upi--2020-12-07--Brooklyn Strong enters Kentucky Derby picture

Dec. 7 ( UPI ) -- Brooklyn Strong moved into the Kentucky Derby picture with a victory at Aqueduct , True Timber won the Grade I Cigar Mile and Chuwa Wizard conjured up an invitation to the $ 20 million Saudi Cup by scoring his first Grade 1 win in Japan , all in a busy weekend of horse racing .
Fillies trained by Bob Baffert finished second and third in the Grade I Starlet at Los Alamitos but his biggest hope for the Kentucky Oaks , Princess Noor , was injured in the race and subsequently retired .
At @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the Pegasus World Cup with a victory in Saturday 's Claiming Crown Jewel .
Luis Saez rode five of the nine winners on the Claiming Crown program but his biggest win of the day might have come in a supporting race .
What was that race ?
Read on ...
The Run for the Roses Brooklyn Strong chased down pacesetting favorite Ten for Ten in the stretch run of Saturday 's $ 150,000 Grade II Remsen Stakes at Aqueduct , then battled that rival to the wire , winning by a neck @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Known Agenda in third .
Brooklyn Strong , a Wicked Strong colt , toured 1 1/8 miles on a sloppy track in 1:50.60 with Joel Rosario riding .
Brooklyn Strong entered the Remsen after winning the Sleepy Hollow Stakes over fellow New York-breds Oct. 24 at Belmont Park .
He now has three wins and a third from four starts for trainer Daniel Velazquez .
`` Today was a big showcase for him against tougher competition and I could n't be happier , '' Velazquez said .
`` We 'll come back @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
This is a big prep for the Derby moving forward .
Now , we 're definitely Derby dreaming . ''
Brooklyn Strong earned 10 `` Road to the Kentucky Derby '' points and now stands in a three-way tie for third on that leaderboard .
Velazquez also pointed out owner Mark Schwartz paid $ 5,000 for Brooklyn Strong at the Ocala Spring Sale while Ten for Ten fetched $ 410,000 at the 2019 Keeneland yearling sale .
As Daily Racing Form 's Marty McGee is fond of saying , `` It 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bay Downs on Saturday , Poppy 's Pride got off to a sizeable lead in the $ 100,000 Inaugural Stakes , repelled an early challenge by Gatsby and ran on to win by 2 3/4 lengths .
Al Heybay was second , 1/2 length to the good of Thealligatorhunter .
Poppy 's Pride , a Khozan gelding , ran 6 furlongs on a fast track in 1:10.05 with Samy Camacho up , scoring his fourth straight win .
At Laurel Park , Jaxon Traveler led from the early going in the $ 100,000 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by 3/4 length over Singlino .
Latin Spice was 3 lengths farther back in third .
Jaxon Traveler , a Munnings colt , ran 7 furlongs on a fast track in 1:25.07 with Johan Rosado riding .
Dawn Lenert , representing Jaxon Traveler 's owner , West Point Thoroughbreds , said thought will be given to the Jerome , at 1 mile .
`` However , Laurel just put up that Spectacular Bid going 7 furlongs in January .
He proved he could go seven today .
We 'll see what he does @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Hold the Salsa was along in deep stretch to win by a neck in the $ 100,000 Great White Way Division of the New York Stallion Stakes .
It 's Gravy was second , 1 length in front of Market Alert .
The odds-on favorite , Dreamer 's Disease , could not overcome a bad stumble at the start and finished sixth after being rushed into contention .
Hold the Salsa , a Hold Me Back colt , got 7 furlongs on a fast track in 1:25.70 for jockey Junior Alvarado .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's interesting , '' said Hold the Salsa 's owner , breeder and trainer Richard Lugovich , `` because if you look at his breeding , he 's probably a mile-and-a-quarter horse on the grass .
`` He 's only a 2-year-old , so he could see that eventually .
I 'll see what we can do with him next year and see how he comes up .
I 'm in no rush with him . ''
The Road to the Kentucky Oaks Trainer Bob Baffert won the battle in Saturday 's $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but lost one of his top warriors .
Two of the silver-haired trainer 's fillies , Varda and Kalypso , finished first and second but their stablemate , Princess Noor , the odds-on favorite , was pulled up midway through the race and , a day later , retired as a result of a soft-tissue injury .
`` She 's a star , '' Princess Noor 's owner , Zedan Racing , said in a statement Sunday .
`` She had the race and probably more Grade I 's to her name .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ and be the best mom she can be .
It hurts , but we pray to God she 's well and retirement is the best decision . ''
Princess Noor was sold for $ 1.35 million at the Ocala 2-year-olds in training sale this spring and won the Grade I Del Mar Debutante and Grade II Chandelier before finishing fifth in the Breeders ' Cup Juvenile Fillies .
Varda , a Distorted Humor filly out of the Sky Mesa mare She 'll Be Right , raced last of five in the Starlet as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had just taken the lead when she was pulled up by jockey Victor Espinoza .
That left Kalypso in front again , where she stayed until Varda sailed by to win by 1 1/2 lengths .
The longest chance in the field , Nasreddine , ran evenly to finish third and Astute was a major disappointment , reporting fourth with no late rally .
Varda won at first asking at Del Mar in August , then finished second to Princess Noor in the Chandelier .
She did not contest the Breeders ' Cup @ @ @ @ @ @ @ working really well and she looked like the kind of filly that the farther the better with her .
So that 's why we 've been waiting and waiting with her . ''
At Aqueduct on Saturday , Malathaat rallied through the final sloppy jumps of the $ 150,000 Grade II Demoiselle Stakes to get by Millefeuille and win by 3/4 length .
Malibu Curl surfed in third , another 4 1/2 lengths back .
Malathaat , with John Velazquez up for trainer Todd Pletcher , ran 1 1/8 miles on a sloppy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Curlin out of the A.P .
Indy mare Dreaming of Julia .
Malathaat , a $ 1 million yearling purchase racing for Shadwell Stable , improved to 3-for-3 and much is expected in 2021 .
`` Her class is what kept her going and got her there on time , '' Velazquez said .
Pletcher , who also trained Dreaming of Julia , said he `` will talk to the guys at Shadwell and come up with a game plan .
We feel like she 's an Oaks-caliber filly and we 'll take @ @ @ @ @ @ @ start preparing for that . ''
At Tampa Bay Downs on Saturday , Feeling Mischief stalked the pace in the $ 100,000 Sandpiper Stakes , moved to the lead at mid-stretch and went on to win by 2 lengths .
Gulf Coast and Little Nesso were second and third , respectively , as Feeling Mischief got the 6 furlongs on a fast track in 1:09.73 with Jesus Castanon in the irons .
She now is 2-for-3 .
At Laurel Park , Street Lute swept to the lead a furlong out in the $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and went on to win by 1 3/4 lengths over Juror Number Four .
Maxine 's Tap Room was third .
Street Lute , a daughter of Street Magician out of the Midnight Lute mare Alottalute , ran 7 furlongs on a fast track in 1:24.83 for jockey Xavier Perez .
On Sunday at Aqueduct , Laobanonaprayer seized control in the stretch run of $ 100,000 Fifth Avenue Division of the New York Stallion Stakes , drawing off to an 8-lengths win as the even-money favorite .
Jill 's a Hot Mess was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lengths in front of Shane 's Pretty Lady .
Laobanonaprayer , a Laoban filly , ran 7 furlongs on a fast track in 1:24.95 with Kendrick Carmouche riding for trainer Danny Velazquez .
The race was restricted to New York-breds .
`` I think she can actually go a mile and an eighth , '' Velazquez said .
`` I 'm really looking forward to testing her against open company .
That 's where we 'll really know where she is .
It 's fun to compete in these ( state-bred ) stakes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ against open company . ''
After the weekend action , Varda jumped to the fourth spot on the `` Road to the Kentucky Oaks '' leaderboard with 14 points .
Malathaat landed No .
8 with 10 points .
Jesus ' Team , stepping back from the Triple Crown and Breeders ' Cup wars , went to the post as the odds-on favorite in the marquee race of this year 's Claiming Crown program at Gulfstream Park , the $ 150,000 Claiming Crown Jewel , and ran to his notices .
With Luis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just back of the pacesetter , Storm Runner , challenged when prompted and prevailed by 3/4 length after a long drive .
Dack Janiel 's finished third .
Jesus 's Team , trained by Jose D'Angelo , ran 1 1/8 miles on a fast track in 1:49.30 .
In his previous race , he finished second in the Big Ass Fans Breeders ' Cup Dirt Mile at Keeneland .
Earlier in the season , he was third in the Grade II Jim Dandy and third in the Preakness .
He was eligible for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for a $ 25,000 tag May 8 at Gulfstream .
The win likely earns him a trip back to the big leagues and a berth in the Grade I Pegasus World Cup Invitational over the same course and distance next month .
`` I am very sure he 's going to improve because this race worked out very good for him , '' said D'Angelo , a champion trainer in Venezuela who relocated to Florida in 2019 .
`` I can give him some days off and prepare him for the Pegasus World @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the nine winners on the Claiming Crown program .
The other races , in the order in which they were run : Descente rallied to the lead on the turn in the $ 80,000 Glass Slipper for fillies and mares and got away to win by 3 3/4 lengths over Do n't Get Khozy .
Sky Chaser was third .
Descente , a 4-year-old Bodemeister filly trained by Peter Walder , ran 1 mile on the dirt in 1:36.99 with Miguel Vasquez in the irons .
Krysto Skye led from the early going @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on well to win by 1 1/4 lengths as the odds-on favorite .
Whyruawesome was second , 4 lengths better than Combination .
Krysto Skye , an 8-year-old City Zip gelding , finished 6 furlongs in 1:10.14 with Irad Ortiz riding for trainer Carlos David .
Jakarta , the odds-on favorite , rallied from a stalking position in the $ 90,000 Distaff Dash , took the lead near the sixteenth pole and drew off to win by 2 1/4 lengths .
Unaquoi and Thinkin Cowtown filled out the trifecta .
Jakarta , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ furlongs on the firm turf course in 56.48 seconds for jockey Saez and trainer Mike Maker .
High Noon Rider threw a money wrench into the multi-race wagering with a 55-1 upset win in the $ 95,000 Emerald at 1 1/16 miles on the grass .
With Edgard Zayes up , the 8-year-old Distorted Humor gelding saved ground down the backstretch , advanced on the turn for home and came out to find room , winning by 1/2 length .
Temple also came from off the pace to finish second , dead-heating with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by Saffie Joseph Jr. , finished in 1:40.94 .
Avant Garde outfinished Town Classic by 1/2 length to win the $ 85,000 Rapid Transit with another closer , Lookin at Roses , 1 1/4 length farther behind in third .
Avant Garde , a 3-year-old Tonalist gelding , finished 7 furlongs on the dirt in 1:21.94 with Leonel Reyes in the irons .
Jesus Lander trains the winner .
Queen 's Embrace ran by Sugar Fix in the final sixteenth and won the $ 95,000 Tiara by 2 3/4 lengths over that rival @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's Embrace , a 3-year-old filly by Real Solution , ran 1 1/16 miles on the grass in 1:40.26 with Saez up for trainer Danny Gargan .
Fiya had 'em all the way in the $ 90,000 Canterbury at 5 furlongs on the turf .
Sent right to the lead by Saez , the 3-year-old Friesan Fire gelding was never threatened and won by 1 1/2 lengths .
Fully Loaded was second and Harry 's Ontheloose finished third .
Fiya , trained by Tom Albertrani , got home in 55.63 seconds .
Frost @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the back of the field turning for home in the $ 75,000 Iron Horse but both mounted strong rallies through the stretch to finish 1-2 .
Deal Driven held a late lead , but could only manage third .
Frost Or Frippery , a 7-year-old gelding by Lewis Michael , ran 1 1/16 miles on the dirt in 1:44.57 with Saez aboard for trainer Brad Cox .
The spectacular performance in the Claiming Crown notwithstanding , Saez 's most important winner Saturday might have come in the third race , a maiden special @ @ @ @ @ @ @ piloted the Coolmore-owned Fighting Force to a convincing 2 1/2-lengths victory , going 1 mile on the turf in 1:35.55 .
The colt is by Air Force Blue out of the Smart Strike mare No Splits .
He finished second and third in his first two starts .
True Timber rallied wide around the early speed in Saturday 's $ 250,000 Grade I Cigar Mile at Aqueduct and left the field in his wake , winning off by 5 1/2 lengths .
Snapper Sinclair was second , a neck in front of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a 6-year-old son of Mineshaft , reported in 1:36.49 over a sloppy track with Kendrick Carmouche in the irons for his first Grade I win .
Firenze Fire , Majestic Dunhill and Mind Control were late scratches .
True Timber was second in the 2018 Cigar Mile and third last year , but had gone winless in 13 starts since taking an allowance race at Belmont Park Sept. 16 , 2018 .
He failed to draw into the Breeders ' Cup Dirt Mile field off the also-eligible list , and trainer Jack @ @ @ @ @ @ @ works out for a reason . ''
He said he will consult with the owners to plan next steps , adding True Timber is `` beautiful to look at and , physically , he 's great . ''
Proud Emma outfinished Message to take Sunday 's $ 100,000 Grade III Bayakoa Stakes at Los Alamitos by 1/2 length with Stellar Sound third , another 6 lengths in arrears .
Proud Emma , a 4-year-old Include filly , rallied four-wide to reach contention from the back of the field , made light contact with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just enough .
She was coming off a seventh-place finish in the Kathryn Crosby Stakes at Del Mar .
`` She ran great , '' said Proud Emma 's owner , Tom Kagele .
`` We 've been trying to get a graded stakes with her and she finally did it for us today .
She likes to sit off it and it set up very nicely for her .
We were confident she would come running .
The plan is to keep her in training in 2021 . ''
Sharp Starr ran @ @ @ @ @ @ @ run of Saturday 's $ 100,000 Grade III Go For Wand Handicap at Aqueduct , gradually reached contention and wore that rival down inside the sixteenth pole to win by a neck .
The favorite , Nonna Madeline , was third , another 12 lengths up the sloppy track .
Sharp Starr , a 3-year-old Munnings filly , splashed 1 mile in 1:36.76 with Jose Ortiz up .
Sharp Star scored her third win from nine starts and first in a stakes race .
`` Obviously , she likes the one-turn mile so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that distance , '' trainer Horacio De Paz said .
Honor Way had only one rival beaten turning into the stretch run in Sunday 's $ 100,000 Garland of Roses Handicap at Aqueduct but passed the others en route to the finish , winning by 1 1/2 lengths .
The early leader , Honey I 'm Good , finished second with Pacific Gale third .
Honor Way , a 6-year-old Caleb 's Posse mare , ran 6 furlongs on a fast track in 1:11.09 with Jose Lezcano up .
Trainer Charlton Baker said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of her game right now '' and suggested the $ 100,000 Interborough on Jan. 18 might be her next target .
Elle Z took an early lead in Saturday 's $ 75,000 Pan Zaretta Stakes for fillies and mares at Fair Grounds , turned back one challenge and then survived a late bid by the favorite , Into Mystic , winning by 1 length .
Winning Envelope came running late to finish third , a neck farther back .
Elle Z , a 3-year-old City Zip filly , ran 5 1/2 furlongs on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the irons .
Around the world , around the clock : Chuwa Wizard finally broke through at the top level Sunday , winning the Grade 1 Champions Cup at Chukyo Racecourse and a guaranteed spot in the $ 20 million Saudi Cup on Feb. 20 .
The 5-year-old by King Kamehameha had been running competitively against top competition and had even been set to contest the Group 1 Dubai World Cup in March before that race fell victim to the COVID-19 pandemic .
But his most successful runs had come at National @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's minor leagues .
All of that was shrugged off as jockey Keita Tosaki urged Chuwa Wizard to the lead inside the 200-meters mark in Sunday 's race .
The rest of the crowd could n't go with him and he won by 2 1/2 lengths .
Last year 's runner-up , Gold Dream , finished second with Inti third and last year 's winner , Chrysoberyl , fourth .
Promising 3-year-old Café Pharoah , a Kentucky-bred colt by American Pharoah , was fifth .
`` The horse was in very good condition @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
`` With Chrysoberyl traveling in front , I was able to feel his response while marking the race favorite .
As it takes time for him to accelerate , I urged him to go early and the horse responded with great strength . ''
After the 2019 Champions Cup , both Gold Dream and Chrysoberyl traveled to the inaugural Saudi Cup at King Abdulaziz Racecourse in Riyadh , finishing sixth and seventh , respectively .
The Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia subsequently designated the Champions Cup , along with the Grade @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Park as automatic qualifying races for the 2021 Saudi Cup .
`` With Dubai being cancelled earlier this year , his racing got going a bit late , but he 's improved with his races so far , and he looks good now , '' trainer Ryuji Okubo said during the barrier draw for the Champions Cup .

