In this image provided by The Maryland Jockey Club, husband and wife, jockey Sheldon Russell and trainer Brittany Russell, pose for a photo in the winner's circle with son Rye and daughter Edy, after Point Dume won the third race, Dec. 31, 2023, at Laurel Park in Laurel, Md. (Jim McCue/The Maryland Jockey Club via AP)

Russell could

make history

(AP) — Brittany Russell has a chance to make horse racing history as the latest woman to train a Triple Crown race winner. Following Cherie DeVaux’s Kentucky Derby win and Jenna Antonucci’s Belmont victory, Russell aims to complete the sweep by winning the Preakness Stakes with Taj Mahal on Saturday.

The race takes place at Laurel Park, Russell’s home track, and her husband Sheldon is the jockey. This could make them the first married couple to win a Triple Crown race as trainer and jockey. Taj Mahal is a strong contender, unbeaten in three races at Laurel Park.

McIlroy

struggles

NEWTOWN SQUARE, Pa. (AP) — Rory McIlroy had a blister on his right pinky toe during practice rounds for the PGA Championship. That was the least of his worries Thursday at Aronimink.

The Masters champion suggested bashing driver and figuring it out from there would be the strategy. But he couldn’t figure out how to hit a fairway. The result was four straight bogeys at the end for 74. It’s been 27 years since a PGA champion started out by shooting 74 or worse, so he has his work cut out for him.

McIlroy hit only five fairways, none on the last eight holes.

Bryson DeChambeau shot a 6-over 76.

WNBA foul

calls rise

NEW YORK (AP) — The WNBA is trying to fix its physicality problem and is going through some growing pains during the opening week of the season. Fouls are up so far in the first week of the WNBA season with teams averaging 21.6 fouls. That’s up from 19.9 at the same point last year.

That number dropped over the course of the year with 17.5 fouls on average per game for each team. The increased fouls aren’t really leading a major increase in free throws with 21.9 being attempted this season to 21.4 last year at this point.

Oilers fire

Knoblauch

EDMONTON, Alberta (AP) — The Edmonton Oilers have fired coach Kris Knoblauch after losing in the first round of the playoffs. Knoblauch guided the Oilers to consecutive trips to the Stanley Cup Final after taking over as a midseason replacement when Jay Woodcroft was fired following a bad start in November 2023.

They are now set for their sixth coach in 12 seasons since Connor McDavid entered the NHL and became the best player in the world alongside fellow MVP Leon Draisaitl. General manager Stan Bowman dismissing Knoblauch seems to indicate he will remain in his job along with president of hockey operations Jeff Jackson.