Laurel: Spirited Game all the way

Sent off at 16-1, Spirited Game went right to the front of the $75,000 Conniver Stakes at Laurel Park and was never seriously challenged in her 1 1/4-length victory.

The scratch of Malibu Moonbeam left the Conniver without its only confirmed front-runner, and jockey Jose Caraballo, riding Spirited Game, took full advantage. He sent the 5-year-old mare ahead through fractions of 23.12 seconds, 46.13, and three-quarters of a mile in 1:10.30. Plata, who stalked the pace but had no rally to catch the winner, finished second. Spirited Game ($35), trained by Dove Houghton, finished the seven furlongs in 1:23.76.

Promenade Girl, the 3-5 favorite out for a fourth straight win, steadied on the backstretch and dropped back to last, then came on late to finish third, two lengths behind Plata.

Silmaril, winner of last year's Pimlico Breeders' Cup Distaff and coming off a seven-month layoff, was never a major factor, finishing fifth in the field of seven.