In the early evening of June 6, 2015, with more than half of the thoroughbred racing season still to go, the contest for 2015 Horse of the Year was over. It didnt matter what American Pharoah would do, or not do, from that point forward. After becoming the first horse to win the Triple Crown in 37 years, there wasnt any doubt whatsoever, even with so many important races yet to be decided, that American Pharoah had clinched Horse of the Year honors.In truth, 2015 was an aberration, because youre just not supposed to know the Horse of the Year that early. This, not surprisingly, is a very different year.(American Pharoah, of course, also accomplished very important things after his Triple Crown, romping in the Haskell and Breeders Cup Classic.)This 2016 racing season, while different, is actually unfolding in a totally conventional manner. At this point, some divisions seem crystal clear, while others are there for the taking. And Horse of the Year is far from settled, which adds an extra layer of intrigue to each weekends major stakes events.Last week, Songbird shipped all the way east for the first time to compete in Saratogas Coaching Club American Oaks and crushed Carina Mia, arguably the second-best 3-year-old filly in the country, to extend her unbeaten streak to nine. In the process, Songbirds lead for the championship of her division, already very large, likely became insurmountable.Also last week, California Chrome made a successful return to U.S. racing at Del Mar with a thrilling victory in the San Diego Handicap. California Chrome is arguably the current leader for Horse of the Year and top older dirt male on the strength of his powerful victory in the Dubai World Cup.However, the Dubai Cup was run half a world away, and California Chromes two victories this year on these shores came in Grade 2 races. So while merely winning last week means he lost nothing in terms of Eclipse Award position, the above combined with the fact that Dortmund gave him everything he wanted in the San Diego says California Chrome hasnt clinched anything yet.There are major championship considerations at stake this weekend, too. The amazing Beholder, already a three-time Eclipse Award winner, again meets last years champion 3-year-old filly, Stellar Wind, in Saturdays Grade 1 Clement L. Hirsch Stakes at Del Mar. Beholder toyed with Stellar Wind in last months Grade 1 Vanity, and if she wins again (shes going for her ninth straight score), Beholder will make it only more difficult to overtake her in the older female division while enhancing her very live Horse of the Year candidacy.On Saturday at Saratoga, Flintshire -- whose victory in the Grade 1 Manhattan on the Belmont Stakes undercard in his only start this year was so impressive that it made him the clear leader in the male turf division -- goes in the Grade 2 Bowling Green Stakes. Flintshire is in a tricky spot. He is an absolute layover on paper, and if he doesnt win, and win big, it could hurt his title position, even if the Bowling Green is only a bridge to bigger and better races.But perhaps the biggest Eclipse Award implications this weekend involve the 3-year-old male division, in the Grade 1 Haskell Sunday at Monmouth Park and in the Grade 2 Jim Dandy, also Saturday at Saratoga and the local springboard to the critical Travers Stakes on Aug. 27.The Jim Dandy came up very salty with Creator and Destin, just a nose apart when first and second in the Belmont Stakes, and Mohaymen, who was the favorite for the Kentucky Derby until Nyquist handed him his first defeat in the Grade 1 Florida Derby.However, as solid as the Jim Dandy is, the Haskell carries greater importance. This Haskell is being billed as a renewal of the rivalry between Kentucky Derby winner Nyquist and Preakness winner Exaggerator, a meeting made possible by the surprising and abrupt rerouting of Exaggerator from Saratoga to Monmouth. But Im not sure it is as much of a rivalry right now as the public relations folks would have you think.Exaggerator was 0-for-3 against Nyquist before finally getting the best of him in the Preakness, but an ugly 11th as the favorite in the Belmont Stakes (a race Nyquist missed due to illness) served to refocus the spotlight on the questions Exaggerator must address.Simply put, Exaggerator must prove he is not a creation of wet tracks and incredibly favorable pace setups. The three best races Nyquist ever ran, and by a long way, were his wins in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby and Preakness and his second to Nyquist in the Kentucky Derby. The thing is, Exaggerator caught wet tracks in those outings -- the official track condition for the Kentucky Derby was fast, but a heavy rainstorm right before the race left standing water in spots. And perhaps even more important, all three of those races featured scorching early paces that favored Exaggerators late kick. Exaggerator got neither a wet track nor a fast pace in the Belmont, and the result was not pretty.Nyquist has no such questions to address. Even though last years champion 