Nadal stunned at Wimbledon by unknown Rosol

WIMBLEDON, England — Chasing a drop shot in the second set, Rafael Nadal stumbled and tumbled into the net as his racket went flying to the sideline.

It just wasn’t his day. Nadal rose slowly to cheers from the Wimbledon crowd but found himself off balance the rest of the way and made his earliest Grand Slam exit since 2005.

Nadal was overpowered in the second round Thursday by Lukas Rosol, a Czech ranked No. 100, 6-7 (9), 6-4, 6-4, 2-6, 6-4.

The 26-year-old Rosol earned the biggest win of his career playing in Wimbledon’s main draw for the first time. He lost each of the past five years in the first round of qualifying.

As the match stretched beyond dusk, the conclusion came with the retractable roof closed for the final set on Centre Court. The upset on tennis’ biggest stage was no fluke: Rosol served brilliantly and repeatedly stepped instead the baseline to hit aggressive groundstrokes, while Nadal found himself pinned deep and on the defensive.

Among those shocked by the result was Rosol.

“I’m not just surprised; it’s like a miracle for me,” he said. “I never expected something like this.”

Nadal saved three set points to win the opening set, but his demeanor grew glum as Rosol overtook him. After falling behind in the third set, Nadal grumbled to the chair umpire during a changeover, apparently irritated by Rosol’s movements as he awaited serves.

“I was concentrating on myself,” Rosol said. “I don’t know what he was complaining about.”

Two games later, Nadal bumped into Rosol — and didn’t acknowledge the contact — as they walked to their chairs for a break.

Rosol exhaled before hitting his final shot, which was his 22nd ace. He fell to his knees, arms up, then collapsed face down on the famous grass. He then rose and shook hands at the net with a frowning Nadal.

“I think I was better today a little bit,” Rosol said.

Rosol became the lowest-ranked player to defeat Nadal in a major tournament. The 6-foot-5, 178-pound Czech lost only 16 points on his first serve, cracked his returns into the corners and won 22 of 28 points at the net.

In short, it was a complete performance that had spectators wondering why they’d never heard of him before. Nadal lost despite committing only 16 unforced errors in 276 points.

The Spaniard had reached the final in the past five Grand Slam tournaments, and had played in the final of his past five Wimbledons.

It was a good day for Americans — Serena Williams, Andy Roddick, Mardy Fish and No. 126-ranked Brian Baker advanced, as did No. 28-seeded Christina McHale and Varvara Lepchenko.

Maria Sharapova’s old serving problems resurfaced, costing her the second set before she recovered to beat dangerous Tsvetana Pironkova, 7-6 (3), 6-7 (3), 6-0. The Court 1 match took two days and ended three minutes after Williams concluded her victory on Centre Court, beating qualifier Melinda Czink 6-1, 6-4.

Defending champion Petra Kvitova, seeded fourth, advanced by beating Elena Baltacha of Britain 6-0, 6-4.

Roddick advanced to the third round at a Grand Slam tournament for the first time in 2012 when he beat Bjorn Phau 6-3, 7-6 (1), 6-3. Roddick is seeded only 30th and fended off questions in recent months about retirement before he won his fifth grass-court title last week as a wild card at Eastbourne.

British hopeful Andy Murray faced only one break point and beat big-serving Ivo Karlovic 7-5, 6-7 (5), 6-2, 7-6 (4). Kei Nishikori became the first Japanese man in 17 years to reach the third round at Wimbledon by beating Florent Serra 6-3, 7-5, 6-2.

Sara Errani committed only five unforced errors and beat Anne Keothavong of Britain 6-1, 6-1. The 25-year-old Errani, an Italian who has blossomed in Grand Slam competition this year, matched her best Wimbledon showing by advancing to the third round.

Nadal broke twice in the fourth set to even his match, and gathering darkness made lights necessary for the final set. Tournament officials suspended play for 45 minutes so the roof could be closed.

Nadal was clearly unhappy that the delay interrupted his momentum, shaking his head and frowning when advised of the situation by an official.

Serving to start the final set, Nadal shanked a groundstroke on the first point and was broken when he failed to put away an overhead. Rosol easily held from there, winning his final 13 service points, seven with aces.

Nadal won a record seventh French Open championship this month and was bidding for his third title at Wimbledon, where he was runner-up last year to Novak Djokovic.

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The Bronx tops Queens as new Battle of the Boroughs format gets underway

The Bronx knocked off Queens in the first contest in the Battle of the Boroughs – but unlike the previous two years, this was just the beginning.

