Triple Threat

When Edgar Prado, Maryland's top jockey, rode off to New York last year, area racing fans wondered: Who would inherit the wins? For three years, Prado led the nation in victories, dominated local tracks, corralled the best mounts. His departure for racier climes left a vacancy atop the jockey standings - and a giddy-up call for a successor. Who thought there would be three? In a finish called unprecedented by Maryland horsemen, a trio of area riders ended the year among the country's top five winners.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - When Tennessee Titans receiver Chris Sanders sees Derrick Mason in the huddle with his mouth wide-open, he gives him the following piece of advice. "I tell him go get a cup of Gatorade," Sanders said. "Then he will go get that cup of Gatorade and be back to D-mase." It seems Gatorade and taking a couple of offensive plays off rejuvenates Mason. But who could blame Mason if he gets a little winded during games? As ridiculous a notion that someone other than Pro Bowl running back Eddie George could be the team's most valuable player, Mason's versatility gives him a case this season.

COLLEGE PARK -- And down the stretch they come in a three-way duel for the starting quarterback job at Maryland. It's returning starter Calvin McCall on the inside, with strong-armed Latrez Harrison gaining on the outside and highly regarded junior college transfer Shaun Hill hanging tough in the middle as they head to the finish line. And the winner is? "It's too close to call," said Maryland coach Ron Vanderlinden yesterday before he sent his team through a final workout in preparation for tomorrow's annual Red-White spring game at Byrd Stadium at 7 p.m. "Latrez, Calvin and Shaun are all playing well and giving us better quarterback play than any time since I've been here," said Vanderlinden, who heads into his fourth season next fall.

As Salisbury State's Suzy McCulloch ran toward the finish line, her victory in a recent cross country race a foregone conclusion, an old acquaintance confirmed his astonishment.Dr. Charles Brown, UMBC's athletic director and youth sports coach to McCulloch's older sister, could only say, "I wish I'd known she was a runner."Until recently, she hadn't been.But McCulloch, in her second season at Salisbury, is much more than that. She's also a swimmer and a cyclist who aspires to represent the United States in the 2004 Olympics as a triathlete.

ELMONT, N.Y. -- When Silver Charm chugged toward the finish line two years ago in quest of the elusive Triple Crown -- only to lose in the final desperate strides -- the sporting world looked up and said: It can't get any better than that.It did.When Real Quiet staggered to the wire last year upon weary but determined legs, his lead diminishing in seeming slow motion -- and he lost the Triple Crown by a nose -- the sporting world looked up again and said: It can't get any better than that.

This is the rematch, the race for settling scores after the Kentucky Derby that didn't settle anything.So many horses encountered trouble in the Derby -- bumping, blocking, traffic jams -- that nine, maybe even 10, horses from the race will line up today for the rematch in the 124th Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course.No more than eight Derby horses have returned for the Preakness since the 1930s. That's a sign that this year's trainers and owners of these hot-shot 3-year-olds believe they never got the chance to show their stuff in the Derby.

Mandy Schroeder always enjoyed playing field hockey, but it was lacrosse that touched her heart. Until now."This year has been so exciting," said the Hammond senior. "The team has come together so much; it's been a really fun year. We're all very positive, and that gives us a whole new outlook on the season."And so far, the season has gone very well. At 3-0-1, the Golden Bears are the only public high school field hockey team unbeaten in Howard County."We have a lot of skill, and I think playing together for all these years has brought us together," said Schroeder, one of eight senior starters.

After a day of hearing about the lurid Kenneth Starr report, I needed to lift my spirits. Fortunately, the opening Friday of Chesapeake Music Hall's "42nd Street" offered the perfect antidote."

If there was one moment this spring when former Oriole Pete dTC Incaviglia went from being a long shot to a lock in the Detroit Tigers' camp, it was when the nonroster invitee ripped a ball into the gap during an exhibition game and didn't stop running until he reached third base.Doubles and home runs had been Incaviglia's calling cards. A stand-up triple?The ball didn't get stuck in the fence, either. It was all Inky, 40 pounds lighter and unwilling to fade into oblivion."Actually, I had three of them.