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Kendrick Carmouche celebrates his first Grade 1 win as True Timber takes Saturday's Cigar Mile at Aqueduct. Photo courtesy of New York Racing Association
Dec. 7 (UPI) -- Brooklyn Strong moved into the Kentucky Derby picture with a victory at Aqueduct, True Timber won the Grade I Cigar Mile and Chuwa Wizard conjured up an invitation to the $20 million Saudi Cup by scoring his first Grade 1 win in Japan, all in a busy weekend of horse racing. Fillies trained by Bob Baffert finished second and third in the Grade I Starlet at Los Alamitos but his biggest hope for the Kentucky Oaks, Princess Noor, was injured in the race and subsequently retired. Advertisement
At Gulfstream Park, Jesus' Team prepped for the Pegasus World Cup with a victory in Saturday's Claiming Crown Jewel. Luis Saez rode five of the nine winners on the Claiming Crown program but his biggest win of the day might have come in a supporting race. What was that race? Read on ...
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The Run for the Roses
Brooklyn Strong chased down pacesetting favorite Ten for Ten in the stretch run of Saturday's $150,000 Grade II Remsen Stakes at Aqueduct, then battled that rival to the wire, winning by a neck.
It was another 8 3/4 lengths to Known Agenda in third. Brooklyn Strong, a Wicked Strong colt, toured 1 1/8 miles on a sloppy track in 1:50.60 with Joel Rosario riding.
Brooklyn Strong entered the Remsen after winning the Sleepy Hollow Stakes over fellow New York-breds Oct. 24 at Belmont Park. He now has three wins and a third from four starts for trainer Daniel Velazquez.
"Today was a big showcase for him against tougher competition and I couldn't be happier," Velazquez said. "We'll come back healthy and then start picking our spots. This is a big prep for the Derby moving forward. Now, we're definitely Derby dreaming."
Brooklyn Strong earned 10 "Road to the Kentucky Derby" points and now stands in a three-way tie for third on that leaderboard.
Velazquez also pointed out owner Mark Schwartz paid $5,000 for Brooklyn Strong at the Ocala Spring Sale while Ten for Ten fetched $410,000 at the 2019 Keeneland yearling sale. As Daily Racing Form's Marty McGee is fond of saying, "It's an easy game."
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In other 2-year-old action:
At Tampa Bay Downs on Saturday, Poppy's Pride got off to a sizeable lead in the $100,000 Inaugural Stakes, repelled an early challenge by Gatsby and ran on to win by 2 3/4 lengths.
Al Heybay was second, 1/2 length to the good of Thealligatorhunter. Poppy's Pride, a Khozan gelding, ran 6 furlongs on a fast track in 1:10.05 with Samy Camacho up, scoring his fourth straight win.
At Laurel Park, Jaxon Traveler led from the early going in the $100,000 Maryland Juvenile Futurity for state-breds and won by 3/4 length over Singlino.
Latin Spice was 3 lengths farther back in third. Jaxon Traveler, a Munnings colt, ran 7 furlongs on a fast track in 1:25.07 with Johan Rosado riding.
Dawn Lenert, representing Jaxon Traveler's owner, West Point Thoroughbreds, said thought will be given to the Jerome, at 1 mile. "However, Laurel just put up that Spectacular Bid going 7 furlongs in January. He proved he could go seven today. We'll see what he does next time."
Sunday at Aqueduct, Hold the Salsa was along in deep stretch to win by a neck in the $100,000 Great White Way Division of the New York Stallion Stakes. It's Gravy was second, 1 length in front of Market Alert.
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The odds-on favorite, Dreamer's Disease, could not overcome a bad stumble at the start and finished sixth after being rushed into contention. Hold the Salsa, a Hold Me Back colt, got 7 furlongs on a fast track in 1:25.70 for jockey Junior Alvarado. He now is 3-for-6.
"It's interesting," said Hold the Salsa's owner, breeder and trainer Richard Lugovich, "because if you look at his breeding, he's probably a mile-and-a-quarter horse on the grass.
"He's only a 2-year-old, so he could see that eventually. I'll see what we can do with him next year and see how he comes up. I'm in no rush with him."
The Road to the Kentucky Oaks
Trainer Bob Baffert won the battle in Saturday's $300,000 Grade I Starlet at Los Alamitos but lost one of his top warriors. Two of the silver-haired trainer's fillies, Varda and Kalypso, finished first and second but their stablemate,
Princess Noor, the odds-on favorite, was pulled up midway through the race and, a day later, retired as a result of a soft-tissue injury.
"She's a star," Princess Noor's owner, Zedan Racing, said in a statement Sunday. "She had the race and probably more Grade I's to her name. Our focus is to get her healthy and be the best mom she can be. It hurts, but we pray to God she's well and retirement is the best decision."
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Princess Noor was sold for $1.35 million at the Ocala 2-year-olds in training sale this spring and won the Grade I Del Mar Debutante and Grade II Chandelier before finishing fifth in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies.
Varda, a Distorted Humor filly out of the Sky Mesa mare She'll Be Right, raced last of five in the Starlet as Kalypso showed the way. Princess Noor had just taken the lead when she was pulled up by jockey Victor Espinoza.
That left Kalypso in front again, where she stayed until Varda sailed by to win by 1 1/2 lengths. The longest chance in the field, Nasreddine, ran evenly to finish third and Astute was a major disappointment, reporting fourth with no late rally.
Varda won at first asking at Del Mar in August, then finished second to Princess Noor in the Chandelier. She did not contest the Breeders' Cup.
Baffert said Varda "had been working really well and she looked like the kind of filly that the farther the better with her. So that's why we've been waiting and waiting with her."
At Aqueduct on Saturday, Malathaat rallied through the final sloppy jumps of the $150,000 Grade II Demoiselle Stakes to get by Millefeuille and win by 3/4 length.
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Malibu Curl surfed in third, another 4 1/2 lengths back. Malathaat, with John Velazquez up for trainer Todd Pletcher, ran 1 1/8 miles on a sloppy track in 1:52.36. She is by Curlin out of the A.P. Indy mare Dreaming of Julia.
Malathaat, a $1 million yearling purchase racing for Shadwell Stable, improved to 3-for-3 and much is expected in 2021. "Her class is what kept her going and got her there on time," Velazquez said.
Pletcher, who also trained Dreaming of Julia, said he "will talk to the guys at Shadwell and come up with a game plan. We feel like she's an Oaks-caliber filly and we'll take her down to Florida pretty soon and start preparing for that."
In other 2-year-old filly action:
At Tampa Bay Downs on Saturday, Feeling Mischief stalked the pace in the $100,000 Sandpiper Stakes, moved to the lead at mid-stretch and went on to win by 2 lengths.
Gulf Coast and Little Nesso were second and third, respectively, as Feeling Mischief got the 6 furlongs on a fast track in 1:09.73 with Jesus Castanon in the irons. She now is 2-for-3.
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At Laurel Park, Street Lute swept to the lead a furlong out in the $100,000 Maryland Juvenile Filly Championship for state-breds and went on to win by 1 3/4 lengths over Juror Number Four. Maxine's Tap Room was third.
Street Lute, a daughter of Street Magician out of the Midnight Lute mare Alottalute, ran 7 furlongs on a fast track in 1:24.83 for jockey Xavier Perez.
On Sunday at Aqueduct, Laobanonaprayer seized control in the stretch run of $100,000 Fifth Avenue Division of the New York Stallion Stakes, drawing off to an 8-lengths win as the even-money favorite.
Jill's a Hot Mess was best of the rest, 3 1/2 lengths in front of Shane's Pretty Lady. Laobanonaprayer, a Laoban filly, ran 7 furlongs on a fast track in 1:24.95 with Kendrick Carmouche riding for trainer Danny Velazquez. The race was restricted to New York-breds.
"I think she can actually go a mile and an eighth," Velazquez said. "I'm really looking forward to testing her against open company. That's where we'll really know where she is. It's fun to compete in these (state-bred) stakes, but we got to test her against open company."
After the weekend action, Varda jumped to the fourth spot on the "Road to the Kentucky Oaks" leaderboard with 14 points. Malathaat landed No. 8 with 10 points.
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The Claiming Crown
Jesus' Team, stepping back from the Triple Crown and Breeders' Cup wars, went to the post as the odds-on favorite in the marquee race of this year's Claiming Crown program at Gulfstream Park, the $150,000 Claiming Crown Jewel, and ran to his notices.
With Luis Saez riding, the Tapiture colt sat just back of the pacesetter, Storm Runner, challenged when prompted and prevailed by 3/4 length after a long drive. Dack Janiel's finished third.
Jesus's Team, trained by Jose D'Angelo, ran 1 1/8 miles on a fast track in 1:49.30. In his previous race, he finished second in the Big Ass Fans Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile at Keeneland.