The Battle of the Boroughs was previously a one-day event featuring all four boroughs in August, but now the teams will play a series of scrimmages to set up seeding for the one-day tournament in August.

The entire schedule will be announced in the coming days, with all games played Rivington Court, the newly-built home for Team Nike 2 – a professional streetball all-star team which will face other star-studded teams on a weekly basis this summer on the Lower East Side.

Robert Cole

DayshonSmith scored seven points, including a big dunk, in The Bronx's 65-48 win over Queens in the first Battle of the Boroughs scrimmage.

Photos: Battle of the Boroughs

“Now it formalizes into a program, not just a game,” Bronx coach Bernard Bowen said. “That’s something that the kids can look forward to.”

In the opener on Wednesday, Deandre Bembry of St. Patrick (N.J.) scored 14 points, Terry Larrier of Our Savior Lutheran had nine points, Christ the King’s Adonis DeLaRosa added eight points and Putnam Science Academy’s (Conn.) Dayshon Smith had seven as The Bronx knocked off Queens, 65-48, Wednesday night. Boys & Girls’ Rashad Andrews scored 15 points for Queens and Holy Cross’ Marquise Moore had 14.

"It gives us a chance to feel each other out and see what we are up against," said Long Island Lutheran forward Kentan Facey, who played for Queens.

The highly recruited Smith, who has scores of mid-major offers and is beginning to compile high-major interest, had the play of the game, a steal and right-handed slam over Andrews, who prides himself on his defense.

“I got sneaky athleticism,” said the 6-foot-2 point guard who is playing with the New York Lightning this summer. “A lot of people don’t know I can jump. … I told my teammate [Adonis DeLaRosa] it was going to happen, not particularly on [Andrews]. I felt I was going to dunk on somebody. It was that type of night.”

Andrews laughed it off afterward, in front of Smith, though it was no laughing matter during the game as the facial was replayed on the big screen several times.

“He got lucky,” Andrews said.

Andrews will have a chance at redemption and the next time Queens takes the floor together, it will likely have former St. John’s and Dayton commit Jevon Thomas and national prospect Jermaine Lawrence, neither of whom were on hand on Wednesday. The Bronx, it should be noted, was without Chris McCullough, considered one of the top players in the country in the Class of 2014.

"It's better," DeLaRosa said of the new format. "Now we are going to play with and against each other throughout the summer."

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Devils won’t stop Oates from seeking head coaching job

The Devils have granted assistant coach Adam Oates permission to seek a head coaching job, with the Capitals said to be a possible destination.

“We have given Adam permission to talk to one team,” general manager Lou Lamoriello told The Post yesterday.

Oates has been an assistant under John MacLean, Jacques Lemaire and Pete DeBoer during the past two seasons. A former center, Oates stands 16th all-time with 1,420 points with the Red Wings, Bruins, Caps, Flyers, Ducks and Oilers.

Meanwhile, Devils defenseman Mark Fayne will be out until October after undergoing surgery to repair a ligament in his left wrist Friday. Lamoriello said the ailment nagged Fayne through the end of the season and playoffs.

Getty Images

Devils' assistant coach Adam Oates.

The Devils protected their Group 2 free agent compensation rights with Fayne, defenseman Matt Corrente and forward Vladimir Zharkov. They did not qualify goaltender Timo Pielmeier nor forward Kory Nagy, prospects who become unrestricted free agents.

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GAMETRACKER: Mets at Cubs

Follow live as the Mets take on the worst-in-baseball Cubs at Wrigley Field.

Johan Santana gets the start for the Mets against Chicago lefty Travis Wood.

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Soccer Victory Ignites Greeks Before Election

Associated Press

Greek players celebrate their 1-0 win at the end of the Euro 2012 soccer championship Group A match between Greece and Russia in Warsaw, Poland on Saturday night.

Do politics and sports intersect? Greece's miraculous defeat of Russia in Europe's quadrennial soccer tournament on Saturday night offers one of the most interesting test cases in years.

Greeks haven't had much to cheer for lately. Their economy is in free-fall. Their future in the euro zone is in doubt. Talk of hoarding food, gasoline and cash is rampant.

At times like this, soccer would seem like a distraction. Instead, on Saturday night, Greece's national team captivated the country -- and the continent -- by pulling off a 1-0 upset victory against the mighty Russians. The nail-biting win means Greece will advance to the quarter-final round of the Euro 2012 tournament in Poland and Ukraine later this coming week -- a stunning outcome for a team and a country widely dismissed as at best second-tier in one of the world's premier soccer competitions.

