Jul 25, 2018 3 min read

At The Meadows

Bella’s Punkett released the 1-2 favorite, Expose Yourself, past the quarter, then charged past her in the lane to capture Wednesday’s feature at The Meadows, a $13,000 Filly & Mare Conditioned/Optional Claiming Trot.

Bella’s Punkett was claimed from her last race at Harrah’s Philadelphia by trainer Ron Burke for owner Howard Taylor for a base price of $12,500. Though she faced several disadvantages – new track, sloppy surface, big jump in class to a $30,000 base claiming tag – the 6-year-old daughter of Super Punk-Nubella responded beautifully. She left alertly for Dan Rawlings, rated kindly and downed Expose Yourself by 1-1/4 lengths in 1:54.3, with the first-over Keystone Harper third.

Bella’s Punkett lifted her career bankroll to $109,244.

Tony Hall and Jim Pantaleano each piloted three winners on the 13-race card.

Iginla to retire

Jarome Iginla will officially announce his NHL retirement Monday in Calgary.

The Flames announced the decision in a statement Wednesday.

The face of the Calgary Flames for more than a decade and a half, the 41-year-old winger didn’t play in the NHL this past season. He suited up for the Los Angeles Kings for his final 19 games in 2017.

Iginla played 20 NHL seasons, finishing with 625 goals, 675 assists, 1,300 points and 1,040 penalty minutes in 1,554 games. He had 525 goals and 570 assists with Calgary from 1996 to 2013. The six-time All-Star is the franchise leader in goals, points and games. Iginla led the Flames to the Stanley Cup final in 2004, when Calgary lost in seven games to the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Iginla set up Sidney Crosby’s Olympic overtime winner in the gold-medal game against the U.S. in Vancouver in 2010. Iginla also won Olympic gold in 2002 and captured titles with Canada at the world championship (1997), World Cup (2004) and world juniors (1996).

Kansas under investigation

Newly released records show that a federal grand jury ordered the University of Kansas this year to turn over communications between its men’s basketball coaches and at least one prospective student-athlete.

The grand jury also demanded copies of any agreements with apparel manufacturer Adidas and communications between the coaches and Adidas representatives.

Its two subpoenas were part of a nationwide investigation of alleged bribes and kickbacks in recruiting that has entangled multiple schools.

University of Kansas spokesman Andy Hyland said Wednesday that the subpoenas do not suggest wrongdoing by Kansas and it is cooperating.

The university released redacted copies Tuesday of a New York grand subpoena from January and another from March.

Each subpoena covers documents “regarding the recruitment and an enrollment” of a person whose name is redacted.

Bielema has new title with Patriots

Bret Bielema officially has a new job back in football.

The former University of Arkansas head coach will be serving a consultant to New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick this upcoming season. Bielema has been working with the team since this spring. His new title was listed in the Patriots team media guide.

This is Bielema’s first NFL position. Belichick said Wednesday that Bielema’s specific role is evolving but that he expects “it will kind of work its way into some areas.”

The 48-year-old was a defensive coordinator at Kansas State and Wisconsin before taking over as the Badgers coach from 2006 to 2012. He left that position for Arkansas the following season, where he went 29-34 over five seasons before getting fired following a 4-8 campaign in 2017.