The Sportsletter - The Strike of Riches 🐴

BY JEFF YODER

MAY 9, 2022  |  SUBSCRIBE  |  REFER  |  WEB VIEW

Welcome Back,

A full weekend of NBA and NHL playoffs is setting up the drama for some potential seven-game series, but the weekend’s top moment happened in a flash. The greatest Kentucky Derby upset in a century was worth every second.

Letter Rip!

KY DERBY

The Strike of Riches

Photo: Rob Carr / Getty Images

80-1 Long Shot ‘Rich Strike’ Shocks the World With Greatest Kentucky Derby Upset in 109 Years

The fastest two minutes in sports may have provided the most shocking two minutes in sports at Saturday’s 148th Run for the Roses. On Friday morning when we delivered our Kentucky Derby preview, Rich Strike wasn’t in the field. By Saturday night, he was the champion. The horse was entered in the race after Ethereal Road was scratched. He was an 80-1 long shot when the bets poured in.

A Strike of Riches: The two favorites — Zandon and Epicenter — were out in front until Rich Strike found another gear. Jockey Sonny Leon cut his horse to the inside on the final turn and maneuvered through traffic, galloping from 17th position all the way to first in a stunning twist. It was the greatest odds-on upset to win the Kentucky Derby since 1913 when 91-1 long shot Donerail won. To top it off, Rich Strike’s time of 2:02.61 was within 1.5 seconds of the top-10 fastest finishes in Derby history.

“What Planet is This?”

Rich Strike was the first Derby horse for owner Rick Dawson. It was also the first Derby appearance for jockey (Sonny Leon) and trainer Eric Reed. The disbelief among the trio was felt throughout the world.

“I feel like I have been propelled somewhere. I’m not sure. This is unbelievable. I asked my trainer up on stage, I said, ‘Are you sure this is not a dream? Because it can’t be true.’ He assured me this is real.” — Rick Dawson

2022 Kentucky Derby Results

1. Rich Strike

2. Epicenter

3. Zandon

4. Simplification

5. Mo Donegal

Watch: Rich Strikes Pulls the Greatest Kentucky Derby Upset in a Century

Additional Storylines

SI: Rich Strike’s Journey From ‘Pea Patch’ to Derby Winner

CBS Sports: The 10 Biggest Underdogs to Win the Kentucky Derby

USA Today: Rich Strike’s Stunning KY Derby Win the Ultimate Palate Cleanser for a Troubled Sport

NY Post: Overhead Video Shows Just How Wild Rich Strike’s Kentucky Derby Win Really Was

NBA

Not Going Quietly...

Photo: Ron Jenkins / Getty Images

Conference Semifinals Get Heated as 4-Seeds Bounce Back to Even Series

No sweeps in the conference semis! The NBA Playoffs saw each of the four remaining series get even tighter over the weekend as the 4-seeds reeled off back-to-back home wins. Luka Doncic — with a pair of 26-point games — pulled the Mavericks back even with the Suns. The Sixers did the same to the Heat by winning two over the weekend thanks to a revival from James Harden (31 points) in Game 4. Giannis Antetokounmpo (42 points) posted the weekend’s top performance in the Bucks’ Game 3 win. The biggest story? Ja Morant’s re-injured knee means the Grizzlies are staring down the barrel. The playoffs continue tonight.

NBA Playoff Highlights

Gm 3: Bucks def. Celtics (103-101)

MIL Leads Series (2-1)

Gm 3: Warriors def. Grizzlies (142-112)

GSW Leads Series (2-1)

Gm 4: Mavericks def. Suns (111-101)

Series Tied (2-2)

Gm 4: 76ers def. Heat (116-108)

Series Tied (2-2)

Tonight’s Schedule

Gm 4: Celtics at Bucks (7:30 pm ET)

Gm 4: Grizzlies at Warriors (10:00 pm ET)

Additional Storylines

NBA: Ja Morant Re-Injures Knee Late in Game 3 Loss; Unlikely to Play in Game 4

CBS Sports: Chris Paul’s Wife & Mother Pushed by Mavericks Fan During Game 4

NHL

Wild Cards Punch Back

Photo: Adam Glanzman / Getty Images

3 of 4 Wild Card Teams Keep Things Interesting in Round 1; Avalanche Skating Towards 1st-Round Sweep of Predators

