upi--2020-07-03--Historic NASCAR-IndyCar doubleheader highlights weekend sports schedule

July 3 ( UPI ) -- NASCAR and IndyCar will race at the same track on the same weekend for the first time when the top motorsports tiers rendezvous Saturday and Sunday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway .
The trio of races highlight a packed live sports weekend .
The Fourth of July weekend sports slate also includes UFC fights , a PGA Tour golf tournament , NWSL women 's soccer matches , European soccer clashes and baseball games in Asia .
Drivers will first start their engines for the IndyCar 's GMR Grand Prix at noon EDT Saturday .
That @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic .
NASCAR will host an Xfinity race after the GMR Grand Prix on the same track at 3 p.m. EDT with the Pennzoil 150 at The Brickyard .
The Indianapolis Motor Speedway 's final weekend race will be the Cup Series Big Machine Hand Sanitizer 400 , which starts at 4 p.m. EDT Sunday .
No spectators will be allowed at the races .
NASCAR 's Cup Series , Xfinity Series and Truck Series have been back since May after they were suspended due to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ early June after its start was postponed from mid-March .
Caesars has Cup Series leader Kevin Harvick as a +350 favorite to win Sunday 's race , which means a $ 100 bet would win a bettor $ 350 , in addition to the wagered amount .
Kyle Busch ( +400 ) , Denny Hamlin ( +500 ) , Martin Truex Jr. ( +800 ) , Brad Keselowski ( +1000 ) and Joey Logano ( +1000 ) are also among the favorites for the Big Machine Hand Sanitizer 400 .
A welterweight title @ @ @ @ @ @ @ highlights UFC 251 on Fight Island , a unique Yas Island venue Saturday in Abu Dhabi .
Usman ( 16-1-0 ) is the titleholder and has n't lost since 2013 .
Burns ( 19-3-0 ) is ranked No .
1 in welterweight and has n't lost since 2018 .
He knocked off former welterweight title holder Tyron Woodley on May 30 at UFC Fight Night .
Usman beat Woodley on March 2 at UFC 235 to dethrone the champion .
Caesars has Usman as a -245 favorite to beat Burns ( +205 ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to wager at least $ 245 to win $ 100 on Usman and would win $ 205 on a $ 100 bet on Burns .
BetOnline.AG also has Usman as a favorite at -235 with Burns at +200 .
The main card for UFC 251 includes four other matchups .
Amanda Ribas and Paige VanZant will open the main card at 10 p.m. EDT Saturday on ESPN+ .
Jessica Andrade ( 20-7-0 ) will face Rose Namajunas in the second fight on the main card .
Petr Yan will then clash against Jose @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Featherweights Alexander Volkanovski will match with Max Holloway in the co-main event bout before Usman battles Burns .
The NWSL Challenge Cup will continue Saturday and Sunday .
More than a dozen players from the United States Women 's National Team are on the rosters for the National Women 's Soccer League teams .
Utah Royals FC will face the Sky Blue FC and the Houston Dash play the OL Reign Saturday in Herriman , Utah .
The North Carolina Courage face the Chicago Red Stars and Portland Thorns FC plays the Washington @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's Bundesliga and England 's Premier League already have crowned champions , but Spain 's La Liga and Italy 's Serie A still await a winner .
Rivals Real Madrid and Barcelona are in a tight race atop La Liga .
Two consecutive draws have led to Barcelona 's drop for the top spot .
Real Madrid can increase their lead this week while Lionel Messi and Barcelona need to beat Villarreal Sunday to keep pace with their foes .
Cristiano Ronaldo and Juventus lead Serie A by just four points over second-place @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the field Saturday with Lazio in a clash against Milan and Juventus in a matchup against Torino .
Premier League champion Liverpool follows their rivalry matchup Thursday against Manchester City with a game Sunday against Aston Villa .
United States soccer star Christian Pulisic will attempt to keep the Blues in Champions League contention with a matchup against Watford Saturday in London .
KBO : Kiwoom Heroes vs. KT Wiz at 4:55 a.m. EDT on ESPN Rocket Mortgage Classic : Third round featured groups from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. EDT on PGA @ @ @ @ @ @ @ EDT on Golf Channel ; 3 to 6 p.m. EDT on CBS Serie A : Juventus vs. Torino at 11 a.m. EDT on ESPN+ NWSL Challenge Cup : Utah Royals FC vs. Sky Blue FC at 12:30 p.m. EDT on CBS All Access Premier League : Chelsea vs. Watford at 3 p.m. EDT on NBCSN Serie A : Lazio vs. AC Milan at 3:30 p.m. EDT on ESPN+ NWSL Challenge Cup : Houston Dash vs. OL Reign at 10 p.m. EDT on CBS All Access Xfinity Pennzoil 150 at The Brickyard at 3 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rose Namajunas after first fight Petr Yan vs. Jose Aldo after second fight Alexander Volkanovski vs. Max Holloway after third fight KBO : LG Twins vs. Samsung Lions at 3:55 a.m. EDT on ESPN Rocket Mortgage Classic : Fourth round featured groups from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. EDT on PGA Tour Live ; 1 to 3 p.m. EDT on Golf Channel ; 3 to 6 p.m. EDT on CBS La Liga : Real Madrid vs .
Athletic Club at 8 a.m. EDT on beIN Sports Premier League : Liverpool vs. Aston Villa @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Challenge Cup : North Carolina Courage vs. Chicago Red Stars at 12:30 p.m. EDT on CBS All Access Premier League : Southampton vs. Manchester City at 2 p.m. EDT on NBC La Liga : Barcelona vs. Villarreal at 4 p.m. EDT on beIN Sports NWSL Challenge Cup : Portland Thorns FC vs. Washington Spirit at 10 p.m. EDT on CBS All Access

Cup Series drivers will compete in the Big Machine Hand Sanitizer 400 on Sunday to wrap up a trio of races this weekend at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. File Photo by Edwin Locke/UPI | License Photo
July 3 (UPI) -- NASCAR and IndyCar will race at the same track on the same weekend for the first time when the top motorsports tiers rendezvous Saturday and Sunday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The trio of races highlight a packed live sports weekend. The Fourth of July weekend sports slate also includes UFC fights, a PGA Tour golf tournament, NWSL women's soccer matches, European soccer clashes and baseball games in Asia. Advertisement
Drivers will first start their engines for the IndyCar's GMR Grand Prix at noon EDT Saturday. That race was scheduled for May, but was delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic.
NASCAR will host an Xfinity race after the GMR Grand Prix on the same track at 3 p.m. EDT with the Pennzoil 150 at The Brickyard. The Indianapolis Motor Speedway's final weekend race will be the Cup Series Big Machine Hand Sanitizer 400, which starts at 4 p.m. EDT Sunday.
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No spectators will be allowed at the races.
NASCAR's Cup Series, Xfinity Series and Truck Series have been back since May after they were suspended due to the pandemic. IndyCar started its season in early June after its start was postponed from mid-March.
Caesars has Cup Series leader Kevin Harvick as a +350 favorite to win Sunday's race, which means a $100 bet would win a bettor $350, in addition to the wagered amount.
Kyle Busch (+400), Denny Hamlin (+500), Martin Truex Jr. (+800), Brad Keselowski (+1000) and Joey Logano (+1000) are also among the favorites for the Big Machine Hand Sanitizer 400.
UFC on Fight Island
A welterweight title bout between Kamaru Usman and Gilbert Burns highlights UFC 251 on Fight Island, a unique Yas Island venue Saturday in Abu Dhabi.
Usman (16-1-0) is the titleholder and hasn't lost since 2013. Burns (19-3-0) is ranked No. 1 in welterweight and hasn't lost since 2018. He knocked off former welterweight title holder Tyron Woodley on May 30 at UFC Fight Night. Usman beat Woodley on March 2 at UFC 235 to dethrone the champion.
Caesars has Usman as a -245 favorite to beat Burns (+205), which means a bettor would need to wager at least $245 to win $100 on Usman and would win $205 on a $100 bet on Burns. BetOnline.AG also has Usman as a favorite at -235 with Burns at +200.
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The main card for UFC 251 includes four other matchups. Amanda Ribas and Paige VanZant will open the main card at 10 p.m. EDT Saturday on ESPN+.
Jessica Andrade (20-7-0) will face Rose Namajunas in the second fight on the main card. Petr Yan will then clash against Jose Aldo in a bantamweight title bout. Featherweights Alexander Volkanovski will match with Max Holloway in the co-main event bout before Usman battles Burns.
Soccer from U.S. women, Europe
The NWSL Challenge Cup will continue Saturday and Sunday. More than a dozen players from the United States Women's National Team are on the rosters for the National Women's Soccer League teams.
Utah Royals FC will face the Sky Blue FC and the Houston Dash play the OL Reign Saturday in Herriman, Utah. The North Carolina Courage face the Chicago Red Stars and Portland Thorns FC plays the Washington Spirit on Sunday in Herriman.
Germany's Bundesliga and England's Premier League already have crowned champions, but Spain's La Liga and Italy's Serie A still await a winner. Rivals Real Madrid and Barcelona are in a tight race atop La Liga.
Two consecutive draws have led to Barcelona's drop for the top spot. Real Madrid can increase their lead this week while Lionel Messi and Barcelona need to beat Villarreal Sunday to keep pace with their foes.
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Cristiano Ronaldo and Juventus lead Serie A by just four points over second-place Lazio. Both Italian squads will take the field Saturday with Lazio in a clash against Milan and Juventus in a matchup against Torino.
Premier League champion Liverpool follows their rivalry matchup Thursday against Manchester City with a game Sunday against Aston Villa. United States soccer star Christian Pulisic will attempt to keep the Blues in Champions League contention with a matchup against Watford Saturday in London.
Saturday
Baseball
KBO: Kiwoom Heroes vs. KT Wiz at 4:55 a.m. EDT on ESPN
Golf
Rocket Mortgage Classic: Third round featured groups from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. EDT on PGA Tour Live; 1 to 3 p.m. EDT on Golf Channel; 3 to 6 p.m. EDT on CBS
Soccer
Serie A: Juventus vs. Torino at 11 a.m. EDT on ESPN+
NWSL Challenge Cup: Utah Royals FC vs. Sky Blue FC at 12:30 p.m. EDT on CBS All Access
Premier League: Chelsea vs. Watford at 3 p.m. EDT on NBCSN
Serie A: Lazio vs. AC Milan at 3:30 p.m. EDT on ESPN+
NWSL Challenge Cup: Houston Dash vs. OL Reign at 10 p.m. EDT on CBS All Access
IndyCar
NTT Series GMR Grand Prix at noon EDT on NBC
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NASCAR
Xfinity Pennzoil 150 at The Brickyard at 3 p.m. EDT on NBC
UFC 251 on ESPN+
Amanda Ribas vs. Paige VanZant at 10 p.m. EDT
Jessica Andrade vs. Rose Namajunas after first fight
Petr Yan vs. Jose Aldo after second fight
Alexander Volkanovski vs. Max Holloway after third fight
Kamaru Usman vs. Gilbert Burns after fourth fight
Sunday
Baseball
KBO: LG Twins vs. Samsung Lions at 3:55 a.m. EDT on ESPN
Golf
Rocket Mortgage Classic: Fourth round featured groups from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. EDT on PGA Tour Live; 1 to 3 p.m. EDT on Golf Channel; 3 to 6 p.m. EDT on CBS
Soccer
La Liga: Real Madrid vs. Athletic Club at 8 a.m. EDT on beIN Sports
Premier League: Liverpool vs. Aston Villa at 11:30 a.m. EDT on NBCSN
NWSL Challenge Cup: North Carolina Courage vs. Chicago Red Stars at 12:30 p.m. EDT on CBS All Access
Premier League: Southampton vs. Manchester City at 2 p.m. EDT on NBC
La Liga: Barcelona vs. Villarreal at 4 p.m. EDT on beIN Sports
NWSL Challenge Cup: Portland Thorns FC vs. Washington Spirit at 10 p.m. EDT on CBS All Access
NASCAR
Big Machine Hand Sanitizer 400 at 4 p.m. EDT on NBC


upi--2020-07-03--Joey Chestnut: COVID-19 changes to hot dog contest 'a trade-off'

