Sports briefs

Girl power

Less than two months after Rags to Riches bruised the thoroughbred male ego in the Belmont Stakes, another filly will try to rock the harness world in the $1.5 million Hambletonian. Say hello to Pampered Princess, the talented filly who seems to have the best chance to knock off the highly regarded Donato Hanover when trotting holds its biggest event Saturday at the Meadowlands Racetrack in East Rutherford, N.J. If Pampered Princess wins, she will become the 14th filly to capture the Hambletonian in its 82-year history, and the first since Continentalvictory in 1996. When Rags to Riches won the Belmont in June, she was the first filly in 102 years to win the final leg of the Triple Crown.

Adu does

Freddy Adu, the American phenom who is one of the highest-profile stars of Major League Soccer, has agreed to play for Benfica and trained with the Portuguese club Tuesday. MLS deputy commissioner Ivan Gazidis told The Associated Press that Adu's agent Richard Motzkin had confirmed the deal. The 18-year-old attacking midfielder arrived in the Portuguese capital Monday to negotiate terms. Adu signed with D.C. United in 2003 at age 14, becoming the youngest player in MLS history. Real Salt Lake acquired Adu from D.C. United last year, knowing that when he turned 18 last month he would become eligible under FIFA rules to join a foreign club.