JOHANNESBURG -- Rugby sevens will also be missing a global star on its return to the Olympics next month, although its got nothing to do with Zika. C. J. Beathard Youth Jersey .Bryan Habana, the World Cup-winning South African wing who set his sights on adding an Olympic medal to a career bursting with titles and honors in the 15-a-side game, failed Thursday to make South Africas final squad for the Rio de Janeiro Games.Habana set aside his commitments with South Africas main Springboks team this season to return to sevens, which he hadnt played at the top level for more than a decade, in the hope of going to Rio. He appeared in the world sevens series and was on an initial Blitzboks training squad named for the Olympics.My appreciation and gratitude for getting the opportunity to have been a part of the (at)blitzboks (hash)RoadToRio far outweighs the disappointment of not making the final squad, Habana wrote on Instagram.Rugby -- this time in the seven-a-side form -- will return to the Olympics next month for the first time since 1924.Habana joins another big name in the 15-man game, Australias Quade Cooper, in missing out on selection for his countrys Olympic team.Habana has won a World Cup and a southern hemisphere title with the Springboks, and also southern hemisphere and European club titles. He was the world player of the year in 2007.One 15-a-side international, Juan de Jongh, did make South Africas 12-man squad while another, Francois Hougaard, is one of two traveling reserves.South Africa is among the favorites for gold in the Olympic rugby sevens alongside other traditional sevens powers Fiji and New Zealand. Solomon Thomas Jersey . Batiste, who briefly signed with the Eskimos in 2006, has spent time with several NFL teams including the Pittsburgh Steelers and Washington Redskins. Ahkello Witherspoon 49ers Jersey . It might not have mattered. While the Dodgers are preparing for the playoffs, the Padres showed their future has promise behind two rookies. http://www.football49ersjerseyauthentic.com/authentic-cj-beathard-49ers-jersey/ . Perez, 35, posted a 1-2 record with a 3.69 earned-run average in 19 relief appearances last season. His season ended Aug. 9 due to a torn ligament in his left elbow. Perez joins infielder Andy LaRoche and catcher Mike Nickeas with minor-league agreements for 2014 that include invitations to attend spring training. ARCADIA, Calif. -- Beholders career numbers are impressive.She has won 13 of 14 at Santa Anita, including the Grade 1 Zenyatta Stakes three straight years. She has won 17 of 24 overall, including 10 Grade 1 races, earned nearly $5 million, and will go down in history as one of Californias greatest female racehorses.Another Beholder number, however, is uncharacteristic. When she faces Stellar Wind and Taras Tango on Saturday at Santa Anita, Beholder is trying to end the longest losing streak of her career -- all of two races.At Del Mar this summer, Beholder finished second to Stellar Wind in the Clement L. Hirsch Stakes and second to California Chrome in the Pacific Classic.She ran into two very good horses, trainer Richard Mandella said. I might have contributed to her getting beat the first time, might have been easy on her.As for Beholders second loss, no excuse required. No one beats California Chrome.California Chrome runs in race 7 on Saturday at Santa Anita. Beholder tackles Stellar Wind and Taras Tango in race 9, the 1-1/16-mile Zenyatta, a Win and Youre In for the Breeders Cup Distaff on Nov. 4 at Santa Anita.Taras Tango was an unexpected addition, but the Zenyatta was always the target for Stellar Wind, trying for her second upset over Beholder.The last one, I said whatever happens, its going to be a hell of a race, said Stellar Winds trainer, John Sadler. And this one, its going to be very similar. Theyre very close.Stellar Wind was making her second start of the season July 30, when she defeated Beholder by a half-length while carrying two pounds fewer (121-123). Both carry 125 in the Zenyatta.The race, Sadler said, will come down to two or three intangibles. Who draws where? Is there any speed to push Beholder?Stellar Wind got lucky on both accounts. She drew post 5 in the five-runner field, while Beholder is in post 2. And yes, there is speed to push Beholder. Vale Dori, a presser, is drawn directly to her outside. Taras Tango also has speed from post 4.Although Beholder is versatile, jockey Gary Stevens faces a dilemma -- roll to the lead even though her best efforts have been from off the pace, or somehow get to the outside of her two pace rivals. Solomon Thomas Womens Jersey. One of those is the Jerry Hollendorfer-trained Taras Tango, initially ticketed to the Spinster on Oct. 9 at Keeneland.We would love to win the Spinster, but the year-end goal is to be in a Breeders Cup race, Hollendorfer said. We thought it would be easier to prepare here and then decide what Breeders Cup race we want to go in.Taras Tango is a Grade 1 route winner and Grade 3 sprint winner. A decision regarding the BC Distaff or Filly and Mare Sprint will be made after Saturday.Thats going to be up to [owner] Barbara Banke, Hollendorfer said. But I would say she would go for the Sprint.Bankes Stonestreet Stables also owns the East Coast-based Distaff candidate Cavorting.Key ContendersBeholder, by Henny HughesLast 3 Beyers: 106-101-101B. Wayne Hughes owns Beholder, who won the 2015 Pacific Classic over males and was targeting the Breeders Cup Classic at Keeneland until she got sick. Her 2016 fall campaign is with fillies and mares.We were a very clear second, no excuses, in the Pacific Classic. We didnt run quite that good a race this year [compared with 2015], Mandella said. Nothing wrong with the Distaff. I dont know that were picking an easy spot.Stellar Wind, by CurlinLast 3 Beyers: 102-99-98Her abbreviated two-start campaign this year was by design. Stellar Wind finished second to Beholder in the Vanity Mile in June at Santa Anita and upset Beholder next out.My filly is really good this year, Sadler said. I thought her 4-year-old campaign would be better, which it has. We want to run well [Saturday], which Im very confident we will, and go on to the next one.Victor Espinoza rides Stellar Wind, who has won 6 of 10. Plans call for Stellar Wind to remain in training as a 5-year-old in 2017.Taras Tango, by Unbridleds SongLast 3 Beyers: 90-94-96She won the Santa Margarita in March at Santa Anita, finished third in the Apple Blossom at Oaklawn, and then was off four months prior to winning the Rancho Bernardo, a sprint, in August.Martin Garcia rides Taras Tango.-- additional reporting by Jay Privman Cheap NFL JerseysCheap NFL Jerseys ChinaCheap Jerseys From ChinaCheap NFL Jerseys AuthenticWholesale Jerseys ChinaCheap NFL Jerseys ChinaNFL Cheap Jerseys ' ' '
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