July 3 ( UPI ) -- Joey Chestnut , the top-rated competitor in Major League Eating , said the coronavirus-mandated changes to this year 's Nathan 's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest in New York offer a `` trade-off '' of advantages and disadvantages .
Organizers of the annual July 4 event in the Coney Island section of Brooklyn previously announced measures to keep the competitors and workers safe amid the COVID-19 pandemic , including moving the contest from outside the eatery to an indoor venue without a live audience .
Chestnut , 36 , a 12-time champion of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this week that he sees potential positive and negatives to the measures in force Saturday .
`` I think it 's a little bit of a benefit , being indoors , just because I wo n't be exposed to ridiculous weather , '' he said .
`` Coney Island has the potential to be really hot and humid on the Fourth of July , so we 're avoiding that , and also there can be rain . ''
The largest drawback to the changes is the lack of a live crowd , Chestnut @ @ @ @ @ @ @ where it 's super , ridiculously hot , and I 'm feeling faint before the contest even starts , and the crowd motivates me , '' he said .
`` There 's been times when the crowd motivates me and I actually get a personal best -- better than I 've ever done in practice . ''
`` I definitely wish I was in front of an audience , '' he said .
`` I just have to remember there are going to be millions of people watching on ESPN , and use @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conditioning also could pose obstacles , Chestnut said .
`` Depending on how they prepare the dogs , I feel like they 'll cool down more inside than they do in the sun , so hot dog quality might go down a little bit , '' which could make them more difficult to swallow quickly , he said .
`` So there 's a trade-off . ''
Chestnut said the coronavirus pandemic also disrupted his preparations for the competition when he had to fly from his home in California to New York five @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ban .
He said the change in plans forced him to cancel his final practice for the contest .
`` It was good that I came in early .
I think a couple of the other eaters might not be able to attend , '' he said .
Major League Eating , the governing body that organizes professional competitive eating events , confirmed that New York 's travel restrictions forced popular competitors Matt Stonie and Gideon Oji to withdraw from this year 's contest , and they will be replaced by alternates .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ deviate much from his usual strategy : eating two hot dogs at a time , followed by two buns , one at a time .
He said the first thing he does at the start of the contest is touch the food to gauge the freshness of the hot dogs and buns .
Chestnut said this allows him to `` set realistic goals for each minute during the contest . ''
`` If the hot dogs are really fresh and the buns are n't too stale , I 'll think , 'Oh , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about 14 hot dogs , and then the second minute should be 11 or 12 , ' I start having goals really , really quick . ''
He said there is a danger in setting his goals too high too early in the contest .
`` Any more than 14 hot dogs in the first minute , that probably means I 'm swallowing huge chunks of meat , and then it 's not going to feel right later .
It 's going to slow me down , '' he said .
`` If @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , that means I 'm straining certain muscles in my throat , and those are going to most likely get tired earlier in the contest . ''
Chestnut said he uses `` a couple of tricks '' to track his total and measure his pace while eating .
He said the secret is the cups of water he uses to dunk the hot dog buns , which makes them easier to swallow quickly .
`` After my 10th hot dog , every time , I start dunking into a different cup , so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 'm on , '' he said , explaining this helps him make sure he is sticking to his ideal pace .
The cup system also helps Chestnut keep track of how much water he 's taking in while eating , he said .
`` If my cup at the end of 10 hot dogs is extremely empty , that means I 'm taking in more water , and I 'm going to be more full at the end of the contest .
If there 's still a ton of water in there ... @ @ @ @ @ @ @ buns .
`` So I have to keep that perfect balance of enough water to get the food down quickly and efficiently , without so much water that it takes up my capacity . ''
Chestnut , who has been competing in eating events for 15 years , said the strategy is the result of years of training to strengthen his throat muscles , as well as numerous `` trial and error '' experiments .
`` I made journals about how I was practicing , '' he recalled .
`` I 've put @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it than any other competitive eater . ''
`` When I was younger , I would do crazy things to push my body to new limits .
I feel like if I knew my body as well as I do now when I was 25 , I 'd probably be doing a ridiculous number now , '' he said .
`` But right now , I think I can still put up a new record just by knowing my body as well as I do , and knowing how to push it .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the 2018 Nathan 's Famous Hot Dog Contest , finishing 74 hot dogs and buns in the 10-minute time limit .
Chestnut fell just short of his record in the 2019 contest , winning with 71 hot dogs .
The veteran speed-eater has more than a dozen other world records for foods as varied as pizza , carnitas tacos , boysenberry pie , ice cream sandwiches , gyros , hard-boiled eggs and buffalo wings .
In February , he set a world record by eating 32 McDonald 's Big Macs in 38 minutes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ add even more variety to his world record titles by traveling to other countries and taking on their local cuisine .
`` I 'd go to Scotland and eat haggis , it would be awesome to have the world record for haggis , '' he said , referring to the traditional Scottish dish of sheep organ meats cooked inside a casing of the animal 's stomach .
`` Or go to England and get the fish and chips record , I think that would be cool . ''
He said he would n't @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the one eating challenge that he 's been avoiding for years : the annual New Orleans Oyster Festival .
`` I 've never done it , I 've been kind of scared of it .
It 's oysters -- raw oysters , '' he said .
`` I 'm going to have to build a tolerance for the texture of raw oysters , because I am not the biggest fan , but it 's just an amazing contest .
It 's a huge festival , and it 's a great atmosphere , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ before I 'm done . ''
The Nathan 's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest begins at noon Saturday .
The competition will be aired live on ESPN .

Reining champion Joey Chestnut, shown competing at Nathan's Famous Fourth of July International Hot Dog Eating Contest last year, said he will miss the motivation of a live crowd this July Fourth. File photo by Steven Ferdman/UPI | License Photo
Subscribe | UPI Odd Newsletter Subscribe July 3 (UPI) -- Joey Chestnut, the top-rated competitor in Major League Eating, said the coronavirus-mandated changes to this year's Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest in New York offer a "trade-off" of advantages and disadvantages. Organizers of the annual July 4 event in the Coney Island section of Brooklyn previously announced measures to keep the competitors and workers safe amid the COVID-19 pandemic, including moving the contest from outside the eatery to an indoor venue without a live audience. Advertisement
Chestnut, 36, a 12-time champion of the hot dog eating contest, told UPI this week that he sees potential positive and negatives to the measures in force Saturday.
"I think it's a little bit of a benefit, being indoors, just because I won't be exposed to ridiculous weather," he said. "Coney Island has the potential to be really hot and humid on the Fourth of July, so we're avoiding that, and also there can be rain."
Advertisement
The largest drawback to the changes is the lack of a live crowd, Chestnut said.
"There's been times where it's super, ridiculously hot, and I'm feeling faint before the contest even starts, and the crowd motivates me," he said. "There's been times when the crowd motivates me and I actually get a personal best -- better than I've ever done in practice."
"I definitely wish I was in front of an audience," he said. "I just have to remember there are going to be millions of people watching on ESPN, and use that as motivation."
The air conditioning also could pose obstacles, Chestnut said.
"Depending on how they prepare the dogs, I feel like they'll cool down more inside than they do in the sun, so hot dog quality might go down a little bit," which could make them more difficult to swallow quickly, he said. "So there's a trade-off."
Chestnut said the coronavirus pandemic also disrupted his preparations for the competition when he had to fly from his home in California to New York five days early to avoid an expected travel ban. He said the change in plans forced him to cancel his final practice for the contest.
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"It was good that I came in early. I think a couple of the other eaters might not be able to attend," he said.
Major League Eating, the governing body that organizes professional competitive eating events, confirmed that New York's travel restrictions forced popular competitors Matt Stonie and Gideon Oji to withdraw from this year's contest, and they will be replaced by alternates.
Usual strategy
Chestnut said he doesn't expect to deviate much from his usual strategy: eating two hot dogs at a time, followed by two buns, one at a time.
He said the first thing he does at the start of the contest is touch the food to gauge the freshness of the hot dogs and buns. Chestnut said this allows him to "set realistic goals for each minute during the contest."
"If the hot dogs are really fresh and the buns aren't too stale, I'll think, 'Oh, wow, my first minute should be about 14 hot dogs, and then the second minute should be 11 or 12,' I start having goals really, really quick."
He said there is a danger in setting his goals too high too early in the contest.
"Any more than 14 hot dogs in the first minute, that probably means I'm swallowing huge chunks of meat, and then it's not going to feel right later. It's going to slow me down," he said.
Advertisement
"If I'm swallowing huge chunks of meat, that means I'm straining certain muscles in my throat, and those are going to most likely get tired earlier in the contest."
Couple of tricks
Chestnut said he uses "a couple of tricks" to track his total and measure his pace while eating. He said the secret is the cups of water he uses to dunk the hot dog buns, which makes them easier to swallow quickly.
"After my 10th hot dog, every time, I start dunking into a different cup, so then I can see what cup I'm on," he said, explaining this helps him make sure he is sticking to his ideal pace.
The cup system also helps Chestnut keep track of how much water he's taking in while eating, he said.
"If my cup at the end of 10 hot dogs is extremely empty, that means I'm taking in more water, and I'm going to be more full at the end of the contest. If there's still a ton of water in there ... it's more work to swallow the buns.
"So I have to keep that perfect balance of enough water to get the food down quickly and efficiently, without so much water that it takes up my capacity."
Advertisement
Chestnut, who has been competing in eating events for 15 years, said the strategy is the result of years of training to strengthen his throat muscles, as well as numerous "trial and error" experiments.
"I made journals about how I was practicing," he recalled. "I've put a lot more research and development into it than any other competitive eater."
"When I was younger, I would do crazy things to push my body to new limits. I feel like if I knew my body as well as I do now when I was 25, I'd probably be doing a ridiculous number now," he said.
"But right now, I think I can still put up a new record just by knowing my body as well as I do, and knowing how to push it."
World records broken
Chestnut broke the world record at the 2018 Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Contest, finishing 74 hot dogs and buns in the 10-minute time limit. Chestnut fell just short of his record in the 2019 contest, winning with 71 hot dogs.
The veteran speed-eater has more than a dozen other world records for foods as varied as pizza, carnitas tacos, boysenberry pie, ice cream sandwiches, gyros, hard-boiled eggs and buffalo wings. In February, he set a world record by eating 32 McDonald's Big Macs in 38 minutes.
Advertisement
Chestnut said he would like to add even more variety to his world record titles by traveling to other countries and taking on their local cuisine.
"I'd go to Scotland and eat haggis, it would be awesome to have the world record for haggis," he said, referring to the traditional Scottish dish of sheep organ meats cooked inside a casing of the animal's stomach. "Or go to England and get the fish and chips record, I think that would be cool."
He said he wouldn't have to leave the country to take on the one eating challenge that he's been avoiding for years: the annual New Orleans Oyster Festival.
"I've never done it, I've been kind of scared of it. It's oysters -- raw oysters," he said. "I'm going to have to build a tolerance for the texture of raw oysters, because I am not the biggest fan, but it's just an amazing contest. It's a huge festival, and it's a great atmosphere, and I want to win that title before I'm done."
The Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest begins at noon Saturday. The competition will be aired live on ESPN.


upi--2020-07-03--Famous birthdays for July 3: Olivia Munn, Audra McDonald

July 3 ( UPI ) -- Those born on this date are under the sign of Cancer .

