ET CETERA Maryland softball team stuns No. 1 Florida, 4-2
Making up ground with every stride down the middle of the stretch, Martin Schwartz’s High Ridge Road kept her perfect record at Laurel Park intact with a dramatic neck victory over Grade 1 winner By the Moon in the $300,000 Barbara Fritchie (G2) Saturday at Laurel Park. The 65th running of the seven-furlong Barbara Fritchie for females 4 and up was among six stakes worth $850,000 in purses on the 10-race Winter Carnival program and one of two graded events, along with the 41st running of the General George (G3) for 4-year-olds and up. The Winter Carnival’s total handle was a record $4.9 million. It was the second straight win over By the Moon and fourth victory in as many tries at Laurel. In other races:
A slight stumble out of the gate wasn’t enough to slow Raymond Mamone’s Imperial Hint, who went straight for the lead and turned away a brief challenge from multiple stakes-winning millionaire Stallwalkin’ Dude in the stretch to win the $250,000 General George (G3).
Four weeks after closing to be second behind Page McKenney in the Native Dancer, late-running Bodhisattva turned the tables on the popular claimer-turned-millionaire with a 22-1 upset of Saturday’s $75,000 John B. Campbell.
Matthew Schera’s Winter put away heavy favorite Wait Your Turn leaving the backstretch and ran down stubborn pacesetter Bawlmer Hon before drawing away to her third consecutive victory in the $75,000 Maryland Racing Media. It was the second straight stakes win for the 4-yearold daughter of Awesome Again, following her 2 ¾-length triumph in the Nellie Morse Jan. 21 at Laurel. Sent off at 3-1, Winter ($8.20) ran 1:44.95 over a fast main track.
Marathon Farms Inc.’s O Dionysus rolled to the lead on the far outside approaching the stretch and steadily separated from his rivals down the lane to a convincing three-length victory in the $75,000 Miracle Wood.
Katherine Ball’s China Grove made her sophomore debut a winning one, surging past previously undefeated favorite Crabcakes nearing the eighth pole to earn her first career stakes victory in the $75,000 Wide Country. Visiting Maryland earned its first victory of the season by stunning No. 1-ranked Florida, 4-2, at the Aquafina Invitational. The Terps improved to 1-8, and the Gators, who are top-ranked in the ESPN/USA Softball and USA Today Coaches Poll, fell to 8-1, “This was an incredible team win,” coach Julie Wright said after Maryland’s first victory over a ranked opponent since May 2012 against Florida State. Madison Martin went 3for-4 for the Terps and earned the save; Hannah Dewey pitched 51⁄3 innings for the victory. WOMEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL: Host Towson (11-14, 4-10 Colonial Athletic Association) fell behind early and lost, 80-65, to Drexel (19-6, 10-4) on Friday night. The Tigers’ Sianni Martin had 15 points, and Raven Bankston added 14. MEN’S COLLEGE TENNIS: Mount St. Mary’s was picked in the Northeast Conference preseason poll to finish sixth in the seven-team league. WOMEN’S COLLEGE TENNIS: Mount St. Mary’s was picked in the NEC preseason poll to finish sixth in the eight-team league. —