options to follow at the famous dirt track.
Veterans and trailblazers chase glory
Veteran jockey Mike Smith is attempting to become the oldest rider to win the Run for the Roses at 59 years of age.
The experienced rider will partner So Happy, having previously tasted success with Giacomo in 2005 and Triple Crown champion Justify in 2018.
A fascinating family rivalry also unfolds in the paddock as 33-year-old Riley Mott attempts to outsmart his father.
Bill Mott secured Derby glory last year with Sovereignty and returns seeking back-to-back victories with Chief Wallabee.
His son counters with two strong entries, fielding both Albus and Incredibolt in the wide-open contest.
Curse of the inside post and overseas raiders
Traditional betting angles present a challenging puzzle for punters analyzing the form guide.
Race favorite Renegade must overcome the dreaded number one post position to secure victory.
No horse has won from the inside rail since Ferdinand achieved the feat in 1986.
Meanwhile, an international contingent featuring Danon Bourbon, Wonder Dean, and Six Speed hopes to break a daunting historic trend.
Only one of the 18 horses to race exclusively outside the United States prior to the Derby has ever managed to finish in the top three.
Triple Crown landscape shifts
The broader American racing landscape continues to evolve in the wake of last year’s dramatic Triple Crown series.
Defending champion Sovereignty recently made his seasonal debut alongside fierce rival Journalism at Oaklawn Park.
Significant venue changes are also shaping the future of the sport’s most famous races.
This year’s Preakness Stakes will take place at Laurel Park while historic Pimlico undergoes extensive renovations.
Churchill Downs Incorporated has also acquired the rights to the Preakness brand following the 2026 event, prompting discussions about extending the traditional two-week gap between the first two legs of the Triple Crown.
British heavyweight Lawrence Okolie faces a formal anti-doping procedure following a failed drug test that caused the cancellation of his bout against Tony Yoka in Paris last week.
Promoter Frank Warren has described the adverse Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (Vada) result as a massive disappointment for Queensberry Promotions.
The collapsed headline event leaves the 33-year-old fighter sidelined as he awaits official hearings with UK Anti-Doping and the British Boxing Board of Control.
Medical treatment to blame
The former world champion took to social media to vigorously deny intentional doping.
He claimed the adverse finding stems from medical treatment received for an elbow injury sustained during his recent training camp.
I truly hope sense prevails. I will of course be fully cooperating with all relevant authorities and I am confident any investigation will clear my name.
Lawrence Okolie
Due process and B-sample protocol
Speaking to the media, his veteran promoter outlined the strict regulatory steps that must now follow before any potential return to the ring.
He will eventually present his B sample, and then depending on the outcome of that, if it matches the A sample, then he is going to have to give an explanation.
Frank Warren
The experienced London boxing chief acknowledged the frustrating situation but insisted standard investigative procedures must run their complete course.
Heavyweight ambitions stalled
The Hackney-born fighter boasts a professional record of 23 victories and just one defeat, having successfully transitioned to the premier weight class with three consecutive wins.
His only career loss came at the hands of former training partner Chris Billam-Smith, who ended his cruiserweight title reign in 2023.
This latest controversy heavily stalls the momentum built from his second-round stoppage victory over Ebenezer Tetteh in Nigeria last December.
Cameron Young fired a bogey-free 64 to take a one-shot lead at the Cadillac Championship in Miami on Thursday, as PGA Tour players digested the news of rival circuit LIV Golf losing its Saudi financial backing.
The recent Players Championship winner excelled on the greens at the Blue Monster Course at Trump National Doral.
He accumulated a staggering 97 feet of putts and rolled in eight birdies during a flawless opening round.
“I feel like I made a billion feet of putts, which I think works most places. It’s just one of those days that each mistake I made I was not penalised as much as I could have been.”
Cameron Young
Spieth and Smalley lead the chasing pack
Fellow Americans Jordan Spieth and Alex Smalley trail the leader by a single stroke on seven under par.
Canadian Nick Taylor sits alone in fourth place, while Colombia’s Nico Echavarria remains well in contention on five under.
World number one Scottie Scheffler has work to do after dropping two shots on the back nine to sign for a one-under-par 71.
“I would have liked to have been a little sharper today. Got off to a good start, but I kind of struggled from then on.”
Scottie Scheffler
English duo navigate mixed fortunes
Tommy Fleetwood and Alex Fitzpatrick carded opening rounds of two under and level par respectively.
Fitzpatrick secured his permanent PGA Tour membership only last week after a famous victory alongside his brother Matt at the Zurich Classic.
Former Open champion Shane Lowry matched that level-par effort.
Meanwhile, Justin Rose carded a two-over 74 as the Ryder Cup veteran debuted his newly manufactured McLaren irons.
LIV Golf funding withdrawal dominates discussion
Off the course, the golfing world was rocked by confirmation that Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund will end its financial support for LIV Golf after 2026.
The sovereign wealth fund stated that the massive investment required to sustain the breakaway league is no longer aligned with its future strategy.
This shock withdrawal leaves the rebel circuit urgently seeking new long-term financial partners to guarantee its survival.