1/3
Olivia Munn attends the Creative Arts Emmy Awards at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles on September 15. The actor turns 40 on July 3. File Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI | License Photo
July 3 (UPI) -- Those born on this date are under the sign of Cancer. They include: Advertisement
-- Artist John Singleton Copley in 1738
-- American writer/social reformer Charlotte Perkins Gilman in 1860
-- Czech novelist Franz Kafka in 1883
-- English playwright Tom Stoppard in 1937 (age 83)
-- Singer Fontella Bass in 1940
-- Former Polish Prime Minister Jerzy Buzek in 1940 (age 80)
-- Celebrity attorney Gloria Allred in 1941 (age 79)
File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI
-- Humorist Dave Barry in 1947 (age 73)
-- Actor Betty Buckley in 1947 (age 73)
-- Overthrown Haitian dictator Jean-Claude "Baby Doc" Duvalier in 1951
-- Talk show host Montel Williams in 1956 (age 64)
-- Pop singer Laura Branigan in 1952
-- Actor Tom Cruise in 1962 (age 58)
-- Actor Thomas Gibson in 1962 (age 58)
-- Actor Yeardley Smith in 1964 (age 56)
-- Celebrity chef Sandra Lee in 1966 (age 54)
-- Actor/singer Audra McDonald in 1970 (age 50)
File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI
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-- Former hockey player Teemu Selanne in 1970 (age 50)
-- WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange in 1971 (age 49)
-- Actor Patrick Wilson in 1973 (age 47)
-- Actor Andrea Barber in 1976 (age 44)
-- Actor Olivia Munn in 1980 (age 40)
-- Champion Formula 1 driver Sebastian Vettel in 1987 (age 33)
-- Singer Elle King in 1989 (age 31)
-- Actor Chosen Jacobs in 2001 (age 19)


upi--2020-07-03--Pandemic creates action-packed weekend in European horse racing

July 3 ( UPI ) -- A weekend like no other -- ever -- awaits horse racing fans in Europe and the U.K. , as schedule changes forced by the COVID-19 pandemic find the Investec Derby and Oaks both run on Saturday on Epsom Downs and the French equivalents following just a day later across the Channel at Chantilly .
And , for icing on the cake , two-time Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner Enable -- denied a triple in the iconic race last year -- kicks off her return campaign Sunday in the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ racing and the Derby for the first time will be run with no spectators in the stands , or even on the adjacent hill , long popular with racegoers .
But these two days of racing will be something to remember .
The schedule delays have pushed the 241st running of the Group 1 Investec Derby back a month to the Fourth of July -- which , of course , is only July 4 in England , sans fireworks and flags .
But there will be plenty of fireworks on the racecourse as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The favorite is English King , a Camelot colt owned by Bjorn Nielsen , who also campaigns star stayer Stradivarius .
English King burst onto the scene with a win in the Lingfield Derby Trial on June 5 , only his third start .
Frankie Dettori will start English King from the No .
1 gate , not always the most desirable launching pad .
Since the advent of starting stalls in 1967 , only three horses have won from the inside stall .
It could have been worse , as the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gates have yet to produce a winner .
Also high on the oddsmakers ' tallies is Kameko .
The Kitten 's Joy colt , bred by Calumet Farm in Kentucky , won the Group 1 Vertem Futurity Trophy last November and returned with a hard-won victory in the Group 1 Qipco 2000 Guineas on June 6 .
Oisin Murphy rides for trainer Andrew Balding and owner Qatar Racing .
After that , it 's another Aidan O'Brien fest .
The Ireland-based trainer , already a seven-time Derby winner , will saddle six in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Three are well-backed in the early wagering : Mogul , fourth in the Vertem Futurity and fourth again in his first run this year at Royal Ascot but nonetheless the pick of O'Brien 's No .
1 jockey , Ryan Moore ; Russian Emperor , winner of the Group 2 Hampton Court at the Royal meeting ; and Vatican City , second in the Group 1 Tattersalls Irish 2,000 Guineas .
Mogul will attempt to break the jinx of the No .
2 gate , as noted above .
Kameko drew the winless @ @ @ @ @ @ @ star stallion of the worldwide Coolmore operation , could become the all-time leading sire of Derby winners should one of his five starters salute .
He currently has four winners to his credit , putting him in a six-way tie with 1787 Derby winner Sir Peter Teazle , 1793 Derby winner Waxy , Blandford , Cyllene and Montjeu .
Galileo 's tally to date comprises New Approach , Ruler of the World , Australia and last year 's winner , Anthony van Dyck .
Reminding : O'Brien trained Galileo , who won the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other live chances in this year 's Derby , partly because most of the runners have had only limited chances to show their form .
Pyledriver , for example , is at double-digit odds on most boards even though he won the Group 2 King Edward VII at Royal Ascot -- a race in which Mogul reported fourth , albeit on soft ground .
The Group 1 Investec Oaks at Epsom has a field of eight 3-year-old fillies .
Three of those , including heavy favorite Love , are sent out by O'Brian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nine but the Ballydoyle master opted to send Group 1 Irish 1,000 Guineas winner Peaceful to France for the Prix de Diane , citing the steep reduction in purse money this year in English racing .
The move also , of course , gives him a chance to win both of the prestigious races .
Love , another by the busy Galileo , won the Group 1 Moyglare Stud last year in Ireland and started 2020 with a rather imposing , 4 1/4-lengths victory in the Group 1 Qipco 1000 Guineas at Newmarket @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Moore stays aboard for the Oaks .
Love wo n't have a walkover by any means , though .
Also in the field is Frankly Darling , a Frankel filly who exits a victory in the Group 2 Ribblesdale Stakes at Royal Ascot .
Dettori rides for trainer John Gosden .
The rest of O'Brien 's team is Ennistyman and Passion , the second- and third-place finishers in the Ribblesdale .
Both are by -- you guessed it -- Galileo .
Seventeen are set to contest the French version of the Derby @ @ @ @ @ @ @ favorite here is Godolphin homebred Victor Ludorum , a son of Shamardal who has won four of five previous starts for trainer Andre Fabre .
He won the Group 1 Emirates Poule d'Essai des Poulains , the French 2000 Guineas , in his last outing June 1 with a strong late rally .
In the irons is Mickael Barzalona , still smarting from a bite on the leg inflicted by a horse during training last weekend .
O'Brien also has a strong representation here for the Coolmore `` lads '' but the top @ @ @ @ @ @ @ least in the early wagering , is Ocean Atlantique , an American Pharoah colt trained by Fabre .
Ocean Atlantique has two wins and two seconds from four starts , all in France , and was last seen winning a listed race at Deauville by 5 lengths .
Also here is Palo Alto , an Intello colt who defeated Ocean Atlantique in the Group 3 Prix la Force May 14 .
O'Brien has Order of Australia , yet a maiden but fourth in the Group 1 Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Galileo mare Marvellous , whose two wins from seven starts both came on all-weather tracks .
As noted , Irish 1,000 Guineas winner Peaceful , a Galileo filly , has a good shot in the French equivalent to the Oaks , after being rerouted across the Channel in search of greater fortune and fame .
Others in the Diane look tempting , too .
Alpine Star , a Sea the Moon filly from the Rahy mare Alpha Lupi , trained by Jessica Harrington , arrives on the back of a 4 1/2-lengths @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at Ascot .
Raabihah , by Sea the Stars , is undefeated in two outings but steps up in class here .
Sea the Moon is a daughter of Sea the Stars .
And do n't discount Speak Of The Devil , a daughter of Wootton Bassett , who was second in the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches , or French 1,000 Guineas .
Punters wo n't have a chance to digest the results of the 3-year-old races before they get the treat of watching Enable return to action at Sandown in the Coral-Eclipse @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the 6-year-old Nathanial mare along judiciously , mindful of the scrambled schedule this season and with his eyes focused firmly on the Arc this autumn .
He passed on sending Enable to Royal Ascot , reckoning Sandown a better spot for her first race since the heartbreaking loss to Waldgeist in the Arc on Oct. 6 .
The Coral-Eclipse was , in fact , Enable 's return race last year after the 2018 Arc victory and her stirring win over Magical in the Longines Breedres ' Cup Turf that November at Churchill Downs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Group I King George VII and Queen Elizabeth Qipco Stakes at Ascot and the Group 1 Darley Yorkshire Oaks , again over Magical , before yielding to Waldgeist in the closing yards of the Arc .
Not much comes easy in racing , and so it is for Enable at Sandown .
The Godolphin team fields Ghaiyyath , a 5-year-old son of Dubawi fresh from a victory over 2019 Derby winner Anthony Van Dyck in the Group 1 Coronation Stakes .
O'Brien has Japan , a 4-year-old by Galileo who won a pair @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a third in the Derby , and Magic Wand , a 5-year-old Galileo mare who has battled with the best as far afield as Hong Kong , Australia , Dubai and the United States .
Lord North comes to the Coral-Eclipse the winner of three straight , most recently the Group 1 Prince of Wales 's Stakes at Royal Ascot .
And Japanese mare Deirdre , winner of last year 's Group 1 Qatar Nassau Stakes at Goodwood , comes off a second-place finish , beaten just a head , in a rich @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 20 million Saudi Cup on Feb. 29 .
If Enable can handle this field , she will be well on her way to that third win in the Arc .

