said he would decide later whether to go in the Classic or t

LEVI, Finland -- It took Austrias Marcel Hirscher just two races to get back to where he finished each of the past five seasons -- on top of the mens World Cup overall standings.Hirscher overcame an illness on the eve of the slalom opener on Sunday to lead teammate Michael Matt for an Austrian 1-2 finish.The five-time overall champion finished a huge 1.30 seconds ahead of Matt to clinch his 40th career win. It was the first Austrian 1-2 finish in a World Cup slalom since Hirscher beat Michael Matts older brother, Mario, at the same venue three years ago.Manfred Moelgg of Italy was 1.31 seconds back in third for his first podium finish in nearly three years, while Germanys Felix Neureuther came another 0.10 further behind in fourth.Physically it went very well. I have no pains. Yesterday it was really bad but this morning I knew it would work out, said Hirscher, who suffered from an inflammation of the middle ear.He skipped Saturdays training and decided only in the morning hours before the race to start. He headed back to his hotel for treatment immediately after completing his first run.Hirscher overtook Alexis Pinturault on top of the overall standings. The Frenchman, who beat the Austrian to win the season-opening GS last month, finished 1.87 behind in 11th. Hirscher has 180 points, 56 clear of Pinturault.Hirschers victory also put the Austrian level with Pirmin Zurbriggen on the all-time winners list. Only four skiers have won more races in the 50-year history of the World Cup -- Ingemar Stenmark (86), Hermann Maier (54), Alberto Tomba (50), and Marc Girardelli (46).I felt no pressure at all, Hirscher told The Associated Press. For me personally, I have won already a lot of races and I am done with `I have to win races.Matt, who improved from sixth to second for his first career podium result, said he was more nervous for my first run than for my second as I knew by then that everything was OK. He described being on the podium as an amazing feeling.I made a big step in the summer physically and mentally and the goals were top-10 results and now with the first race podium, its amazing, he said.Marco Schwarz, who trailed Hirscher by just 0.21 after the first run, slid off the course and didnt finish his final run, but another Austrian, Manuel Feller, took fifth.Austrias slalom team lost several big names as Benjamin Raich, Mario Matt and Reinfried Herbst all retired in the past two seasons. But Hirscher said the many young and upcoming talents on the team help him to further improve.Its perfect in training, said Hirscher, who has won 19 slaloms in his career. It wasnt easy for me in the beginning but the young guys really give me motivation. Thats truly super.Hirscher didnt want to give his huge winning margin too much meaning as his main rival from last season, Henrik Kristoffersen, skipped the race.One guy was missing, the fastest from last year. But it was a great race, Hirscher said.Kristoffersen, who won six slaloms last year to claim the discipline title, sat out the race amid a dispute with the Norwegian ski federation over sponsorship rights. The federations rules wont allow Kristoffersen to sign a personal sponsor for his helmet.Hirscher said its pretty bad that ... the fastest slalom skier of the last season isnt competing now and added that he hopes they can find a solution.Hopefully hes back in the next races because I have to see how close I can get to his pace, he said.Moelgg, who tore his Achilles tendon in 2014 and hadnt been on the podium for two years, was pushed into third place by Matt who beat him by 1/100th of a second.He was visibly upset but later conceded hed made a little bit of a mistake in the last part and was happy to be back on the podium.One-hundredth (of a second) is OK, now its OK. After the injury two years ago ... last year was not so easy, he said, adding that his goal was to be among the top five or top seven. Thats my motivation, and I think I can do it.Britains Dave Ryding, who was fourth after the opening run, dropped to sixth for his career-best result. And the winner of the final slalom of last season, Andre Myhrer of Sweden, failed to qualify for the second leg after he skied out of the course halfway through his run.Tough conditions included temperatures of about 18 F (minus 8 C) and clouds hanging low over the Arctic course in Finnish Lapland -- in the northernmost World Cup competition. Several racers complained about their goggles freezing up during their runs.The mens World Cup continues in Lake Louise, Alberta, with a downhill and a super-G on Nov. 26-27. Glenn Robinson Jersey . LOUIS -- Roman Polak was celebrating