Connemara Coast wins; Ghost Hunter sets record

Dumbarton Farm’s Connemara Coast, making his first start in nearly seven months, led from start to finish to upset stakes winners Mr Palmer and Noteworthy Peach in Sunday’s eighth race at Laurel Park. The longest shot in a field of seven at 26-1, Connemara Coast ($54.60) had not raced since he ended his 6-year-old season by finishing sixth behind Noteworthy Peach in the Jennings Handicap Dec. 26 at Laurel. Connemara Coast was in front by 11⁄ -lengths after straightening for home and turned back a late final challenge from Old Upstart to sprint clear in the final 50 yards and win by 21⁄ lengths in 1 minute, 36.92 seconds for a one-turn mile in the $47,000 optional claiming allowance event. MORE LAUREL PARK: Jagger Inc.’s Ghost Hunter earned his first grass victory in record-setting fashion, catching pacesetter Souperfast in deep stretch and edging clear to win the seventh race. Ridden by Daniel Centeno for trainer Jamie Ness, Ghost Hunter ($18) ran 11⁄ miles over firm ground in 1:39.00, breaking the All Along Turf Course record of 1:39.4 set by Warning Glance on June 18, 1995. Souperfast was second, 2 lengths in front of Syntax. Grade 1 winner Chiropractor, the 9-5 favorite, finished last of nine. … Apprentice jockey Kevin Gomez, who missed his final two mounts after being thrown during Saturday’s third race, returned to ride. Gomez, 22, won with one of his four mounts, Golden Mila ($11.40) in the fifth race. One of his scheduled mounts, American Progress, was scratched from Race 6. … Centeno and Yomar Ortiz each posted riding doubles Sunday. Centeno was first with Gursky ($4.20) in the second race and Ghost Hunter, while Ortiz won aboard Delightful Erin ($16.40) in the fourth and Available ($25.20) in the sixth following the disqualification of first-place finisher Thirteenth Avenue. … There will be carryovers in the 20-cent Rainbow 6 ($1,228.57), 50- cent Late Pick 5 ($5,071.08) and $1 Super Hi-5 ($1,389.94) when live racing returns for Friday’s nine-race twilight program. First race post time is 3:40 p.m. WNBA: Candace Parker hit four 3-pointers and finished with 26 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists to help the Los Angeles Sparks (18-1) beat the Washington Mystics, 93-82. Los Angeles has won seven straight and needs two wins to tie the 1998 Houston Comets for the best start in WNBA history. Emma Meesseman had 24 points, seven rebounds, six assists and three steals and Kahleah Copper added a career-high 13 points for the Mystics (9-11), who have lost three straight. NATIONAL WOMEN’S SOCCER LEAGUE: Estefania Banini scored in the 20th minute and substitute Katie Stengel converted a header in the 74th off a corner kick from Christine Nairn (Archbishop Spalding) Saturday night to lift the host Washington Spirit (7-2-2) to a 2-0 victory over the Chicago Red Stars (5-4-3). —