x » ho you can throw the ball to and he will hold it up

The path to the 2016 Breeders Cup is a road with plenty of ups and downs as talented racehorses vie for a spot in one of 13 championship races. This blog provides a capsule look at three horses who are heating up on the Road to the Breeders Cup World Championships and three horses whose Breeders Cup chances are not quite as strong as they were a week or two ago.For this weeks edition, the two major races were restricted to 3-year-olds and thats where the results took us for each of the names below. I think we can say at least one sophomore emerged as a probable favorite for a race on the Breeders Cup World Championships card, while quite a few other 3-year-olds came up empty.Heating up1. Songbird Originally, I planned to make Songbird an honorable mention. She was already the dominant leader of the 3-year-old filly division and one of the clear favorites for the Longines Breeders Cup Distaff, so she had no room to move up significantly. But ultimately, Songbird is without question the most likely Breeders Cup winner to come out of the racing action last weekend. In the Grade 1 Cotillion Stakes, she defeated a couple of highly regarded opponents in Carina Mia and Longines Kentucky Oaks winner Cathryn Sophia and also recorded a new career-top 122 Equibase Speed Figure, a 10-point jump from her previous career best earned while winning the 2015 14 Hands Winery Breeders Cup Juvenile Fillies. Sure, three-time champion Beholder would present Songbird her toughest challenge to date in the Distaff, but this is an absolute superstar at the pinnacle of her game.2. Connect While many of the other elite 3-year-olds are heading in the wrong direction, lightly raced Connect just seems to be finding his best stride. He had won three of his first four starts, including a stakes win at Saratoga Race Course, before a troubled sixth-place finish in the Travers Stakes. But Connect bounced back in a big way on Sept. 24 in the Grade 2 Pennsylvania Derby, outfinishing Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands and Travers Stakes third-place finisher Gun Runner and beating both Kentucky Derby winner Nyquist and Preakness Stakes victor Exaggerator. By two-time Horse of the Year Curlin, Connect seems to be improving as his 3-year-old season progresses, much like his sire did in 2007, and he earned a new career-best 108 Equibase Speed Figure for the Pennsylvania Derby victory. Connect has consistently been fast since his debut and, while hell face a tall task in the Breeders Cup Classic, he is in terrific form.3. Noholdingback Bear Before a third-place finish in August at Saratoga Race Course in the Grade 1 Ketel One Kings Bishop Stakes, Noholdingback Bears best races had come on synthetic surfaces. But after pairing a strong Kings Bishop with a 1-1/4-length win in the Grade 3 Gallant Bob Stakes on Sept. 24, this Put It Back colt looks like a legit threat for the Twinspires.com Breeders Cup Sprint. Three-year-olds historically can compete with older runners in the Sprint -- Runhappy last year and Trinniberg in 2012 won the race at 3 -- and, while there are some talented Sprint contenders, there are no true standouts. With 111 and 113 Equibase Speed Figures in his last two starts, Noholdingback Bear could pack a nice surprise on Breeders Cup Saturday.Honorable MentionTexas Chrome It was a tough call for the third spot between Noholdingback Bear and Texas Chrome, but I felt like Texas Chrome certainly warranted a mention after winning the Grade 3 Oklahoma Derby for his third straight victory. Looking back even further, hes actually been strong all year. Texas Chrome has not finished worse than third in seven races this season and has four stakes wins. Hes recorded Equibase Speed Figures between 101 and 106 (the career-top he earned Saturday) in his last five races, so hes also very consistent. He reportedly will target the Breeders Cup Las Vegas Dirt Mile, a race in which he figures to fit well. Sure, Runhappy would be a heavy favorite should he make the Dirt Mile, but he has not yet raced once in 2015. Take Runhappy out of the mix, and the Dirt Mile is wide open.Cooling down1. Exaggerator Its easy to forgive one bad performance, but back-to-back duds indicate to me that Exaggerator has either gone off form or hit a wall this season. One race after he finished 11th, beaten by 33 lengths, in the Travers Stakes, Exaggerator never fired in the Pennsylvania Derby and ran a nonthreatening seventh. Beaten by 12 lengths by Connect on Saturday, this is not the same horse who won the Preakness Stakes in May during a stretch of 10 straight races in which he either won or finished within three lengths of the winner. Theres no doubt Exaggerator is a gifted racehorse. Lets hope trainer Keith Desormeaux can find the key to get him back to his best.2. Cupid Hall of Famer Bob Baffert is as good as any trainer in bringing a 3-year-old back after the Triple Crown trail for a great