Washington College wins MARC rowing title

Contrarity, making her career debut, led all the way for a front-running, half-length victory in the first juvenile race of the season Saturday at Laurel Park. A daughter of Yesbyjimminy, ridden by

for trainer and owner Contrarity ran 41⁄2 furlongs in 53.36 seconds in the $40,000 maiden special weight sprint. Sent off at 15-1, Contrarity returned $32 to win. G’s Treasure, Cotton Eye Girl, Sammy Be Cool, Pauline’s Raven and She Runs Hot completed the field . ... Hillwood Stable’s Shimmering Aspen cruised to her third consecutive victory in Saturday’s featured eighth race, an impressive front-running performance that may land her in stakes company for her next start. Shimmering Aspen ($3.80) was never threatened from her rail post under a hand ride from jockey

drawing off effortlessly in the stretch to win by seven lengths in 1:23.25 for seven furlongs. The Malibu Moon filly was favored at 4-5 in the $45,000 second-level optional claiming allowance, her second straight win against older horses. LAUREL SCHEDULE: Live racing in Maryland will move to a four-day-a-week schedule beginning Thursday at Laurel Park. Racing will be conducted Thursdays through Sundays through the conclusion of the Preakness Meet at Pimlico, which opens May 11urse. There will be no racing on Sunday, May 21, and a special Memorial Day program to end the 12-day meet on Monday, May 29. Laurel wraps up its 56-day winter-spring meet on May 7. The 13th-ranked Washington College women's rowing team won its fifth consecutive Mid-Atlantic Rowing Conference, securing its fifth straight automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Championship. The Shoremen won both scoring races (the first and second varsity eights) at the MARC Championships on Pinchot Lake in Lewisberry, Pa.. In addition, first-year Shorewomen head coach was named MARC Women's Coach of the Year. Washington’s men’s team finished third in the Petite Division at the MARC championships. —