Belmont will bring end to entertaining Triple Crown

There's been a buzz about thoroughbred racing since the Kentucky Derby and it just might increase when the "What if?" Triple Crown comes to an end with the Belmont Stakes.

Think about it.

What if Maximum Security, the first colt across the finish line, had not interfered with eventual Preakness winner War of Will at the top of the stretch in the Derby?

Master Fencer has a workout at Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y., Friday, June 7, 2019. The 151st Belmont Stakes horse race will be run on Saturday, June 8, 2019. (AP PhotoSeth Wenig)

The incident led to a much-debated disqualification of Maximum Security that got people talking about horse racing.

What if a loose horse in the Preakness hadn't overshadowed War of Will's victory two weeks later at Pimlico in Maryland?

What will come next in the Belmont?

Exercise rider Joe Ramos rides Tacitus during a workout at Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y., Friday, June 7, 2019. The 151st Belmont Stakes horse race will be run on Saturday, June 8, 2019. (AP PhotoSeth Wenig)

Maybe it's trainer Mark Casse's War of Will winning the final leg in the 1½ mile Belmont Saturday for two thirds of the Triple Crown.

Of course, that would lead to: 'What if War of Will had not been fouled in Derby?' Might he have joined American Pharoah (2015) and Justify (last year) as recent Triple Crowns winners?

Casse insists his colt would've had a shot to win had he not been fouled.

Exercise rider Yosuke Kono rides Master Fencer during a workout at Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y., Friday, June 7, 2019. The 151st Belmont Stakes horse race will be run on Saturday, June 8, 2019. (AP PhotoSeth Wenig)

The questions and the chatter will go on. But that's positive for a sport dealing with a recent slew of thoroughbred deaths at tracks around the country.

"I think this has been a great Triple Crown for racing," said trainer Dale Romans, who is saddling longshot Everfast for the Belmont. "It's not a negative that's on TV. Its controversial issues on TV. If it was a negative issue, it would be different. Controversy is good. People love controversy, and it's got people talking about the game that had no idea about it."

The Belmont will have a field of 10. Tacitus and War of Will are clearly the colts to beat.

Horses arrive at sunrise for workouts at Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y., Friday, June 7, 2019. The 151st Belmont Stakes horse race will be run on Saturday, June 8, 2019. (AP PhotoSeth Wenig)

Trainer Bill Mott's Tacitus hasn't raced since being placed third in the Kentucky Derby. The colt also will have somewhat of a home-ice advantage since he regularly trains on the track known as "Big Sandy." The colt is sired by Tapit, the father of three of the last five Belmont winners.

Mott is cautiously optimistic about his chances.

War of Will is racing for the third time in five weeks. He is the only colt to compete in all three of the Triple Crown races this year.

"I have less concern about that now than if you had asked me that question two or three days after the Preakness," Casse said. "I would have said that is a huge concern. We know that horse pretty well and we think he is ready."

There are other interesting stories that could emerge Saturday.

The third choice in the race is Master Fencer at 8-1. The colt is looking to become the first horse bred, based or owned by Japanese connections to win the Belmont.

Roman's Everfast, who finished second in the Preakness at 29-1, will be looking for only his second win in 12 career starts.

There are other stories and there will probably be more "What ifs?" knowing how this Triple Crown has gone.

NBC horse racing analyst Randy Moss said he has heard as much talk about the Derby after this year as in any of the 39 Kentucky Derbies he has covered.

"People who know nothing about horse racing were saying: 'What do you think about this call?' Was it legitimate? Was it a bad call? Was it a good call?" Moss said.

Moss got a text message from a colleague at the NFL Network after the Preakness.

"If the (riderless) horse had finished first, would he have won the race?" Moss said.

The answer is no.

"Sometimes when these weird things happen, it can actually stimulate interest from the public in the sport," Moss said.

NOTES: John Velazquez is on the verge of setting a record for rides in the Belmont. The all-time leading jockey in North America with more than $400 million in purse earnings is scheduled for his 23rd Belmont ride Saturday aboard Intrepid Heart. He is currently tied at 22 with fellow Hall of Famer Eddie Arcaro. ... The most compelling race on the Belmont Stakes card might be the $1.2 million Metropolitan Handicap. The 1-mile race features Thunder Snow, the two-time winner of the Dubai World Cup, and McKinzie, fresh from a win in the Alysheba Stakes last month at Churchill Downs for Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert.

