A powerhouse group of three-year-old pacing fillies are set to square off in this year’s $150,000 USD Courageous Lady at Northfield Park on Saturday, Oct. 10.
Stakes credentials can be found up and down the entire field for the Grade 3 invitational event, making for one of the deepest editions of the Courageous Lady in its history.
Sangria Summer is the 3-1 morning line favourite for trainer Luc Blais and owner Determination, Montreal, Que., with Matt Kakaley catch-driving from post two. The Captaintreacherous-Shower Play filly heads to Northfield with an impressive resume including sub-1:49 wins this year in the Grade 1 James Lynch Memorial and Grade 3 Shady Daisy.
Another top contender is millionaire Loua Dipa, a Breeders Crown champion with Grade 1 wins this year in the Jugette and Fan Hanover Stakes. The Ron Burke trainee, who drew the outside post eight with regular reinsman Ronnie Wrenn Jr., is listed at 4-1 odds on the morning line.
Loua Dipa will renew her rivalry with two-time New Jersey Sire Stakes and New Jersey Classic champion Be Perfect BG, with the two accomplished fillies set to meet once again. The pair have already finished heads apart twice this season including a spectacular stretch battle in the Fan Hanover. These two titans of the sport will throw down once again with the Anthony Beaton trainee Be Perfect BG having a slight post edge leaving from post six with Dexter Dunn. She is listed at 7-2 odds on the morning line.
The field also includes two-time Ohio Sires Stakes champion Seaside Shuffle starting from the second tier with Chris Page driving for trainer Ron Burke. Another Sires Stakes winner comes in from New York in the way of Savage Cindy from post four with Dan Noble driving for trainer Cory Stratton.
The race also features a special local connection in Perfect Thought, who is stabled at Northfield Park. The Jason McGinnis trainee will have the home track advantage with Anthony MacDonald aboard from post three.
Rounding out the field are Prtynproud Hanover, with three-time winner of this race Dave Palone; Vanna By The River, with Aaron Merriman; and Rodeo Dancer, with Brett Miller.
The full field with listed drivers, trainer and morning line odds is listed below in post position order.
$150,000 USD Courageous Lady (Grade 3)
Post - Horse - Listed Driver – Trainer – Morning Line Odds
1. Prtynproud Hanover - Dave Palone - Brian Brown - 6-1
2. Sangria Summer - Matt Kakaley - Luc Blais - 3-1
3. Perfect Thought - Anthony MacDonald - Jason McGinnis - 12-1
4. Savage Cindy - Dan Noble - Cory Stratton - 9-2
5. Vanna By The River - Aaron Merriman - Cory Stratton - 15-1
6. Be Perfect BG - Dexter Dunn - Anthony Beaton - 7-2
7. Rodeo Dancer - Brett Miller - Steve Bauder - 20-1
8. Loua Dipa - Ronnie Wrenn Jr. - Ron Burke - 4-1
9.] Seaside Shuffle - Chris Page - Ron Burke - 10-1
post time for Saturday's card is 6 p.m., with the Courageous Lady Pace scheduled for race 12.
(With files from Northfield Park)