Enquirer staff and wire reports

Smarty Jones has been retired to stud in Kentucky, but his presence is felt among the other top 3-year-old thoroughbreds still racing.

Three of the best - Lion Heart, Birdstone and Purge - are the favorites in today's $1 million Travers Stakes at Saratoga.

Lion Heart trainer Patrick Biancone is not conceding Smarty Jones the Eclipse Award for best 3-year-old before he stopped racing.

Smarty Jones won the Kentucky Derby and Preakness this year but was edged in the Belmont Stakes by Birdstone by a length in his bid to become the first Triple Crown winner in 26 years.

"Let's put it this way: If Birdstone wins Saturday and if I had a vote, I would vote for him for 3-year-old of the year," Biancone said.

Except for Birdstone, Smarty Jones beat every horse he ran against in his $7 million, nine-race career.

Purge lost in both the Rebel Stakes and the Arkansas Derby to Smarty Jones.

• On Friday, Storm Flag Flying moved past 2002 Horse of the Year Azeri in the stretch and won the $400,000 Personal Ensign Handicap by 1 1/4 lengths.

Tennis

PILOT PEN: Elena Bovina capitalized on her big serve, overpowering Russian countrywoman Elena Dementieva 6-1, 6-1 to reach the final at New Haven, Conn.

She will play Nathalie Dechy - who defeated Lisa Raymond 6-4, 6-0 - in the championship today, the final tuneup for the U.S. Open.

TD WATERHOUSE CUP: Two-time defending champion Paradorn Srichaphan rallied for a 3-6, 7-6 (3), 6-3 victory over Joachim Johansson to reach the semifinals at Commack, N.Y. The victory avenged Srichaphan's 6-2, 6-3 loss to Johansson in the Athens Olympics.

Lleyton Hewitt defeated Juan Ignacio Chela 6-7 (6), 6-1, 6-2. The former Wimbledon and U.S. Open champion next faces Dmitry Tursunov, a 4-6, 7-6 (5), 6-4 winner over Jurgen Melzer.

Hockey

USA BLANKS RUSSIA: Team USA appears ready for the World Cup of Hockey. John-Michael Liles arrived just in time and scored a goal, and Brett Hull added a power-play goal to lead the defending champion Americans to a 2-0 victory over Russia in their final World Cup exhibition game at Nationwide Arena in Columbus.

"I'm pleased with where we are, but we have a lot of room for improvement," U.S. coach Ron Wilson said.

Goaltender Robert Esche was brilliant in the final two periods, stopping 22 shots after Rick DiPietro shut out the Russians in the first 20 minutes, facing six shots. Esche and DiPietro did not give up a goal in the Americans' three exhibition games, answering critics who considered goaltending the U.S. team's weakest position.

Esche preserved the shutout by holding off a three-man advantage - the Russians pulled goalie Maxim Sokolov after two U.S. penalties - over the final :30..

The U.S. opens play Tuesday against Canada at Bell Center in Montreal, and will compete in the North American Pool against Canada, Russia and Slovakia. The European Pool includes Finland, Germany, Sweden and the Czech Republic.

The championship game is set for Sept. 14 at Air Canada Centre in Toronto.

Colleges

NKU: Freshman Liz Holmes (Mercy) recorded a double-double with 14 kills and 12 digs in her collegiate debut as the Norse beat Montevallo (Ala.) 30-21, 30-22, 30-22 in their volleyball season opener at the University of West Florida Comfort Inn-vitational in Pensacola, Fla.

• Katie Hanck scored a goal and added two assists as the Norse women's soccer team posted a 3-0 win over Concord (W. Va.). Lauren Piening posted the shutout.

Football

COMETS ON ROAD: After being shut out in their showdown with the first-place Detroit Seminoles last weekend, the Kings Comets (5-3, 3-2 MCFL) attempt to rebound against the Southern Michigan Timberwolves (1-5, 0-4) at 7:25 p.m. today in Monroe, Mich., in a Mid-Continental League game.

The T'wolves have lost five straight after a season-opening 47-6 win over the Michigan Renegades.