Briefs | NHL: Game will be at frigid confines of Wrigley Field

NHL

Sharp, Blackhawks to face Detroit in outdoor game Thursday: Having grown up in Thunder Bay, Ontario, Chicago Blackhawks forward Patrick Sharp knows all about playing hockey outside.

But the Blackhawks' game Thursday should be different from the ones he played in friends' backyards. This will be Original Six hockey — the Blackhawks against the Stanley Cup champion Detroit Red Wings — on a rink set up at Wrigley Field for the league's second Winter Classic.

Last season, Pittsburgh beat Buffalo 2-1 in a shootout at the NFL Buffalo Bills' home, Ralph Wilson Stadium, in Orchard Park, N.Y.

"I've sat in the freezing cold at Wrigley Field watching baseball games in April before," Sharp said. "I can only imagine what it's like out there on January 1."

The rink will be situated between first and third base at Wrigley Field. The center-ice faceoff dot will be 112 feet from home plate and 288 feet from the center-field wall.

There will be about 40,000 seats available, along with about 2,000 rooftop seats across the street.

Horse racing

Indyanne is injured in race at Santa Anita: Indian Blessing beat 47-1 shot Ginger Pop by 1-½ lengths to take the Grade I La Brea for 3-year-old fillies at Santa Anita in Arcadia, Calif.

Indyanne, who led the 7-furlong race for more than a half-mile, was vanned off the track. According to track veterinarian Jill Bailey, Indyanne has a fractured left-front sesamoid.

Track officials said Indyanne, trained by Greg Gilchrist and owned by John Sikura, was further evaluated by a private veterinarian.

After the examination at his stable, Gilchrist said "it looks like she's going to be saved" and added, "Her chance for recovery is 65-35 to be just fine as a broodmare."

Indian Blessing, trained by Bob Baffert and ridden by John Velazquez, prevailed in 1 minute, 20-4/5 seconds. She paid $3.20 to win in the $250,000 race.

Earlier on the card, jockey Garrett Gomez — North America's leader in earnings this year — was hospitalized after his mount in the Eddie Logan Stakes, Back At You, attempted to jump the inside rail after leading for most of the mile turf race for 2-year-olds.

According to Daily Racing Form, agent Ron Anderson said Gomez lost several teeth, had a gash on his left knee and a swollen hand. Back At You was not seriously injured, track officials said. Flashmans Papers ($14.20) won.

Sailing

Wild Oats XI extends winning streak: Wild Oats XI overcame an encounter with a 7-foot shark to win the Sydney-to-Hobart yacht race in Australia for a record fourth consecutive time.

Wild Oats XI skipper Mark Richards steered the maxi yacht across the finish line at Constitution Dock 1 day, 20 hours, 34 minutes, 14 seconds after leaving Sydney in the 723-mile event.

While dueling with another maxi for the lead, Wild Oats had a shark become entangled in the rudder. Richards said the collision forced the yacht to stop and reverse to clear the rudder.

Soccer

Parting: David Beckham's 10-year sponsorship deal with Pepsi has ended. The England midfielder, who plays for the Los Angeles Galaxy of Major League Soccer, still has deals with major brands such as Adidas and Armani.

"I have nothing but good memories of my association with Pepsi," Beckham said. "I've played a gladiator, a cowboy, a surfer, and worked alongside Beyoncé and Jennifer Lopez as well as some of the biggest names in world football."

Mixed martial arts

Evans prevails in UFC 92: Rashad Evans stopped Forrest Griffin at 2:46 of the third round to win the light-heavyweight championship to highlight UFC 92 in Las Vegas.

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