The Enquirer and wire reports

New Southern Miss coach Larry Eustachy made an interesting comment on the Bob Huggins situation to the Mobile (Ala.) Register.

Eustachy was fired by Iowa State officials after the 2002-03 season when it was discovered he partied with students after a game at Missouri; Huggins was suspended with pay by Cincinnati when he was arrested for a DUI last month.

"I think there's a big difference between the strength of their athletic director (Bob Goin) at Cincinnati and the strength of the administration at Iowa State," Eustachy said. "It takes a strong person to support their coach in that situation."

Jockey Day kicks off tour at RD on July 20

Hall of Famer Pat Day, the all-time winningest jockey at Keeneland and Churchill Downs, will ride at River Downs July 20 as part of his tour of 12 race tracks.

The 31-year reinsman also will greet fans and share his career highlights as part of fund-raising events to aid Race Track Chaplaincy of America. Day will return his mount fees to the horses' scheduled riders.

Day also will be the guest speaker at a $50-a-plate dinner in the Turf Terrace after the races at 7 p.m.

CHURCHILL DOWNS: Sibling trainers Greg and Vickie Foley will saddle contenders in the 5 1/2-furlong Grade III Debutante Stakes for 2-year-old fillies today.

Greg will saddle unbeaten morning-line favorite Sweet Miss El, while Vickie will send out 10-1 shot Jules Best.

• On Saturday, Quantum Merit, ridden by Shane Sellers, moved into the lead in mid-stretch and held on for a 1 1/2-length win in the $287,750 Firecracker Breeders' Cup.

BELMONT PARK: Peace Rules surged past Newfoundland and former Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Funny Cide to win the Grade I $500,000 Suburban Handicap.

HOLLYWOOD PARK: Long shot Ticker Tape beat favorite Dance in the Mood by a length to win the Grade I $750,000 American Oaks for 3-year-old fillies at Hollywood Park.

MONMOUTH PARK: Former Turfway Park stakes winner Request for Parole, under Edgar Prado, defeated Mr. O'Brien by a half-length in the Grade 1 $750,000 United Nations Stakes.

Soccer

MITTS SCORES WINNER: St. Ursula graduate Heather Mitts scored off Mia Hamm's corner kick in the 73rd minute to give the U.S. Women's team a 1-0 win over Canada.

The goal, Mitts' first in international play, helped the United States improve to 3-0-1 on its six-game exhibition tour leading up to the Athens Olympics.

"I am usually at the top of the box on corner kicks, but the (coaches) moved me closer to the net prior to the kick," Mitts said. "Fortunately, the ball landed right in front of the net and it was an easy kick from right there."

Colleges

OSU BASKETBALL: Phone records show hundreds of calls between numbers assigned to Ohio State coaches and men who run a New York-based agency that represents pro players, the Dayton Daily News reported.

At least 600 of the more than 650 calls came from a school cell phone, calling card and other phone accounts assigned to former Ohio State assistant Paul Biancardi, now Wright State's head coach.

Others came from numbers assigned to members of the Ohio State basketball staff, including head coach Jim O'Brien.

Hockey

WHA DRAFT JULY 17-18: The World Hockey Association has pushed back by one week to July 17-18 its draft. The extraordinary number of NHL free agents is the reason for the switch. WHA teams will select NHL/AHL free agents July 17 and entry level amateurs July 18.

The new league says it has at least six teams lined up. Co-founder Al Howell says the WHA is discussing adding Cincinnati (U.S. Bank Arena), Hartford and Winnipeg, according to The Sporting News. The Cincinnati Stingers were a member of the original WHA from 1975-79 at U.S. Bank Arena.

Boxing

CASAMAYOR WINS: Former WBA super-featherweight champion Joel Casamayor (31-2), a native of Cuba, won a unanimous decision over Daniel Seda (20-1-1) in Miami.