Anaheim Ducks defenceman Luca Sbisa will be o

Churchill Downs will award a Japanese horse an automatic berth in next years Kentucky Derby under a new program assigning points to participants in two Japanese stakes races, the track announced on Monday.The two one-mile dirt races at Tokyo Racecourse will be the Cattleya Sho for 2-year-olds on Nov. 26 and the Hyacinth for 3-year-olds, expected to be run early in 2017, according to a release from Churchill and the Japan Racing Association.The two-race series is structured along the lines of a points system Churchill implemented in 2013 to designate starters in the Kentucky Derby, which is the most prestigious race in North America. Under Churchills system, the top 20 points earners in a series of 2-year-old and 3-year-old stakes races are allowed to start in the Derby, provided the horses were nominated to the Triple Crown.The new Japanese series has the potential to reduce to 19 the number of Derby starting berths open to horses participating in the larger series. In a release, Churchill said the horse earning the most points in the two-race Japanese series will be offered an invitation to compete in the Derby, and if the invitation is accepted, one slot will be reserved for the Japanese horse.This year, Lani became only the second horse based in Japan to run in the Derby. Lani, who was bred in Kentucky, earned his spot in the Derby by winning the United Arab Emirates Derby, a Dubai race that is part of the points-based system established by Churchill for Derby qualifiers. Lani finished ninth in the Kentucky Derby under jockey Yutaka Take, who is enormously popular in Japan.The Kentucky Derby simulcast is not available in Japan, which strictly limits the number of foreign races that can be offered in the country for betting. Japans betting market is one of the largest in the world, however, and Churchill, like other U.S. companies, is eager to make inroads into the market.Also on Monday, Churchill said that the Grade 3 Sam F. Davis Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs would replace the Grey Stakes at Woodbine in the 2016-17 points series for the 2017 Derby. The Sam F. Davis is a dirt race for 3-year-olds usually held in February, while the Grey Stakes is a race for 2-year-olds conducted over Woodbines artificial surface. Jonathan Bernier Jersey . -- Arizona raced out to a big lead and did not back off, hitting the accelerator instead. Semyon Varlamov Jersey . Jason Zucker and Matt Cooke also scored for Minnesota, which has won five of six. Kuemper made five saves in the first, nine in the second, and nine in the third. The rookies best save came with 2:17 left in the third period when he denied former Wild forward Matt Cullen from just outside of the crease on the right side. http://www.cheapavalanchejerseys.com/?tag=adidas-nail-yakupov-jersey . The team said Saturday that Lopez was hurt during its 121-120 overtime loss at Philadelphia on Friday. The Nets said they would issue another update next week after consultation with their doctors. Matt Nieto Jersey . Note: The Calgary Flames announced Tuesday that Sean Monahan would not be made available to Canadas World Junior team. Sven Andrighetto Jersey . -- Anaheim Ducks defenceman Luca Sbisa will be out at least six weeks with a torn tendon in his right hand. WASHINGTON -- Solomon Mangham and Daman Collins each had double-double, Kofi Andoh scored 13 points and Howard beat Central Penn College 67-60 on Sunday night.Mangham had 17 points and 11 rebounds, Collins scored 15 with 12 boards and four assists and Marcel Boyd had 10 points.Howard (3-8) led by 12 at halftime and scored seven-straight points to take a 47-30 lead with 16:37 to play. Joel Zola had two fast-break layups as Central Penn responded with a 9-0 run and then he and Tyrie Orosco hit back-to-back 3s to make it 566-all with 4:39 left.dddddddddddd. Mangham answered with a jumper before Charles Williams hit a 3-pointer to cap an 8-2 spurt and the Bison led 64-58 about 2 1/2 minutes later. The Knights missed their last five shots and Mangham hit two free throws to cap the scoring with 25 seconds left.Orosco led Central Penn with 24 points on 10-of-16 shooting. Tyree Tucker had 10 points and seven assists. ' ' '