by Brian deJong, for Saratoga Raceway

Saratoga Springs, NY — Trainer Glenn Raia is 50 years old and it’s a pretty safe bet to say there are not many men in Saratoga Springs who work harder than this dynamo of energy.

Glenn gets to his barn at 4:30 a.m. every morning to tend to his stable of 12 horses at Saratoga Gaming and Raceway. Once he’s done putting the finishing touches on the horses, Glenn starts work at 12:00 noon as a truck driver/laborer for the City of Saratoga Springs Department of Public Works and puts in another eight hours.

The likeable trainer has a big smile on his face these days because of a 2-year-old filly named Queen Of The Stars, who happens to be the star of the stable and a filly with unlimited potential.

Owned by Glenn’s wife, Tina, Queen Of The Stars goes for her fifth straight victory in the $20,000 final of the New York Sires Stakes Late Closer on Saturday night, September 29, at Saratoga Gaming and Raceway.

Glenn picked out Queen Of The Stars last October at the Tioga Fall Sale.

“I liked her conformation and when I researched the second dam, Becky Jean Hanover, I was really impressed that she had 12 foals that all took a mark.”

The sale price of $2,600 has turned out to be quite a bargain.

Queen Of The Stars “did everything I asked right from the beginning,” remarked Raia.

The youngster began her career on May 25 with a solid second in a qualifier. Another tune-up followed in a non-betting event before Queen Of The Stars finished fourth in her pari-mutuel debut on June 20.

Queen Of The Stars continued to pick up checks in her next seven starts before scoring her maiden victory on August 21 in a late closer at Saratoga Gaming and Raceway, pacing the mile in 1:59.2 for catch-driver Kim Crawford.

The next start for Queen Of The Stars was a $48,502 New York Sires Stakes at Saratoga Gaming and Raceway on August 29. The talented lass was handled by Yonkers Raceway regular Stephane Bouchard and all Queen Of The Stars did was set a new track record for 2-year-old pacing fillies with a brilliant 1:54.4 score.

Queen Of The Stars followed up her track record with easy triumphs in NYSS late closers at Yonkers Raceway in 2:00 and last week at Vernon Downs in 1:56.

Trainer Raia really likes Queen Of The Stars’ demeanor. “She’s got a great personality and push button speed. I think she’s getting better with every start.”

Queen Of The Stars comes into Saturday night’s final with four wins from 11 starts and seasonal earnings of $46,898. She’ll have to overcome post eight to make it five in a row. Dan Cappello, Jr. pilots the standout as she faces the likes of four-time winner Bet The Ranch and Vernon Downs invader Twin B Snicker.