Stoic Luna gets up late in Golden Gate Distaff Turf Stakes

Stoic Luna won the first stakes of her career in Saturday’s $51,050 Golden Gate Distaff Turf Stakes at 1 1/16 miles on turf – and needed every bit of the distance to pass a stubborn stretch leader in Naughty Nadine.

Sent off favored, Stoic Luna ($4.60) closed from third on the backstretch on the outside of 4-1 Naughty Nadine to win by a half-length, finishing in 1:45.90. Naughty Nadine, the third choice in the betting, looked like a winner in early stretch and finished 1 1/2 lengths clear of Madeira Wine.

Madeira Wine, who set a slow early pace of 24.89 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 50.20 for a half-mile, was the 7-2 second choice. Clockstrikestwelve, Momma Mocca, and Assignation completed the order of finish in the small field.

Evin Roman rode Stoic Luna, who earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 80.

The win also was a first stakes victory for longtime owner Melvin Simonovich. Trained by Jack Steiner, the 5-year-old Stoic Luna won her third consecutive start in the Golden Gate Turf Distaff. She won a starter allowance on Aug. 13 at Santa Rosa and an allowance race in which she was entered for an optional claiming price of $62,500 on Aug. 27 at Golden Gate Fields in advance of Saturday’s win.

Simonovich and Steiner claimed Stoic Luna for $32,000 on June 24 at Pleasanton. Stoic Luna finished second in an allowance race on turf at Pleasanton in her first start for them on June 24.

Stoic Luna has won 8 of 26 starts and earned $184,330. Stoic Luna has earned $62,360 since being claimed.

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