LAUREL, MD. 12-28-13---Konrad M. Wayson’s Joint Custody overcame a stumbling start and survived a heated duel down the backstretch before galloping to victory in the $100,000 Maryland Juvenile Championship.

Wesley Ho was aboard the son of Outflanker, who completed the seven furlong distance in 1:25.19 and won by 5-1/2 lengths. After Joint Custody put away Open the Bank nearing the far turn and turned back Fran’s Buckaroo around the turn, Ho gave him his head and they steadily pulled away. Buck n’ Ham Lane finished third.

Joint Custody was the overwhelming favorite in the field of six after program favorite It’s A Bang scratched this morning. He paid $2.60.

The John Robb trainee is now four for six lifetime after winning two stakes in a row and Robb is now 18 for 45 during the meeting.

“You’re always a little concerned when you see them stumble but it might have been a blessing in disguise,” said Robb. “This horse does not like being on his own. 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. I give Wesley a lot of credit for keeping him busy. We’ll give him a bit of a break but we’ve got to keep an eye on him. He doesn’t get that much out of training so we don’t want to go too far in the other direction.”

“He stumbled pretty badly at the start but he got his feet right back under him and got right back into it,” said Ho. “We schooled him with dirt being kicked on him and he did fine so we would have been okay if we were a little behind. I didn’t have to ask him at all. He knew what to do and he did it easily. I’m sure he can go farther because he does it so easily.”

Laurel’s Pick 5 Will Be Paid Out Tuesday, With A $200,000 Pool Guaranteed

Laurel Park’s Pick 5, with a guaranteed pool of $200,000 for a single winning ticket, has not been hit by a single unique ticket up until and including today. Tuesday, New Year’s Eve, is the last day for the guaranteed $200,000, so the Pick 5 will be paid and the guaranteed pool will be shared by all winning ticket holders that afternoon.

About Laurel Park

Laurel Park is a Stronach Group company, North America’s leading Thoroughbred racetrack owner/operator. The Stronach Group racetracks include Santa Anita Park, Gulfstream Park & Casino, Golden Gate Fields, Portland Meadows, Laurel Park and Pimlico Race Course, home of the world-famous Preakness. The company owns and operates the Palm Meadows Training Center in Florida and is one of North America's top race horse breeders through its award-winning Adena Springs operation. The Stronach Group is one of the world's largest suppliers of pari-mutuel wagering systems, technologies and services. Its companies include AmTote, a global leader in wagering technology; Xpressbet, an Internet and telephone account wagering service; and Monarch Content Management, which acts as a simulcast purchase and sales agent of horseracing content for numerous North American racetracks and wagering outlets. The Stronach Group is also a major producer of televised horse racing programming through its HRTV cable and satellite network and is North America's premier supplier of virtual online horse racing games, as well as a leading producer of social media content for the horseracing industry.