Beulah: Candy Bites tops $906 exacta in Howard Noonan Stakes

Candy Bites stalked a tepid early pace and rallied into the stretch to win the $50,000 Howard Noonan Stakes at Beulah Park on Saturday afternoon.

Trained by Jeff Engler and ridden by Yuri Yaranga, Candy Bites ($17) was to the outside of pacesetting Quasi Folle and Blazing Bling for the first half-mile. Yaranga went to work in the stretch and Candy Bites held on for a half-length victory. Plain Ol' Willard was a hard-charging second and Blazing Bling, the only filly in the race of 3-year-old Ohio bred horses, held on for third.

The running time over a track labeled as good was 1:12.90 and Candy Bites. The exacta with nearly 50-1 long shot Plain Ol' Williard returned $906.60.