ARCADIA, Calif. -- For the last quarter of a mile, Songbird and Beholder refused to yield. They ran neck-and-neck, with their Hall of Fame jockeys looking for the tiniest edge.Gary Stevens, aboard Beholder, called it just a street fight.The 6-year-old mare landed the final blow, with Beholder edging Songbird by a nose in the $2 million Distaff on opening day of the Breeders Cup on Friday at Santa Anita.Even jockey Mike Smith had to agree it was an amazing, amazing race after his 3-year-old filly Songbird lost for the first time in 12 races.It was fun to be part of a battle, Stevens said. The show that those two just put on is worth the price of admission for everybody that showed up. This was horse racing at its best.It was a thrilling finish to the four Cup races, three of which involved New York-based long shots winning on an 80-degree day.Nine Cup races will be run on Saturday, capped by the $6 million Classic in which California Chrome is the early favorite.Beholder ran 1 1/8 miles in 1:49.20 and paid $8.60, $3.60 and $3 as the 3-1 third choice.Ive had some good feelings in racing, but this is tops right here, said Stevens, a three-time Kentucky Derby winner.It was Beholders third Cup victory, having won the Distaff in 2013 and the Juvenile Fillies in 2012. She was supposed to have run in last years Classic at Keeneland against male horses, but developed a fever.The Distaff was Beholders final career race, ending on her home track, where she was never worse than second in 16 starts at Santa Anita. She finished with 18 career victories. The 6-year-old mare is a three-time Eclipse Award winner.She was really at her best, Hall of Fame trainer Richard Mandella said.Songbird returned $3.20 and $2.80 as the even-money favorite. The loss spoiled her 11-0 career record.You saw the real Beholder show up today, maybe even the best race she ever ran in her life, Smith said, and she had to do it to beat us.When the win photo was shown on the video board, the announced crowd of 45,763 roared at the slight margin between Beholder and Songbird, who was along the rail with Beholder on her outside.It was closer than I thought it was, Stevens said.Songbird set the pace through the early stages of the race, with Im a Chatterbox and Beholder in close pursuit.On the far turn, Im a Chatterbox and Beholder both went after Songbird but by the top of the stretch it was a two-horse duel Beholder and the 3-year-old filly. They kept it up through the stretch, with neither horse willing to give an inch. Nor were their jockeys: the 53-year-old Stevens and 51-year-old Smith.I put my head in front and Songbird came back again, Stevens said. She put Songbird away three different times through the stretch, and she kept coming back, like she wouldnt go away.Smith thought he could put a length or two between his filly and Beholder when they got to the far turn.But, man, she jumped on me, he said of Beholder. I couldnt do it.Stevens let out a pretty loud holler just past the finish line.Coming down the stretch, I was riding with my head down, riding for all I was worth, he said. I was thinking that finish line has got to be coming.Mandella earned his ninth career Cup victory, along with sharp farewell from Beholder.She kicked me on the way up, he said. Shes 90 percent of the time the sweetest thing you could find. The other 10 percent is dynamite.Forever Unbridled was another 1 1/4 lengths back in third and paid $4.40 to show.Stellar Wind, the 5-2 second choice who finished second last year, finished fourth in the eight-horse field.Im a Chatterbox was fifth, followed by Curalina and Land Over Sea.Argentina-bred Corona Del Inca was euthanized after sustaining multiple fractures of her right front leg in the race.The mares injuries were much more serious than it appeared after she was pulled up at the top of the stretch by jockey Pablo Falero, according to on-call veterinarian Dr. Scott Palmer.He said Corona Del Incas injuries were so severe that there was no way she could be kept comfortable nor the prognosis be good for treatment. For those reasons she was euthanized.The days biggest upset belonged to Smith aboard 11-1 shot Tamarkuz, who won the $1 million Dirt Mile by 3 1/2 lengths for trainer Kiaran McLaughlin. It was Smiths 23rd career Cup victory; he leads all jockeys in victories and money won in the world championships.In the $1 million Juvenile Turf, 6-1 shot Oscar Performance won by 1 1/4 lengths, giving jockey Jose Ortiz and trainer Brian Lynch their first Cup victories.Trained by Chad Brown, 6-1 shot New Money Honey won the $1 million Juvenile Fillies Turf by a half-length under Javier Castellano. Joaquin Benoit Jersey .ca NBA Power Rankings, ahead of the Miami Heat and San Antonio Spurs. Wilmer Difo Jersey . Argentina winger Ezequiel Lavezzi and France midfielder Blaise Matuidi scored, with star striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic setting up both despite having a poor game by his high standards. Forward Eduardo gave Ajaccio the lead in the sixth minute after being set up by right winger Benjamin Andre, and the Corsican side looked comfortable in the first half, with