Kentucky Derby winner Golden Tempo to skip Preakness Stakes, focus on Belmont Stakes

Golden Tempo ridden by Jose L. Ortiz wins the 152nd running of the Kentucky Derby. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

Laurel, Md.

Kentucky Derby winner Golden Tempo will not run in the Preakness Stakes.

This year’s Derby champion will skip the second jewel of the Triple Crown to get some more rest after producing such an effort, according to his trainer, Cherie DeVaux.

“After much thoughtful discussion as a team, we have decided that Golden Tempo will bypass the Preakness Stakes,” his racing team shared on Wednesday.

DeVaux’s stable acknowledged the widespread excitement surrounding a potential Triple Crown run and thanked racing fans for their support, but ultimately, said Golden Tempo’s health and future remain top priority for the team.

“Golden gave us the race of a lifetime in the Kentucky Derby, and we believe the best decision for him moving forward is to give him a little more time following such a tremendous effort,” Cherie DeVaux Racing said. “His health, happiness, and long-term future will always remain our top priority.”

According to the team, Golden Tempo is still planning to make another appearance in the Triple Crown series of races and is being pointed toward the Belmont Stakes.

“We are looking forward to the Belmont Stakes and are excited for what lies ahead with this very special horse,” DeVaux’s team said.

Golden Tempo came from last to finish first in Saturday’s 152nd running of the Derby, making DeVaux the first woman trainer to take the prestigious event.

The Preakness Stakes is scheduled to take place at Laurel Park on May 16, followed by the Belmont Stakes, which is slated for June 6 at Saratoga Race Course in New York.

Mother abandons her 3 children at hospital, blames them for their dog’s death, sheriff says

Sandra Teague, 58, of Palm Coast, was charged with three counts of child neglect. (Flagler County Sheriff's Office)

Flagler County, Fla.

A Florida woman is facing neglect charges after her children say she would regularly lock them out of the house before ultimately abandoning them at an area hospital.

According to the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office, Sandra Teague, 58, was arrested last week and charged with three counts of child neglect.

Deputies said the situation started on April 30 when they responded to the AdventHealth Palm Coast Hospital after a 17-year-old walked into the emergency room and told staff his mother had dropped him off because she was upset.

According to the sheriff’s office, the teen was wearing socks and no shoes and reported that his younger siblings had also been abandoned.

The children told deputies that their mother became extremely upset earlier that morning and blamed them for one of their dogs dying.

Authorities said the kids told them that she would normally lock them outside of the house when she got angry, forcing them to sleep outside every other day.

According to the children, this situation was different because one of the family’s foster dogs had died and Teague was blaming it on them.

The children stated that their mother told them that “this is the last straw” before driving them to the hospital and yelling at them to get out of the car.

Deputies said they contacted Teague at the family home and became further concerned about the kids’ care and living conditions. Authorities reported that the deputies saw and smelled garbage and animal feces throughout the house, on the floors and walls.

Teague was booked into the Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility.

“Based on this investigation, she will never receive a mother of the year award,” Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly said. “No child should ever have to live in these disgusting conditions or be treated like this.”

During a search warrant at the home, sheriff’s deputies said they additionally found multiple deceased animals in kennels on the property.

“Not only does she not treat or care for her children properly, but she should never own or be a foster provider for helpless animals ever again,” Staly said.

The Florida Department of Children and Families is among those investigating the case, Flagler County authorities noted.

Firehouse Subs offering free sandwiches, but you have to have one of these names

Firehouse Subs Invites "Every Mike in America" to try its new Steak & Cheese Melt for free. (Firehouse Subs)

A popular sandwich chain is giving away free subs to those who are named Mike, Michael or some variation of the name.

Firehouse Subs will be offering one free medium Steak & Cheese Melt to “every Mike in America” on May 6.

“No catch. Just the best steak sub we’ve ever made, free of charge,” the sandwich shop shared regarding the promo.

Firehouse Subs president Mike Hancock said the promotion is a way to get the word out on one of their latest creative sandwiches.

“We’re proud of this sub – the prime rib, the caramelized onions, the top-cut roll. Once people try it, we think it earns its place among the best steak subs out there,” Hancock said.

According to the promo, the free Steak & Cheese Melt offer extends to every Michael, Mikey, Miguel, Michelle, Michele and Michaela.

“Sharing it with every Mike in America felt like a great way to kick things off,” Hancock continued.

Guests must show a valid government-issued identification to redeem the free sandwich at participating restaurants.

Spirit Airlines preparing to shut down as soon as Saturday, reports say

FILE - A Spirit Airlines 319 Airbus approaches Manchester Boston Regional Airport for a landing. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Spirit Airlines is reportedly preparing to shut down as early as 3 a.m. EST on Saturday.

According to multiple reports, the low-fare airline is planning to stop flying after failing to strike a deal for a financial lifeline from the Trump administration

Spirit has been dealing with reported financial struggles for years, including filing for bankruptcy just last year, and trying to secure $500 million to keep operations going.

Earlier on Friday, President Donald Trump said he was still weighing a taxpayer-funded takeover of the airline.

Trump said he would like to save jobs at the airline as his administration gave Spirit “a final proposal.”

The president added, “We’re looking at Spirit. If we can help them, we will. But we have to come first ... and it has to be a good deal.”

Officials did not immediately comment further on the situation or what a Spirit shutdown would mean for customers.

Authorities seize 50,000 dried shark fins at US ports, valued at more than $1 million

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services recently seized about 50,000 dried shark fins. (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service)

Officials with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service say the team seized thousands of dried shark fins across several U.S. ports.

According to the wildlife agency, about 50,000 shark fins were taken in from 20 shipments at ports, totaling more than 1,600 pounds and valued at over $1 million.

Inspectors say the first shipment was discovered in Anchorage, Alaska, which sparked a wider investigation. Their work led to the interception of additional shipments moving through Alaska, Kentucky and Ohio while the items were transiting from Mexico to Hong Kong.

The shipments were disguised as car parts found to be linked to a larger trafficking network.

The agency noted that the staggering number of fins was predominantly from silky sharks and bigeye thresher sharks, protected under the endangered species trade law.

All fins were seized for multiple violations of wildlife laws.

Officials said the violations have been shared with international partners to support appropriate enforcement actions.

The USFWS says a wildlife crime can be reported online.