The festive and well-attended evening was made even better for the Burke Racing Stable and Weaver Bruscemi, when their three-year-old pacing filly, Fiyonce, won the $110,000 Courageous Lady at Northfield Park.
Trained by Ron Burke and driven by Josh Sutton, Fiyonce bested her competition by a head at the wire and was an upset winner, returning $48.60.
Fiyonce started from post five and let her competition carve out the fractions of :27, :56.1 and 1:25.1. She was last at the top of the stretch and moved from worst to first in a thrilling stretch drive, stopping the timer at 1:55.1.
“When I got her to the outside, she just flew home,” said Sutton. “She is a nice filly and raced great tonight.”
Completing the field were That Woman Hanover, Sister Stroll, A La Notte Hanover, Shell Bell and the previously undefeated supplemental entry Kayla Grace.
Fiyonce (Rocknroll Hanover-Fionavar Hanover-The Panderosa) now has two wins in 11 lifetime starts. Friday’s victory increased her career bankroll to $116,549.
Sutton was elated over his first Grand Circuit score.
“I have won several races for bigger purses, but none of them were on the Grand Circuit,” he said. “I am really honoured that the Burkes listed me to drive such a nice filly.”
Friday was a successful night for Sutton. The Courageous Lady was one of six wins he posted on the card.
(With files from Northfield Park)