ATLANTA (AP) — The Atlanta Falcons' second consecutive road win was accompanied by regrets that the success came far too late to save a lost season.

The 26-19 win at Arizona on Sunday showed evidence of many of the reasons the Falcons entered this season with playoff expectations and are frustrated to be stuck with their eighth consecutive losing season.

Bijan Robinson topped 2,000 scrimmage yards for the season, providing more statistical evidence he ranks among the most dynamic running backs in the league and in franchise history. Kyle Pitts continued his late-season emergence to show he's one of the league's top tight ends. Quarterback Kirk Cousins accounted for three touchdowns.

With top wide receiver Drake London back on the field after missing four games with a knee injury, it was a strong reminder of Atlanta's talented playmakers. The Falcons (6-9) could still be in contention in the weak NFC South if they had played with more consistency when quarterback Michael Penix Jr. was running the offense before his season-ending surgery to repair the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee.

The back-to-back wins at Tampa Bay and Arizona show the Falcons haven't quit on coach Raheem Morris since being eliminated from postseason contention but also show they failed to realize their potential.

"It was nice to be able to get Drake out there with Kyle and Bijan to see what our weapons really look like to show guys what this team should look like on a consistent basis every time we’re out on the football field,” Morris said.

Robinson and Tyler Allgeier each had 16 carries and the Falcons were rewarded for their commitment to the running game. Robinson rushed for 76 yards and had seven catches for 92 yards and a touchdown. Allgeier ran for 79 yards.

Robinson's 168 scrimmage yards gave him an NFL-leading six games with 150 or more this season and 2,026 for the season. Robinson joined Jamal Anderson (1998) and William Andrews (1981 and 1983) as the only players in franchise history with 2,000 scrimmage yards in a season.

Andrews set the team record with 2,176 scrimmage yards in 1983. Robinson needs 150 yards to reach Andrews' mark.

“That would be awesome,” Robinson said.

While the Atlanta defense was focused on containing tight end Trey McBride, Arizona averaged 5.7 yards per carry while running for 132 yards. McBride had four catches for only 27 yards.

“I won’t use that as an excuse but we definitely had a focus and he’s definitely the game-wrecker for this football team,” said Morris of McBride. "We wanted to go out there and really focus our energy on McBride but that’s no excuse. We have got to play better in the run game and we will.”

C.J. Henderson, signed from the practice squad on Saturday, made a diving interception with 1:30 remaining to clinch the win. The cornerback's fourth career interception was his first since 2022 with Carolina. Henderson was the No. 9 overall pick by Jacksonville in the 2020 draft. Henderson, 27, likely earned an opportunity to play more in the final two games in what could be an audition for a role in 2026.

Robinson joked that LT Jake Matthews is facing extra practice time after he failed to catch a potential 1-yard touchdown pass from Cousins in the fourth quarter. Players were pulling for Matthews, who has the NFL's longest active streak with 186 consecutive starts, to score on the play that had been worked on in practice.

“’I told Jake, ‘It’s OK, we are going to run this play again,’” Robinson said before adding “But I was like, ‘In practice, it’s going to be grueling. You’re going to be on the jugs machines, you’re going to make sure that we get you again.’ I wanted that one for him for sure.”

London had three catches for 27 yards on eight targets. London had a scare he may have aggravated the knee injury in the second half when he limped off the field and threw his helmet in frustration. He returned to the game. CB Mike Hughes was inactive with an ankle sprain. CB A.J. Terrell left the game in the fourth quarter with an undisclosed injury, creating the need for Henderson to be on the field for his crucial interception.

395. Pitts had seven catches for 57 yards and a touchdown, giving him 395 receiving yards in the past four games. It is the most yards by a tight end in a four-game span in franchise history. Pitts had at least six receptions in each of the four games. He has set career highs with 80 catches and five touchdown receptions this season. He has 854 receiving yards, the second most in his career behind his 1,026 yards as a rookie in 2021.

The Falcons return home to face the Los Angeles Rams (11-4) on Monday night. The Rams lost 38-37 in overtime at Seattle on Thursday night.

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins speaks during a news conference after an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson speaks during a news conference after an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins speaks during a news conference after an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts Sr. (8) runs against Arizona Cardinals linebacker Akeem Davis-Gaither (27) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson (7) scores a touchdown against the Arizona Cardinals during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)