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Noble Stella rules Glens Falls Gary Tanaka's NOBLE STELLA (Ger) (Monsun) has adopted front-running tactics to score in two graded stakes on the turf this year, but the handsome dark bay mare let another do the early chores in Monday's $112,100 Glens Falls H. (G3) at Saratoga. Waiting until the far turn to assert herself, Noble Stella strode clear by two imperious lengths in the stretch of the 1 3/8-mile event to close the curtain on the Spa's stakes schedule. Noble Stella broke sharply beneath Mike Smith and, for a few strides, appeared to be settling into her usual leading role, but an eager Sabellina (Langfuhr) sailed right past her. Dashing to a 3 1/2-length advantage through a first quarter in :24 3/5, Sabellina maintained a daylight margin while carving out splits of :49 and 1:14 2/5. Meanwhile, Noble Stella was content to race in second, several lengths in front of Latice (Ire) (Inchinor [GB]). On the far turn, Smith sent his mount after the pacesetter, and Noble Stella narrowed her deficit to one length as Sabellina got the mile in 1:38 4/5. The Roger Attfield-trained winner was traveling far better than her tiring rival, however, and into the stretch, the German-bred mare powered to the front, traveling 1 1/4 miles in 2:03 3/5 and staying on strongly through the final furlong to stop the teletimer in 2:16 on the good turf. "It's the only way to go out this meet," Smith said, "because I have never been at Saratoga a whole meet without winning a stakes race. She settled so nicely. It was perfect. It was like she was on the lead. She's run some dynamite races on the lead, but she's also run some good races off the pace." Latice finished energetically for second, 3 3/4 lengths ahead of Louve Royale (Ire) (Peintre Celebre), who rallied from last to nip Wait It Out (Swain [Ire]) on the wire. Sabellina weakened to fifth, followed by Quiero Ganar (Lasting Approval), 5-2 favorite Olaya (Theatrical [Ire]), Milwaukee (Fr) (Desert King) and Rowdy (Malibu Moon). Shared Dreams (GB) (Seeking the Gold) and Tisket a Tasket (Broad Brush) were withdrawn. Dispatched as the second choice at 4-1, Noble Stella returned $10.40, $5.90 and $4.50. The 7-1 Latice paid $7.20 and $5.80, ending the $74 exacta. Louve Royale gave back $3.40 to show at odds of nearly 5-1 and rounded out the $268 trifecta. With the 17-1 Wait It Out in fourth, the 3-7-1-11 superfecta totaled $3,065. Bred by Gestut Etzean, the five-year-old Noble Stella is out of the Italian Group 1 winner Noble Pearl (Dashing Blade). She has now earned $643,716 from a 26-8-3-5 line, and her resume includes victories in the New York Breeders' Cup H. (G2) and the Bewitch S. (G3) this year, as well as the 2005 Dance Smartly H. (Can-G3) and Flaming Page S. The dark bay has also placed in the Sheepshead Bay H. (G2), La Prevoyante H. (G2), Orchid H. (G3) and The Very One H. (G3). In her prior start, she was a troubled fifth when trying to defend her title in the Dance Smartly H. (Can-G2).
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