Sports Briefs

Three-timer for Bridgmohan

LOUISVILLE, Kentucky (CMC):

Jamaican jockey Shaun Bridgmohan produced a stalking ride aboard 5-1 chance Noble Bird and then held off a late bid from favourite Lea, to win the US$500 000 Stephen Foster Handicap by a neck at Churchill Downs on Saturday.

Going a mile and eighth for the three-year-olds and upward, Bridgmohan swept the four-year-old chestnut colt to the front on the final turn before battling a fast-finishing Lea to the wire, to win in a time of one minute, 47.94 seconds.

Paganol, at lengthy odds of 16-1, set the pace early on with fractions of 23.39 seconds for the quarter and 46.81 for the half. Noble Bird raced restrained in second, with Lea sat back in fourth but within striking distance.

Nadal takes

Mercedes Cup

STUTTGART, Germany (AP):

Rafael Nadal defeated Viktor Troicki 7-6 (3), 6-3 yesterday to win the Mercedes Cup for the third time and claim his first title on grass since Wimbledon in 2010.

The top-seeded Spaniard, who had no aces in his semi-final win over Gael Monfils, ended the first set tiebreaker with an ace - his ninth. Nadal saved the only break point he faced.

"I'm really, really happy. It's my second win this year and it gives me a lot of confidence," said Nadal, after his 66th career victory and fourth on grass.

Nadal was made to work hard against Bernard Tomic and Marcos Baghdatis in the early rounds, but improved as the tournament progressed and looks to be in good shape for Wimbledon.

"It was a great week for me," Nadal said.

Singles titles for

Mahut, Giorgi

Netherlands (AP):

Frenchman Nicolas Mahut won his third career title after beating second-seeded David Goffin 7-6 (1), 6-1 at the Topshelf Open yesterday, while fifth-seeded Camila Giorgi of Italy won the women's final.

Giorgi clinched her first career title with a 7-5, 6-3 win against Swiss teenager Belinda Bencic.

Goffin had more aces than Mahut - four compared to two - but failed to convert any of his three break points. Mahut, who won here in 2013, broke Goffin three times.

Mahut mixed his game up well with driving passing shots and slices. After closing out the win with a volley, he thrust his arms in the air.

The 33-year-old Frenchman's other title was also on grass two years ago at Newport, Rhode Island.