Photos: Greece Upsets Russia

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Associated Press

Greek players celebrated their win.

Russia, meanwhile, will go home.

The victory ignited celebrations throughout central Athens. Joyous Greeks poured into the streets, some toting the country's blue-and-white flag.

Hours later, Greeks will be filing into voting booths in a national election that many experts say could determine the fate of the 17-country euro zone.The question is whether the national victory on the soccer pitch will sway the too-close-to-call elections.

It wouldn't be the first time that an international sporting event had outsized political repercussions. In February 1980, the U.S. hockey team stunned a much-favored Soviet Union to win gold in the Lake Placid, N.Y., Olympics. That victory -- later dubbed the "Miracle on Ice" -- came to be regarded as a Cold War turning point.

It's not clear how Greece's surprise win on Saturday will play in the Sunday ballot.

In an Athens bar on Saturday night, reveling Greeks were divided when asked about the likely electoral impact of their team's win against the favored Russian squad.

Some thought it would help Syriza, the far-left conglomeration of underdogs that has pitched itself as the fresh-start party of hope.

Others argued that the win in a pan-European tournament could lend credence to the New Democracy party, which emphasizes Greece's place in the European family.

Either way, Saturday's upset sets the stage for a match next week that will be dripping in political symbolism. Greece appears likely to face off against Germany in the tournament's quarter-final round. In the epic drama that is the euro-zone crisis, Greece for the past three years has played the role of nettlesome child. Germany has been the unforgiving parent.

(Greece came in second place in its group, and it's slated to square off against the top squad in the tournament's Group B. Germany currently leads the group, but the final rankings won't be known until Sunday night, after Germany plays Denmark in Ukraine.)

In a tournament that's rich in past and present geopolitical rivalries, the Greece vs. Germany showdown would likely top the list.

Write to David Enrich at david.enrich@wsj.com and Charles Forelle at charles.forelle@wsj.com

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Calder Graded Entries

Post Time: 12:55 p.m.

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8-1

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12-1

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3-Scaladora

12-1

10-AndreasDream

3-1

4-Elsie'sPrncess

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11-Senorarita

20-1

5-Warrntr'sBelle

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TENTH-1 1/8 miles(T); $55,000; 3up

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10-1

11-WheresSterlng

7-2

5-El Romano

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30-1

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3-Trippin' Along

10-1

10-DchssDenyse

15-1

4-Marie's Music

15-1

11-FlattrMeLucky

8-1

5-StarshpAshley

15-1

12-Giant Emily

12-1

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Yonkers Graded Entries

Post Time: 7:10 p.m.

Best Bet: Orange Bigi (4th)

FIRST: mile pace; $11,500; claiming

2 J A's Outlaw

(JPantaleano)

2-7-6

3-1

4 Lodi Governor

(MacDonald)

1-7-7

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7 Mattjestic Art

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3-1-6

4-1

1 Mcardles Star

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7-3-1

5-1

3 Jazz Band

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5-8-7

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5 Letthemagicbegin

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5-7-2

10-1

6 Essential Signs

(JStratton)

3-4-7

15-1

8 Dontakeyourguns

(Stalbam)

4-2-2

5-1

SECOND: mile trot; $23,000; cond

3 CelticMerchant

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2-5-4

3-1

7 Gotta Be Perfect

(Stalbaum)

8-1-6

5-1

5 SecondHandNews

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4-1

1 Genesis Royal Oak

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3-4-8

5-1

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3-4-1

8-1

4 Special Command

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2-6-6

8-1

6 Pass The Popcorn

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1-3-1

10-1

8 Trottin Troy

(JPantaleano)

6-8-7

15-1

THIRD: mile pace; $17,000; claiming

3 Lets Go Blue

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3-6-1

3-1

1 Bolder

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2-3-5

4-1

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5-2-6

5-1

2 Shando Hanover

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8-7-6

30-1

4 Forever Wild

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5-7-7

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6 Lebron

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3-2-5

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7 Manchine

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6-1

8 Don't Let Down

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4 Orange Bigi

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6 RapidStrategy

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6 Feeling You

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8-1

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3 QueenOfRoyalty

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5-1

5 Shaky Hanover

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8-1

8 Red Star Hottie

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6-1

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8 Blacktuxwhitesocks

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1-2-1

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4-1

4 Mm's Lucky Boy

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10-1

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12-1

2 SunOfAVictory

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10-1

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5-1

5 Bad Boy Billy

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6-5-1

20-1

6 Fox Valley Iliad

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6-1

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4 Kissmatt

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5-1

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2-6-5

4-1

2 Hf's Super Star

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2-2-3

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5-1

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12-1

8 Stratus

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15-1

TENTH: mile trot; $26,500; cond

1 Photo King

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7-2-7

5-1

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4-7-6

4-1

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1-3-4

8-1

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2-6-6

6-1

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5 Questions for... John McEnroe

Outspoken former tennis star John McEnroe will be calling Wimbledon for ESPN starting Monday, the first time the company, across its numerous platforms, has had exclusive rights to the entire tournament. McEnroe spoke with The Post’s Brett Cyrgalis about some of the most intriguing storylines.

