FOOTBALL

BRADY MISSES TIME DUE TO CHRONIC SHOULDER INJURY

New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady missed a portion of practice yesterday because of his chronic right shoulder injury. Brady was on the field during the time the media was allowed to view practice, but the team later reported that had he “limited participation.” Patriots coach Bill Belichick was not available for comment.

For several seasons the twotime Super Bowl MVP has been a regular on the weekly injury report with the shoulder problem, which is believed to date to the 2002 season.

HORSE RACING

RAGS TO RICHES SET TO RETURN IN GAZELLE ON SEPTEMBER 15

The much-delayed return of Belmont Stakes winner Rags to Riches has one more week to go. As expected, the first filly in 102 years to capture the Belmont won’t run in Saturday’s Ruffian Handicap at Belmont Park but is set for the Gazelle Stakes a week later.

The 3-year-old filly spiked a fever and missed a workout Aug. 27, then put in a five-furlong workout last Sunday at Saratoga Race Course. Rags to Riches was back at Belmont on Wednesday.

“The Gazelle makes more sense because it gives her another work,” trainer Todd Pletcher said in a story posted on the Web site of Bloodhorse.com. “It really wasn’t a hard decision, and I think it is fine. It was nice to have another option, and now it gives us six weeks to the Breeders’ Cup, which works.”

TENNIS

AZARENKA, MIRNYI WIN MIXED DOUBLES TITLE AT OPEN

Victoria Azarenka and Max Mirnyi of Belarus won the U.S. Open mixed doubles championship Thursday, beating Meghann Shaughnessy of the United States and Leander Paes of India 6-4, 7-6 (6).

It’s the first Grand Slam title won together by the 18-year-old Azarenka and 30-year-old Mirnyi. They lost in the Australian Open mixed doubles final in January.

Mirnyi paired with Serena Williams to win the mixed doubles at Wimbledon and the U.S. Open in 1998.

BASEBALL

HONUS WAGNER 1909 CARD SOLD FOR RECORD $2.8 MILLION

A rare Honus Wagner baseball card has been sold for a record $2.8 million, just over six months after it was bought for a then-record $2.35 million.

Referred to as the “Mona Lisa” of baseball cards, the almost mint-condition collectible — released in 1909 by the American Tobacco Company — was sold by Brian Seigel of Las Vegas to an unidentified Southern California collector in February. SCP Auctions was a minority owner, but David Kohler, the company’s president and CEO, said that’s no longer the case. Kohler said the new owner wishes to remain a private collector for now, but might identify himself at a later date. The sale was completed last week and announced yesterday.

Associated Press

HOCKEY

RANGERS TO RETIRE LEETCH’S NUMBER

The Rangers will retire former defenseman Brian Leetch’s no. 2 prior to the January 24 game against the Atlanta Thrashers, president and general manager Glen Sather announced yesterday. Leetch joined the Rangers in 1987 after graduating from Boston College and was a member of the remarkable 1994 Stanley Cup-winning squad. He was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs during the 2003–04 season and retired as a Boston Bruin this past May.

Staff Reporter of the Sun