Earlier in the season, he was third in the Grade II Jim Dandy and third in the Preakness. He was eligible for the Claiming Crown thanks to a run for a $25,000 tag May 8 at Gulfstream.
The win likely earns him a trip back to the big leagues and a berth in the Grade I Pegasus World Cup Invitational over the same course and distance next month.
"I am very sure he's going to improve because this race worked out very good for him," said D'Angelo, a champion trainer in Venezuela who relocated to Florida in 2019. "I can give him some days off and prepare him for the Pegasus World Cup."
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Saez rode five of the nine winners on the Claiming Crown program.
The other races, in the order in which they were run:
Descente rallied to the lead on the turn in the $80,000 Glass Slipper for fillies and mares and got away to win by 3 3/4 lengths over Don't Get Khozy. Sky Chaser was third.
Descente, a 4-year-old Bodemeister filly trained by Peter Walder, ran 1 mile on the dirt in 1:36.99 with Miguel Vasquez in the irons.
Krysto Skye led from the early going in the $75,000 Express and held on well to win by 1 1/4 lengths as the odds-on favorite. Whyruawesome was second, 4 lengths better than Combination.
Krysto Skye, an 8-year-old City Zip gelding, finished 6 furlongs in 1:10.14 with Irad Ortiz riding for trainer Carlos David.
Jakarta, the odds-on favorite, rallied from a stalking position in the $90,000 Distaff Dash, took the lead near the sixteenth pole and drew off to win by 2 1/4 lengths. Unaquoi and Thinkin Cowtown filled out the trifecta.
Jakarta, a 5-year-old Bustin Stones mare, ran 5 furlongs on the firm turf course in 56.48 seconds for jockey Saez and trainer Mike Maker.
High Noon Rider threw a money wrench into the multi-race wagering with a 55-1 upset win in the $95,000 Emerald at 1 1/16 miles on the grass.
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With Edgard Zayes up, the 8-year-old Distorted Humor gelding saved ground down the backstretch, advanced on the turn for home and came out to find room, winning by 1/2 length.
Temple also came from off the pace to finish second, dead-heating with Muggsamatic. High Noon Rider, trained by Saffie Joseph Jr., finished in 1:40.94.
Avant Garde outfinished Town Classic by 1/2 length to win the $85,000 Rapid Transit with another closer, Lookin at Roses, 1 1/4 length farther behind in third.
Avant Garde, a 3-year-old Tonalist gelding, finished 7 furlongs on the dirt in 1:21.94 with Leonel Reyes in the irons. Jesus Lander trains the winner.
Queen's Embrace ran by Sugar Fix in the final sixteenth and won the $95,000 Tiara by 2 3/4 lengths over that rival. Bienville Street was third. Queen's Embrace, a 3-year-old filly by Real Solution, ran 1 1/16 miles on the grass in 1:40.26 with Saez up for trainer Danny Gargan.
Fiya had 'em all the way in the $90,000 Canterbury at 5 furlongs on the turf. Sent right to the lead by Saez, the 3-year-old Friesan Fire gelding was never threatened and won by 1 1/2 lengths.
Fully Loaded was second and Harry's Ontheloose finished third. Fiya, trained by Tom Albertrani, got home in 55.63 seconds.
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Frost Or Frippery and Bobby G were near the back of the field turning for home in the $75,000 Iron Horse but both mounted strong rallies through the stretch to finish 1-2.
Deal Driven held a late lead, but could only manage third. Frost Or Frippery, a 7-year-old gelding by Lewis Michael, ran 1 1/16 miles on the dirt in 1:44.57 with Saez aboard for trainer Brad Cox.
The spectacular performance in the Claiming Crown notwithstanding, Saez's most important winner Saturday might have come in the third race, a maiden special weight event.
In that, he piloted the Coolmore-owned Fighting Force to a convincing 2 1/2-lengths victory, going 1 mile on the turf in 1:35.55. The colt is by Air Force Blue out of the Smart Strike mare No Splits. He finished second and third in his first two starts.
Classic / Dirt Mile
True Timber rallied wide around the early speed in Saturday's $250,000 Grade I Cigar Mile at Aqueduct and left the field in his wake, winning off by 5 1/2 lengths.
Snapper Sinclair was second, a neck in front of the odds-on favorite, Performer. True Timber, a 6-year-old son of Mineshaft, reported in 1:36.49 over a sloppy track with Kendrick Carmouche in the irons for his first Grade I win. Firenze Fire, Majestic Dunhill and Mind Control were late scratches.
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True Timber was second in the 2018 Cigar Mile and third last year, but had gone winless in 13 starts since taking an allowance race at Belmont Park Sept. 16, 2018.
He failed to draw into the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile field off the also-eligible list, and trainer Jack Sisterton mused, "I think everything works out for a reason." He said he will consult with the owners to plan next steps, adding True Timber is "beautiful to look at and, physically, he's great."
Distaff / Dirt Mile
Proud Emma outfinished Message to take Sunday's $100,000 Grade III Bayakoa Stakes at Los Alamitos by 1/2 length with Stellar Sound third, another 6 lengths in arrears.
Proud Emma, a 4-year-old Include filly, rallied four-wide to reach contention from the back of the field, made light contact with Message in the stretch run and found just enough. She was coming off a seventh-place finish in the Kathryn Crosby Stakes at Del Mar.
"She ran great," said Proud Emma's owner, Tom Kagele. "We've been trying to get a graded stakes with her and she finally did it for us today. She likes to sit off it and it set up very nicely for her. We were confident she would come running. The plan is to keep her in training in 2021."
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Sharp Starr ran second behind Portal Creek into the stretch run of Saturday's $100,000 Grade III Go For Wand Handicap at Aqueduct, gradually reached contention and wore that rival down inside the sixteenth pole to win by a neck.
The favorite, Nonna Madeline, was third, another 12 lengths up the sloppy track. Sharp Starr, a 3-year-old Munnings filly, splashed 1 mile in 1:36.76 with Jose Ortiz up. Sharp Star scored her third win from nine starts and first in a stakes race.
"Obviously, she likes the one-turn mile so we'll keep finding races that suit that distance," trainer Horacio De Paz said.
Filly & Mare Sprint
Honor Way had only one rival beaten turning into the stretch run in Sunday's $100,000 Garland of Roses Handicap at Aqueduct but passed the others en route to the finish, winning by 1 1/2 lengths.
The early leader, Honey I'm Good, finished second with Pacific Gale third. Honor Way, a 6-year-old Caleb's Posse mare, ran 6 furlongs on a fast track in 1:11.09 with Jose Lezcano up.
Trainer Charlton Baker said Honor Way "is at the top of her game right now" and suggested the $100,000 Interborough on Jan. 18 might be her next target.
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Turf Sprint
Elle Z took an early lead in Saturday's $75,000 Pan Zaretta Stakes for fillies and mares at Fair Grounds, turned back one challenge and then survived a late bid by the favorite, Into Mystic, winning by 1 length.
Winning Envelope came running late to finish third, a neck farther back. Elle Z, a 3-year-old City Zip filly, ran 5 1/2 furlongs on good turf in 1:03.13 with Mitchell Murrill in the irons.
Around the world, around the clock:
Japan
Chuwa Wizard finally broke through at the top level Sunday, winning the Grade 1 Champions Cup at Chukyo Racecourse and a guaranteed spot in the $20 million Saudi Cup on Feb. 20.
The 5-year-old by King Kamehameha had been running competitively against top competition and had even been set to contest the Group 1 Dubai World Cup in March before that race fell victim to the COVID-19 pandemic. But his most successful runs had come at National Association of Racing tracks -- effectively Japan's minor leagues.
All of that was shrugged off as jockey Keita Tosaki urged Chuwa Wizard to the lead inside the 200-meters mark in Sunday's race. The rest of the crowd couldn't go with him and he won by 2 1/2 lengths.
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Last year's runner-up, Gold Dream, finished second with Inti third and last year's winner, Chrysoberyl, fourth. Promising 3-year-old Café Pharoah, a Kentucky-bred colt by American Pharoah, was fifth.
"The horse was in very good condition and felt really good," Tosaki said. "With Chrysoberyl traveling in front, I was able to feel his response while marking the race favorite. As it takes time for him to accelerate, I urged him to go early and the horse responded with great strength."
After the 2019 Champions Cup, both Gold Dream and Chrysoberyl traveled to the inaugural Saudi Cup at King Abdulaziz Racecourse in Riyadh, finishing sixth and seventh, respectively.
The Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia subsequently designated the Champions Cup, along with the Grade I Pegasus World Cup Invitational at Gulfstream Park as automatic qualifying races for the 2021 Saudi Cup.
"With Dubai being cancelled earlier this year, his racing got going a bit late, but he's improved with his races so far, and he looks good now," trainer Ryuji Okubo said during the barrier draw for the Champions Cup.


