Our Commander wins third straight at Laurel

Our Commander stretched his winning streak to three and earned his first stakes victory when running down Not Abroad in the final 70 yards of Saturday's $50,000 Maryland Juvenile Championship Stakes for registered Maryland-breds at Laurel Park.

Our Commander, trained by Gary Capuano for his father, owner-breeder Philip Capuano, bobbled at the start and was rated off the rail. He circled four wide into the stretch and outfinished Not Abroad by a neck. Our Commander, a gelding by Tenspins out of Silver Tango, covered the 7 1/2 furlongs on a fast track in 1:31.78 and returned $9.60.

"The last three-sixteenths, I started asking him," said jockey Josean Ramirez, who has been aboard for all three of Our Commander's victories. "I wasn't moving very much, but then I kept riding and riding like it was going to be the last race ever and just won it. I've been working him every morning. I can see him improving a lot. He's a nice little horse."

Not Abroad, who had taken the lead from the early pacesetters - Petecarol and Morumsco - heading into the turn, finished 3 1/2 lengths in front of Baileys Beach.