Laurel: Joint Custody cruises in Maryland Juvenile Championship

Joint Custody already looked formidable on paper when entries were finalized for the $100,000 Maryland Juvenile Championship at Laurel Park. He became even more imposing when his most dangerous rival, It’s a Bang, was scratched on Saturday.

Joint Custody shook off some early pressure from Open the Bank and was all alone during the stretch run as he won for the fourth time this season in the seven-furlong Juvenile Championship for statebreds.

Joint Custody ($2.60) made it look easy despite getting off to an awkward start.

“He stumbled pretty badly at the start but he got his feet right back under him and got right back into it,” said jockey Wesley Ho. “At the head of the lane I said ‘go’ and he went. He pulled away when I asked him. I’m sure he can go farther because he does it so easily.”

Hand-ridden to the wire, Joint Custody completed the distance on a fast track in 1:25.19 while finishing 5 1/2 lengths in front. He is now 4 for 6 with earnings of $182,980.

Fran’s Buckaroo was second and Buck n’ Ham finished third.

John Robb, who trains Joint Custody for Howard Wayson, said he has no immediate next-race plans for the son of Outflanker. Robb said he was glad that Open the Bank dueled with Joint Custody down the backstretch.

This horse does not like being on his own," Robb said. "He’s difficult to work because he just doesn’t want to focus without other horses right with him all the time. The minute he gets a little in front he gets lazy. I was looking for him to improve today and he certainly ran well, but he doesn’t even look like he’s moving that fast."

She's Ordained takes Willa On the Move

Penn National shipper She’s Ordained turned the tables on Five Star Momma in the $100,000 Willa On the Move for filly and mare sprinters.

A month earlier, in the $150,000 Lady in Waiting at Penn National, She’s Ordained broke awkwardly and did well to finish within a neck of front-running Five Star Momma.

“She had trouble last time at Penn in the gate. I thought she was much the best in that race,” trainer Tim Kreiser said. “Today, she broke well and that’s all we wanted. We thought if she broke well, we had a good shot at beating [Five Star Momma].”

Ridden for the first time by Angel Quinonez, the 4-year-old She’s Ordained ($8.40) tracked pacesetter Five Star Momma from third in the field of eight. Lady Sabelia engaged Five Star Momma for the lead in the stretch, but She’s Ordained rallied up the rail to prevail by three-quarters of a length. The winning time was 1:10.58.

Five Star Momma was easily second best, finishing 5 3/4 lengths ahead of Lady Sabelia.

It was the eighth win in 15 starts this season for She’s Ordained, a daughter of Ministers Wild Cat owned by Richard Ulrich. Overall she is 14 for 30 with earnings of $330,685.