Noblame beats elders in Fancy Buckles Stakes

Noblame defeated older rivals in her first attempt Saturday night, when the 3-year-old won the $50,000 Fancy Buckles at Charles Town over reigning West Virginia-bred horse of the year Moonlit Song. Noblame won by three-quarters of a length, while 1-2 favorite Moonlit Song finished 1 1/2 lengths clear of Remy’s Rocket.

The Fancy Buckles was a 4 1/2-furlong race for fillies and mares bred in West Virginia.

Noblame ($6) was always prominent, tracking Party N the Palace and Moonlit Song through an opening quarter in 21.89 seconds on a sloppy, sealed track. In the stretch, Moonlit Song and Noblame battled, with the winner getting the distance in 52 seconds.

J.D. Acosta was aboard Noblame for trainer Joe Sharp. Noblame was winning her second straight stakes at Charles Town and her third overall at the track. She is a daughter of Blame who races for Wayne Sanders and Larry Hirsch. Noblame has now won five of eight starts and has earned $146,110.