Rain helps shrink Noble Royalty field

MIAMI - For the second year in a row, south Florida's unpredictable summer weather has forced the $50,000 Noble Royalty to be switched from the turf to the main track and in the process reduced the starting lineup to a familiar group of five older fillies and mares. The 1 1/16-mile Noble Royalty will match the first three finishers from the Nancy's Glitter Stakes on Aug 25. in which Castlebrook rallied to a two length victory over Coolbythepool with Racing For Pahm finishing a tiring third.

Castlebrook, who was nominated for the Noble Royalty on the chance the race might come off the grass, will carry highweight of 118 pounds with regular rider Rosemary Homeister Jr. named. Homeister, this meet's second leading jockey, was stranded in New Jersey earlier this week when flights were grounded through Thursday. She was expected to be back in time to ride on Saturday's card.