upi--2020-12-07--Watch live: Remembrance ceremony for 79th anniversary of Pearl Harbor attack

Dec. 7 ( UPI ) -- Monday marks the 79th anniversary of the Japanese attack on the Pearl Harbor naval base in Hawaii , the event most responsible for the U.S. entry into World War II -- but the remembrance ceremony will be virtual this year due to COVID-19 .
Officials have decided against the usual in-person event featuring surviving veterans , many of whom are now close to 100 years old .
Instead , there will be a live streamed event with no public attendance , beginning at 8 a.m. HST ( 1 p.m. EST ) .
`` Out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will not have WWII veterans at the ceremony but are ensuring they all have the information to view it virtually , '' said Lydia Robertson , a spokeswoman for Navy Region Hawaii .
The ceremony will honor the 2,400 service members and civilians who died during the surprise Japanese attack on the island of Oahu on Dec. 7 , 1941 .
Another 1,200 were injured in the strikes , which also destroyed close to 200 aircraft and famously sank multiple battleships -- including the USS Arizona , USS Oklahoma , USS West Virginia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ United States to enter World War II .
`` Huge fires were raging at Pearl Harbor at 1:10 this afternoon and five Navy vessels appeared to have been destroyed in the air raids .
One ship had turned over on its side , '' UPI reported on the day of the attack .
`` The base itself apparently was extensively damaged in the raids and great clouds of smoke rose above it . ''
The following day , Dec. 8 , President Franklin D. Roosevelt delivered his famous address to a joint session @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 7 `` is a date which will live in infamy . ''
`` Yesterday , Dec. 7 , 1941 -- a date which will live in infamy -- the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the empire of Japan , '' he declared , as reported by UPI that day .
`` I interpret the will of the Congress and of the people when I assert that we will not only defend ourselves to the uttermost but will make very certain that this form @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
The theme for the 2020 event is `` Above and Beyond the Call '' with a focus on `` Battlefield Oahu . ''
Five survivors will be granted priority access to visit the USS Arizona Memorial , along with four family members , after the ceremony ends .
Robertson said officials had come up with `` another way for them to be out at the site and to have their private moment . ''
In observance of the anniversary , several state governors issued orders for state and U.S. flags to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Next year will be the event 's 80th anniversary .

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A view looking down Battleship Row at the Pearl Harbor naval base from Ford Island Naval Air Station, shortly after the Japanese torpedo plane attack on December 7, 1941. USS California is at left, listing to port after receiving two torpedo hits. In the center are USS Maryland with the capsized USS Oklahoma alongside. Most smoke is from USS Arizona. File Photo by U.S. Navy
Dec. 7 (UPI) -- Monday marks the 79th anniversary of the Japanese attack on the Pearl Harbor naval base in Hawaii, the event most responsible for the U.S. entry into World War II -- but the remembrance ceremony will be virtual this year due to COVID-19. Officials have decided against the usual in-person event featuring surviving veterans, many of whom are now close to 100 years old. Instead, there will be a live streamed event with no public attendance, beginning at 8 a.m. HST (1 p.m. EST). Advertisement
"Out of an abundance of caution, we will not have WWII veterans at the ceremony but are ensuring they all have the information to view it virtually," said Lydia Robertson, a spokeswoman for Navy Region Hawaii.
The ceremony will honor the 2,400 service members and civilians who died during the surprise Japanese attack on the island of Oahu on Dec. 7, 1941. Another 1,200 were injured in the strikes, which also destroyed close to 200 aircraft and famously sank multiple battleships -- including the USS Arizona, USS Oklahoma, USS West Virginia and USS California -- and spurred the United States to enter World War II.
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"Huge fires were raging at Pearl Harbor at 1:10 this afternoon and five Navy vessels appeared to have been destroyed in the air raids. One ship had turned over on its side," UPI reported on the day of the attack. "The base itself apparently was extensively damaged in the raids and great clouds of smoke rose above it."
The following day, Dec. 8, President Franklin D. Roosevelt delivered his famous address to a joint session of Congress in which he said Dec. 7 "is a date which will live in infamy."
"Yesterday, Dec. 7, 1941 -- a date which will live in infamy -- the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the empire of Japan," he declared, as reported by UPI that day.
"I interpret the will of the Congress and of the people when I assert that we will not only defend ourselves to the uttermost but will make very certain that this form of treachery shall never endanger us again."
The theme for the 2020 event is "Above and Beyond the Call" with a focus on "Battlefield Oahu."
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Five survivors will be granted priority access to visit the USS Arizona Memorial, along with four family members, after the ceremony ends. Robertson said officials had come up with "another way for them to be out at the site and to have their private moment."
In observance of the anniversary, several state governors issued orders for state and U.S. flags to be lowered to half-staff on Monday. Next year will be the event's 80th anniversary.
U.S. commemorates Pearl Harbor Day ceremony in D.C.


upi--2020-12-07--Georgia Gov. Kemp, Lt. Gov. Duncan say no to special session

Dec. 7 ( UPI ) -- Georgia Gov .
Brian Kemp and Lt. Gov .
Geoff Duncan said they will not call a special legislative session to overturn the results of the state 's general election .
In a statement issued on Sunday , the two officials said the state law clearly says an alternative method for choosing presidential electors can only be made if the election was not held on the date set by federal law .
`` While we understand four members of the Georgia Senate are requesting the convening of a special session of the General Assembly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a separate slate of presidential electors is not an option that is allowed under the state or federal law , '' the pair said .
The officials explained that the General Assembly decided in the 1960s that Georgia 's presidential electors would be determined by the state 's popular vote and `` any attempt by the legislature to retroactively change that process for the Nov. 3rd election would be unconstitutional and immediately enjoined by the courts , resulting in a long legal dispute and no short-term resolution . ''
The short statement follows @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump 's request to call a special session to overturn the election .
Trump , his campaign and his supporters have continued to make widely discredited claims of voter fraud since the November election .
In Georgia , officials certified election results late last month following the hand count of 5 million votes that showed President-elect Joe Biden won the state 's electoral votes by more than 12,300 ballots , a number that was later reduced by 900 after a machine recount .
The president on Saturday criticized Kemp for not acting on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sunday , Duncan told CNN 's State of the Union that he and the governor are not going to hold a special session .
`` The governor and I have spoken often about this and calling the General Assembly back in at this point would be almost along the lines of a solution trying to find a problem , '' he said .
`` And we 're certainly not going to move the goalposts at this point in the election .
We are going to continue to follow the letter of the law @ @ @ @ @ @ @ direction as to how to execute an election . ''
In their joint statement on Sunday , the Republican officials recommended the judicial systems as the `` only viable -- and quickest -- option '' to dispute the state 's election results .

A resident votes on Election Day, November 3, at the Gwinnett County Fairgrounds in Lawrenceville, Ga. File Photo by Tami Chappell/UPI | License Photo
Dec. 7 (UPI) -- A federal judge in Georgia on Monday dismissed a lawsuit by a former Trump campaign attorney that sought to overturn the results of the presidential election in the state. U.S. District Court Judge Timothy Batten dismissed the suit filed by attorney Sidney Powell, which alleged a conspiracy to favor President-elect Joe Biden that revolved around software made by Dominion Voting Systems. Advertisement
The suit asked that the results of the election be invalidated.
At a hearing in Atlanta Monday, Batten dismissed the legal challenge.
"They want this court to substitute its judgment for the 2.5 million voters who voted for Biden," Batten said. "This I'm unwilling to do."
Trump's campaign distanced itself from Powell last month after she appeared at several news conferences with lead campaign attorney Rudolph Giuliani and repeatedly made bizarre, wide-ranging and unfounded claims of a secret conspiracy to deny President Donald Trump a second term.
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Powell could appeal the decision to the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals, which dismissed a similar suit brought by a different Trump-supporting attorney over the weekend.
Earlier Monday, Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger said he will recertify Biden's win in the state following a recount that was completed last week.
Raffensperger's declaration came one day before the federal "safe harbor" deadline, by which secretaries of state nationwide must certify the results ahead of the Electoral College's meeting a week from now to formally elect Biden.
Raffensperger first certified election results late last month following a hand recount of about 5 million votes. Biden won the state's 16 electoral votes by earning about 12,700 ballots more than Trump.
"Today the secretary of state's office will be recertifying our state's election results," he told reporters Monday in Atlanta.
Trump has repeatedly made false claims of voter fraud since the election, but Raffensperger emphasized that there's no evidence of fraud or malfeasance.
"It's been 34 days since the election on Nov. 3," he said. "We have now counted legally cast ballots three times and the results remain unchanged."
Saturday, Trump criticized Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp for refusing his call for a special session to assign Republican electors and give the electoral votes to Trump.
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Kemp and Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan both said Sunday they will not call a special session and overturn the results, which a few GOP state senators also asked for. They said Georgia law clearly says an alternative method for choosing electors can only be made if the election was not held on the date set by federal law.
"While we understand four members of the Georgia Senate are requesting the convening of a special session of the General Assembly, doing this in order to select a separate slate of presidential electors is not an option that is allowed under the state or federal law," Kemp and Duncan said.
They noted that the law decided in the 1960s that Georgia's electors are determined by the state popular vote and "any attempt by the legislature to retroactively change that process for the Nov. 3rd election would be unconstitutional and immediately enjoined by the courts, resulting in a long legal dispute and no short-term resolution."
"The governor and I have spoken often about this and calling the General Assembly back in at this point would be almost along the lines of a solution trying to find a problem," Duncan told CNN's State of the Union Sunday.
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"And we're certainly not going to move the goalposts at this point in the election. We are going to continue to follow the letter of the law, which gives us a very clear-cut direction as to how to execute an election."
Kemp and Duncan said the judicial systems is the "only viable -- and quickest -- option" to dispute the state's election results.


upi--2020-12-07--Trump says attorney Rudy Giuliani tested positive for COVID-19

Dec. 6 ( UPI ) -- President Donald Trump on Sunday said his personal attorney and former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani has tested positive for COVID-19 .
`` [ Rudy Giuliani ] , by far the greatest mayor in the history of NYC , and who has been working tirelessly exposing the most corrupt election ( by far ! )
in the history of the USA , has tested positive for the China Virus .
Get better soon Rudy , we will carry on ! ''
Trump , who also tested positive for coronavirus virus and was hospitalized @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sunday afternoon .
Giuliani was admitted to MedStar Georgetown University Hospital in Washington , D.C. , according to reports by The New York Times and ABC News .
Sunday night , Giuliani tweeted that he was `` getting great care and feeling good . ''
`` Recovering quickly and keeping up with everything , '' he said .
Giuliani has participated in various legal challenges to the results of November 's election in key states such as Pennsylvania , Michigan and Arizona , which saw President-elect Joe Biden defeat Trump .
On Wednesday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a hearing in the Michigan House of Representatives and on Thursday attended a hearing at the Georgia Senate Judiciary Committee contesting election results in that state .
Giuliani 's son , Andrew Giuliani -- a special assistant to the president -- tested positive for COVID-19 on Nov. 20 .
Trump 's son , Donald Trump Jr. , also announced he had tested positive on the same day .