Enable, shown winning the 2018 Breeders' Cup Turf at Churchill Downs, starts her quest for a third win in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe this weekend in the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown in England. Photo courtesy of Breeders' Cup
July 3 (UPI) -- A weekend like no other -- ever -- awaits horse racing fans in Europe and the U.K., as schedule changes forced by the COVID-19 pandemic find the Investec Derby and Oaks both run on Saturday on Epsom Downs and the French equivalents following just a day later across the Channel at Chantilly. And, for icing on the cake, two-time Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner Enable -- denied a triple in the iconic race last year -- kicks off her return campaign Sunday in the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown. Advertisement
The pandemic truly has created havoc in racing and the Derby for the first time will be run with no spectators in the stands, or even on the adjacent hill, long popular with racegoers. But these two days of racing will be something to remember.
Here's a look:
The Derby
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The schedule delays have pushed the 241st running of the Group 1 Investec Derby back a month to the Fourth of July -- which, of course, is only July 4 in England, sans fireworks and flags.
But there will be plenty of fireworks on the racecourse as 16 3-year-olds line up for the Classic. The favorite is English King, a Camelot colt owned by Bjorn Nielsen, who also campaigns star stayer Stradivarius. English King burst onto the scene with a win in the Lingfield Derby Trial on June 5, only his third start.
Frankie Dettori will start English King from the No. 1 gate, not always the most desirable launching pad. Since the advent of starting stalls in 1967, only three horses have won from the inside stall. It could have been worse, as the Nos. 2, 11 and 16 gates have yet to produce a winner.
Also high on the oddsmakers' tallies is Kameko. The Kitten's Joy colt, bred by Calumet Farm in Kentucky, won the Group 1 Vertem Futurity Trophy last November and returned with a hard-won victory in the Group 1 Qipco 2000 Guineas on June 6. Oisin Murphy rides for trainer Andrew Balding and owner Qatar Racing.
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After that, it's another Aidan O'Brien fest. The Ireland-based trainer, already a seven-time Derby winner, will saddle six in this historic renewal of the race.
Three are well-backed in the early wagering: Mogul, fourth in the Vertem Futurity and fourth again in his first run this year at Royal Ascot but nonetheless the pick of O'Brien's No. 1 jockey, Ryan Moore; Russian Emperor, winner of the Group 2 Hampton Court at the Royal meeting; and Vatican City, second in the Group 1 Tattersalls Irish 2,000 Guineas.
Mogul will attempt to break the jinx of the No. 2 gate, as noted above. Kameko drew the winless No. 11.
O'Brien also fields longer chances Serpentine, Mythical and Amhran Na Bhfiann.
Galileo, the star stallion of the worldwide Coolmore operation, could become the all-time leading sire of Derby winners should one of his five starters salute.
He currently has four winners to his credit, putting him in a six-way tie with 1787 Derby winner Sir Peter Teazle, 1793 Derby winner Waxy, Blandford, Cyllene and Montjeu. Galileo's tally to date comprises New Approach, Ruler of the World, Australia and last year's winner, Anthony van Dyck.
Reminding: O'Brien trained Galileo, who won the Derby in 2001.
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There are plenty other live chances in this year's Derby, partly because most of the runners have had only limited chances to show their form. Pyledriver, for example, is at double-digit odds on most boards even though he won the Group 2 King Edward VII at Royal Ascot -- a race in which Mogul reported fourth, albeit on soft ground.
The Oaks
The Group 1 Investec Oaks at Epsom has a field of eight 3-year-old fillies. Three of those, including heavy favorite Love, are sent out by O'Brian.
It would have been four of nine but the Ballydoyle master opted to send Group 1 Irish 1,000 Guineas winner Peaceful to France for the Prix de Diane, citing the steep reduction in purse money this year in English racing. The move also, of course, gives him a chance to win both of the prestigious races.
Love, another by the busy Galileo, won the Group 1 Moyglare Stud last year in Ireland and started 2020 with a rather imposing, 4 1/4-lengths victory in the Group 1 Qipco 1000 Guineas at Newmarket in her only previous start this year. Moore stays aboard for the Oaks.
Love won't have a walkover by any means, though. Also in the field is Frankly Darling, a Frankel filly who exits a victory in the Group 2 Ribblesdale Stakes at Royal Ascot. Dettori rides for trainer John Gosden.
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The rest of O'Brien's team is Ennistyman and Passion, the second- and third-place finishers in the Ribblesdale. Both are by -- you guessed it -- Galileo.
Prix du Jockey Club
Seventeen are set to contest the French version of the Derby on Sunday at Chantilly.
The hot favorite here is Godolphin homebred Victor Ludorum, a son of Shamardal who has won four of five previous starts for trainer Andre Fabre.
He won the Group 1 Emirates Poule d'Essai des Poulains, the French 2000 Guineas, in his last outing June 1 with a strong late rally. In the irons is Mickael Barzalona, still smarting from a bite on the leg inflicted by a horse during training last weekend.
O'Brien also has a strong representation here for the Coolmore "lads" but the top pick from the Coolmore entries, at least in the early wagering, is Ocean Atlantique, an American Pharoah colt trained by Fabre.
Ocean Atlantique has two wins and two seconds from four starts, all in France, and was last seen winning a listed race at Deauville by 5 lengths.
Also here is Palo Alto, an Intello colt who defeated Ocean Atlantique in the Group 3 Prix la Force May 14.
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O'Brien has Order of Australia, yet a maiden but fourth in the Group 1 Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby, and Fort Myers, a Kentucky-bred out of the Galileo mare Marvellous, whose two wins from seven starts both came on all-weather tracks.
Prix du Diane
As noted, Irish 1,000 Guineas winner Peaceful, a Galileo filly, has a good shot in the French equivalent to the Oaks, after being rerouted across the Channel in search of greater fortune and fame.
Others in the Diane look tempting, too. Alpine Star, a Sea the Moon filly from the Rahy mare Alpha Lupi, trained by Jessica Harrington, arrives on the back of a 4 1/2-lengths win in the Group 1 Coronation Stakes at Ascot.
Raabihah, by Sea the Stars, is undefeated in two outings but steps up in class here. Sea the Moon is a daughter of Sea the Stars. And don't discount Speak Of The Devil, a daughter of Wootton Bassett, who was second in the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches, or French 1,000 Guineas.
Coral-Eclipse
Punters won't have a chance to digest the results of the 3-year-old races before they get the treat of watching Enable return to action at Sandown in the Coral-Eclipse.
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Trainer John Gosden has been bringing the 6-year-old Nathanial mare along judiciously, mindful of the scrambled schedule this season and with his eyes focused firmly on the Arc this autumn.
He passed on sending Enable to Royal Ascot, reckoning Sandown a better spot for her first race since the heartbreaking loss to Waldgeist in the Arc on Oct. 6.
The Coral-Eclipse was, in fact, Enable's return race last year after the 2018 Arc victory and her stirring win over Magical in the Longines Breedres' Cup Turf that November at Churchill Downs.
She went on last year to Group I King George VII and Queen Elizabeth Qipco Stakes at Ascot and the Group 1 Darley Yorkshire Oaks, again over Magical, before yielding to Waldgeist in the closing yards of the Arc.
Not much comes easy in racing, and so it is for Enable at Sandown.
The Godolphin team fields Ghaiyyath, a 5-year-old son of Dubawi fresh from a victory over 2019 Derby winner Anthony Van Dyck in the Group 1 Coronation Stakes.
O'Brien has Japan, a 4-year-old by Galileo who won a pair of Group 1 events last year after a third in the Derby, and Magic Wand, a 5-year-old Galileo mare who has battled with the best as far afield as Hong Kong, Australia, Dubai and the United States.
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Lord North comes to the Coral-Eclipse the winner of three straight, most recently the Group 1 Prince of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot. And Japanese mare Deirdre, winner of last year's Group 1 Qatar Nassau Stakes at Goodwood, comes off a second-place finish, beaten just a head, in a rich conditions race on the undercard of the $20 million Saudi Cup on Feb. 29.
If Enable can handle this field, she will be well on her way to that third win in the Arc.


upi--2020-07-03--UPI News Quiz: COVID-19 drugs, Cam Newton, PPE, 'The Crown'

U.S. News // 6 hours ago
Search for victims of Maui wildfire ongoing as death toll climbs to 101
Aug. 15 (UPI) -- The death toll from the Maui wildfires has risen to 101, Hawaii Gov. Josh Green said Tuesday night, as he announced plans to reopen the Lahaina Bypass for several hours a day to "reunite the pieces of Maui."


upi--2020-07-03--Met Mile, Los Alamitos Derby, top turf races at Belmont in weekend U.S. horse racing

