Briefs: Yearling colt sells for $9.7 million

Horse racing

Maktoum goes on spending spree: Sheik Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum bought a colt for $9.7 million yesterday at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale in Lexington, Ky.

During the sale's two-day select portion, Maktoum — the crown prince of Dubai — purchased 23 Thoroughbreds for a total of $40.99 million. The unnamed $9.7 million colt, by Storm Cat out of Grade I winner Tranquility Lake, is the third-most-expensive yearling ever sold at auction, according to Daily Racing Form.

The record price for a yearling was $13.1 million for Seattle Dancer at Keeneland in July 1985.

NYRA case: The New York Racing Association has begun to reform itself and could continue to hold the franchise operating the state's tracks under a federal deal that dismisses a criminal indictment, federal officials said. As part of the deal, NYRA will pay $3 million in fines and to cover the cost of an investigation by federal and state officials.

Bellamy Road sidelined: Bellamy Road, who finished seventh as the Kentucky Derby favorite in May, is out for the rest of the year because of an injured right front foot. The colt is owned by George Steinbrenner, owner of the New York Yankees.

College basketball

UConn player gets probation: Connecticut point guard Marcus Williams was given 18 months' probation and ordered to perform 400 hours of community service for his role in the theft of four computers from a campus dormitory in June.

Golf

Singh joins Grand Slam field: Vijay Singh, ranked second in the world, will compete in the four-man Grand Slam of Golf on Nov. 22 and 23 in Koloa, Hawaii. Singh joins top-ranked Tiger Woods, PGA champion Phil Mickelson and U.S. Open winner Michael Campbell in the 36-hole event.

Auto racing

Obscene gestures cost Truex: Martin Truex Jr., the reigning Busch Series champion, was fined $10,000 and docked 25 points by NASCAR for directing obscene gestures at fellow driver Mike Wallace during Friday's race in Richmond, Va.

High-speed campaign: Virginia gubernatorial candidate Jerry Kilgore, a Republican, is putting his campaign on wheels.

Kilgore is spending $100,000 to become the primary sponsor of driver Hermie Sadler's Chevrolet in the Subway 500 NASCAR Nextel Cup Series race on Oct. 23 in Martinsville, Va.

IRL reduces 2006 season: The Indy Racing League will cut eight weeks and three events from its schedule next year, and finish the season for the first time at Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, Ill.

The league is dropping races at California Speedway, Phoenix International Raceway and Pikes Peak International Raceway, leaving a 14-race schedule from March 26 to Sept. 10.

Soccer

Beasley sets up goal: U.S. midfielder DaMarcus Beasley set up a goal by Jan Vennegoor with a corner kick, helping PSV Eindhoven of the Netherlands beat Schalke 04 of Germany 1-0 on the opening night of the UEFA Champions League.

Defending champion Liverpool of England won its opener 2-1 at Real Betis of Spain.

Real Madrid of Spain was routed 3-0 by Lyon of France.

Kreis has knee injury: Real Salt Lake's Jason Kreis, Major League Soccer's leader in career goals, could miss the rest of the season with a knee injury, two Utah newspapers reported.

Kreis, a 32-year-old who has 100 MLS goals, said he felt a pop in his left knee during practice Sept 6.

Cycling

Bettini wins stage: Italy's Paolo Bettini of the Quick-Step team beat countryman Alessandro Petacchi of the Fassa Bortolo team in a group sprint and won the Spanish Vuelta's 16th stage.

Defending champion Roberto Heras of the Liberty Seguros team kept his overall lead.

Bettini covered 100.97 miles from Leon to Valladolid in 3 hours, 40 minutes, 56 seconds. The 21-stage event ends Sunday in Madrid.

Seattle Times news services