The first week of playoff hockey is in the books, and the drama couldn’t be greater. The Avalanche go for the only possible sweep of the first round tonight against the Predators, but every other matchup is neck-and-neck. Two wild card teams — Capitals and Stars — have taken a 2-1 series advantage while the Bruins have won two straight to even things up with the Hurricanes. The goals are coming in bunches, too. A whopping 91 total goals were scored in 12 weekend games — almost eight goals per game. The chase for the Stanley Cup is wide open…

NHL Playoff Highlights

Gm 3: Avalanche def. Predators (7-3) | COL Leads (3-0)

Gm 3: Capitals def. Panthers (6-1) | WSH Leads (2-1)

Gm 3: Penguins def. Rangers (7-4) | PIT Leads (2-1)

Gm 3: Stars def. Flames (4-2) | DAL Leads (2-1)

Gm 4: Bruins def. Hurricanes (5-2) | Series Tied (2-2)

Gm 4: Blues def. Wild (5-2) | Series Tied (2-2)

Gm 4: Lightning def. Maple Leafs (7-3) | Series Tied (2-2)

Gm 4: Kings def. Oilers (4-0) | Series Tied (2-2)

Tonight’s Schedule

Gm 4: Panthers at Capitals (7:00 pm ET)

Gm 4: Rangers at Penguins (7:00 pm ET)

Gm 4: Avalanche at Predators (9:30 pm ET)

Gm 4: Flames at Stars (9:30 pm ET)

Additional Storylines

NHL: 2021-22 Season Awards Finalists to be Announced Starting Monday

ESPN: Why the Lightning’s 3-Peat Quest is Looking to be Difficult

🎥 THE HIGHLIGHTS

⚾️ MLB: Memorable Mother’s Day Walk-Offs

Major League Baseball saw four walk-offs on Mother’s Day. Gleyber Torres (Yankees) hit a walk-off homer. Jorge Alfaro (Padres) hit a 449-foot walk-off jack. The Mariners topped the Rays in 10 innings (2-1), and the Angels’ Shohei Ohtani hit the game-tying double before Anthony Rendon’s walk-off RBI single.

⛳️ PGA: Homa Rallies for Wells Fargo Win

Max Homa (-8) put together a 2-under Sunday at the Wells Fargo Championship to leap Keegan Bradley (-6) on the leaderboard and capture his second win of the season. The 31-year-old now has four career victories on the PGA Tour.

🏀 WNBA: Aces Off to Hot Start

The WNBA’s season-opening weekend tipped off on Friday, and three teams are already off to a 2-0 start. The Mystics and Sparks are unbeaten, but the Las Vegas Aces took down the Seattle Storm in a Sunday thriller behind all five starters in double figures.

🥊 BOXING: Dmitriy Bivol Stuns Canelo Alvarez

A shocking result in Saturday’s marquee fight saw Dmitriy Bivol stun boxing’s top star Canelo Alvarez by unanimous decision in Las Vegas. The upset helped Bivol (20-0, 11 KOs) retain the light heavyweight title with a scorecard of 115-113 from all three judges.

⚽️ NWSL: NC Courage Win Challenge Cup Final

The North Carolina Courage secured the NWSL Challenge Cup on Saturday by defeating the Washington Spirit (2-1). The Courage’s Kerolin (10’) opened the scoring before the Spirit equalized late in the first half. A corner kick in the 70th minute hit multiple bodies before ending up in the net for an own goal and the deciding scoreline.

📰 THE HEADLINES

• Arrest Warrant Issued in Texas for Threatening Messages by Former Seahawks Safety Earl Thomas (SI)
• Mets Coach Eric Chavez Says Players Think MLB Uses Juiced Balls on National TV Games (Bleacher Report)
• Pirates Utility Man Josh VanMeter Ends Up in Rare Emergency Catcher Situation (CBS Sports)
• Group Led by Dodgers Co-Owner Todd Boehly Buys Chelsea for £4.25 Billion Deal (Yahoo! Sports)

• Sacramento Kings to Hire Warriors’ Assistant Mike Brown as New Head Coach (ESPN)

Support The Sportsletter Team

Writer & Editor: Jeff Yoder

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Lead Designer: Joe Stella

Technical Lead: Kevin Lonergan

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