President Donald Trump's personal attorney Rudy Giuliani has tested positive for COVID-19, the president tweeted on Sunday afternoon. File Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI | License Photo
Dec. 6 (UPI) -- President Donald Trump on Sunday said his personal attorney and former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani has tested positive for COVID-19. "[Rudy Giuliani], by far the greatest mayor in the history of NYC, and who has been working tirelessly exposing the most corrupt election (by far!) in the history of the USA, has tested positive for the China Virus. Get better soon Rudy, we will carry on!" Trump, who also tested positive for coronavirus virus and was hospitalized in October, wrote on Twitter on Sunday afternoon. Advertisement
Giuliani was admitted to MedStar Georgetown University Hospital in Washington, D.C., according to reports by The New York Times and ABC News.
Sunday night, Giuliani tweeted that he was "getting great care and feeling good."
"Recovering quickly and keeping up with everything," he said.
Giuliani has participated in various legal challenges to the results of November's election in key states such as Pennsylvania, Michigan and Arizona, which saw President-elect Joe Biden defeat Trump.
On Wednesday, Giuliani appeared without a mask at a hearing in the Michigan House of Representatives and on Thursday attended a hearing at the Georgia Senate Judiciary Committee contesting election results in that state.
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Giuliani's son, Andrew Giuliani -- a special assistant to the president -- tested positive for COVID-19 on Nov. 20. Trump's son, Donald Trump Jr., also announced he had tested positive on the same day.


upi--2020-12-07--WWF: 3B animals, including 60K koalas, impacted by Australian bushfires

Dec. 7 ( UPI ) -- Bushfires in Australia negatively affected billions of animals , including more than 60,000 Koalas , according to a new report on the devastation caused by the 2019-2020 fire `` season of hell . ''
A report released Monday by the World Wide Fund for Nature Australia said nearly 3 billion mammals , birds and other animals were in the path of the more than 15,000 fires that scorched some 19 million hectares of land across Australia late last year and into early 2020 .
By type , 2.46 billion reptiles , 181 million birds @ @ @ @ @ @ @ frogs are estimated to have lived within the affected area , the report said , explaining the animals either died or `` experienced higher subsequent risk of death as a result of injuries or later stress and deprivation of key resources . ''
WWF-Australia Chief Executive Dermot O'Gorman called the fire season in the report `` one of the worst wildlife disasters in modern history . ''
The report estimated that among the worst impacted were 50 million native rats and mice ; nearly 40 million possums and gliders ; 36 million antechinuses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 5.5 million bettong , bandicoots , quokkas and potoroos ; and 5 million kangaroos and wallabies .
The report also estimated that some 60,000 Koalas , including 41,000 on South Australia 's Kangaroo Island , were negatively impacted , including killed or injured , during the fires , dealing a blow to the already declining species .
`` That is a devastating number for a species that was already sliding toward extinction in eastern Australia , '' O'Gorman wrote in the report 's forward .
`` We can not afford to lose koalas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , 11,000 koalas were impacted in Victoria , nearly 8,000 in New South Wales and nearly 900 in Queensland , it said .
Along with the report , WWF launched a Koala Forever campaign that O'Gorman said aims to double the number of koalas in eastern Australian by 2050 .
`` Koalas Forever includes a trial of seed dispersing drones to create koala corridors and the establishment of a fund to encourage landowners to create koala safe havens , '' he said in a statement .
The initiative is part of the WWF @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to help restore wildlife and habitats and rejuvenate communities impacted by the bushfires .
`` Nearly 3 billion animals impacted is a number that 's off the charts and shows why a plan of this scale is needed , '' he said .
The report also lists a series of recommendations to eliminate factors that limit the ability to accurately estimate the impacts of bushfires , including increase funding for long-term monitoring programs , identify and map the distributions of biota that are most at risk , identify key resources at risk and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ animal densities .
It also calls for improved habitat connectivity to ensure access to fire refuges , identify and protect unharmed habitat and establish improved fire prevention and management practices , among other measures to mitigate the effects of bushfires .
Chris Dickman , a professor at the University of Sydney and a WWF-Australia board member who oversaw the research for the report , said people have been shocked by the figures and have told him this catastrophe can not be allowed to continue .
`` With long-term monitoring we would be in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and when to act and what resources are needed to save at risk species , '' he said .

A satellite image from January shows burned land and thick smoke over Kangaroo Island, Australia. The World Wide Fund said Monday that some 41,000 koalas on the island were negatively impacted by the fires. Photo by NASA Earth Observatory/EPA-EFE
Dec. 7 (UPI) -- Bushfires in Australia negatively affected billions of animals, including more than 60,000 Koalas, according to a new report on the devastation caused by the 2019-2020 fire "season of hell." A report released Monday by the World Wide Fund for Nature Australia said nearly 3 billion mammals, birds and other animals were in the path of the more than 15,000 fires that scorched some 19 million hectares of land across Australia late last year and into early 2020. Advertisement
By type, 2.46 billion reptiles, 181 million birds, 143 million mammals and 51 million frogs are estimated to have lived within the affected area, the report said, explaining the animals either died or "experienced higher subsequent risk of death as a result of injuries or later stress and deprivation of key resources."
WWF-Australia Chief Executive Dermot O'Gorman called the fire season in the report "one of the worst wildlife disasters in modern history."
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The report estimated that among the worst impacted were 50 million native rats and mice; nearly 40 million possums and gliders; 36 million antechinuses, dunnarts and other insectivorous marsupials; 5.5 million bettong, bandicoots, quokkas and potoroos; and 5 million kangaroos and wallabies.
The report also estimated that some 60,000 Koalas, including 41,000 on South Australia's Kangaroo Island, were negatively impacted, including killed or injured, during the fires, dealing a blow to the already declining species.
"That is a devastating number for a species that was already sliding toward extinction in eastern Australia," O'Gorman wrote in the report's forward. "We cannot afford to lose koalas on our watch."
By state, 11,000 koalas were impacted in Victoria, nearly 8,000 in New South Wales and nearly 900 in Queensland, it said.
Along with the report, WWF launched a Koala Forever campaign that O'Gorman said aims to double the number of koalas in eastern Australian by 2050.
"Koalas Forever includes a trial of seed dispersing drones to create koala corridors and the establishment of a fund to encourage landowners to create koala safe havens," he said in a statement.
The initiative is part of the WWF's $300 million Regenerate Australia plan to help restore wildlife and habitats and rejuvenate communities impacted by the bushfires.
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"Nearly 3 billion animals impacted is a number that's off the charts and shows why a plan of this scale is needed," he said.
The report also lists a series of recommendations to eliminate factors that limit the ability to accurately estimate the impacts of bushfires, including increase funding for long-term monitoring programs, identify and map the distributions of biota that are most at risk, identify key resources at risk and develop national methodologies for surveying and modeling animal densities.
It also calls for improved habitat connectivity to ensure access to fire refuges, identify and protect unharmed habitat and establish improved fire prevention and management practices, among other measures to mitigate the effects of bushfires.
Chris Dickman, a professor at the University of Sydney and a WWF-Australia board member who oversaw the research for the report, said people have been shocked by the figures and have told him this catastrophe cannot be allowed to continue.
"With long-term monitoring we would be in a much better position to know where and when to act and what resources are needed to save at risk species," he said.


upi--2020-12-07--Famous birthdays for Dec. 7: Sara Bareilles, Nicholas Hoult

Dec. 7 ( UPI ) -- Those born on this date are under the sign of Sagittarius .

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Ellen Burstyn arrives on the red carpet at the "Notes From The Field" screening at the Museum of Modern Art on February 21, 2018, in New York City. The actor turns 88 on December 7. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
Dec. 7 (UPI) -- Those born on this date are under the sign of Sagittarius. They include: Advertisement
-- Italian sculptor Gian Lorenzo Bernini in 1598
-- Theodor Schwann, German physiologist/co-originator of cell theory, in 1810
-- Novelist Willa Cather in 1873
-- Department store chain founder Richard Sears in 1863
-- Linguist Noam Chomsky in 1928 (age 92)
-- Actor Ellen Burstyn in 1932 (age 88)
-- Rock/folksinger Harry Chapin in 1942
-- Baseball Hall of Fame member Johnny Bench in 1947 (age 73)
File Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI
-- Singer/songwriter Tom Waits in 1949 (age 71)
-- Basketball Hall of Fame member Larry Bird in 1956 (age 64)
-- Actor C Thomas Howell in 1966 (age 54)
-- Former NFL player Terrell Owens in 1973 (age 47)
File Photo by David Silpa/UPI
-- Singer/TV host Nicole Appleton in 1974 (age 46)
-- Singer Sara Bareilles in 1979 (age 41)
-- Actor Jennifer Carpenter in 1979 (age 41)
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-- Pop singer Aaron Carter in 1987 (age 33)
-- Actor Emily Browning in 1988 (age 32)
-- Actor Nicholas Hoult in 1989 (age 31)


upi--2020-12-07--On This Day, Dec. 7: Japan attacks Pearl Harbor

Dec. 7 ( UPI ) -- On this date in history : In 1787 , Delaware became the first state to ratify the U.S. Constitution .
In 1909 , Leo Baekeland patented the process for making Bakelite , giving birth to the modern plastics industry .
In 1941 , Japan launched a sneak attack on Pearl Harbor in Hawaii , catapulting the United States into World War II .
The attack killed 2,403 people , wounded hundreds , destroyed 188 planes and crippled the U.S. Pacific Fleet .
The following day , President Franklin D. Roosevelt called Dec. 7 `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
In 1972 , Apollo 17 was launched on the last scheduled manned mission to the moon .
Astronauts Eugene Cernan and Jack Schmitt left a commemorative plaque on the lunar surface as they left .
In 1975 , Indonesia invaded East Timor after the latter declared itself a democratic republic in the wake of Portugal 's departure from the island .
More than 100,000 East Timorese died in the conflict , most of whom were civilians placed in internment camps or killed by the Indonesian military .
In 1982 , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the state penitentiary in Huntsville , Texas .
In 1987 , Mikhail Gorbachev became the first Soviet leader to officially visit the United States since 1973 .
In 1988 , an estimated 25,000 people died in a powerful earthquake in Armenia .
In 1992 , the destruction of a 16th-century mosque by militant Hindus touched off five days of violence across India that left more than 1,100 people dead .
In 1993 , U.S. Energy Secretary Hazel O'Leary revealed the United States had conducted 204 underground nuclear tests from 1963 to 1990 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Colin Ferguson opened fire on a New York commuter train , killing six people and injuring 19 others .
The shooter , who was from Jamaica , blamed his hatred of white people .
In 2004 , Hamid Karzai was sworn in as Afghanistan 's first popularly elected president .
In 2016 , a Pakistan International Airlines aircraft crashed near Islamabad , killing 48 people .
Among the dead was pop-star-turned-Muslim-cleric Junaid Jamshed .
In 2019 , Greta Gerwig 's Little Women premiered at the Museum of Modern Art in New York @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Saoirse Ronan , Florence Pugh , Eliza Scanlen , Laura Dern and Timothee Chalamet .

