Calder: Stay Forever passes test

MIAMI - Stay Forever passed her first class check with flying colors when she rallied from off a slow pace for a three-length victory over Pembroke Palace in Saturday's $50,000 Noble Royalty Handicap.

Stay Forever had won three of her first four career starts, all against allowance company, before making her stakes debut in the 1 1/16-mile Noble Royalty. Allowed to settle off the pace of Crimson Native, Stay Forever commenced her bid from between horses in the stretch and burst by the leaders leaving the sixteenth pole.

Pembroke Palace saved ground and challenged for command at midstretch. Abuela Esther rallied mildly to be third. Sara's Success, the 8-5 favorite in a scratched-reduced field of eight, prompted the pace and finished fourth, followed by Crimson Native, Cee Knows Evil, Diana My Love, and Light the River.

Stay Forever, a 5-year-old homebred daughter of Stack owned by the Santa Cruz Ranch, paid $6 after covering the distance in 1:44.75 over a good course. M.R. Cruz rode the winner for trainer Marty Wolfson.

Stay Forever bowed a tendon and was off from November 2000 to this July. Wolfson said she will run next in the $100,000 My Charmer here Dec. 7.