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SPORTS Thursday 13 June 2019

In this May 18, 2019, file photo, jockey Tyler Gaffalione, right,
reacts aboard War of Will, as they crosses the finish line first to
win the Preakness Stakes horse race at Pimlico Race Course, in
Baltimore.
Associated Press
Baltimore withdraws

lawsuit against owner New York Liberty’s Kia Nurse looks to pass the ball away from Minnesota Lynx’s Danielle Robinson,
left, Sylvia Fowles, second from right, and Lexie Brown, right, during the second half of a WNBA
basketball game Wednesday, June 12, 2019, in White Plains, N.Y. The Liberty won 75-69.
of Preakness track Associated Press
Nurse and Durr help

By DAVID McFADDEN
Associated Press Liberty beat Lynx 75-69
BALTIMORE (AP) — Baltimore announced Wednesday
that it has withdrawn a lawsuit against the owner and op- By DOUG FEINBERG nesota (4-3), which has career scoring list, passing
erator of the historic city racetrack that hosts the Preak- AP Basketball Writer dropped three of its last Taj McWilliams-Franklin in
ness Stakes, the Triple Crown series’ middle jewel and the WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. (AP) — four games. Fowles was the first quarter for 20th. The
second-oldest track in America. Kia Nurse and Asia Durr pro- happy that the team was Lynx star has 5,025 points.
Earlier this year, Maryland’s biggest city had asked a vided the offensive spark to able to rally from a 15-point CHINESE CONNECTION:
court to grant ownership of the Pimlico Race Course and help the New York Liberty deficit in the first half, but Wednesday night marked
the Preakness race to Baltimore through condemnation. beat the Minnesota Lynx the team still needs to work the first time in WNBA histo-
The lawsuit had dramatically ratcheted up a dispute over 75-69 on Wednesday night. on its end-game. “Coming ry that two Chinese players
whether the Preakness would continue to be run at crum- Nurse scored 26 points, in- back is part of the game,” competed against each
bling Pimlico or at a fresher Maryland track, the owner’s cluding 11 in the fourth Fowles said. “Finishing and other in a regular-season
favored Laurel Park. quarter, and Durr added a doing what we need to do game. New York’s Han Xu
The Pimlico course and Laurel Park are both owned by career-high 20. is something different and and Minnesota’s Shao Ting
Stronach, a Canadian company that owns several other “Total team effort with a we’re not executing right chatted before the game.
U.S. tracks including the Santa Anita Park in California. balanced scoring effort now.” The win was the sec- Han was drafted 14th by
But Baltimore Mayor Bernard “Jack” Young disclosed and getting key stops de- ond straight for New York, New York this year while
Wednesday that the city has withdrawn its condemnation fensively allowed us to get which had a 17-game los- Shao was signed as a free
action against the Stronach Group, the Maryland Jockey the win,” Nurse said. “We’re ing streak before Sunday’s agent in April. The pair
Club and others following a “productive discussion” he continuing to find ways to victory over Las Vegas. played together for China
recently had with the Canadian company’s president. win, playing with a lot of New York used a 14-2 run on the national team that
“I am pleased that we have reached this withdrawal passion and that will allow spanning the end of the finished sixth at the FIBA
agreement and standstill with the Maryland Jockey Club you to go far in this league. first quarter and begin- World Cup last fall. The pair
and the Stronach Group to give the parties an oppor- We just need to continue to ning of the second quar- didn’t get on the court.
tunity to discuss Pimlico and racing in Maryland,” Young close it out.” New York had ter to turn a 9-8 lead into a TRAINING ROOM: Liberty
said in a statement. a 10-point lead heading 13-point advantage. Durr forward Rebecca Allen
He stressed that City Hall is “committed to keeping the into the fourth quarter that was a big part of that spurt broke the third metacarpal
Preakness in Baltimore.” City leaders have been seeking Minnesota whittled down as the rookie surpassed her bone in her right hand in
state funding to redevelop the 149-year-old track and to 61-58 before Nurse hit a previous career-high of 12 practice on Tuesday. She’s
the surrounding Park Heights neighborhood. 3-pointer. That sparked a points before halftime. She out at least three weeks.
However, a push to have Laurel Park host the second leg 10-4 run and made it 71-62. finished the opening 20 Allen was wearing a soft
of the Triple Crown doesn’t appear to be going away. The Lynx rallied within four, minutes with 14 points as cast. ... Minnesota guard
The rundown Pimlico course is desperately in need of a but Durr made a spectacu- New York led 38-28 at the Seimone Augustus traveled
major overhaul, and Baltimore city officials, the owners lar move, splitting two de- break. with the team and is still re-
of the track and many trainers disagree on whether it’s fenders and scoring with 20 SOLID DEFENSE: Amanda covering from arthroscopic
smart to spend nearly half a billion dollars on upgrades. seconds left to seal the win. Zahui B. had another strong surgery on her right knee
Last year, a study by the Maryland Stadium Authority said “I was just trying to make defensive effort for the Lib- on May 30. She’s out indefi-
the Pimlico Race Course should be torn down and rebuilt a play. The shot clock was erty with two blocks and nitely. She was charged
at a cost of $424 million. going down,” Durr said. “I two steals to go along with with a technical foul from
Meanwhile, the old Baltimore track has fallen into fur- didn’t want to turn the ball 15 points and 13 rebounds. the bench early in the
ther disarray as Stronach has steered renovation fund- over. Make a move and try “What she’s been able to fourth quarter. ... Lynx rook-
ing toward Laurel Park, which it hopes to transform into to score.” The No. 2 pick do on the defensive end, ie Jessica Shepard wasn’t
a state-of-the-art facility. Citing the “safety and security in the draft said she was having the energy, she’s with the team after tearing
of all guests and employees,” the Maryland Jockey Club hearing from coach Ka- been the glue for us this the ACL in her right knee.
closed off 6,670 seats in the Pimlico grandstand before tie Smith to shoot the ball year,” said Tina Charles of She will miss the remainder
this year’s Preakness race, and many of the barns are more and she did. Sylvia her teammate. of the season and have sur-
dilapidated. A water main break on Preakness Day shut Fowles had 16 points and MILESTONES: Fowles moved gery once the swelling on
down many of the toilets last month.q 11 rebounds to lead Min- into the top 20 on the WNBA the knee goes down.q