July 3 ( UPI ) -- The Met Mile and some magnificent turf races at Belmont Park , last-chance hopes for some Kentucky Derby hopefuls at Los Alamitos and the return of Delaware Park top weekend horse racing in North America .
Bellafina is back in action at Los Al , exactly two years after she started her career on that track .
The Road to the Roses Five-time Kentucky Derby-winning trainer Bob Baffert 's once bountiful supply of 2020 Derby contenders has dwindled sharply in the past month , thanks to injuries and retirements .
So Thousand Words get @ @ @ @ @ @ @ five for Saturday 's $ 150,000 Grade III Los Alamitos Derby .
Thousand Words , a Pioneerof the Nile colt , won his first three starts , including the Grade II Los Alamitos Futurity in December and the Grade III Robert B. Lewis in February .
Then , as the waters got deeper , he was fourth in the Grade II San Felipe and 11th in the Grade II Oaklawn Handicap over a sloppy track in his most recent start , in April .
He 's been working steadily at Santa Anita and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the fourth straight year .
Another in this short field who might be getting a last chance at Derby glory is Anneau d'Or .
He was second in both the Breeders ' Cup Juvenile and the Los Alamitos Futurity but then has flopped in three tough chances this year .
The other three are two maiden winners and one still a maiden so if Thousand Words and/or Anneau d'Or ca n't handle them , expectations will be adjusted .
The race offers 20 points for the winner on the `` Road to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , 4 and 2 points for the minor placings .
Thousand Words is ranked No .
17 on the list with 25 points .
Anneau d'Or is No .
20 , with 22 points .
Tiz the Law leads with 272 .
Sunday 's $ 100,000 Iowa Derby at Prairie Meadows has a very well-matched field of six to go 1 1/16 miles .
The oddsmaker has Shashashakemeup , a Shackleford colt , the 2-1 favorite but any of them seems possible .
Trainer Steve Asmussen brings Billy Batts and Bill Mott sends @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Piece of My Heart and Comical , the favorites in a field of eight , drew the inside gates for Saturday 's $ 300,000 Grade III Delaware Oaks .
Those two finished 1-2 in the Gardenia Stakes at Oaklawn Park May 1 with Piece of My Heart leading all the way and Comical unable to make up the difference .
Comical has the better overall record , including a second in the Grade I Chandelier at Santa Anita and a victory in the Grade III Schuylerville at Saratoga last summer .
Three others @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all will have to step things up a bit to figure here .
Strong Flag and Dynasty of Her Own top a field of seven for Sunday 's $ 100,000 Grade III Iowa Oaks at Prairie Meadows .
The former , a Strong Mandate filly , has yet to beat winners .
Dynasty of Her Own , a daughter of Shanghai Bobby , comes from California where she won the California Oaks on the Golden Gate Fields all-weather track in her last start .
Chad Brown saddles three of the eight entered for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at Belmont Park and all would be given a chance in a race with loads of talent .
Two of them -- Instilled Regard and Devamani -- were last seen finishing 1-2 in the Grade II Fort Marcy at 1 1/8 miles over the course .
This is 1 1/4 miles .
Brown 's third starter , Rockemperor , finished second in the Grade II Charlie Whittingham at Santa Anita last time out but was DQ 'd to third .
Others in the Manhattan include the venerable Sadler 's Joy , who was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ second in 2018 , and Channel Maker , a two-time Group 1 winner on the Belmont greensward who needs to turn around a slide .
Saturday 's $ 125,000 Grade III Kent Stakes at Delaware Park attracted eight 3-year-olds , several with chances but none setting the heart aflutter .
Gufo , a Declaration of War colt trained by Christophe Clement , has won three straight , most recently the English Channel Stakes at Gulfstream Park , and is the 5-2 favorite on the morning line .
Vanzzy has won twice on all-weather @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the grass .
Pixelate has been in the frame in minor turf stakes at Aqueduct , Sam Houston , Fair Grounds and Churchill Downs .
Brown has two in Saturday 's $ 150,000 Grade III Poker at Belmont Park -- both lightly raced 4-year-old colts and both with big chances .
Valid Point won his first three starts last year , including the Grade I Secretariat at Arlington Park , a day in which Brown swept all the stakes races on the card .
He was 10th in the season finale at Keeneland @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Value Proposition takes a step up in class but was ultra impressive in his last start , earning a 100 Beyer Speed Figure in winning over the course and distance June 3 .
Got Stormy also is in here and if the 5-year-old mare can find her old form , she could show them all a thing or two .
Saturday 's $ 50,000 Christiana Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at Delaware Park has a field of nine to go 1 1/16 miles out of the infield chute .
None is a standout although @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , by 11 lengths , at Tampa Bay Downs and Toolcat was a determined winner in her first start on the grass June 1 , also at Tampa .
McKinzie , Vekoma and Code of Honor star in Saturday 's $ 500,000 Grade I Runhappy Metropolitan Handicap at Belmont Park .
Better known as the `` Met Mile , '' the race is a `` Win and You 're In '' for the Big Ass Fans Breeders ' Cup Dirt Mile and drew a worthy field of eight .
McKinzie is a three-time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than $ 3.1 million .
Code of Honor also is a Grade I winner -- that the 2019 Travers at Saratoga .
Vekoma has won five of seven career starts and exits a 7 1/4-lengths win in the Grade I Carter , going 6 1/2 furlongs at Belmont Park .
He earned a 110 Beyer Speed Figure for that .
Upset seekers might look to the Godolphin homebred , Endorsed , or Razorback Handicap winner Warrior 's Charge .
Last year 's Belmont Stakes winner , Sir Winson , is back in Saturday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Belmont Park .
And perhaps it 's no coincidence that the field also includes the second- and third-place finishers from that race , Tacitus and Joevia .
Sir Winston has been less than impressive since the 10-1 upset in the Belmont and Joevia has been suffering through a long dull streak .
Tacitus , by contrast , finished second in the Travers and third in the Jockey Club Gold Cup .
He started 2020 with a late-running fifth-place finish in the $ 20 million Saudi Cup and then was a credible fourth in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ritz , a 5-year-old , English-bred son of Oasis Dream , is the even-money favorite on the morning line for Saturday 's $ 175,000 ( Canadian ) Eclipse Stakes at on the Woodbine all-weather track .
Trained by Josie Carroll , Mr Ritz makes his first start since winning the Grade II Autumn Stakes at Woodbine last November .
He was second in last year 's Eclipse .
Carroll also saddles Avie 's Flatter , who was second in both the Queen 's Plate and Prince of Wales Stakes last year and third @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Flatter colt was third in his 2020 debut in a Woodbine allowance event .
Seven are set for this heat .
Nine are set for Sunday 's $ 100,000 Grade III Prairie Meadows Cornhusker Handicap with Night Ops the 5-2 morning-line favorite .
The 4-year-old Warrior 's Reward colt , trained by Brad Cox , was fifth in last year 's Iowa Derby .
He won the Essex Handicap at Oaklawn Park early in that meeting before posting a dull , ninth-place showing in the Grade II Oaklawn Handicap May 2 , his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ another of those amazing Illinois-breds , won last year 's Cornhusker and returns winless in four intervening races , all graded stakes .
Bellafina returns to action as the favorite in a field of seven for Saturday 's $ 200,000 Grade II Great Lady M. Stakes at Los Alamitos .
The 4-year-old Quality Road filly won last year 's Grade I Santa Anita Oaks and then suffered a raft of tough beats , including a second behind Covfefe in the Breeders ' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint .
She finally was back in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recent start , the Grade III Desert Stormer at Santa Anita .
The others in the Great Lady M. have more modest resumes although Hang a Star did jump up to finish second in the Desert Stormer at odds of almost 43-1 .
Zusha has been mixing it up in graded stakes but without winning .
Saturday 's $ 100,000 Grade III Victory Ride Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at Belmont Park drew five with Frank 's Rockette on the rail and likely to be well backed .
The daughter of Into Mischief has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seven starts and was second in the Grade I Frizette over the course last autumn .
Saturday 's $ 75,000 Azalea Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at Gulfstream Park has a field of six with the outside filly , Boerne , the 6-5 favorite .
The Texas-bred daughter of Fed Biz saw a three-race win streak snapped when she finished second in the Game Face Stakes over the same track June 6 .
Six 3-year-olds are set to contest Saturday 's $ 75,000 Carry Back Stakes at Gulfstream Park -- a real program-stabber .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , is the narrow favorite with two wins from three previous starts .

McKinzie, shown winning the 2019 Whitney at Saratoga, is one of the top picks for Saturday's Grade I Met Mile at Belmont Park. Photo by Chelsea Durand, courtesy of the New York Racing Association
July 3 (UPI) -- The Met Mile and some magnificent turf races at Belmont Park, last-chance hopes for some Kentucky Derby hopefuls at Los Alamitos and the return of Delaware Park top weekend horse racing in North America. Bellafina is back in action at Los Al, exactly two years after she started her career on that track. Advertisement
Let's hop to it:
The Road to the Roses
Five-time Kentucky Derby-winning trainer Bob Baffert's once bountiful supply of 2020 Derby contenders has dwindled sharply in the past month, thanks to injuries and retirements.
So Thousand Words get another chance in a field of just five for Saturday's $150,000 Grade III Los Alamitos Derby. Thousand Words, a Pioneerof the Nile colt, won his first three starts, including the Grade II Los Alamitos Futurity in December and the Grade III Robert B. Lewis in February.
Then, as the waters got deeper, he was fourth in the Grade II San Felipe and 11th in the Grade II Oaklawn Handicap over a sloppy track in his most recent start, in April. He's been working steadily at Santa Anita and carries Baffert's hopes to win this for the fourth straight year.
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Another in this short field who might be getting a last chance at Derby glory is Anneau d'Or. He was second in both the Breeders' Cup Juvenile and the Los Alamitos Futurity but then has flopped in three tough chances this year.
The other three are two maiden winners and one still a maiden so if Thousand Words and/or Anneau d'Or can't handle them, expectations will be adjusted.
The race offers 20 points for the winner on the "Road to the Kentucky Derby" leaderboard with 8, 4 and 2 points for the minor placings. Thousand Words is ranked No. 17 on the list with 25 points. Anneau d'Or is No. 20, with 22 points. Tiz the Law leads with 272.
Sunday's $100,000 Iowa Derby at Prairie Meadows has a very well-matched field of six to go 1 1/16 miles. The oddsmaker has Shashashakemeup, a Shackleford colt, the 2-1 favorite but any of them seems possible. Trainer Steve Asmussen brings Billy Batts and Bill Mott sends Acre.
The Road to the Oaks
Piece of My Heart and Comical, the favorites in a field of eight, drew the inside gates for Saturday's $300,000 Grade III Delaware Oaks.
Those two finished 1-2 in the Gardenia Stakes at Oaklawn Park May 1 with Piece of My Heart leading all the way and Comical unable to make up the difference.
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Comical has the better overall record, including a second in the Grade I Chandelier at Santa Anita and a victory in the Grade III Schuylerville at Saratoga last summer. Three others enter after winning their last start but all will have to step things up a bit to figure here.
Strong Flag and Dynasty of Her Own top a field of seven for Sunday's $100,000 Grade III Iowa Oaks at Prairie Meadows. The former, a Strong Mandate filly, has yet to beat winners.
Dynasty of Her Own, a daughter of Shanghai Bobby, comes from California where she won the California Oaks on the Golden Gate Fields all-weather track in her last start.
Turf
Chad Brown saddles three of the eight entered for Saturday's $400,000 Grade I Manhattan at Belmont Park and all would be given a chance in a race with loads of talent.
Two of them -- Instilled Regard and Devamani -- were last seen finishing 1-2 in the Grade II Fort Marcy at 1 1/8 miles over the course. This is 1 1/4 miles. Brown's third starter, Rockemperor, finished second in the Grade II Charlie Whittingham at Santa Anita last time out but was DQ'd to third.
Others in the Manhattan include the venerable Sadler's Joy, who was third in this race in 2017 and second in 2018, and Channel Maker, a two-time Group 1 winner on the Belmont greensward who needs to turn around a slide.
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Saturday's $125,000 Grade III Kent Stakes at Delaware Park attracted eight 3-year-olds, several with chances but none setting the heart aflutter.
Gufo, a Declaration of War colt trained by Christophe Clement, has won three straight, most recently the English Channel Stakes at Gulfstream Park, and is the 5-2 favorite on the morning line.
Vanzzy has won twice on all-weather tracks but hasn't matched that on the grass. Pixelate has been in the frame in minor turf stakes at Aqueduct, Sam Houston, Fair Grounds and Churchill Downs.
Turf Mile
Brown has two in Saturday's $150,000 Grade III Poker at Belmont Park -- both lightly raced 4-year-old colts and both with big chances.
Valid Point won his first three starts last year, including the Grade I Secretariat at Arlington Park, a day in which Brown swept all the stakes races on the card. He was 10th in the season finale at Keeneland and hasn't been seen since.
Value Proposition takes a step up in class but was ultra impressive in his last start, earning a 100 Beyer Speed Figure in winning over the course and distance June 3. Got Stormy also is in here and if the 5-year-old mare can find her old form, she could show them all a thing or two.
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Filly & Mare Turf
Saturday's $50,000 Christiana Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at Delaware Park has a field of nine to go 1 1/16 miles out of the infield chute. None is a standout although Pure Rhythm comes off a maiden win, by 11 lengths, at Tampa Bay Downs and Toolcat was a determined winner in her first start on the grass June 1, also at Tampa.
Classic/Dirt Mile
McKinzie, Vekoma and Code of Honor star in Saturday's $500,000 Grade I Runhappy Metropolitan Handicap at Belmont Park. Better known as the "Met Mile," the race is a "Win and You're In" for the Big Ass Fans Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile and drew a worthy field of eight.
McKinzie is a three-time Grade I winner and has earned more than $3.1 million. Code of Honor also is a Grade I winner -- that the 2019 Travers at Saratoga.
Vekoma has won five of seven career starts and exits a 7 1/4-lengths win in the Grade I Carter, going 6 1/2 furlongs at Belmont Park. He earned a 110 Beyer Speed Figure for that.
Upset seekers might look to the Godolphin homebred, Endorsed, or Razorback Handicap winner Warrior's Charge.
Last year's Belmont Stakes winner, Sir Winson, is back in Saturday's $200,000 Grade II Suburban at Belmont Park. And perhaps it's no coincidence that the field also includes the second- and third-place finishers from that race, Tacitus and Joevia.
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Sir Winston has been less than impressive since the 10-1 upset in the Belmont and Joevia has been suffering through a long dull streak. Tacitus, by contrast, finished second in the Travers and third in the Jockey Club Gold Cup.
He started 2020 with a late-running fifth-place finish in the $20 million Saudi Cup and then was a credible fourth in the Grade II Oaklawn Handicap.
Mr Ritz, a 5-year-old, English-bred son of Oasis Dream, is the even-money favorite on the morning line for Saturday's $175,000 (Canadian) Eclipse Stakes at on the Woodbine all-weather track.
Trained by Josie Carroll, Mr Ritz makes his first start since winning the Grade II Autumn Stakes at Woodbine last November. He was second in last year's Eclipse. Carroll also saddles Avie's Flatter, who was second in both the Queen's Plate and Prince of Wales Stakes last year and third in the Breeders' Stakes.
The Flatter colt was third in his 2020 debut in a Woodbine allowance event. Seven are set for this heat.
Nine are set for Sunday's $100,000 Grade III Prairie Meadows Cornhusker Handicap with Night Ops the 5-2 morning-line favorite.
The 4-year-old Warrior's Reward colt, trained by Brad Cox, was fifth in last year's Iowa Derby. He won the Essex Handicap at Oaklawn Park early in that meeting before posting a dull, ninth-place showing in the Grade II Oaklawn Handicap May 2, his most recent outing.
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Sir Anthony, another of those amazing Illinois-breds, won last year's Cornhusker and returns winless in four intervening races, all graded stakes.
Filly & Mare Sprint
Bellafina returns to action as the favorite in a field of seven for Saturday's $200,000 Grade II Great Lady M. Stakes at Los Alamitos.
The 4-year-old Quality Road filly won last year's Grade I Santa Anita Oaks and then suffered a raft of tough beats, including a second behind Covfefe in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint. She finally was back in the winner's circle after her most recent start, the Grade III Desert Stormer at Santa Anita.
The others in the Great Lady M. have more modest resumes although Hang a Star did jump up to finish second in the Desert Stormer at odds of almost 43-1. Zusha has been mixing it up in graded stakes but without winning.
Saturday's $100,000 Grade III Victory Ride Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at Belmont Park drew five with Frank's Rockette on the rail and likely to be well backed.
The daughter of Into Mischief has yet to miss a top-two finish in seven starts and was second in the Grade I Frizette over the course last autumn.
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Saturday's $75,000 Azalea Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at Gulfstream Park has a field of six with the outside filly, Boerne, the 6-5 favorite. The Texas-bred daughter of Fed Biz saw a three-race win streak snapped when she finished second in the Game Face Stakes over the same track June 6.
Sprint
Six 3-year-olds are set to contest Saturday's $75,000 Carry Back Stakes at Gulfstream Park -- a real program-stabber. Double Crown, a Bourbon Courage gelding, is the narrow favorite with two wins from three previous starts.