the lively Johan Cavalli causing problems with his probing runs from midfield. http://www.officialnationalsgearshop.com/Nationals-Howie-Kendrick-Kids-Jersey/ .Y. -- The Buffalo Sabres have recalled forward Kevin Porter and defenceman Chad Ruhwedel from the minors as part of a five-player roster shuffle made by the NHLs worst team. Brian Goodwin Jersey .com) - The Edmonton Oilers and Vancouver Canucks both take aim at their first wins of the season on Saturday, as the Canucks open their home slate at Rogers Arena. Joe Blanton Jersey .ca NBA Power Rankings, ahead of the Miami Heat and San Antonio Spurs. MINNEAPOLIS -- Dallas Keuchel and the Houston Astros were given a welcomed do-over.The Minnesota Twins had their strong start washed away.The Astros-Twins game was postponed Wednesday night by rain that came in the top of the third inning and never quit, and Major League Baseball finally made the decision after a 2 1/2-hour delay.The game will be reset Thursday night as the second half of a doubleheader, following the regularly scheduled afternoon game. That means the 5-0 lead the Twins took off Keuchel, including Brian Doziers leadoff home run, has been erased.You get off to a good start against a good pitcher and youve got your best guy out there and youve just got to wipe it off the slate, Twins manager Paul Molitor said, with a hint of weariness in his voice. Unfortunate. Good for them.After the Twins tagged the 2015 American League Cy Young Award winner with four runs in the second, sending 10 batters to the plate as dark clouds rolled in and lightning flashed in the distance, the skies opened up and the fans hurried for cover.Twins starter Ervin Santana left the mound with a disappointed look with one out and a big lead in the third as the umpires waved the players off the field and the grounds crew hustled to retrieve the tarp. White umbrellas, designed to look like baseballs, were conveniently given away to the first 10,000 customers who entered.You never know how its going to end, but well take the restart, Astros manager A.J. Hinch said.The Astros, who began the day four games behind in the crowded AL wild card race, have gone 41-27 since May 22. Thats the third-best record in the major leagues since then. Part of the problem during the slow start was Keuchel, who is a mere 7-11 with a 4.56 ERA this season.He was coming off a three-hit shutout of division-leading Texas in his last turn, another sign he was getting back in a groove.Felt good. Felt like it was an extension of the last start. Next thing I know, theres five runs on the board, Keuchel said. So thats disappointing.Dozier hit what would have been his 24th home run of the season. Then the Astros let Keuchel downn with errors by third baseman Alex Bregman and shortstop Carlos Correa, leading to two unearned runs.ddddddddddddIll take this mulligan and hopefully come back next start hot, Keuchel said.PITCHING DECISIONSAstros RHP Chris Devenski will move from the bullpen to start the makeup game. LHP Kevin Chapman will be recalled from Triple-A Fresno as the 26th player for the night.LHP Tommy Milone, who was recently moved into relief after making 11 starts earlier this season, will take the mound for the Twins. LHP Andrew Albers will be brought up from Triple-A Rochester as the 26th player.TRAINERS ROOMAstros: RHP Luke Gregerson, who started the season as the closer, threw an aggressive bullpen session without trouble for his strained left oblique muscle. Hes eligible Friday to come off the DL, but Hinch said the decision has not yet been made. The team could have Gregerson throw again before activating him.Twins: RHP Trevor May was placed on the DL before the game with a lower back strain, an aggravation of an injury that cost him 23 games earlier in the season. May, who has a 4.89 ERA in 42 1/3 innings and leads relievers with 59 strikeouts, will see a specialist Thursday for further evaluation.TRY AGAINTwins rookie RHP J.T. Chargois, who was recalled from Triple-A Rochester to fill in for May, has returned for redemption with his 67.50 ERA. In his major league debut June 11 against Boston, Chargois gave up five runs while recording only two outs.Chargois, who was picked for the All-Star Futures Game, had a 1.29 ERA with 41 strikeouts in 35 innings for Rochester.I wanted to pick up where I left off, he said. I wanted to prove that was a mistake.UP NEXTThe Astros will send RHP Doug Fister (10-7, 3.47 ERA) to the mound for the first game Thursday. He has allowed only one run over 12 innings in two August starts. Rookie RHP Jose Berrios (2-2, 8.31 ERA) will pitch the first game for the Twins, his third turn since being called up for his second stint in the majors. Wholesale NFL Gear Black China NFL Jerseys Cheap Nike NFL Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys Stitched NFL Jerseys China Jerseys Wholesale Cheap Jerseys Online Stitched NFL Jerseys Wholesale NFL White Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys Outlet White NFL Jerseys Cheap Wholesale Jerseys Free Shipping Cheap Nike NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys Camo Cheap Jerseys Free Shipping ' ' '