Show Caption >>
Dec. 7 (UPI) -- On this date in history: In 1787, Delaware became the first state to ratify the U.S. Constitution. Advertisement
In 1909, Leo Baekeland patented the process for making Bakelite, giving birth to the modern plastics industry.
In 1941, Japan launched a sneak attack on Pearl Harbor in Hawaii, catapulting the United States into World War II. The attack killed 2,403 people, wounded hundreds, destroyed 188 planes and crippled the U.S. Pacific Fleet. The following day, President Franklin D. Roosevelt called Dec. 7 "a date which will live in infamy."
In 1972, Apollo 17 was launched on the last scheduled manned mission to the moon. Astronauts Eugene Cernan and Jack Schmitt left a commemorative plaque on the lunar surface as they left.
File Photo courtesy of NASA
In 1975, Indonesia invaded East Timor after the latter declared itself a democratic republic in the wake of Portugal's departure from the island. More than 100,000 East Timorese died in the conflict, most of whom were civilians placed in internment camps or killed by the Indonesian military.
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In 1982, the first execution by lethal injection took place at the state penitentiary in Huntsville, Texas.
In 1987, Mikhail Gorbachev became the first Soviet leader to officially visit the United States since 1973.
In 1988, an estimated 25,000 people died in a powerful earthquake in Armenia.
In 1992, the destruction of a 16th-century mosque by militant Hindus touched off five days of violence across India that left more than 1,100 people dead.
In 1993, U.S. Energy Secretary Hazel O'Leary revealed the United States had conducted 204 underground nuclear tests from 1963 to 1990 without informing the public.
In 1993, Colin Ferguson opened fire on a New York commuter train, killing six people and injuring 19 others. The shooter, who was from Jamaica, blamed his hatred of white people.
In 2004, Hamid Karzai was sworn in as Afghanistan's first popularly elected president.
File Photo by Mike Theiler/UPI
In 2016, a 6.5-magnitude earthquake rattled Indonesia's Aceh province, killing nearly 100 people.
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In 2016, a Pakistan International Airlines aircraft crashed near Islamabad, killing 48 people. Among the dead was pop-star-turned-Muslim-cleric Junaid Jamshed.
In 2019, Greta Gerwig's Little Women premiered at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City. The film starred Emma Watson, Saoirse Ronan, Florence Pugh, Eliza Scanlen, Laura Dern and Timothee Chalamet.


upi--2020-12-07--Washington’s top North Korea envoy to visit Seoul this week

SEOUL , Dec. 7 ( UPI ) -- U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Biegun , Washington 's point man on nuclear negotiations with North Korea , will visit Seoul on Tuesday for a four-day trip , the State Department announced .
Biegun will meet with South Korean officials to `` discuss the U.S.-ROK Alliance and our shared commitment to regional security , stability and prosperity throughout the Indo-Pacific and continued close coordination on North Korea , '' the State Department said in a statement Sunday .
The Republic of Korea is the official name of South Korea .
Biegun @ @ @ @ @ @ @ counterpart on North Korean affairs , chief nuclear negotiator Lee Do-hoon , as well as a dinner on Friday with Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha , South Korea 's foreign ministry said in a statement Monday .
The nuclear envoy is also slated to meet with Unification Minister Lee In-young , according to ministry spokesman Yoh Sang-key , although a date has not been announced .
The visit comes during a period of uncertainty on the Korean Peninsula ahead of Washington 's transition next month to the administration of President-elect Joe Biden .
Observers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ aggressive moves from North Korea , including a potential test launch of the massive intercontinental ballistic missile it unveiled at a military parade in October .
At his meetings this week , Biegun can be expected to `` discuss continuity of U.S.-North Korea policy and the likelihood of North Korean provocation during the vulnerable transition period , '' retired Army Special Forces Col. David Maxwell , a senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies think tank , wrote in a note .
Other topics could include the potential humanitarian and economic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as the unresolved military cost-sharing agreement between Washington and Seoul , Maxwell wrote .
Nuclear negotiations between Pyongyang and Washington have been stalled since a February 2019 summit between President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un ended without an agreement .
South Korea and the United States have also seen their military relationship strained over demands by the Trump administration for Seoul to pay more to cover the costs of the roughly 28,500 troops stationed on the Korean Peninsula .
Biegun was appointed special North Korea envoy in 2018 and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ last year .
During his last visit to South Korea , he expressed Washington 's resolve to resume the deadlocked dialogue with the North , saying when Kim appoints a counterpart for talks , `` they will find us ready at that very moment . ''
Biegun is also scheduled to deliver an address on Thursday at a Seoul think tank before returning to the United States on Saturday .

Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Biegun, Washington's top North Korea envoy, will arrive in Seoul on Tuesday for a four-day visit. Photo by EPA-EFE/Yonhap
SEOUL, Dec. 7 (UPI) -- U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Biegun, Washington's point man on nuclear negotiations with North Korea, will visit Seoul on Tuesday for a four-day trip, the State Department announced. Biegun will meet with South Korean officials to "discuss the U.S.-ROK Alliance and our shared commitment to regional security, stability and prosperity throughout the Indo-Pacific and continued close coordination on North Korea," the State Department said in a statement Sunday. Advertisement
The Republic of Korea is the official name of South Korea.
Biegun's agenda includes a meeting with his counterpart on North Korean affairs, chief nuclear negotiator Lee Do-hoon, as well as a dinner on Friday with Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha, South Korea's foreign ministry said in a statement Monday.
The nuclear envoy is also slated to meet with Unification Minister Lee In-young, according to ministry spokesman Yoh Sang-key, although a date has not been announced.
The visit comes during a period of uncertainty on the Korean Peninsula ahead of Washington's transition next month to the administration of President-elect Joe Biden.
Observers are keeping an eye out for any aggressive moves from North Korea, including a potential test launch of the massive intercontinental ballistic missile it unveiled at a military parade in October.
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At his meetings this week, Biegun can be expected to "discuss continuity of U.S.-North Korea policy and the likelihood of North Korean provocation during the vulnerable transition period," retired Army Special Forces Col. David Maxwell, a senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies think tank, wrote in a note.
Other topics could include the potential humanitarian and economic crises facing North Korea, as well as the unresolved military cost-sharing agreement between Washington and Seoul, Maxwell wrote.
Nuclear negotiations between Pyongyang and Washington have been stalled since a February 2019 summit between President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un ended without an agreement.
South Korea and the United States have also seen their military relationship strained over demands by the Trump administration for Seoul to pay more to cover the costs of the roughly 28,500 troops stationed on the Korean Peninsula.
Biegun was appointed special North Korea envoy in 2018 and was elevated to deputy secretary of state last year.
During his last visit to South Korea, he expressed Washington's resolve to resume the deadlocked dialogue with the North, saying when Kim appoints a counterpart for talks, "they will find us ready at that very moment."
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Biegun is also scheduled to deliver an address on Thursday at a Seoul think tank before returning to the United States on Saturday.


upi--2020-12-07--Rockets coach: 'No timetable' for James Harden to report, end holdout

Dec. 7 ( UPI ) -- Houston Rockets head coach Stephen Silas labeled former NBA MVP James Harden 's absence from the team 's training camp as a holdout Monday and said there is `` no timetable '' for the All-Star guard to report .
After Harden missed the Rockets ' first team workout Sunday , Silas pointed to the league 's COVID-19 protocols as the reason he did n't practice with the club .
Later Sunday , however , Harden failed to show up for an anticipated individual workout .
Harden , who reportedly has requested a trade to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in communication with Silas recently , according to ESPN .
Harden informed Rockets management that he would report to the team soon , but Silas was uncertain about when that would happen .
`` There is no timetable , as far as I know , '' Silas told reporters following Monday 's practice .
`` It is a setback .
You want your best player to be here . ''
Silas said he was unsure whether Harden was back in Houston yet .
The 2017-18 NBA MVP posted pictures on social media over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Baby 's birthday party in Atlanta .
Other photos and videos of Harden spending time in Las Vegas have circulated on social media in the last few days .
The NBA has n't announced any discipline after Harden 's violations of the league 's coronavirus protocols , which require players to remain in quarantine except for essential activities and team-related workouts .
Harden also is subject to fines for failing to report to the Rockets ' training camp , but Silas said that has n't been considered to this point .
The coach @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the message '' Harden was trying to convey to the team by skipping workouts .
`` I 've been in situations before where it was a holdout , and we just kind of handled each individual situation on its own merit and individually , '' Silas said .
`` As far as any sort of punishment , we have n't even crossed that bridge yet .
We 're just trying to work piece by piece .
`` ...
I have no clarity about the message , honestly .
I take it basically at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
What the reasoning is , is on him .
He 's the one who can explain why or why not he 's not here .
For me to make inferences and think about the possibilities is n't real to me .
What 's real is he 's not here , and he has a reason , but that 's on him to tell whoever what his reason is . ''
The Rockets have said they will not rush a trade involving Harden , who has two seasons plus a player option for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