upi--2020-07-03--On This Day, July 3: Sarah Palin announces resignation

July 3 ( UPI ) -- On this date in history : In 1608 , French explorer Samuel de Champlain founded the Canadian town of Quebec .
In 1775 , George Washington took command of the Continental Army at Cambridge , Mass .
In 1863 , the Union army under the command of Gen. George Meade defeated Confederate forces commanded by Gen. Robert E. Lee at Gettysburg , Pa .
In 1890 , Idaho became the 43rd state of the United States of America .
In 1915 , J.P. Morgan Jr. , son of renowned banker and financier J. P. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ groin by Eric Muenter , a German professor at Harvard University .
Morgan survived the would-be assassination attempt .
In 1971 , rock star Jim Morrison , 27 , was found dead of heart failure in a bathtub in Paris .
In 1986 , Rudy Vallee , one of the United States ' most popular singers in the 1920s and '30s , died at the age of 84 .
In 1988 , during the Iran-Iraq War , missiles fired from the USS Vincennes brought down an Iranian airliner in the Persian Gulf , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ United States said the ship 's crew had incorrectly identified the jetliner , believing it was an attacking Iranian fighter jet .
Years later , the United States agreed to pay millions of dollars in reparations for what it called `` a terrible human tragedy . ''
In 1996 , Boris Yeltsin was re-elected president of Russia , defeating Gennadi Zyuganov in a runoff .
In 2009 , Sarah Palin , who became a national figure as the Republican candidate for vice president in 2008 , announced she was resigning as governor of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her term .
In 2010 , at least 230 people were killed in an explosion sparked by a cigarette near an overturned oil tanker truck in the Republic of the Congo .
In 2013 , the Egyptian military removed President Mohamed Morsi from office and announced it was suspending the constitution and planning new elections .
In 2018 , the Justice Department under President Donald Trump reversed a set of Obama-era guidelines that promoted using race in admissions standards to achieve diversity in schools .

1/5
Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin talks with a customer at a signing for her new book "Going Rogue: An American Life" at the Woodland Mall Barnes & Noble in Grand Rapids, Mich., on November 18, 2009. On July 3, 2009, Palin announced she was resigning as governor of Alaska with 17 months to go in her term. File Photo by Brian Kersey/UPI | License Photo
July 3 (UPI) -- On this date in history: In 1608, French explorer Samuel de Champlain founded the Canadian town of Quebec. Advertisement
In 1775, George Washington took command of the Continental Army at Cambridge, Mass.
In 1863, the Union army under the command of Gen. George Meade defeated Confederate forces commanded by Gen. Robert E. Lee at Gettysburg, Pa.
In 1890, Idaho became the 43rd state of the United States of America.
In 1915, J.P. Morgan Jr., son of renowned banker and financier J. P. Morgan, was shot twice in the groin by Eric Muenter, a German professor at Harvard University. Morgan survived the would-be assassination attempt.
In 1938, President Franklin D. Roosevelt dedicated the Eternal Light Peace Memorial Gettysburg.
UPI File Photo
In 1971, rock star Jim Morrison, 27, was found dead of heart failure in a bathtub in Paris.
In 1986, Rudy Vallee, one of the United States' most popular singers in the 1920s and '30s, died at the age of 84.
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In 1988, during the Iran-Iraq War, missiles fired from the USS Vincennes brought down an Iranian airliner in the Persian Gulf, killing all 290 people aboard. The United States said the ship's crew had incorrectly identified the jetliner, believing it was an attacking Iranian fighter jet. Years later, the United States agreed to pay millions of dollars in reparations for what it called "a terrible human tragedy."
Relatives of victims of an Iranian airliner that was shot down by a U.S. warship over two decades ago participate in a ceremony commemorating the dead in the Persian Gulf off the coast of Iran on July 2, 2012. File Photo by Maryam Rahmanian/UPI
In 1996, Boris Yeltsin was re-elected president of Russia, defeating Gennadi Zyuganov in a runoff.
In 2009, Sarah Palin, who became a national figure as the Republican candidate for vice president in 2008, announced she was resigning as governor of Alaska with 17 months to go in her term.
In 2010, at least 230 people were killed in an explosion sparked by a cigarette near an overturned oil tanker truck in the Republic of the Congo.
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In 2013, the Egyptian military removed President Mohamed Morsi from office and announced it was suspending the constitution and planning new elections.
In 2018, the Justice Department under President Donald Trump reversed a set of Obama-era guidelines that promoted using race in admissions standards to achieve diversity in schools.


upi--2020-07-03--COVID-19: U.S. sets single-day record for cases; Fauci warns of new wave

July 2 ( UPI ) -- The United States on Thursday set a new record for the largest single-day increase in coronavirus infections as Anthony Fauci , the United States ' top-ranking infectious diseases expert , warned there 's a risk of an even larger spread of COVID-19 .
Though their numbers vary , The New York Times , The Washington Post and Worldometer.info all recorded more than 55,000 new cases on Thursday , trumping their previous record tallies set the day prior .
Health officials at Johns Hopkins University also said Thursday set a record high for the United @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Thursday not only broke the previous record set a day prior but was continuing a trend of skyrocketing infections that began about mid-June as states started opening up .
President Donald Trump late Thursday attributed the rise in cases on Twitter to an increase in testing .
`` There is a rise in coronavirus cases because our testing is so massive and so good , far bigger and better than any other country , '' he said .
`` This is great news , but even better news is that death , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' A total of 687 deaths were reported over the previous 24 hours , which is continuing a gradual decline from a high of more than 2,700 deaths on April 21 , according to Worldometers.info .
The virus has infected more than 2.8 million people in the United States , resulting in some 130,000 deaths since the first case was diagnosed in the country mid-January , making it by far the worst affected nation in the world .
Several states have documented a surge in cases recently , and Fauci , a member @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , said a lack of uniformity among safety measures and compliance is the most likely cause .
`` What we 've seen over the last several days is a spike in cases that is way beyond the worst spikes that we have seen , '' Fauci told BBC Radio .
`` We 've got to get that under control , or we risk an even greater outbreak in the United States .
`` In the United States , even in the most strict lockdowns , only about 50 percent of the country locked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the outbreak , which we never did get under very good control . ''
Texas Gov .
Greg Abbott issued the mask order Thursday afternoon after days of pressing by local and county leaders throughout the state .
The mandate applies only to counties where there are 20 or more confirmed cases of coronavirus .
His order also bans gatherings of more than 10 people .
`` We have the ability to keep businesses open and move our economy forward so that Texans can continue to earn a paycheck , but it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ part to protect one another -- and that means wearing a face covering in public spaces , '' Abbott said .
`` I urge all Texans to wear a face covering in public , not just for their own health , but for the health of their families , friends , and for all our fellow Texans . ''
The state hit a new single-day case record Wednesday with 8,123 and overall has 175,300 cases and 2,520 deaths .
Miami Police Chief Jorge Colina announced Thursday that the city will fine people and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with its face mask requirement -- and Kansas Gov .
Laura Kelly signed an executive order mandating coverings in public and for situations in which 6 feet of social distancing can not be maintained .
`` The last few months have presented many new challenges for Kansans , and all of us want to return to our normal lives and routines , '' Kelly said in a statement .
`` Unfortunately , we have seen a spike in the number of COVID-19 cases , hospitalizations , and deaths across our state and our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kansas reported more than 500 new cases Wednesday , one day after reaching a new daily high .
The state hit a peak of 511 on May 8 before a downward trajectory that lasted through early June .
That trend changed as a second wave of the virus arrived in the weeks that followed .
There have been 280 deaths in the state , with four reported Wednesday , according to The New York Times ' tracker .
Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett also ordered face coverings in public spaces , joining three counties @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and St. Joseph .
`` This is n't complicated .
It 's a piece of cloth .
It 's a piece of cloth that can save your life and the lives of those around you .
And it is the right thing to do , '' he said .
Indiana has confirmed 47,553 cases and 2,662 deaths , with 376 new cases and 10 deaths reported Wednesday .
The state reached a daily case peak in late April and had been on a downward trajectory until late June , when cases started inching @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is scheduled to meet Thursday with Florida Gov .
Ron DeSantis to discuss efforts to control the surge .
The state 's Department of Health on Thursday reported more than 10,100 new cases , shattering the previous single-day case record and pushing the state 's total confirmed cases to 169,100 .
Sixty-seven new deaths were also reported , pushing Florida 's total past 3,600 .
Pence , the head of the White House Coronavirus Task Force , will meet DeSantis at a medical and research facility at the University of South Florida .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ said Thursday he expects a COVID-19 vaccine to be available in the United States by the end of this year or early next .
Hahn told Good Morning America the FDA has authorized clinical trials for four vaccine candidates .
`` We have a lot of different 'shots on goal ' with respect to vaccines , and that 's good news , '' he said .
`` We expect two of these vaccines to go into the late stages of clinical trials [ in July ] .
`` We are on target to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or early next year .
I 'm cautiously optimistic . ''

