Lady Sabelia Wears Down Disco Chick in Primonetta

Mrs. Frank Wright's homebred and graded-stakes winner Lady Sabelia needed the entire stretch to wear down Disco Chick to win the $75,000 Primonetta Stakes Saturday at Laurel Park.

The 6-year-old mare, a model of consistency for trainer Robin Graham, has now won 11 of 20 career starts (eight at Laurel) and has placed first, second or third in 18 of those 20 starts. The daughter of Majestic Warrior has earned $740,465.

Ridden by Horacio Karamanos, Lady Sabelia raced third down the backstretch while Dallas Cowgirl and Willa On the Move runner-up Disco Chick raced past an opening quarter in :22.79. After Disco Chick and jockey Trevor McCarthy took the lead and went the half in :45.88, Karamanos moved Lady Sabelia three-wide around the turn and took aim at the leader.

It was a game performance by Disco Chick, but it wasn't enough to prevent Lady Sabelia from once again visiting Laurel's winner's circle.

"She's a wonderful mare to have," Graham said. "She tries, gives you everything every time."

After winning four of six starts last year, including the Barbara Fritchie (G2), Lady Sabelia finished third Feb. 13 when making her 6-year-old debut and trying to defend her title in the Fritchie. Graham, however, wasn't concerned.

"I wasn't worried with the third in the Fritchie because she was a little short for that race," Graham said. "I knew she was a little tired. She came back fine."

Lady Sabelia paid $3.20. Love Came to Town, an easy winner back in January of the Nellie Morse, was disqualified from third to fourth for causing interference down the stretch. Fourth-place finisher Sweet On Smokey was placed third.

Karamanos won three races on the day. Along with Lady Sabelia he won the second aboard Great Smoke ($5.60) the sixth with first-time starter Proud to Say ($13.80).