The Houston Rockets have said they will not rush a trade involving James Harden, who has two seasons plus a player option for a third season remaining on his contract. File Photo by Keizo Mori/UPI | License Photo
Dec. 7 (UPI) -- Houston Rockets head coach Stephen Silas labeled former NBA MVP James Harden's absence from the team's training camp as a holdout Monday and said there is "no timetable" for the All-Star guard to report. After Harden missed the Rockets' first team workout Sunday, Silas pointed to the league's COVID-19 protocols as the reason he didn't practice with the club. Later Sunday, however, Harden failed to show up for an anticipated individual workout. Advertisement
Harden, who reportedly has requested a trade to the Brooklyn Nets, hasn't been in communication with Silas recently, according to ESPN. Harden informed Rockets management that he would report to the team soon, but Silas was uncertain about when that would happen.
"There is no timetable, as far as I know," Silas told reporters following Monday's practice. "It is a setback. You want your best player to be here."
Silas said he was unsure whether Harden was back in Houston yet. The 2017-18 NBA MVP posted pictures on social media over the weekend of him attending rapper Lil Baby's birthday party in Atlanta. Other photos and videos of Harden spending time in Las Vegas have circulated on social media in the last few days.
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The NBA hasn't announced any discipline after Harden's violations of the league's coronavirus protocols, which require players to remain in quarantine except for essential activities and team-related workouts.
Harden also is subject to fines for failing to report to the Rockets' training camp, but Silas said that hasn't been considered to this point. The coach said he had "no clarity about the message" Harden was trying to convey to the team by skipping workouts.
"I've been in situations before where it was a holdout, and we just kind of handled each individual situation on its own merit and individually," Silas said. "As far as any sort of punishment, we haven't even crossed that bridge yet. We're just trying to work piece by piece.
"... I have no clarity about the message, honestly. I take it basically at face value that he's not here. What the reasoning is, is on him. He's the one who can explain why or why not he's not here. For me to make inferences and think about the possibilities isn't real to me. What's real is he's not here, and he has a reason, but that's on him to tell whoever what his reason is."
The Rockets have said they will not rush a trade involving Harden, who has two seasons plus a player option for a third season remaining on his contract.


upi--2020-12-07--Florida COVID data whistleblower says state police confiscated computers in armed raid

Dec. 7 ( UPI ) -- The home of a former Florida Department of Health data scientist who was fired from her job running the state 's COVID-19 data dashboard was raided by state police Monday , according to a Twitter post .
`` There will be no update today , '' Tallahassee geospatial data scientist Rebekah Jones tweeted Monday evening .
`` At 8:30 am this morning , state police came into my house and took all my hardware and tech .
They were serving a warrant on my computer after DOH filed a complaint .
They pointed a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ guns at my kids . ''
Jones posted video from a home surveillance camera that appeared to show armed officers entering her home and demanding that she and her two children and husband leave the house .
`` They took my phone and the computer I use every day to post the case numbers in Florida , and school cases for the entire country , '' she added .
`` They took evidence of corruption at the state level .
They claimed it was about a security breach .
This was [ Gov @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gestapo . ''
Jones 's home was raided under a search warrant from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement as part of an investigation that started Nov. 10 , the department said in a statement on their Facebook Page .
The Department of Health filed a complaint alleging the Jones had breached an emergency messaging alert system and had `` illegally accessed the system , '' the statement said .
`` Agents knocked and called Ms. Jones both announcing the search warrant and encouraging her to cooperate .
Ms. Jones refused to come @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hung-up on agents , '' the FLDE said .
`` Agents entered the home in accordance with normal protocols and seized several devices that will be forensically analyzed , '' the department statement added .
`` At no time were weapons pointed at anyone in the home . ''
No charges have been filed against Jones .
`` I have never had access to that system , '' she told the Sun Sentinel Monday .
`` I am not a hacker .
I do data statistics and analysis . ''
In early 2020 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ across the United States , Jones built the state of Florida 's first COVID-19 data reporting system , which drew praise from many , including Deborah Birx from the White House coronavirus task force .
But she was fired by the state in May for `` insubordination '' after publicly complaining that state officials were pressuring her to fudge the data .
Jones then developed an alternate COVID-19 dashboard that expanded on some of the state data and also reported hospital bed availability .
She filed a whistleblower report against the Florida Department @ @ @ @ @ @ @ terminated for refusing to falsify data .
She blamed Gov .
Ron DeSantis for wanting to hide true COVID-19 case numbers to keep the state open while others were in lockdown mode .
`` My public firing in May sent a message to DOH employees that questioning the direction of the governor would lead to public shame , embarrassment and , yes , termination , '' Jones wrote in a July editorial to the Miami Herald .
On Monday , Jones said she would not be deterred from her work by threats .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' she said .
`` If [ DeSantis ] did n't learn the first time he tried to defame and threaten me that it did n't work , he 's about to learn it now . ''

Governor Ron DeSantis speaks prior to a campaign rally held by President Donald Trump in Sanford, Fla., on October 12. Photo by Joe Marino/UPI | License Photo
Dec. 7 (UPI) -- The home of a former Florida Department of Health data scientist who was fired from her job running the state's COVID-19 data dashboard was raided by state police Monday, according to a Twitter post. "There will be no update today," Tallahassee geospatial data scientist Rebekah Jones tweeted Monday evening. "At 8:30 am this morning, state police came into my house and took all my hardware and tech. They were serving a warrant on my computer after DOH filed a complaint. They pointed a gun in my face. They pointed guns at my kids." Advertisement
Jones posted video from a home surveillance camera that appeared to show armed officers entering her home and demanding that she and her two children and husband leave the house.
"They took my phone and the computer I use every day to post the case numbers in Florida, and school cases for the entire country," she added. "They took evidence of corruption at the state level. They claimed it was about a security breach. This was [Gov.] DeSantis. He sent the gestapo."
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Jones's home was raided under a search warrant from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement as part of an investigation that started Nov. 10, the department said in a statement on their Facebook Page.
The Department of Health filed a complaint alleging the Jones had breached an emergency messaging alert system and had "illegally accessed the system," the statement said.
"Agents knocked and called Ms. Jones both announcing the search warrant and encouraging her to cooperate. Ms. Jones refused to come to the door for 20 minutes and hung-up on agents," the FLDE said.
"Agents entered the home in accordance with normal protocols and seized several devices that will be forensically analyzed," the department statement added. "At no time were weapons pointed at anyone in the home."
No charges have been filed against Jones.
Jones denied hacking the system.
"I have never had access to that system," she told the Sun Sentinel Monday. "I am not a hacker. I do data statistics and analysis."
In early 2020, as the coronavirus begin to spread across the United States, Jones built the state of Florida's first COVID-19 data reporting system, which drew praise from many, including Deborah Birx from the White House coronavirus task force.
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But she was fired by the state in May for "insubordination" after publicly complaining that state officials were pressuring her to fudge the data.
Jones then developed an alternate COVID-19 dashboard that expanded on some of the state data and also reported hospital bed availability.
She filed a whistleblower report against the Florida Department of Health, saying that she was terminated for refusing to falsify data. She blamed Gov. Ron DeSantis for wanting to hide true COVID-19 case numbers to keep the state open while others were in lockdown mode.
"My public firing in May sent a message to DOH employees that questioning the direction of the governor would lead to public shame, embarrassment and, yes, termination," Jones wrote in a July editorial to the Miami Herald.
On Monday, Jones said she would not be deterred from her work by threats.
"This does not shut me down," she said. "If [DeSantis] didn't learn the first time he tried to defame and threaten me that it didn't work, he's about to learn it now."


upi--2020-12-07--Former AL MVP, seven-time MLB All-Star Dick Allen dies at 78

Dec. 7 ( UPI ) -- Former Philadelphia Phillies and Chicago White Sox star infielder Dick Allen , who was the 1972 American League MVP , has died .
He was 78 .
The Phillies , the team Allen began his MLB career with , announced his death Monday on social media .
No cause of death was given .
`` The Phillies are heartbroken over the passing today of our dear friend and co-worker , Dick Allen , '' the Phillies said in a statement .
`` Dick will be remembered as not just one of the greatest and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ history , but also as a courageous warrior who had to overcome far too many obstacles to reach the level he did .
`` Dick 's iconic status will resonate for generations of baseball fans to come as one of the all-time greats to play America 's Pastime .
He is now reunited with his beloved daughter , Terri .
The Phillies extend their condolences to Dick 's widow , Willa , his family , friends and all his fans from coast to coast . ''
Allen , who was a seven-time All-Star @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 351 home runs and 1,119 RBIs in 15 seasons with the St. Louis Cardinals , Los Angeles Dodgers , Oakland Athletics , Phillies and White Sox .
Allen was named National League Rookie of the Year in 1964 while playing for the Phillies .
He won the AL MVP award in 1972 after leading the league in home runs and RBIs as a member of the White Sox .
The Phillies retired Allen 's No .
15 in September , a tribute that was considered long overdue by many for one of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ during a turbulent period with the club in the 1960s .
Allen was n't elected into the Baseball Hall of Fame , and he was one vote shy in Golden Era Committee voting in 2014 .
The Golden Days Committee and the Early Days Committee called off voting this year because of the coronavirus pandemic .
The committees instead will meet sometime next winter .

Dec. 7 (UPI) -- Former Philadelphia Phillies and Chicago White Sox star infielder Dick Allen, who was the 1972 American League MVP, has died. He was 78.
The Phillies, the team Allen began his MLB career with, announced his death Monday on social media. No cause of death was given.
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"The Phillies are heartbroken over the passing today of our dear friend and co-worker, Dick Allen," the Phillies said in a statement. "Dick will be remembered as not just one of the greatest and most popular players in our franchise's history, but also as a courageous warrior who had to overcome far too many obstacles to reach the level he did.
"Dick's iconic status will resonate for generations of baseball fans to come as one of the all-time greats to play America's Pastime. He is now reunited with his beloved daughter, Terri. The Phillies extend their condolences to Dick's widow, Willa, his family, friends and all his fans from coast to coast."
Allen, who was a seven-time All-Star, had a .292 batting average with 351 home runs and 1,119 RBIs in 15 seasons with the St. Louis Cardinals, Los Angeles Dodgers, Oakland Athletics, Phillies and White Sox.
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Allen was named National League Rookie of the Year in 1964 while playing for the Phillies. He won the AL MVP award in 1972 after leading the league in home runs and RBIs as a member of the White Sox.
RIP Dick Allen pic.twitter.com/4QUEMMycQ6— Chicago White Sox (@whitesox) December 7, 2020
The Phillies retired Allen's No. 15 in September, a tribute that was considered long overdue by many for one of the organization's greatest players who battled racism during a turbulent period with the club in the 1960s.
Allen wasn't elected into the Baseball Hall of Fame, and he was one vote shy in Golden Era Committee voting in 2014. The Golden Days Committee and the Early Days Committee called off voting this year because of the coronavirus pandemic. The committees instead will meet sometime next winter.
Notable deaths of 2020


upi--2020-12-07--Rashida Jones to become president of MSNBC

Dec. 7 ( UPI ) -- Rashida Jones will become the president of cable news network MSNBC replacing Phil Griffin , the network announced on Monday .
Jones begins Feb. 1 as the first Black executive to lead one of the major cable news organizations .
Cesar Conde , chairman of the NBCUniversal News Group , said in a memo to NBC employees that Griffin will retire early next year .
Jones , who is no relation to the actress of the same name , is currently senior vice president overseeing daytime and weekend programming along with breaking news and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ understands MSNBC , in part because it 's where she started when she first joined NBCU seven years ago , '' Conde said .
`` She knows that it is the people who work here that make it great , and she understands its culture .
She also appreciates the impact and potential of the brand . ''
Conde said Griffin , who joined MSNBC when it began 25 years ago and has been president since 2008 , decided after the presidential election to `` depart at a time of his choosing and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the network he loves . ''
Conde praised Jones and her coverage of `` the global pandemic , the social justice protests and unrest , Decision 2020 , and the two most-viewed Democratic presidential debates in television history . ''
Jones helped lead the preparation for Kristen Welker 's role as general election debate moderator and produced the `` Justice for All '' and `` Climate in Crisis '' editorial series for NBC .
Jones , a graduate of Hampton University , got her start as news director for an NBC affiliate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as director of live programming for The Weather Channel .
This year Conde announced a goal for the staff of NBC News to be made up of 50 % women and 50 % people of color .
Departing Griffin told NBC News that he would miss his talented peers at MSNBC .
`` We 've been blessed with spectacular talent at every level , '' Griffin said .
`` I admire the commitment , the camaraderie , the scrappiness , the pure love everyone has for this place .
MSNBC is about humanity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the fact you all care so much .
And that is what I will miss the most . ''