Q: Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic have won 28 of the past 29 men’s singles Grand Slam titles. Is that good for the game?

A: I think it’s good for the game, as far as the rivalry. Any one-on-one sport needs that. That [the lack of a rivalry] is what has hurt our sport for a while. It makes it more interesting and now historic as what we’ve seen at the French [Nadal’s record seventh French Open win]. Andy Murray would be the next guy that would have the next best chance.

John McEnroe

Q: Aside from those you’ve already mentioned who, among the men, has the best chance to win?

A: I’d pick [Tomas] Berdych, [John] Isner, and [Jo-Wilfried] Tsonga as the best chance to upset those guys. I don’t know if anyone can do that; they would have to have a great day. If they’re going to beat those guys, they have to play Pete Sampras style, not get stuck in these types of rallies they’re getting stuck in. Grass is made for that type of big-shot tennis, holding serve.

Q: Federer will turn 31 on Aug. 8. When do you think he’ll stop being able to compete for Grand Slams?

A: That’s a question we’d all like to know the answer to. We’d all like to watch it play out. I’m picking him to win this year at Wimbledon. To me, Wimbledon is the best chance. He’s a lot better athlete than he’s given credit for. People are pulling for him, so he can use the crowd to his favor. He doesn’t show much on the court, and he might be losing out on something he can use.

Q: Serena Williams lost in the first round at the French while Maria Sharapova completed the career Grand Slam. What’s going on in the women’s game?

A: Basically, I would’ve thought Serena would’ve won one of the first two already. Unless I’m seriously misreading something, Serena and Maria have definitely distanced themselves. If Maria has problems with her serve, that’s going to be more of an issue because she’s not going to break [opponents’ serves] as easily on grass as on clay.

Q: Is Christina McHale, currently ranked No. 30, possibly the next big U.S. women’s player?

A: I hit with her on a handful of occasions, a month or so before the French. Each time, I’ve noticed improvement in her game. She listens well, she’s well-coached, she’s gotten in better and better shape. If she can develop more a sense of identity, she’ll already get to Top 20. But if she wants to get Top 10, she needs something that gets into the heads of her opponents.

bcyrgalis@nypost.com

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John McEnroe, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Wimbledon, Wimbledon, Maria Sharapova, Brett Cyrgalis, Pete Sampras, Grand Slam, Grand Slam, Serena Williams, online

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Delaware Park Results

FIRST-6f; $12,000; cl($6,250); 4up

1

Wld Apch (CstllnJr.)

3.40

2.80

2.10

6

Ncoles Prospect (Brcho)

8.40

3.40

5

Alex's Vision (Santiago)

2.10

Scr: Indy Krizz, Quarters.

* $1 Exacta (1-6) $11.60 * $1 Trifecta (1-6-5) $26.80

SECOND-1m&70y; $12,500; cl($10,000); 3up; (f&m)

3

Wth Class (Crbllo)

5.20

3.20

2.80

4

Sylv's Buttrcup (Hrnndz)

11.20

6.00

5

Will Unbridled (Rodriguez)

4.60

* $1 Daily Double (1-3) $5.40 * $1 Exacta (3-4) $30.70 * $1 Superfecta (3-4-5-7) $617.90 * $1 Trifecta (3-4-5) $165.60

THIRD-6f; $18,000; mdn cl($20,000); 3up

1

Risk On (Centeno)

9.20

3.60

2.80

3

Deridder (Molina,Jr.)

2.40

2.10

2

Slap Happy (Castillo)

2.80

* $1 Pick 3 (1-3-1) 3 Correct $27.80 * $1 Daily Double (3-1) $25.40 * $1 Exacta (1-3) $14.50 * $1 Superfecta (1-3-2-6) $148.40 * $1 Trifecta (1-3-2) $42.70

FOURTH-1m; $12,000; mdn cl($10,000); 3up

6

Iscndr (CstllnoJr.)