Attention has immediately shifted to whether major champions such as Bryson DeChambeau and Jon Rahm will be permitted to return to the traditional American circuit.
Spieth expressed reservations regarding the reintegration of defectors, suggesting the return pathway should not automatically be identical for all returning players.
England Test captain Ben Stokes has been medically cleared to return to competitive cricket following a severe facial injury sustained in February.
The 34-year-old suffered a broken right cheekbone after being struck by a ball while coaching Durham academy players.
He subsequently underwent surgery to repair the extensive damage and has now confirmed his impending comeback.
Targeting domestic return before international duties
Taking to social media, the all-rounder announced that specialists had finally approved his return to action.
“Doc gave the all clear. Eyes good. See ya soon,”
Stokes posted on Instagram.
The influential skipper is now targeting two County Championship fixtures for Durham next month to build vital match fitness.
These domestic appearances will serve as crucial preparation ahead of a demanding international summer.
A narrow escape from serious tragedy
The initial training ground incident sparked significant concern regarding the player’s long-term health and vision.
Speaking earlier this month, the World Cup winner admitted the freak accident could have been fatal.
“I copped one straight in the face,” he explained in an interview with the England and Wales Cricket Board.
“Pretty nasty but, funnily, probably the best result of a bad situation, to be honest.”
“Just a couple of inches one way or the other, I might not be here doing this interview, if I didn’t turn my head round.”
Lord’s Test match on the horizon
England’s red-ball leader is now firmly on track to captain his country in the first Test against New Zealand.
The opening match of the highly anticipated summer series is scheduled to begin at Lord’s on June 4.
His commanding presence will provide a major psychological boost to the national side as they look to assert dominance on home soil.
The World Anti-Doping Agency has imposed more than 300 sanctions on Russian athletes following a comprehensive investigation into the country’s state-orchestrated doping programme.
The global watchdog announced that its ‘Operation LIMS’ inquiry resulted in 302 penalties across 291 competitors, with 11 individuals committing multiple violations.
President Witold Banka described the exhaustive review of Moscow laboratory data as the most successful anti-doping investigation ever conducted.
“An incredible 302 sanctions have now been imposed in the wake of Russia’s institutionalised doping scheme.”
Weightlifting and athletics heavily implicated
The sweeping punishments have been distributed across 22 different sports, demonstrating the vast scale of the illicit practices within the eastern European nation.
Weightlifting recorded the highest number of infractions with 107 cases.
Track and field disciplines followed closely behind, accounting for a further 93 separate rule violations.
A total of 23 separate regulatory bodies were involved in administering the punishments, while four additional cases still await final judgement.
Controversial reinstatement vindicated
The Russian Anti-Doping Agency was initially declared non-compliant nine years ago after evidence of widespread cheating first emerged.
A highly scrutinised decision to conditionally reinstate the national authority in 2018 ultimately provided international investigators with access to 24 terabytes of crucial database files.
Banka staunchly defended that divisive move, arguing it was an essential strategic step required to uncover the full truth behind the scandal.
“Without that decision, we would never have been able to obtain the critical evidence from the Moscow Laboratory needed to prosecute these cases.”
Officials have now confirmed the complete conclusion of the landmark probe, closing a definitive chapter that has fundamentally reshaped the integrity of international sport.
Naoya Inoue defends his undisputed junior featherweight championship against fellow Japanese fighter Junto Nakatani at the Tokyo Dome this Saturday.
The highly anticipated bout pits two undefeated pound-for-pound stars against each other in what experts anticipate will be a brutal encounter.
The 31-year-old reigning champion enters the ring boasting a flawless professional record of 32 victories, with 27 coming by way of knockout.
Meanwhile, his challenger is making only his second appearance at the 122lb weight limit.
Clash of styles in all-Japanese showdown
The 27-year-old southpaw from Sagamihara has already conquered the flyweight and junior-bantamweight divisions.
Inoue is aiming to cement his legacy, having previously achieved undisputed status across two different weight classes.
The man known as ‘The Monster’ most recently secured a dominant points victory over David Picasso in December.
On that very same card, his upcoming opponent edged past Sebastian Hernandez to guarantee this blockbuster matchup.
Insider predictions forecast a shock
Pundits suggest the key battleground will be the champion’s devastating body work against the challenger’s rangy southpaw stance.
Former three-division champion Jorge Linares believes the step up in competition will heavily test the current titleholder.
“This is the toughest fight he’s going to face in his career so far, and I think it’s a fight he can handle.”
The Venezuelan veteran suggested that an upset is highly possible in the Japanese capital.
“I think it’ll go the distance, but anything can happen, like a knockdown; most likely Inoue’s going down.”
Undefeated records on the line
Linares advised the WBC bantamweight belt-holder to repeatedly utilise his lead jab and left-handed counterpunches to frustrate the champion.
Conversely, he urged the defending titleholder to fight at close range and focus on his typically brutal body assaults.
Alexandro Santiago, who previously fought the challenger in 2024, expects a tactical masterclass from both corners.
With both men currently holding perfect 32-0 professional records, somebody’s immaculate unbeaten streak must inevitably end.