2-year-old male lost for the first time in the Preakness after winning the first eight starts of his career, people are wisely not holding that defeat against him. Handicappers know that the outcome of the Preakness might have been very different had Nyquist not foolishly and needlessly been involved in a senseless early speed duel, and they give him credit for finishing as well as third. Moreover, Nyquists game try was certainly no surprise because he was on top of that very fast early pace in the Kentucky Derby -- the pace that set up so well for Exaggerator -- and still won decisively.The 3-year-old male division still goes through Nyquist, and he could take a huge step toward locking up another divisional title with a win in the Haskell. Forrest Lamp Jersey .J. -- Seven games into a disappointing season, New York Giants defensive catalyst Jason Pierre-Paul is getting the feeling hes back. LaDainian Tomlinson Jersey . -- Washington Redskins tight end Fred Davis was charged Thursday with driving while intoxicated, a day after he was suspended for an NFL substance-abuse policy violation. http://www.chargersauthenticshop.com/Chargers-Spencer-Pulley-Draft-Jersey/ . Note: The Calgary Flames announced Tuesday that Sean Monahan would not be made available to Canadas World Junior team. Travis Benjamin Jersey . Fernandez, coached in Toronto by former two-time Olympic silver medallist Brian Orser, scored 267.11 points and is the first champion to successfully defend since Russias Evgeny Plushenko in 2005 and 2006. Justin Jones Jersey . -- Ryan Getzlaf grabbed the three pucks wrapped in tape and held them up to his chest in the Anaheim Ducks dressing room for a celebration nine seasons in the making. NEW YORK -- American qualifier Taylor Townsend nearly inaugurated the new Grandstand Stadium with an upset.The 20-year-old Townsend split the first two sets with two-time U.S. Open finalist Caroline Wozniacki in front of a near-capacity crowd of 8,000 in the new digs at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.With fans huddled in the shade of the west side awning on a 91-degree day and chanting her name, the 146th-ranked Townsend took a 4-3 lead in the third set with her solid lefty groundstrokes and slice backhands. But Wozniacki won the next three games, breaking Townsend for a 5-4 lead before serving out the 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 match.I could taste it, I was so close, said Townsend, who trains in the heat in Atlanta.Townsend turned around a 3-1 deficit in the first set to the delight of the crowd. Wozniacki took control early in the second set for a 3-0 lead. In the third, Townsend had several ill-advised drop shots, but she won a 29-shot rally for 30-30 and the game when Wozniacki stopped play to challenge a shot she thought was out.But the replay showed Townsends ball was in, and she took a 4-3 lead.It was a confidence-builder, because I know that for someone like her, she just thrives on rallies like that, Townsend said of Wozniacki, who ran the 2014 New York City Marathon. It proves something to me, that I can hang in rallies like that.The heat advisory was in effect, but neither player used the allowed break. Wozniacki went to the ice towel a few times just to stay cool.Wozniacki has slipped to No.dddddddddddd. 74 in the rankings after missing two months because of an injured ankle. She recently entered the Connecticut Open as a wild card and lost in the first round of a tournament shes won four times.At this point, Im just happy when Im healthy, she said. Thats been my focus this year, to try and get back to healthy and 100 percent body-wise. Its been a struggle, but I feel like Im there now.Wozniacki lives in New York part-time and has the comforts of home during the final major of the year.It just feels so good to be able to stay at home and cook and have chilled nights, she said.Townsend, who has a 34-16 singles record, won her qualifying matches last week to get into the main field at the U.S. Open. She was really happy to play the first match on the new court.I didnt realize how big it was until people started to come in and it started to get a little more packed, Townsend said. People started cheering. I was in awe. Its such a beautiful stadium.While Townsend reached the third round of the French Open in 2014 -- her best finish at a major -- shes content to learn from this experience on a big stage.I cant really beat myself up too much, Townsend said. Moments like these where I have played and left my heart out there -- and I know I could have done things better -- it just drives me more to want to get out on the court and fix it, just try and do better. Cheap Jerseys China NFL Jerseys China NFL Jerseys Wholesale Discount Basketball Jerseys Cheap NHL Jerseys Authentic Cheap Baseball Jerseys Free Shipping Cheapest College Jerseys Sale Cheap Football Jerseys China Nike NFL Jerseys Canada Wholesale NHL Jerseys From China MLB Jerseys Outlet Canada Wholesale NBA Jerseys Canada Store Cheap Soccer Jerseys China Cheap Authentic Jerseys Canada ' ' '