July 26, 2026 8:26 am
MEADOWLANDS, PA — Al Papi led a sweep of the exacta for trainer Ron Burke in the $420,500 Delvin Miller Adios for 3-year-old male pacers on Saturday afternoon at Hollywood Casino at The Meadows. Driven by Yannick Gingras in the 60th edition of the Pace for the Orchids, Al Papi won on the front-end in 1:48.1, defeating stablemate Melillo. Starting from post four off a win in his elimination a week ago, Al Papi blasted out and cleared another Burke Brigade member in Frantic Hanover well before the 26.3 quarter. North America Cup champion Odds On Mr Mamba lined up third, followed by Burke-trained Melillo, who was able to slide down from post nine. At the half-mile marker, Al Papi was still on top, but behind him a two-wide Sweet Lovin Lou was trying to flush Melillo. Al Papi was strong on the front-end while Odds On Mr Mamba was only able to advance up to Gingras’ wheel as they raced on the backstretch for the final time. It looked like Al Papi was heading for a romping win passing three-quarters in 1:20.2, but he got rough-gaited for a bit on the final turn, which allowed the competition to get back into the race. Despite losing his momentum, Al Papi responded when asked by Gingras and wouldn’t let anybody go by, defeating the rallying Melillo by a head. Odds On Mr Mamba was third, followed by Frantic Hanover and Sweet Lovin Lou. “In the middle of the last turn, honestly I thought I was going to win by ten lengths. That’s how he felt,” Gingras said. “He was so strong and I had the plugs in. I was still just letting him rock, and he just got a little bumpy on me for a couple of strides. Once he gathered himself, I couldn’t get him going again. He just kind of lost his focus. Thankfully we still came out on top.” This was the third win in the Adios for both Gingras and Burke, but the first time they teamed up to capture it. “I’ve won it a few times, but never for the Burke Brigade. I know this race means the world to them, so it’s probably the most special one,” Gingras remarked.
July 26, 2026 7:25 am
BLAINE, Minn. (AP) — PGA Tour rookie Jackson Koivun shot a 61 in the third round of the 3M Open to take a three-stroke lead at 20-under par. Koivun set a tournament record with a 28 on the back nine at the TPC Twin Cities after eagles on Nos. 12 and 18. Emiliano Grillo and Ben Kohles each had 65s to tie for second at 17 under. Michael Brennan shot a 63 and shared fourth with Chandler Phillips at 16 under. Denny McCarthy, Billy Horschel and Michael Kim were in sixth at 15 under. Top-ranked Scottie Scheffler was tied for ninth at 14 under.
July 26, 2026 7:23 am
CHICAGO (AP) — Jonquel Jones had 22 points, 13 rebounds and eight assists, helping Caitlin Clark and Team Spoon outlast Marina Mabrey and Team Coop 129-122 in the WNBA All-Star Game. Dominique Malonga had a first-half dunk for Team Coop, but Team Spoon had eight players score in double figures in an All-Star Game that featured 127 3-point attempts and very little defense. Allisha Gray had 19 points for Team Spoon, and Clark finished with 17. The WNBA celebrated its 30th season by holding its first All-Star Game in Chicago since 2022.
July 26, 2026 7:27 am
PARIS (AP) — Tadej Pogacar is poised to win a record-equaling fifth Tour de France title when the showcase race ends with its final stage. Barring mishap or a crash, the 27-year-old Slovenian star will join Belgian Eddy Merckx, Spaniard Miguel Indurain and Frenchmen Jacques Anquetil and Bernard Hinault as the only men to win five Tours. He has a big lead of 6 minutes, 26 seconds over Belgian rider Remco Evenepoel. Pogacar had won five stages and 26 overall heading into Sunday’s 21st stage, an 88.7-kilometer (55-mile) loop around Paris scheduled to start just before 6 p.m. local time.
