38-year-old trainer takes crack at Laurel feature

Don’t expect trainer Jenn Patterson to be overwhelmed Saturday when she sends out her first horse of the year, first in a stakes and just the18th in a fledgling career, in one of the marquee races on the richest day of Laurel Park’s winter season. As a former assistant to Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey and the exercise rider and travel partner for 2013 Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Orb during his Triple Crown run, which included a stop at Pimlico Race Course for the Preakness (G1), the 38-year-old Patterson is no stranger to being on the big stage. A native of Wilmington, Del., Patterson finds herself back in Maryland with Harry Rosenblum and Robert LaPenta’s Grade 3placed stakes winner Uncontested for the 43rd running of the $250,000 General George (G3) Saturday. The General George for 4-year-olds and up and the $250,000 Barbara Fritchie (G3) for fillies and mares 4 and older, both at seven furlongs, coheadline a Winter Carnival program featuring five stakes worth $800,000 in purses. It will be the second start for Uncontested since joining Patterson’s modest seven-horse string at Keeneland-owned The Thoroughbred Center in Lexington, Ky. last fall.

WOMEN’S PRO SOCCER: Washington Spirit midfielders Rose Lavelle and Andi Sullivan, and forward Mallory Pugh have been named to coach Jill Ellis’ 23-player U.S. Women’s National Team roster for the SheBelieves Cup. Lavelle enters the event with 21 career international caps and six goals scored. Sullivan has 11 caps with the senior national team, and Pugh has racked up 13 goals in her first 45 career games with the USA. The three Spirit players will represent FIFA’s No. 1-ranked women’s team against No. 4 England, No. 8 Japan and No. 10 Brazil in the SheBelieves Cup. All four teams will be participating in this summer’s 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup in France. Brazil, Japan and the USA are three of the seven teams that have participated in each of the seven previous Women’s World Cup tournaments. ... The Spirit has finalized its preseason schedule. Washington will open the preseason March16 against James Madison University at City Stadium in Richmond, Va. On March 23, the Spirit will host French club Girondins de Bordeaux for the club’s 2019 debut at the Maryland SoccerPlex. On arch 30, the Spirit return to Evergreen Sportsplex in Leesburg, Va.,to host 22-time NCAAchampion North Carolina and the club’s preseason finale will be held April 6, when Washington hosts Virginia Tech at the Maryland SoccerPlex.

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