DS Talk » season after having a week off to rest. The Rebel

All set to return to the races, Nyquist will take on five challengers in the $1 million Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park in his first start since his only loss in the Preakness more than two months ago.The Kentucky Derby winner is the 6-5 morning-line favorite for Sundays 1 1/8-mile Haskell over a field that includes Exaggerator, who ended Nyquists 8-0 record in the second leg of the Triple Crown.Were coming into the race with a lot of optimism, Nyquists trainer Doug ONeill said at Thursdays post-position draw at the track in Oceanport, New Jersey. Hopefully, he brings one of his better races because he will need that to win.Nyquist breaks from the inside No. 1 post under Mario Gutierrez, while Exaggerator is the 5-2 second choice and leaves from the No. 6 post under Hall of Famer Kent Desormeaux.The far outside post is perfect for my horse, trainer Keith Desormeaux, Kents brother, said. Hes an off-the-pace style runner. The inside runners can shoot away from there, go to the front, and he can watch all of the goings on from the outside and take back and make his run when hes ready.Nyquist and Exaggerator are meeting for the sixth time. Nyquist won the first four, including the Breeders Cup Juvenile and the Derby before Exaggerator ended the streak in the Preakness. Nyquist did not run in the Belmont; Exaggerator finished 11th.The rest of the Haskell field is American Freedom (3-1), Gun Runner (4-1), Awesome Slew (15-1) and Sunny Ridge (20-1).American Freedom is trained by Bob Baffert, who last year was on top of the racing world when he came to the Haskell and won with Triple Crown champion American Pharoah. The Hall of Fame trainer is looking for his ninth Haskell win. The lightly-raced American Freedom missed the Triple Crown races, but comes into the Haskell off wins in the Sir Barton Stakes and the Iowa Derby.Weve been quite high on him from the moment he arrived in the barn, Bafferts assistant Jimmy Barnes said.This is the 49th running of the Haskell, and nothing tops American Pharoahs exhilarating run. But the Jersey Shores signature race features the first three Derby finishers in Nyquist, Exaggerator and Gun Runner. And its the first time since 2010 the Derby winner has gone against the Preakness winner. Six years ago, Preakness winner Lookin At Lucky won over Derby winner Super Saver.---Follow Richard Rosenblatt on Twitter at: http://www.twitter.com/rosenblattap Michael Porter Nuggets Jersey . Miller reached right to deflect Mikhail Grabovskis attempt with just over 2 minutes remaining in regulation, and then made two more saves in the shootout Sunday to give the Sabres a 2-1 win over the Washington Capitals. Dikembe Mutombo Nuggets Jersey . 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OXFORD, Miss. -- Mississippis rise in the Southeastern Conference has turned the Rebels into a formidable opponent for just about everyone in the leagues Western Division.Arkansas, however, remains the programs kryptonite.The Razorbacks are the only program to beat Ole Miss in each of the past two seasons, both times putting a huge dent in the Rebels aspirations of finally making a trip to Atlanta for the Southeastern Conference championship game.No. 12 Ole Miss (3-2, 1-1 Southeastern Conference) travels to face No. 22 Arkansas (4-2, 0-2) on Saturday.Ole Miss coach Hugh Freeze readily acknowledges that the Razorbacks always cause problems for the Rebels.I think matchups are important in college football, Freeze said. Sometimes you look at them and feel `Oh I like this matchup and then other teams seem to give you more of a problem.Theyve been that to us the past few years.Though Ole Miss has lost two in a row to Arkansas, the losses couldnt have been much more different. The Rebels suffered one of the worst defeats in Freezes tenure in 2014, when Arkansas crushed Ole Miss 30-0 in Fayetteville, in a game that wasnt even close to competitive.That was a tough day, Ole Miss tight end Evan Engram said. I dont really think about that game too much because of how bad it was. But were definitely looking forward to getting back to Fayetteville and having a better result.Last years game was much more competitive, but ultimately a heartbreaker for the Rebels. Arkansas beat Ole Miss 53-52 in overtime in a game that featured several crazy plays, including Arkansas converting on a 4th-and-25 situation when Hunter Henry lateralled to Aleex Collins for a first down that kept the game alive.ddddddddddddThe loss was the main reason that Alabama -- and not the Rebels -- was the Wests representative in the SEC championship game.They fight 60 minutes, Engram said. Arkansas, since Ive been here, is probably the most relentless, sound, fighting football team Ive played.Ole Miss gets its chance against Arkansas this season after having a week off to rest. The Rebels havent played since Oct. 8, when they beat Memphis 48-28.Ole Miss has shown it has one of the best offenses in the SEC, especially in the passing game. But the Rebels have also had a porous defense that ranks at or near the bottom of the league in several categories.That could be an issue against Arkansas. The Razorbacks have been one of the better offensive teams in the league this season, especially when throwing the ball.Junior Austin Allen has thrown for 1,232 yards, 12 touchdowns and just two interceptions this season. He leads the SEC in passing efficiency.Even with the recent history between the two programs, Freeze says he doesnt expect to hear much from players or coaches about getting revenge. He says most of that talk is counter-productive.I dont really buy into that, Freeze said. I buy into, heres the plan that gives us the best chance to succeed and now weve got to make sure we understand and can efficiently do it. That will be our focus.---Follow David Brandt on Twitter: www.twitter.com/davidbrandtAP .---AP College Football website: www.collegefootball.ap.org . ' ' '