second half of the season. After Cupid won the Grade 2 Indiana Derby, I had great confidence he was poised for a huge second half. His four-length runaway in the Grade 2 West Virginia Derby reinforced that confidence, but in the Pennsylvania Derby he came up empty when eighth, beaten by more than 14 lengths. It feels like Cupid is just a cut below the best of his division. Hes a very nice racehorse, no doubt, but at this point it would be tough to see him being competitive in the Breeders Cup World Championships when hes struggled against the best of his generation in the 3-year-old division.3. Nyquist Seeing a trend here? The romance is over for this years class of 3-year-olds. Nyquist didnt run a terrible race in the Pennsylvania Derby, but he wasnt the gutsy, powerhouse racehorse who opened his career with eight straight wins, capped by a clear win in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands. Hes now lost three straight starts and, even though he hasnt been beaten by more than five lengths in any of his defeats, he doesnt resemble the beast who took Mohaymens lunch money at the top of the Florida Derby stretch. Nyquist reportedly came out of the Pennsylvania Derby in good order, and trainer Doug ONeill and owner Paul Reddam will meet to discuss whats next for the 2015 champion 2-year-old male.For more stories like this check out Americas Best Racing. Matt Strahm Jersey . Artturi Lehkonen, Joni Nikko and Ville Leskinen had the other goals for Finland (1-0) while Juuse Saros stopped 28 shots. Tim Robin Johnsgard had the lone goal for Norway (0-2). Randy Jones Jersey . The phone hearing is scheduled for 4:30pm et/1:30pm pt. Winchester, who was not penalized for the hit, appeared to make contact with Kellys head early in the first period of Thursdays game in Boston. http://www.padressale.com/padres-dave-winfield-jersey/ . "Trying to breathe," he said with a grin. Bernier stopped 42 of 43 shots on Monday night, including all 22 in a hectic middle frame, his heroic performance propelling the Leafs toward an undue point in their final game before the Christmas break. Franchy Cordero Padres Jersey . - Raiders general manager Reggie McKenzie never doubted he would bring back coach Dennis Allen for a third year despite back-to-back 4-12 records. Jose Pirela Jersey . -- Teemu Selanne scored the first goal of his 22nd NHL season, and the Anaheim Ducks extended the best start in franchise history with their fifth straight victory, 3-2 over the Calgary Flames on Wednesday night.Sevilla are aiming for a record-breaking third-straight Europa League triumph when they face Liverpool on Wednesday. But how do Unai Emerys side keep on succeeding in the competition? In total, 191 teams entered this years Europa League but yet again Sevilla are there at the end, on course to lift the trophy for a fifth time in 10 years.Here, with the help of Sky Sports Spanish football expert Guillem Balague, we take a look at the key factors behind their repeated success in the Europa League… Europa League specialists Sevilla are Europa League winners a record four times: 2005/06, 2006/07, 2013/14, 2014/15 The Manager Unai Emery (left) celebrates with the Sevilla president after the clubs 2015 Europa League win A third consecutive Europa League win for Sevilla on Wednesday would also be a third in a row for their coach Unai Emery - an unprecedented achievement in football.The Spaniard joined Sevilla in January 2013 after his successful four-year stint with Valencia was followed by a short, disappointing spell with Spartak Moscow. Emery led the club to Europa League glory just months later with a penalty shoot-out win over Benfica after seeing off his old Valencia side in the semi-finals. Sevillas Europa League form Sevilla have won 13 of their last 18 games in the Europa League (D3 L2). Despite losing Alberto Moreno to Liverpool, Federico Fazio to Tottenham and Ivan Rakitic to Barcelona that summer, Emery adapted his squad, got the best out of top scorer Carlos Bacca and delivered another Europa League triumph, this time with a comeback win in the final against Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk.Once again, Emery lost key men in the transfer window, with Bacca joining AC Milan and Aleix Vidal heading to Barcelona, but, once again, found a way to the final of the Europa League, after failing to qualify from a Champions League group including Manchester City and Juventus. Emery is renowned for his meticulous planning Just four starters from the 2014 Europa League final were in Sevillas squad for the second leg of the semi-final win over Shakhtar earlier this month, an example of the player turnover Emery has had to deal with - but also his ability to repeatedly re-shape his side.Renowned for his meticulous planning and analysis of his opponents, Emery continues to get the very best from his Sevilla squad.Emery is a specialist in maximising the potential, says Balague.It doesnt matter that every season with Sevilla