The NHL asked a bankruptcy judge to throw out Canadian billionaire Jim Balsillie's bid to buy the Phoenix Coyotes based on the league's overwhelming rejection of him as a potential owner.

The 26-page motion, accompanied by declarations from Boston Bruins owner Jeremy Jacobs and Minnesota Wild owner Craig Leipold, says the owners have concluded that Balsillie would be untrustworthy and that the court has no right to overturn their July 29 vote.

The owners say their opinion is based on Balsillie's behavior in earlier attempts to purchase the Penguins in 2006 and Nashville Predators. The board, made up of a representative from each NHL team, voted 26-0 against Balsillie's application. Three abstained and one representative was absent, according to Jacobs.

Two days after the board's vote, Balsillie filed a document in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Phoenix contending NHL commissioner Gary Bettman and "a number of owners have a personal grudge" against him.

Favorite Gio Ponti overcame a stumble at the start, took the lead on the final turn and won the 27th running of the Arlington Million outside Chicago. The 4-year-old colt, owned by Castleton Lyons and ridden by Ramon Dominguez, captured his fourth consecutive Grade I race. Two long shots took second and third. Just As Well was the runner-up and Stotsfold, bred in Great Britain, was third. Gio Pontil paid $5.00, $3.40 and $2.60. Just As Well returned $11.80 and $6.80. Stotsfold paid $9.80

• Muscle Hill cruised to a six-length victory in record time in the $1.5 million Hambletonian for 3-year-old trotters at the Meadowlands Racetrack in East Rutherford, N.J. The overwhelming 1-5 favorite, Muscle Hill led all the way from the rail in the mile trotted in 1:50.20, erasing the Hambletonian mark of 1:51.20 set by Glidemaster in 2006.

Muscle Hill extended his winning streak to 13 in the richest race of the year in harness racing. Brian Sears drove for trainer Gregory Peck as Muscle Hill won for fifth time this season. He paid $2.60 to win. Explosive Matter was second with Calchips Brute third.

Defending champion Juan Martin del Potro beat Fernando Gonzalez, 7-6 (2), 6-3, to advance to the Legg Mason Tennis Classic final in Washington.

• Aussie Samantha Stosur routed Sorana Cirstea of Romania, 6-3, 6-2, and advanced to the final of the LA Women's Tennis Championships in Carson, Calif.

Erin Thorn had a season-high 20 points, and Chicago Sky (11-11) recovered after losing a 16-point lead to beat the host Atlanta Dream, 82-80, in the WNBA.

Espanyol captain Daniel Jarque died of heart failure in the team hotel on the eve of the Spanish team's exhibition against Bologna. He was 26. Bologna said the central defender was found unconscious in his hotel room and was taken to a hospital, but "it was not possible to save his life." The match today against Bologna was canceled and the team will fly back to Barcelona.

• The Pittsburgh Riverhounds fell to Charlotte, 3-1, in USL Second Division action at Chartiers Valley High School. Jeff Hughes scored for an early 1-0 lead for the Riverhounds.

Moon Township opened the Mid-Atlantic Region of the Little League World Series with a 4-1 loss to Somerset Hills, N.J., in Bristol, Conn. Mason Prickett hit a solo home run in the first inning for Moon.