even before Alexander Steen scored the winning goal in Saturdays 4-2 win over the Carolina Hurricanes. Ray Allen Jersey . - Goaltender Philippe Desrosiers of the Rimouski Oceanic has broken a shutout record that was only three months old in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. http://www.nbabucksproshop.com/Authentic-Khris-Middleton-Bucks-Jersey/ . Shot outdoors against the stunning backdrop of Banff, Alta., the networks 30-minute original production airs tonight at 8pm et/5pm pt on TSN2. The four All-Star teams will play for $100,000 in prize money during TSNs annual skins game, airing live this weekend on TSN from The Fenlands Banff Recreation Centre. Giannis Antetokounmpo Jersey .J. -- Marty Brodeur beat the Pittsburgh Penguins yet again. Custom Milwaukee Bucks Jerseys . Nigeria beat surprise package Ethiopia 2-0 in the second leg of their playoff for a comfortable 4-1 aggregate victory. Victor Moses converted a 20th-minute penalty after an Ethiopian handball, and Victor Obinna made certain of Nigerias place in Brazil with his powerful free kick in the 82nd at UJ Esuene Stadium. DEL MAR, Calif. -- It took a little more than two minutes for California Chrome to dominate Beholder, Dortmund, and Hoppertunity on Saturday in the Pacific Classic at Del Mar, but the ramifications of his overpowering victory may be felt for the next two months.While California Chrome is headed to the $6 million Breeders Cup Classic on Nov. 5 at Santa Anita, with a possible prep in the Grade 1, $300,000 Awesome Again at Santa Anita on Oct. 1, Beholders year-end goal may now be the $2 million Breeders Cup Distaff on Nov. 4, while Dortmunds and Hoppertunitys connections were plotting their next moves after being no match on Saturday for California Chrome.California Chrome won the Pacific Classic by five lengths over Beholder and received a Beyer Speed Figure of 113, equaling his career best, earned when third in the 2014 Breeders Cup Classic.Hes so much stronger. Hes in the best part of his career now, Art Sherman, who trains California Chrome, said at his Del Mar barn on Sunday morning. Its kinda awesome to watch.Youve got the best horses in the country. These races are tougher, Sherman said, comparing the current campaign to when California Chrome was 3. I think hes the best horse in the world, not that I might be biased.California Chrome left Del Mar on Sunday morning for his regular base at Los Alamitos. There is a $1 million bonus for a horse who can win the Pacific Classic, Awesome Again, and Breeders Cup Classic, but Sherman said that would have no impact on whether he goes in the Awesome Again.Hell be ready, Sherman said. Id be fine going into the Breeders Cup Classic fresh.There are six weeks to the Awesome Again, then five more to the Breeders Cup Classic.The timing is right. Well see how he recovers, Sherman said. He came out of the race good. He was super after the race.With his Pacific Classic victory, California Chhrome earned a fees-paid berth to the Breeders Cup Classic through the Win and Youre In program.dddddddddddd He is 5 for 5 this year, and is the clear front-runner for Horse of the Year, a title he won in 2014.Trainer Richard Mandella said Beholder, who finished second, came out of the race real good.No way Im anything but proud of her, Mandella said Sunday morning. She beat some pretty nice horses. She ran well enough to win most Classics, but not that one. The winner ran awesome.Mandella said Beholder would point to the Grade 1, $300,000 Zenyatta Stakes at Santa Anita on Oct. 1 as her next start. Beholder has won that race, which is restricted to females, the last three years.Mandella said he would decide later whether to go in the Classic or the Distaff after the Zenyatta, but said, as of now Id probably be conservative and aim at the Distaff.Beholder won the Distaff in 2014, also at Santa Anita. She was scratched from last years Classic at Keeneland -- in which she would have faced Triple Crown winner American Pharoah -- when she took ill with a lung infection two days before the race.Dortmund, who was third in the Pacific Classic, and Hoppertunity, who was fourth, both also were fine Sunday morning, according to trainer Bob Baffert. He said the race was over the first eighth of a mile, when jockey Victor Espinoza aggressively sent California Chrome from his rail draw and secured the lead.Victor put the shock and awe at the beginning. That was it, Baffert said.Baffert said hed wait a bit before deciding on a race schedule for Dortmund and Hoppertunity this fall.My horses fired, Baffert said. The other horse was too good. He was the better horse. Sometimes youve got to say you got your ass beat. ' ' '