1/2
Miami residents sit in their cars waiting to obtain COVID-19 testing at the Hard Rock Stadium on Thursday. Photo by Gary I Rothstein/UPI | License Photo
July 2 (UPI) -- The United States on Thursday set a new record for the largest single-day increase in coronavirus infections as Anthony Fauci, the United States' top-ranking infectious diseases expert, warned there's a risk of an even larger spread of COVID-19. Though their numbers vary, The New York Times, The Washington Post and Worldometer.info all recorded more than 55,000 new cases on Thursday, trumping their previous record tallies set the day prior. Advertisement
Health officials at Johns Hopkins University also said Thursday set a record high for the United States but at more than 51,000 cases.
Thursday not only broke the previous record set a day prior but was continuing a trend of skyrocketing infections that began about mid-June as states started opening up.
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President Donald Trump late Thursday attributed the rise in cases on Twitter to an increase in testing.
"There is a rise in coronavirus cases because our testing is so massive and so good, far bigger and better than any other country," he said. "This is great news, but even better news is that death, and the death rate is DOWN."
There is a rise in Coronavirus cases because our testing is so massive and so good, far bigger and better than any other country. This is great news, but even better news is that death, and the death rate, is DOWN. Also, younger people, who get better much easier and faster!— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 3, 2020
A total of 687 deaths were reported over the previous 24 hours, which is continuing a gradual decline from a high of more than 2,700 deaths on April 21, according to Worldometers.info.
The virus has infected more than 2.8 million people in the United States, resulting in some 130,000 deaths since the first case was diagnosed in the country mid-January, making it by far the worst affected nation in the world.
Advertisement
Several states have documented a surge in cases recently, and Fauci, a member of the White House Coronavirus Task Force, said a lack of uniformity among safety measures and compliance is the most likely cause.
"What we've seen over the last several days is a spike in cases that is way beyond the worst spikes that we have seen," Fauci told BBC Radio. "We've got to get that under control, or we risk an even greater outbreak in the United States.
"In the United States, even in the most strict lockdowns, only about 50 percent of the country locked down -- that allowed for the perpetuation of the outbreak, which we never did get under very good control."
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott issued the mask order Thursday afternoon after days of pressing by local and county leaders throughout the state. The mandate applies only to counties where there are 20 or more confirmed cases of coronavirus.
His order also bans gatherings of more than 10 people.
"We have the ability to keep businesses open and move our economy forward so that Texans can continue to earn a paycheck, but it requires each of us to do our part to protect one another -- and that means wearing a face covering in public spaces," Abbott said.
Advertisement
"I urge all Texans to wear a face covering in public, not just for their own health, but for the health of their families, friends, and for all our fellow Texans."
The state hit a new single-day case record Wednesday with 8,123 and overall has 175,300 cases and 2,520 deaths.
Miami Police Chief Jorge Colina announced Thursday that the city will fine people and shut down businesses that don't comply with its face mask requirement -- and Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly signed an executive order mandating coverings in public and for situations in which 6 feet of social distancing cannot be maintained.
"The last few months have presented many new challenges for Kansans, and all of us want to return to our normal lives and routines," Kelly said in a statement. "Unfortunately, we have seen a spike in the number of COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations, and deaths across our state and our country. We must act."
Kansas reported more than 500 new cases Wednesday, one day after reaching a new daily high. The state hit a peak of 511 on May 8 before a downward trajectory that lasted through early June. That trend changed as a second wave of the virus arrived in the weeks that followed.
Advertisement
There have been 280 deaths in the state, with four reported Wednesday, according to The New York Times' tracker.
Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett also ordered face coverings in public spaces, joining three counties in the state -- Elkhart, LaGrange and St. Joseph.
"This isn't complicated. It's a piece of cloth. It's a piece of cloth that can save your life and the lives of those around you. And it is the right thing to do," he said.
Indiana has confirmed 47,553 cases and 2,662 deaths, with 376 new cases and 10 deaths reported Wednesday. The state reached a daily case peak in late April and had been on a downward trajectory until late June, when cases started inching up again.
Vice President Mike Pence is scheduled to meet Thursday with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis to discuss efforts to control the surge. The state's Department of Health on Thursday reported more than 10,100 new cases, shattering the previous single-day case record and pushing the state's total confirmed cases to 169,100.
Sixty-seven new deaths were also reported, pushing Florida's total past 3,600.
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Pence, the head of the White House Coronavirus Task Force, will meet DeSantis at a medical and research facility at the University of South Florida.
Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Stephen Hahn said Thursday he expects a COVID-19 vaccine to be available in the United States by the end of this year or early next.
Hahn told Good Morning America the FDA has authorized clinical trials for four vaccine candidates.
"We have a lot of different 'shots on goal' with respect to vaccines, and that's good news," he said. "We expect two of these vaccines to go into the late stages of clinical trials [in July].
"We are on target to reach a vaccine by year's end or early next year. I'm cautiously optimistic."
COVID-19 pandemic alters life in New York City


upi--2020-07-03--Senate passes bill to punish China over Hong Kong national security law

July 2 ( UPI ) -- The Republican-controlled Senate on Thursday unanimously passed bipartisan legislation to punish China for imposing a new sweeping national security law on Hong Kong , sending the bill to President Donald Trump 's desk to be signed into law .
Co-sponsored by Sens .
Pat Toomey , R-Pa. , and Chris Van Hollen , D-Md.
, the bipartisan Hong Kong Autonomy Act will impose mandatory sanctions on persons and entities who contribute to China 's defiance of its responsibilities to Hong Kong and those who infringe upon its autonomy as well as banks that conduct @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The Senate passed the bill days after China imposed a draconian national security law that critics say will be the end of Hong Kong 's autonomy , which the Asian nation promised to maintain for 50 years after the former British colony was returned to Chinese rule in 1997 .
Critics say the law , which criminalizes acts of secession , sedition , subversion , terrorism and working with foreign agencies to undermine the national security of the People 's Republic of China in Hong Kong , was imposed to crack down @ @ @ @ @ @ @ subsumed by yearlong destabilizing pro-democracy protests .
Toomey told lawmakers Thursday that the national security law is part of a growing campaign by China to snuff out freedoms and dissent in Hong Kong before they can spread to the mainland and threaten the Chinese Communist Party 's rule .
In the first day that the law was in place some 300 protesters were arrested , some of whom on charges under the new law that criminalize having Hong Kong independence material as threatening to national security .
Toomey said by arresting a 19-year-old @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his phone and a 15-year-old girl who was detained for flying a pro-independence flag China was telling its own people no one is safe .
`` That 's the message that Beijing wants to send to the people of Hong Kong : 'We can arrest you , we can imprison you if you do n't behave , ' '' he said .
His law , he said , responds to this aggression by creating `` real penalties '' for those in the Chinese Communist Party deemed responsible and also broadcasts to the Asian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it .
`` The bill is a larger signal to China , it 's a message that the United States and the free world are no longer willing to look past some of the worst behavior that has been occurring , '' he said .
`` It 's a message our patience has run out . ''
The Senate vote came a day after the Democratic-controlled House passed the bill and amid fraying relations been Washington and Beijing as the Trump administration has repeatedly chastised the Asian nation over its human rights record @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , China has maintained its stance that the issues of Hong Kong are only China 's concerns .
The Senate 's passing of the bill is expected to further deteriorate their relations .
After it passed the House , China said no foreign country has the right to interfere and U.S. attempts to prevent China from implementing the national security law `` are doomed to fail . ''
`` We urge the U.S. side to grasp the situation , abide by international law and basic norms of international relations , stop interfering in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stop pushing the negative bill or even signing it into law or implementing it .
Otherwise , China will react strongly and the U.S. shall bear all consequences , '' China 's Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said Thursday .

Activists hold a protest against China's adoption of a new national security law on Hong Kong at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday. Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI | License Photo
July 2 (UPI) -- The Republican-controlled Senate on Thursday unanimously passed bipartisan legislation to punish China for imposing a new sweeping national security law on Hong Kong, sending the bill to President Donald Trump's desk to be signed into law. Co-sponsored by Sens. Pat Toomey, R-Pa., and Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., the bipartisan Hong Kong Autonomy Act will impose mandatory sanctions on persons and entities who contribute to China's defiance of its responsibilities to Hong Kong and those who infringe upon its autonomy as well as banks that conduct "significant transactions" with those people. Advertisement
The Senate passed the bill days after China imposed a draconian national security law that critics say will be the end of Hong Kong's autonomy, which the Asian nation promised to maintain for 50 years after the former British colony was returned to Chinese rule in 1997.
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Critics say the law, which criminalizes acts of secession, sedition, subversion, terrorism and working with foreign agencies to undermine the national security of the People's Republic of China in Hong Kong, was imposed to crack down on dissent as the region has been subsumed by yearlong destabilizing pro-democracy protests.
Toomey told lawmakers Thursday that the national security law is part of a growing campaign by China to snuff out freedoms and dissent in Hong Kong before they can spread to the mainland and threaten the Chinese Communist Party's rule.
In the first day that the law was in place some 300 protesters were arrested, some of whom on charges under the new law that criminalize having Hong Kong independence material as threatening to national security.
Toomey said by arresting a 19-year-old man for having such a sticker on his phone and a 15-year-old girl who was detained for flying a pro-independence flag China was telling its own people no one is safe.
"That's the message that Beijing wants to send to the people of Hong Kong: 'We can arrest you, we can imprison you if you don't behave,'" he said.
His law, he said, responds to this aggression by creating "real penalties" for those in the Chinese Communist Party deemed responsible and also broadcasts to the Asian nation that they will stand up against it.
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"The bill is a larger signal to China, it's a message that the United States and the free world are no longer willing to look past some of the worst behavior that has been occurring," he said. "It's a message our patience has run out."
The Senate vote came a day after the Democratic-controlled House passed the bill and amid fraying relations been Washington and Beijing as the Trump administration has repeatedly chastised the Asian nation over its human rights record.
Despite widespread condemnation for Western nations, China has maintained its stance that the issues of Hong Kong are only China's concerns.
The Senate's passing of the bill is expected to further deteriorate their relations.
After it passed the House, China said no foreign country has the right to interfere and U.S. attempts to prevent China from implementing the national security law "are doomed to fail."
"We urge the U.S. side to grasp the situation, abide by international law and basic norms of international relations, stop interfering in Hong Kong affairs through any means, stop pushing the negative bill or even signing it into law or implementing it. Otherwise, China will react strongly and the U.S. shall bear all consequences," China's Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said Thursday.


