Rocket Defense spoiled the return of Miss Charm City in the $34,000 Optional/Allowance feature at Laurel Park. Rocket Defense, a 4-year-old trained by Dove Houghton, completed the six-furlong distance in 1 minute, 10.51 seconds, winning by four lengths while carrying Luis Garcia. Miss Charm City, who finished third, went undefeated during her 2-year-old campaign in 2008 before missing all of 2009 after injuring her left front suspensory while training for the Maryland Juvenile Filly Championship.

Pro soccer: Crystal Palace Baltimore signed 24-year-old playmaker Mathew Mbuta, pending U.S. Soccer Federation approval. The former New York Red Bulls player returns to Palace after playing in Major League Soccer for the past year and a half.

Pro basketball: The Maryland GreenHawks of the Premier Basketball League acquired Joseph Flegler, who attended Woodrow Wilson and College of Southern Maryland, from the Quebec Kebs for a second-round draft pick.

College volleyball: Krista Valdivia, who has 12 years of coaching experience, 10 as a head coach at Michigan Tech, was named a volunteer assistant at Maryland.

College gymnastics: Towson senior Alise McDonald (Randallstown) was named Division I Co-Gymnast of the Week by the Eastern College Athletic Conference.

-From Sun staff and news services