21.60

7.60

4.80

3

Holy Mo (Pedroza)

5.40

3.60

1

Kanati Kid (Rosario)

3.00

Scr: Risky Recovery.

* $1 Pick 4 (1/2-3-1-6) 4 Correct $289.60 * $1 Pick 3 (3-1-6) 3 Correct $185.70 * $1 Daily Double (1-6) $44.70 * $1 Exacta (6-3) $71.30 * $1 Superfecta (6-3-1-4) $1,646.50 * $1 Trifecta (6-3-1) $244.10

FIFTH-1 1/16m(T); $18,000; cl($16,000); 3up

6

Vglnt Lw (Cntron)

10.60

5.20

3.60

8

One Sunday (Diaz)

10.80

7.40

10

Dinner in Odem (Centeno)

4.60

Scr: Tizsilk, Warrensburg.

* $1 Pick 3 (1-6-6) 3 Correct $363.90 * $1 Daily Double (6-6) $104.60 * $1 Exacta (6-8) $66.30 * $1 Superfecta (6-8-10-5) $1,861.50 * $1 Trifecta (6-8-10) $376.50

SIXTH-1 1/16m; $36,000; mdn spcl wt; 3YO

5

Colony Strk (Crbll)

4.40

3.00

2.10

6

Dimension (Santana,Jr.)

5.80

3.00

3

Round Midnight (Centeno)

2.10

* $1 Pick 3 (6-6-5) 3 Correct $244.80 * $1 Daily Double (6-5) $11.30 * $1 Exacta (5-6) $16.70 * $1 Superfecta (5-6-3-1) $150.60 * $1 Trifecta (5-6-3) $32.40

SEVENTH-6f; $12,500; cl($10,000); 3up; (f&m)

5

Fry Rcktt (SntnJr.)

6.80

4.80

3.40

8

She's a Pistol (Ortiz)

16.80

9.20

4

Rebecca Mia (Canchari)

3.80

Scr: Great Motion, Flatter Me Up.

* $1 Pick 5 (1-6-6-5-5) 5 Correct $18,169.30 * $1 Pick 3 (6-5-5) 3 Correct $93.30 * $1 Consolation Pick 3 (6-5-2) 3 Correct $19.40 * $1 Trifecta (5-8-4) $222.30 * $1 Consolation Double (5-2) $2.20 * $1 Daily Double (5-5) $9.70 * $1 Exacta (5-8) $50.10 * $1 Superfecta (5-8-4-7) $625.70

Winner picked by Affrunti

EIGHTH-1m(T); $34,000; alw; 3up

6

Slp nd Drv (RccJr.)

6.60

3.80

3.00

5

Tme for Tutt (Karamnos)

4.60

2.80

12

Capital Fellow (Garcia)

7.20

Scr: Battle Harbour, Big Sur, Standup Comic.

* $1 Pick 4 (6-5-5-6) 4 Correct $376.30 * $1 Pick 3 (5-5-6) 3 Correct $49.50 * $1 Consolation Pick 3 (5-2-6) 3 Correct $10.20 * $1 Trifecta (6-5-12) $146.20 * $1 Superfecta (6-5-12-1) $795.50 * $1 Daily Double (5-6) $10.90 * $1 Exacta (6-5) $13.40

Double picked by Affrunti

NINTH-6f; $10,500; mdn cl($30,000); 3up; (f&m)

2

Elgnt Dncr Mhf (Rvr)

7.60

3.40

2.40

4

Rich Chick (Santana,Jr.)

3.00

2.80

3

A F Ania (Torres)

4.60

Scr: Destinee Lzp.

* $1 Pick 3 (5-6-2) 3 Correct $44.00 * $1 Daily Double (6-2) $15.50 * $1 Exacta (2-4) $9.60 * $1 Superfecta (2-4-3-1) $229.30 * $1 Trifecta (2-4-3) $63.60

Attendance unavailable.

Handle $51,787.

Total Handle $1,788,768.

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Florida St. eliminates UCLA

OMAHA, Neb. — Scott Sitz gave up five hits and struck out eight in a season-high 6 2-3 innings, and Florida State eliminated UCLA from the College World Series with a 4-1 victory last night.

Florida State (50-16) plays Arizona tomorrow, needing to beat the Wildcats twice to reach the championship round.

No. 2 seed UCLA (48-16) was knocked out a day after No. 1 Florida was eliminated from the opposite bracket.

Sitz (4-3) had not made it through five innings in six of his past seven outings. The junior held the Bruins to two singles through five innings and struck out the side in the sixth after UCLA loaded the bases.

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