Auto Racing
Hamilton will stay in the ulimate driving machine
MONACO – Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton signed a new 3-year deal with Mercedes on Wednesday, ending rumors of his potential move to Ferrari.
The deal was announced ahead of this weekend’s Monaco Grand Prix.
Since leaving McLaren in 2013, Hamilton has competed in 43 races, winning 15 and securing a further 11 podium finishes to replace four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel – the only other driver to beat him this season – as the sport’s No. 1 driver.
Cycling
Contador extends Giro lead in the northern Italian rain
IMOLA, Italy – Russian rider Ilnur Zakarin won the rainy 11th stage of the Giro d’Italia on Wednesday, and Alberto Contador retained the overall leader’s pink jersey.
Zakarin, who recently won the Tour de Romandie, got in an early breakaway then launched a solo attack with 25 kilometers (15 miles) to go.
The Katusha rider finished in less than four hours over the hilly 153-kilometer (95-mile) leg from Forli to Imola, which ended on the Enzo and Dino Ferrari racing car circuit that formerly hosted the San Marino Grand Prix.
The 12th stage on Thursday is a mostly flat 190-kilometer (118-mile) leg from Imola to Vicenza, featuring one Category 3 climb and two Category 4 ascents one of them at the finish.
The 98th Giro ends on May 31 in Milan.
Horse racing
Triple Crown shot looming as contender’s rights sold
NEW YORK – The owner of Triple Crown hopeful American Pharoah sold the breeding rights to the Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner to Coolmore Ashford Stud in Kentucky.
Owner Ahmed Zayat confirmed Wednesday a deal has been reached, but would not disclose the value. Even before the deal, Zayat’s son, Justin, said the family had been inundated with offers, many for more than $20 million.
Zayat said even if American Pharoah wins the Belmont Stakes on June 6 and becomes the first Triple Crown winner since Affirmed in 1978, he planned to keep racing the colt through the end of the year.
On Jan. 1, 2016, Coolmore takes control, and American Pharoah likely would be retired.
NBA
Seth Curry’s wallet $5,000 lighter after Game 1 flop
NEW YORK – Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry was fined $5,000 by the NBA for violating the league’s anti-flopping rules against the Houston Rockets in Game 1 of the Western Conference finals.
The NBA made the announcement Wednesday. The league says the flop occurred after Curry’s 3-pointer with 3 minutes, 7 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter of the Warriors’ 110-106 victory Tuesday night.
NFL
Gooddell wants Brady’s appeal from QB’s mouth
SAN FRANCISCO – NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said it’s his responsibility to hear directly from New England quarterback Tom Brady in his appeal of his four-game suspension in the deflated footballs case.
Goodell said Wednesday he has not had time to study a request from the players’ union that he recuse himself from the appeal because he has been focused on the spring owners meetings.
But Goodell said unless there is a factor that he is unaware of he will likely hear the case. Goodell said he wants to hear directly from Brady about his role in the use of underinflated footballs in the AFC championship game.
The Associated Press
