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SPORTS
The Puma scratched from Kentucky Derby with leg issue
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2026 Kentucky Derby horse The Puma stands outside his barn with walker Brian Fitzgerald after morning training at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. April 24, 2026 Kentucky Derby hopeful The Puma, among the favorites at 7-1 odds, was scratched on Saturday morning due to a leg injury. The chestnut colt developed swelling in his leg due to a skin infection, according to trainer Gustavo Delgado, and would not be able to make the 6:57 p.m. post time. “It’s incredibly disappointing, but the swelling should go down within a day or two. It’s just really bad timing,” Delgado said. Assistant trainer Gustavo Delgado Jr. said The Puma should be fine in “two or three days” after a round of antibiotics but likely will not enter the Preakness on May 16. The Puma had been in the eighth post position for the race at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky., to be ridden by Hall of Fame member and 2023 Kentucky Derby winner Javier Castellano. The Puma finished second in the Florida Derby on March 28 and is sixth in the Road to the Kentucky Derby standings with 106 points. His absence means only 19 horses will compete in the 152nd running of the Kentucky Derby, the first leg of horse racing’s Triple Crown. –Field Level Media



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SPORTS
Nikola Jokic Expected To Sign Offseason Extension
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Nikola Jokic is expected to sign an extension with the Nuggets this summer, ESPN’s Shams Charania stated Friday in an appearance on The Stephen A. Smith Show (YouTube link, hat tip to Real GM).
The three-time MVP was clear about his intentions after his team was eliminated by Minnesota, twice telling reporters, “I still want to be a Nugget forever.” While other changes may take place in Denver during the offseason, Charania expects the organization to solidify Jokic as its long-term centerpiece.
“I will tell you, the Denver Nuggets, from their top brass on down to that organization, they believe Nicole Jokic at his word. He wants to be there,” Charania said. “This is not a situation where he’s talking about potentially leaving or looking elsewhere. Or saying ‘Hey, I need you guys to do this. I need you guys to do that.’ He’s very, very internally and externally ‘I’m here, no matter what, I’m re-signing.’”
Jokic has two years left on his current deal, which includes a $62.8MM player option for 2027/28. He would have the equivalent of an expiring contract if an extension agreement isn’t reached by October, so there’s a sense of urgency to work out a new deal. A maximum extension would begin at 35% of the ’27/28 salary cap and would tentatively be worth about $285MM over four years, based on a projected $165MM cap in ’26/27 and a 10% increase the following year.
Jokic turned down a three-year, $212MM extension offer last summer in expectation of landing a longer and more lucrative contract.
The 31-year-old big man is coming off another MVP-level season, averaging 27.7 points, 12.9 rebounds and 10.7 assists in 65 games and leading the league in both rebounding and assists. Although he averaged nearly a triple double in the playoff series against Minnesota, he shot just 44.6% from the field and 19.4% from three-point range, and the Nuggets were outscored during his time on the court.
The first-round loss and an expensive roster will probably alter the supporting cast around Jokic by the time training camp opens. Peyton Watson will be one of the top restricted free agents on the market this summer, and the team will have to clear out other salaries to be able to re-sign him without going into apron territory. Cameron Johnson, who is entering the final year of his contract at $23MM, has been mentioned as a possible trade candidate.
“But there are going to be changes in Denver,” Charania said. “I don’t know how much, but there’s going to be some level of change. Whether that’s tinkering a couple a couple players around … But they are so strapped financially moving forward in whether it’s the tax, whether it’s approaching the aprons, that there’s going to be a lot of a lot of conversations about players on this roster.”



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SPORTS
Confirmed Team News and Predicted Lineup
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Milan Move Carries Real Logic
Gabriel Jesus feels like a player reaching a decisive summer. According to SportsBoom, AC Milan are confident they can beat Newcastle United to the Arsenal forward, with Massimiliano Allegri identifying him as a leading target for the window.
For Milan, this has the look of a smart, calculated pursuit. Jesus brings experience, pressing intelligence, Champions League pedigree and the kind of tactical elasticity Italian football often rewards. He can lead the line, drift wide, link play and unsettle centre backs with movement rather than brute force.
Arsenal Exit Now Looks Likely
At Arsenal, his role has clearly diminished. Behind Viktor Gyökeres in the pecking order, Jesus has made just 12 Premier League appearances this term and scored twice. Those numbers tell their own story. Mikel Arteta’s side have evolved, and Jesus, once central to their attacking transformation, now appears more peripheral.
Photo IMAGO
His Arsenal record, 31 goals in 121 games, with 20 in the Premier League, is respectable without being transformative. At Manchester City, his 95 goals in 236 games came in a machine built for relentless attacking rhythm. At Arsenal, expectations were different, and the burden of being a decisive finisher sat heavily.
Newcastle Interest Adds Intrigue
Newcastle’s interest is understandable. With Alexander Isak now at Liverpool, and Nick Woltemade and Yoane Wissa scoring just eight Premier League goals between them after £120 million of investment, Eddie Howe’s attack needs sharper definition.
Jesus would offer Premier League know how, intensity and versatility. He would not arrive as a pure penalty box predator, more as a forward who improves structures around him.
European Football Could Prove Decisive
Milan’s belief is that European football can tilt the race. That may prove persuasive. Jesus is 29, approaching the final year of his Arsenal deal, and likely seeking status, rhythm and a clear tactical role.
For Arsenal, this would be an acceptance that a once important signing has run his course. For Jesus, Milan could offer renewal, responsibility and a stage that suits his craft.
Our View – EPL Index
From a football supporter’s perspective, this report carries real intrigue because Gabriel Jesus remains a fascinating, slightly misunderstood forward. There is a temptation to judge him purely by goals, and on that front, the numbers at Arsenal are not explosive. Two league goals this season from 12 appearances will not quieten critics, and 31 in 121 overall is not elite centre forward output.
Still, Jesus has always been more than a basic finisher. His pressing, movement, combinations and tactical discipline matter. Milan under Allegri could suit him because Serie A may give him more time to interpret space, link attacks and operate with intelligence rather than constantly being measured against ruthless Premier League goal machines.
Newcastle fans may feel sceptical. After losing Isak, they need certainty, not another forward whose best work can be invisible on highlight reels. If Anthony Gordon is being used through the middle, that speaks volumes about the lack of trust in other options.
Milan feels the more natural move. A fresh league, European football and a manager who actively wants him could restore his confidence. For Arsenal, selling now makes financial and sporting sense. For Jesus, this summer feels less like escape and more like a needed reset.



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