July 25, 2026 3:34 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Dansby Swanson hit an RBI single and Seiya Suzuki drew a bases-loaded walk in the 10th inning as the Chicago Cubs held on for a 3-2 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Friday night. Swanson’s single scored automatic runner Ian Happ, who barely beat center fielder Jake Mangum’s throw to make it 2-1. The call was upheld after a video review. Suzuki’s walk came off Yohan Ramírez (6-3). Gavin Holliwell allowed a run on Nick Gonzales’ groundout in the bottom of the 10th but hung on for his first save. Caleb Thielbar (3-2) worked a scoreless ninth. The Pirates opened the scoring in the fifth inning on back-to-back walks to Marcel Ozuna and Brandon Lowe and consecutive infield singles by Jared Triolo and Henry Davis. Pittsburgh had the bases loaded with none out, but Matthew Boyd escaped the jam. Pete Crow-Armstong tied it at 1-1 in the sixth when he hit his 22nd home run of the season into the right-field stands off Jared Jones. Left fielder Happ helped to keep the score 1-1 in the seventh when he threw out Davis at home for an inning-ending double play. Crow-Armstrong also doubled in the third. Boyd surrendered only one run in seven innings despite giving up seven hits and three walks. The left-hander did not factor in the decision, but his six-game winning streak stayed intact. Jones pitched one-run ball over six innings, allowing two hits, striking out five and walking one. In his last four starts, Jones has given up three runs in 21 innings.
July 25, 2026 9:29 am
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — LeBron James has signed a two-year deal with the Philadelphia 76ers, joining Bryce Harper as another superstar in the city. Both athletes were teenage phenoms and top draft picks. Harper, who signed with the Phillies, expressed excitement about James’ arrival. LeBron’s influence extends beyond basketball, with endorsements and a massive global following. His decision to join Philly isn’t about money but the desire to compete and win. The 76ers have struggled to advance in the playoffs, but with LeBron, expectations are high. Fans are eager to see if he can lead them to a championship.
July 24, 2026 12:47 pm
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — LeBron James is heading to the Philadelphia 76ers. James made the announcement on social media, saying it will be his “last decision” and that it comes after he strongly considered retirement. James says “I believe I can help make the Philadelphia 76ers a championship team and I am so excited to energize a new fan base and start this incredible journey one last time.”
July 24, 2026 4:25 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Pittsburgh Pirates have acquired reliever Ron Marinaccio from San Diego on in exchange for signing bonus pool considerations. Pittsburgh made the move in the hopes of bolstering a bullpen that has faltered in key moments this season. The 31-year-old Marinaccio went 1-0 with a 4.79 ERA in 33 games this season for the Padres. Pittsburgh will be the right-hander’s third MLB stop. Marinaccio pitched for the New York Yankees from 2022-24. To make room for Marinaccio on the roster, Pittsburgh designated reliever Dennis Santana for assignment. Santana had 16 saves in 2025 but has struggled this year.
July 24, 2026 4:28 am
LAS VEGAS (AP) — An investment group that includes ex-Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban has bought a minority stake in the Athletics in anticipation of their move to Las Vegas in 2028. Thursday’s announcement by Harbinger Sports Group did not say what percentage of the Athletics it had acquired. Cuban is the general partner and president of the Atlanta-based group. John Fisher is the majority owner of the A’s and is overseeing construction of a $2 billion, 33,000-capacity domed stadium on the Las Vegas Strip. The Athletics are currently playing in West Sacramento, California.
July 24, 2026 4:26 am
HENDERSON, Nev. (AP) — Quarterback Fernando Mendoza, the top overall pick in this year’s draft, signed a four-year, $57.27 million contract with the Las Vegas Raiders on Thursday. The Raiders hold a fifth-year option. Mendoza was the last of the Raiders’ 10 draft picks to sign. He ran the third-team offense in organized team activities and minicamp, but is expected to take on a larger role in training camp, which begins Wednesday. Veteran Kirk Cousins, who signed a free-agent contract worth $20 million guaranteed, enters camp as the No. 1 quarterback.
