With 14 three-year-old fillies in the entry box, Saturday’s $101,500 Courgaeous Lady at Northfield Park has been split into two $50,750, seven-horse divisions
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The first, Race 8 on the card, is scheduled for about 9:45 p.m., and the second, Race 11, is set for about 11 p.m. The two Courageous Lady heats will “bookend” Northfield’s Guaranteed $10,000 Pick Four (with reduced 14 per cent takeout) on April 30.
The first division features favoured Some Girls Do as the 3-5 early choice. Owned by Burke Racing, Weaver Bruscemi Llc, Frank Baldachino and Earl Smith, she has won seven of nine races this year, while banking $87,900. Dave Palone, the perennial leading driver at The Meadows, near Pittsburgh, will drive the filly for trainer Ron Burke.
Ontario invader Hi Maintenancechic is the second choice at 4-1 for trainer Jonathan Gangell and driver Mark MacDonald. She is just shy of the $100,000 career earnings mark. John Devito of Whitestone, New York, owns the filly.
Odds On Racing’s I Kill Time, trained by Robin Schadt and driven by Northfield regular Kurt Sugg is the 2-1 early pick in the well-matched second division. A winner of $143,725, most in the field, she will make her seasonal debut after winning two qualifiers this month.
Stash The Cash, trained and owned by Jeffrey Long, has been named the 5-2 second choice by Director of Racing Dave Bianconi. She has posted a win and two seconds in three starts this year, earning $40,000 in those three starts. Three-time Northfield driving champ Aaron Merriman will pilot her.
Southwest is the 6-1 third choice in the second tilt, and like the favourite, will be making her 2011 bow after winning several qualifying races.
First-race post on the 13-race Courageous Lady card at Northfield is 7 p.m. Eastern time. Tables are still available in Lady Lucks Clubhouse Restaurant by calling 330-467-4101, or by e-mailing [email protected].
(Northfield Park)