upi--2020-07-02--Supreme Court blocks loosening Alabama voting restrictions amid pandemic

July 2 ( UPI ) -- A divided U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday night temporarily blocked a lower court 's decision to loosen absentee voter restrictions in Alabama for this month 's primary runoff election .
Without issuing an opinion , the Supreme Court voted along party lines 5-4 to grant a preliminary injunction blocking counties from setting up curbside voting booths and to remove absentee-ballot requirements for the Republican primary set for July 14 .
`` With the news that we have received a Stay in this process , I am excited that the United States Supreme Court has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in strict interpretation of the Constitution and has decided to grant the Stay and not endorse legislating form the bench , '' John Merrill , Alabama 's Republican secretary of state , said in a statement .
The ruling comes in response to a lawsuit filed by People First of Alabama and several individuals in May who sued the state over its requirement that a notary or two witnesses must sign absentee ballots and its ban on the curbside voting , arguing the measures violated their fundamental right to vote since they would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voting requirements or visit a polling station due to COVID-19 .
In his 66-page decision , Judge Abdul Kallon ruled in their favor , stating `` the court finds that burdens imposed by the challenged election laws on voters at high risk of severe complications of death from COVID-19 are not justified by the state 's interest in enforcing the laws . ''
The case was then shifted to the Supreme Court after an appeals court last week ruled it would not block Kallon 's decision while the appeal process proceeded .
Deuel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Legal Defense Fund , which represented the plaintiffs , described the decision as `` terrible news . ''
`` The stay allows Alabama to impose onerous and dangerous restrictions on Absentee and in-person voting in Alabama for the July elections amid the COVID-19 pandemic , '' he said via Twitter , stating the case will continue with the trial scheduled for September ahead of the November general election .
The election had been scheduled for the end of March , but Gov .
Kay Ivey postponed it until July 14 .
Following the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who feel it is either `` impossible or unreasonable '' to vote at polling stations can vote by an absentee ballot application .

The US Supreme Court ruled 5-4 against loosening voting restrictions in Alabama. Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI | License Photo
July 2 (UPI) -- A divided U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday night temporarily blocked a lower court's decision to loosen absentee voter restrictions in Alabama for this month's primary runoff election. Without issuing an opinion, the Supreme Court voted along party lines 5-4 to grant a preliminary injunction blocking counties from setting up curbside voting booths and to remove absentee-ballot requirements for the Republican primary set for July 14. Advertisement
Liberal Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Sonia Sotomayor, Stephen Breyer and Elena Kagan dissented.
"With the news that we have received a Stay in this process, I am excited that the United States Supreme Court has ruled in favor of those who believe in strict interpretation of the Constitution and has decided to grant the Stay and not endorse legislating form the bench," John Merrill, Alabama's Republican secretary of state, said in a statement.
The ruling comes in response to a lawsuit filed by People First of Alabama and several individuals in May who sued the state over its requirement that a notary or two witnesses must sign absentee ballots and its ban on the curbside voting, arguing the measures violated their fundamental right to vote since they wouldn't be able to fulfill the absentee voting requirements or visit a polling station due to COVID-19.
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In his 66-page decision, Judge Abdul Kallon ruled in their favor, stating "the court finds that burdens imposed by the challenged election laws on voters at high risk of severe complications of death from COVID-19 are not justified by the state's interest in enforcing the laws."
The case was then shifted to the Supreme Court after an appeals court last week ruled it would not block Kallon's decision while the appeal process proceeded.
Deuel Ross, senior counsel at the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, which represented the plaintiffs, described the decision as "terrible news."
"The stay allows Alabama to impose onerous and dangerous restrictions on Absentee and in-person voting in Alabama for the July elections amid the COVID-19 pandemic," he said via Twitter, stating the case will continue with the trial scheduled for September ahead of the November general election.
The election had been scheduled for the end of March, but Gov. Kay Ivey postponed it until July 14. Following the postponement, Merril issued guidance that voters who feel it is either "impossible or unreasonable" to vote at polling stations can vote by an absentee ballot application.


upi--2020-07-02--Kobe Bryant to appear on cover of 'Mamba Forever' edition of 'NBA 2K21'

July 2 ( UPI ) -- Late Los Angeles Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant was announced as the third and final cover athlete for NBA 2K21 on Thursday .
Bryant , who previously appeared on the cover of NBA 2K10 and the `` Legend '' edition for NBA 2K17 , will grace the cover of the current-generation and next-gen `` Mamba Forever '' editions of the popular basketball video game .
Bryant is the third cover athlete that NBA 2K has announced for this year 's game .
He joins Portland Trail Blazers star Damian Lillard and New Orleans Pelicans rookie @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was unveiled Tuesday , is the current-generation cover athlete and will appear on Xbox One , PlayStation 4 and Nintendo Switch editions of the game .
Williamson , the next-gen cover star , had his cover revealed Wednesday and will be displayed on the Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5 versions .
Bryant was among nine people who died in a helicopter crash in January .
He retired from basketball in 2016 after 20 years with the Lakers , finishing his career with five NBA titles , two Finals MVP awards and one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ available for preorder Thursday and will be released in October .
At that time , the game will be playable on the PlayStation 4 , Xbox One and Nintendo Switch .
It will later ship for Xbox Series X and the PS5 .

July 2 (UPI) -- Late Los Angeles Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant was announced as the third and final cover athlete for NBA 2K21 on Thursday.
Bryant, who previously appeared on the cover of NBA 2K10 and the "Legend" edition for NBA 2K17, will grace the cover of the current-generation and next-gen "Mamba Forever" editions of the popular basketball video game.
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Bryant is the third cover athlete that NBA 2K has announced for this year's game. He joins Portland Trail Blazers star Damian Lillard and New Orleans Pelicans rookie Zion Williamson.
Lillard, whose cover was unveiled Tuesday, is the current-generation cover athlete and will appear on Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and Nintendo Switch editions of the game. Williamson, the next-gen cover star, had his cover revealed Wednesday and will be displayed on the Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5 versions.
Mamba Forever A closer look at the covers We love and miss you Kobe #NBA2K21 pic.twitter.com/Jf1M5kUewx— NBA 2K21 (@NBA2K) July 2, 2020
Advertisement Legend. Leader. Champion. We honor Kobe Bryant as our Cover Athlete for the Next Gen Mamba Forever Edition #NBA2K21 pic.twitter.com/OOONVibhvX— NBA 2K21 (@NBA2K) July 2, 2020
Relentless. Driven. A true competitor. We celebrate Kobe Bryant as our Cover Athlete for the Current Gen Mamba Forever Edition #NBA2K21 pic.twitter.com/1wfH4kTPPN— NBA 2K21 (@NBA2K) July 2, 2020
Bryant was among nine people who died in a helicopter crash in January. He retired from basketball in 2016 after 20 years with the Lakers, finishing his career with five NBA titles, two Finals MVP awards and one league MVP award.
NBA 2K21 became available for preorder Thursday and will be released in October. At that time, the game will be playable on the PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch. It will later ship for Xbox Series X and the PS5.


upi--2020-07-03--China appoints tough-talking party official to oversee security law

July 3 ( UPI ) -- Chinese government officials confirmed Friday that they have appointed hardline party official Zheng Yanxiong to lead its new security agency and implement a far-reaching national security law .
Yanxiong is best known in China for his role in dealing with a protest over a land dispute in Wukan , in the southern part of the country , in 2011 .
The new law , overseen by an agency that reports directly to Beijing , targets secession , subversion and terrorism with harsh punishments that can include life in prison .
Critics say it erodes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pro-democracy activists have resigned their roles in government and even fled the territory .
The law expands Beijing 's oversight of Hong Kong , which had been subsumed by pro-democracy protests that erupted last summer as China attempted to pass legislation that would allow some fugitives in Hong Kong to be extradited to the mainland for trial before Chinese Communist Party Courts .
It went into effect earlier this week , and police made the first arrests under the new law Wednesday .
One of the individuals arrested Wednesday , a motorcyclist accused @ @ @ @ @ @ @ while carrying a flag calling for the liberation of Hong Kong , was charged Friday with inciting secession and terrorism .
Also on Friday , another senior Beijing official said China 's top legislative body could draft more laws affecting Hong Kong in the near future .
`` Based on Hong Kong 's actual situation , the standing committee can continue to make more laws , and lay down penalties for acts that threaten national security , '' Deng Zhonghua , deputy chief of the State Council 's Hong Kong and Macau Affairs @ @ @ @ @

A man is detained and searched by police during a rally against the national security law in Hong Kong Wednesday. On Friday Chinese officials confirmed that party hardliner Zheng Yanxiong had been appointed to oversee implementation of the new law. Photo by Jerome Favre/EPA-EFE
July 3 (UPI) -- Chinese government officials confirmed Friday that they have appointed hardline party official Zheng Yanxiong to lead its new security agency and implement a far-reaching national security law. Yanxiong is best known in China for his role in dealing with a protest over a land dispute in Wukan, in the southern part of the country, in 2011. Advertisement
The new law, overseen by an agency that reports directly to Beijing, targets secession, subversion and terrorism with harsh punishments that can include life in prison.
Critics say it erodes Hong Kong's freedoms, and some pro-democracy activists have resigned their roles in government and even fled the territory.
The law expands Beijing's oversight of Hong Kong, which had been subsumed by pro-democracy protests that erupted last summer as China attempted to pass legislation that would allow some fugitives in Hong Kong to be extradited to the mainland for trial before Chinese Communist Party Courts.
It went into effect earlier this week, and police made the first arrests under the new law Wednesday.
One of the individuals arrested Wednesday, a motorcyclist accused of riding into a group of police while carrying a flag calling for the liberation of Hong Kong, was charged Friday with inciting secession and terrorism.
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Also on Friday, another senior Beijing official said China's top legislative body could draft more laws affecting Hong Kong in the near future.
"Based on Hong Kong's actual situation, the standing committee can continue to make more laws, and lay down penalties for acts that threaten national security," Deng Zhonghua, deputy chief of the State Council's Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office, told CCTV.