Noble Beauty wins Pucker Up by disqualification

Noble Beauty was elevated to first when Try Your Luck was disqualified for interference Saturday in the 53rd running of the Grade 3, $100,000 Pucker Up Stakes, the Arlington Million Day finale at Arlington Park in suburban Chicago.

Try Your Luck held off Auntie Joy in a frantic stretch run, but not before noticeably herding her rival well out onto the turf course. As those two dueled, Noble Beauty made a late rush, passing Auntie Joy while Try Your Luck narrowly finished first.

However, after a stewards’ inquiry and an objection by Brian Hernandez Jr., the rider of Auntie Joy, a change was made, giving Noble Beauty her first stakes victory. It was the fifth winner of the day for jockey Florent Geroux, who earlier won the Grade 3 American St. Leger, Grade 1 Secretariat, and Grade 1 Beverly D.

“We got lucky there with the disqualification, but I did think our filly ran the best race,” said Chad Brown, who trains Noble Beauty for Great Point Stables LLC.

Noble Beauty, by Kitten’s Joy, returned $7.20 as second choice in a field of 12 3-year-old fillies. Auntie Joy, the 2-1 favorite, was placed second, and Try Your Luck, the 6-1 third choice, was lowered to third.

The final time for the 1 1/8-mile race was 1:50.09 over firm turf.

The $2 exacta (11-9) paid $18.40, the $1 trifecta (11-9-3) returned $32.40, and the 10-cent superfecta (11-9-3-7) was worth $17.72.