Cable news vice president Rashida Jones will become president of MSNBC in the spring, becoming the first Black cable network executive, the network announced. Photo courtesy of MSNBC
Dec. 7 (UPI) -- Rashida Jones will become the president of cable news network MSNBC replacing Phil Griffin, the network announced on Monday. Jones begins Feb. 1 as the first Black executive to lead one of the major cable news organizations. Advertisement
Cesar Conde, chairman of the NBCUniversal News Group, said in a memo to NBC employees that Griffin will retire early next year.
Jones, who is no relation to the actress of the same name, is currently senior vice president overseeing daytime and weekend programming along with breaking news and national events.
"Rashida knows and understands MSNBC, in part because it's where she started when she first joined NBCU seven years ago," Conde said. "She knows that it is the people who work here that make it great, and she understands its culture. She also appreciates the impact and potential of the brand."
Conde said Griffin, who joined MSNBC when it began 25 years ago and has been president since 2008, decided after the presidential election to "depart at a time of his choosing and when he felt confident about the strength of the network he loves."
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Conde praised Jones and her coverage of "the global pandemic, the social justice protests and unrest, Decision 2020, and the two most-viewed Democratic presidential debates in television history."
Jones helped lead the preparation for Kristen Welker's role as general election debate moderator and produced the "Justice for All" and "Climate in Crisis" editorial series for NBC.
Jones, a graduate of Hampton University, got her start as news director for an NBC affiliate in Columbia, S.C., and served as director of live programming for The Weather Channel.
This year Conde announced a goal for the staff of NBC News to be made up of 50% women and 50% people of color.
Departing Griffin told NBC News that he would miss his talented peers at MSNBC.
"We've been blessed with spectacular talent at every level," Griffin said. "I admire the commitment, the camaraderie, the scrappiness, the pure love everyone has for this place. MSNBC is about humanity. The creativity, the compassion, the fact you all care so much. And that is what I will miss the most."


upi--2020-12-07--Arizona, Michigan legislatures limit work following Giuliani positive test

Dec. 7 ( UPI ) -- The Arizona and Michigan state legislatures announced Monday they would postpone work after President Donald Trump 's personal attorney Rudy Giuliani tested positive for COVID-19 after visiting the states .
A letter to lawmakers declared that Arizona 's Senate and House will close for a week `` out of an abundance of caution for recent cases and concerns relating to COVID-19 , '' while Michigan 's Republican Speaker of the House Lee Chatfield said the House would be in session on Tuesday , `` but no voting will take place and attendance will not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have requested time to receive results from recent COVID-19 tests before returning to session , out of an abundance of caution , '' said Chatfield .
The decision came after Trump announced on Sunday that Giuliani had tested positive for the coronavirus after visiting the states to represents the president 's campaign in legal challenges over his election loss .
The Trump campaign however later issued a statement saying Giuliani tested negative twice `` immediately preceding '' his trip to Arizona , Michigan and Georgia adding that `` no legislators in any state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the contact tracing list '' under current Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines .
`` The mayor did not experience any symptoms or test positive for COVID-19 until more than 48 hours after his return , '' the campaign said .
A representative for the Michigan Republican Party said that Chairman Laura Cox and several staffers who came into contact with Giuliani were tested after it was announced he had tested positive .
Trump on Monday told reporters that Giuliani was `` doing well . ''
`` I just spoke to him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ me early this morning .
It was the first call I got , '' he said .

State legislatures in Arizona and Michigan postponed work following visits from President Donald Trump's personal attorney Rudy Giuliani, who tested positive for COVID-19 over the weekend. File Pool photo by Chris Kleponis/UPI | License Photo
Dec. 7 (UPI) -- The Arizona and Michigan state legislatures announced Monday they would postpone work after President Donald Trump's personal attorney Rudy Giuliani tested positive for COVID-19 after visiting the states. A letter to lawmakers declared that Arizona's Senate and House will close for a week "out of an abundance of caution for recent cases and concerns relating to COVID-19," while Michigan's Republican Speaker of the House Lee Chatfield said the House would be in session on Tuesday, "but no voting will take place and attendance will not be taken." Advertisement
"Multiple representatives have requested time to receive results from recent COVID-19 tests before returning to session, out of an abundance of caution," said Chatfield.
The decision came after Trump announced on Sunday that Giuliani had tested positive for the coronavirus after visiting the states to represents the president's campaign in legal challenges over his election loss.
The Trump campaign however later issued a statement saying Giuliani tested negative twice "immediately preceding" his trip to Arizona, Michigan and Georgia adding that "no legislators in any state or members of the press are on the contact tracing list" under current Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines.
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"The mayor did not experience any symptoms or test positive for COVID-19 until more than 48 hours after his return," the campaign said.
A representative for the Michigan Republican Party said that Chairman Laura Cox and several staffers who came into contact with Giuliani were tested after it was announced he had tested positive.
Trump on Monday told reporters that Giuliani was "doing well."
"I just spoke to him. No temperature. He actually called me early this morning. It was the first call I got," he said.


upi--2020-12-07--Jets fire defensive coordinator Gregg Williams after controversial blitz

Dec. 7 ( UPI ) -- Less than a day after his questionable decision to send an all-out blitz on the game-deciding play in Sunday 's loss to the Las Vegas Raiders , New York Jets defensive coordinator Gregg Williams was fired in a Monday morning meeting .
`` Obviously , I was n't happy about that call , '' Jets head coach Adam Gase told reporters when explaining his decision to dismiss Williams from the coaching staff .
`` That was a heartbreaking way for our guys to lose a game .
For that to happen in that situation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have that happen . ''
Gase said he made the decision to fire Williams on Sunday night .
He informed ownership and the front office Monday morning , with all sides in agreement that a change was needed .
Assistant head coach Frank Bush , who works with the Jets ' inside linebackers , was named interim defensive coordinator for the team 's remaining four games .
`` Obviously , he was n't happy , but it 's our profession , '' Gase said .
`` We 've all been in that situation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' The Raiders dropped the Jets to 0-12 after a miraculous deep pass in the final seconds of Sunday 's game .
Derek Carr delivered a perfectly placed 46-yard touchdown pass to rookie wide receiver Henry Ruggs III with five seconds remaining to lift the Raiders to a stunning 31-28 win over the Jets .
On that third-down play , Williams called a risky eight-man blitz in a situation that typically calls for max coverage .
The Jets held a four-point lead and just needed to prevent Carr and the Raiders from beating @ @ @ @ @ @ @ blitz left Jets rookie cornerback Lamar Jackson -- an undrafted free agent -- in man-to-man coverage with no safety help .
Ruggs , who is one of the fastest players in the NFL , used his elite speed to create about two yards of separation and easily beat Jackson for the game-winning score .
Following the loss , Jets safety and team captain Marcus Maye openly criticized Williams ' decision .
Gase said he also questioned the blitz call and considered calling a timeout when he heard it in his headset .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to make the right calls and run the defense , '' said Gase , who noted that he never overruled one of Williams ' calls .
`` ...
I wish I would 've called timeout , but I did n't . ''
Williams , who was a key figure in the New Orleans Saints ' `` Bountygate '' scandal in 2012 , becomes the first member of Gase 's coaching staff to be fired this season .
Gase is on the hot seat and could be dismissed at the conclusion of the 2020-21 @ @

New York Jets defensive coordinator Gregg Williams (pictured), who was a key figure in the New Orleans Saints' "Bountygate" scandal in 2012, becomes the first member of Adam Gase's coaching staff to be fired this season. File Photo by Aaron Josefczyk/UPI | License Photo
Dec. 7 (UPI) -- Less than a day after his questionable decision to send an all-out blitz on the game-deciding play in Sunday's loss to the Las Vegas Raiders, New York Jets defensive coordinator Gregg Williams was fired in a Monday morning meeting. "Obviously, I wasn't happy about that call," Jets head coach Adam Gase told reporters when explaining his decision to dismiss Williams from the coaching staff. "That was a heartbreaking way for our guys to lose a game. For that to happen in that situation, we just ... we can't have that happen." Advertisement
Gase said he made the decision to fire Williams on Sunday night. He informed ownership and the front office Monday morning, with all sides in agreement that a change was needed.
Assistant head coach Frank Bush, who works with the Jets' inside linebackers, was named interim defensive coordinator for the team's remaining four games.
"Obviously, he wasn't happy, but it's our profession," Gase said. "We've all been in that situation where we've lost our jobs."
The Raiders dropped the Jets to 0-12 after a miraculous deep pass in the final seconds of Sunday's game. Derek Carr delivered a perfectly placed 46-yard touchdown pass to rookie wide receiver Henry Ruggs III with five seconds remaining to lift the Raiders to a stunning 31-28 win over the Jets.
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On that third-down play, Williams called a risky eight-man blitz in a situation that typically calls for max coverage. The Jets held a four-point lead and just needed to prevent Carr and the Raiders from beating them over the top.
The Cover-0 blitz left Jets rookie cornerback Lamar Jackson -- an undrafted free agent -- in man-to-man coverage with no safety help. Ruggs, who is one of the fastest players in the NFL, used his elite speed to create about two yards of separation and easily beat Jackson for the game-winning score.
Following the loss, Jets safety and team captain Marcus Maye openly criticized Williams' decision. Gase said he also questioned the blitz call and considered calling a timeout when he heard it in his headset.
"I hired Gregg because I trusted him to make the right calls and run the defense," said Gase, who noted that he never overruled one of Williams' calls. "... I wish I would've called timeout, but I didn't."
Williams, who was a key figure in the New Orleans Saints' "Bountygate" scandal in 2012, becomes the first member of Gase's coaching staff to be fired this season. Gase is on the hot seat and could be dismissed at the conclusion of the 2020-21 campaign.
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