Laurel Park 's ninth race today will serve as the launching pad of the inaugural Stronach 5, a national wager featuring five races at four tracks across the country and offering an industry low 12 percent takeout. A field of nine was entered in the $22,000 maiden claiming event for 2-year-olds going 5 furlongs on the main track. After Laurel's ninth, which has a post time of 5:26 p.m., the Stronach 5 will continue with Race 4 from Santa Anita (5:32 post), Race 8 from Gulfstream Park (5:38), Race 4 from Golden Gate Fields (5:50) and Race 9 from Gulfstream (6:08). A total of 52 horses were entered in the five races, an average of 10.4 starters per race. The inaugural Stronach 5 will have a guaranteed pool of $50,000 and the Maryland Jockey Club will serve as host for the multi-race bet as a separate wagering platform. The Stronach 5 will be shown live on all track simulcast feeds. If there are no winners in the Stronach 5, which requires bettors to select the winner in each of the five races, the entire pool will be carried over to the following Friday. In addition to the Stronach 5, live racing returns to Laurel with a 10-race card today.
Basketball
Former Maryland playergiven suspended sentence
A former Maryland basketball star who had a brief NBA career has avoided prison for his role in the beating of a 15-year-old boy in Torrington, Conn. The Republican American reports Jordan Williams received a five-year suspended sentence after pleading guilty Tuesday under the Alford doctrine to risk of injury to a minor. That means while not agreeing with the state's case, he acknowledges there is enough evidence to convict. Prosecutors say the 27-year-old Williams was among five people who attacked the boy in November 2016 over a botched drug deal. Williams denied participating in the beating but apologized to the victim for failing to stop the attack. Williams starred at Torrington High, went on to Maryland and played for the New Jersey Nets in the 2011-2012 season.
Et Cetera
UM running back Harrisonout for season with injury
Maryland running back Lorenzo Harrison III missed the past two games while recovering from a hamstring injury. Harrison will now miss the remainder of his junior year after suffering a knee injury in practice this week, a team spokesman confirmed. Harrison, who had likely fallen to third string with the emergence of redshirt freshman and former DeMatha High teammate Anthony McFarland Jr. and the resurgence last week of senior Ty Johnson, announced the injury on Instagram. Harrison carried the ball just 10 times in the first two games, but his performance in a 45-14 win at Bowling Green on Sept. 8 had put him back in the rotation.
— Don Markus
Major League Lacrosse : The Chesapeake Bayhawks have re-signed midfielder Ryan Tucker to a three-year deal and attackman Jack Doyle for at least another season. Both played at Gilman and were teammates on the 2009 Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association A Conference championship team.
National Women's Soccer League : The Washington Spirit re-signed goalkeeper Aubrey Bledsoe to a contract. In addition, Washington has completed a loan agreement that will send Bledsoe to Sydney FC of the Australian W-League for the duration of the NWSL offseason. The 26-year-old goalkeeper made 21 appearances for the Spirit last season, and set the new NWSL single-season saves record, stopping 108 shots.
Sprint football: The Collegiate Sprint Football League selected Navy linebacker Dean Rye as the CSFL Defensive Player of the Week for his efforts against Army West Point. Rye led the Navy defense against the Black Knights, boasting a game-high 17 tackles, including a game-best 10 solo stops.
— From Sun staff and news services