he loses 10 or 12 players. Their three finals in a row are a sign of coaching, a sign of focus, a sign of competitiveness and a sign of a very good side.Key performers Ahead of Livepools final in the Europa League, we look at Sevillas dangerman Kevin Gameiro Kevin Gameiro is a standout star from this Sevilla team, with his seven goals in eight games in the Europa League this season - including two decisive strikes in the second leg of the semi-final win over Shakhtar.The Frenchman - surprisingly left out of his countrys Euro 2016 squad - has taken up the mantle of the departed Bacca and Emery has also been able to call on talents such as Rakitic, Vidal and Ever Banega over this period of success. But the current team is founded on work-rate and key contributions from across the park. Gameiro on form Kevin Gameiro has had a hhand in nine (seven goals, two assists) of Sevillas 14 goals in this seasons Europa League, including eight in his last five games (six goals, two assists).dddddddddddd As Balague explains, Emery has at times even left out big names to help less-heralded players shine.They have realised quite early on that some of the big signings bought for the Champions League like Fernando Llorente, Yevhen Konoplyanka and Adil Rami werent performing at their best, some because of injuries and some because of adaptation, he said.Instead, what Emery has been given is the chance to choose those who are performing better. It has not mattered what the name of the player was.Youve had the likes of Vitolo, who had given them the edge in terms of pace and work-rate without the ball. Kevin Gameiro is having the best goalscoring moment of his career and Grzegorz Krychowiak works so hard for the team in the midfield, even though hes missed a few weeks during the season with injury. Ivan Rakitic lifts the Europa League trophy for Sevilla in 2014 Even the likes of Vicente Iborra - nobody knew if he was a good midfielder or a good forward - has found his role and can fulfill his potential as a strange No 10.Hes very tall and almost plays like a second forward, an English-style forward who you can throw the ball to and he will hold it up, allowing others to come into the play.Its a team with no superstars but a team where everyone works for everybody. Everyone has been at their best and thats what generally takes you to finals. Its a team with no superstars but a team where everyone works for everybody. Guillem Balague Squad rotation We could stop scouting two weeks ago because they changed the team completely, Klopp told Liverpools official website this week.As well as the Europa League final, Sevilla also face Barcelona in the Copa del Rey final on Sunday and Emery has altered his squad selection in the final weeks of La Liga to ensure his squad are fresh for the two title tilts.In fact, the drop-off in performance in La Liga has been remarkable. Sevilla lost seven of their final nine league games after only losing the same number in their previous 29.Clearly the focus is on the cups, but Balague says Emery has managed squad rotation well throughout the past three seasons to get the most out of his men across different competitions. Sevillas players celebrate with the Europa League trophy in 2015 I know it may seem like some players and some teams dont fancy the Europa League, but look at the way Borussia Dortmund, Tottenham, Liverpool, Sevilla and Villarreal have tackled the competition this season if you had any doubt. These teams just want to compete, he said.Have Sevilla taken it more seriously than the others? No, its not that. Its just that they have rotated more cleverly because they have a squad that has felt important throughout the season.Standard of opposition You only have to look at Sevillas celebrations after the past two Europa League finals to see how important this competition is to the players and supporters - but the fact it is Europes second competition cannot be avoided.While three of this seasons Europa League semi-finalists will be playing in the Champions League in 2016/17, even Emery admits the standard of his teams opponents in this competition present Sevilla with an opportunity. Kevin Gameiro has scored 27 goals for Sevilla this season The Champions League is nice, and we want to play in it, he said. But you meet the very top teams in that competition and they overcome you. When you are in the Europa League, you know you can win it.Similarly, Balague believes the level of the Europa League is one which suits Sevilla.Obviously, there is an emotional attachment to this competition for Sevilla, he said. But it fits Sevilla down to the ground because it is probably their level. The Champions League is probably just a bit too much for them to be part of it regularly.Liverpools challenge will be to overcome a team which has mastered the competition. Also See: Souness: Reds will win in style Klopp: Sevilla titles mean nothing Toure hopes youths enjoy final Police warn ticketless Reds fans ' ' '