Sports in Brief: Curlin, Rachel in breeding barn

Owner Jess Jackson bred Rachel Alexandra, the 2009 Horse of the Year, with 2007 and 2008 Horse of the Year Curlin on Monday, making real his dream bid to create a "super horse."

Rachel Alexandra was the first filly in more than 80 years to win the Preakness. Curlin, the all-time US prize money leader with more than $10.5 million in earnings, won the 2007 Preakness and retired after finishing fourth in the 2008 Breeders' Cup Classic, his only career finish outside the top three.

The Factor took the lead early and then held off Sway Away by three-quarters of a length in winning Sunday's 7-furlong, $150,000 San Vicente at Santa Anita.

On Saturday, Mucho Macho Man took the lead at the top of the stretch and held off Santiva for a victory in the $300,000 Risen Star at the Fair Grounds in New Orleans.

COLLEGES: Former Washington Redskins quarterback Doug Williams is returning to Grambling State to coach the football team for a second time. Williams was the MVP of Super Bowl XXII with the Redskins and later succeeded Eddie Robinson from 1998-2003 as coach at his alma mater, winning three straight Southwestern Athletic Conference titles. Williams replaces Rod Broadway, who resigned to become head coach at North Carolina A&T. Williams will coach his quarterback son D.J., who signed with Grambling this year.

Rutgers football player Eric LeGrand made his first public appearance since being paralyzed in a game against Army more than four months ago. LeGrand attended a "Laugh to Heal Comedy Fest Fundraiser" for him at the Rutgers Athletic Center on Saturday.

The Avenel, N.J., resident remains paralyzed below the neck but has regained movement in his shoulders and is experiencing sensation throughout his body.

AUTO RACING: The Daytona 500's television ratings are up from last year. Trevor Bayne's surprise win Sunday drew an 8.7 rating and 20 share, up 13 percent from 2010, good news for a sport that has been losing viewers.

IndyCar appears to be headed to the Strip. Officials on Tuesday are expected to add Las Vegas as the season-ending race on the 2011 schedule. Homestead-Miami Speedway had been the finale's site.

Daytona 500 winner Bayne said he probably won't attempt to run for the Sprint Cup championship this year. NASCAR rules make drivers pick just one series to collect points, and he chose the second-tier Nationwide Series. He would not be given retroactive points for the Daytona 500.

The season-opening Formula One race in Bahrain was called off because of anti-government protests sweeping the Gulf kingdom. No new date has been set.

TENNIS: Top-seeded Andy Roddick has withdrawn from this week's Delray Beach Tennis Championships in Boca Raton, Fla. The eighth-ranked American complained of feeling ill before winning the Memphis title over Milos Raonic on Sunday. Roddick is scheduled to lead the U.S. Davis Cup team into the first round against Chile in Santiago next week.

Third-seeded Tomas Berdych defeated Jeremy Chardy, 6-2, 6-3, in the first round of the Dubai Championships, and fifth-seeded Ivan Ljubicic was forced to retire with a leg injury against Ukrainian qualifier Sergei Bubka, son of the Russian pole-vaulting great.

One week after surrendering it to Kim Clijsters, Caroline Wozniaki has officially reclaimed the No. 1 ranking in women's tennis after winning her first singles title of 2011 on Sunday in the Dubai Championships final. Clijsters, who has won three majors since coming out of retirement, dropped back to No. 2.

- Staff and wire reports