Trainer Ron Burke, who won both the Battle of Lake Erie and the
Cleveland Classic in 2011, will start four of this year’s talented fillies.
Burke trains the morning line favorite, Destiny’s Chance (2-1), and the second
morning line favorite, Frontierpan (4-1).
Locally based Northfield Park Wall Of Famer Tye Loy will attempt
to become the first trainer ever to win this event three times. He won in 2009 with Sand E Fiftyfive and
again in 2010 with Sand Windsor.
The 2012 Courageous Lady field:
POST HORSE TRAINER DRIVER
M/L
1 Podges
Lady Joseph Seekman Ryan Stahl 7-2
2 Destiny’s
Chance
Ron Burke Dave
Palone* 2-1
3 Cruzin
Tothe Dance Virgil Morgan Jr. Dan Noble* 10-1
4 Princess
Cruiser Jim Mulinix Kayne
Kauffman 8-1
5 Frontierpan
Ron Burke Mike
Wilder 4-1
6 Sand
Latte’ Tye Loy Aaron
Merriman 12-1
7 Darena Hanover Ron Burke Dave Palone* 6-1
8 Blows
Me Away Sam Schillaci Dan
Noble* 20-1
9 Babe Per View Ron Burke Chris
Page 15-1
The
2012 Courageous Lady Field
#1 - Podges Lady prepared for this race by qualifying three
times, the most recent being a 1:58 win on April 18 at Balmoral Park. She is a daughter of The Panderosa and was a
winner in three of thirteen starts last year, taking a mark of 1:52.1 at The
Meadows and earning $214,728. Podges
Lady is owned by Sawgrass Farms and is trained by Joseph Seekman. She was assigned a morning line of 7-2 and is
scheduled to have the driving services of Northfield Park leading driver Ryan
Stahl.
#2 - Destiny’s Chance is a daughter of Four Starzzz Shark
and won seven of fourteen races last year, taking a 1:52 mark at The Red
Mile. She is the richest filly in the
race, bankrolling $287,098. Owned by Randy Ringer and trained by Ron Burke, she
shows two qualifiers this season, winning handily in both. Her most recent effort was a 1:55 win on
April 20 at The Meadows. Northfield Park
Executive Vice President of Racing and Simulcasting Dave Bianconi has made
Destiny’s Chance the favorite. She is
one of two fillies that have listed Dave Palone* to drive.
#3
- Cruzin Tothe Dance is one of three Yankee Cruiser fillies starting in
this year’s event. Owned by Carl Howard
and trained by Virgil Morgan Jr, Cruzin Tothe Dance’s freshman campaign
garnered earnings of $58,891. She took a mark of 1:55.4 at The Meadows. Morgan has not started this filly in 2012 but
has raced her in three qualifiers to tighten up for Saturday’s race. She is one of two fillies that Dan Noble*
will choose from and carries a morning line of 10-1.
#4 - Princess Cruiser is owned by Miller’s Stable and
trained by James Mulinix. She has two
starts this year, winning her most recent race on April 20 at Hoosier Park,
where she lowered her lifetime mark to 1:55.3.
The daughter of Yankee Cruiser has earnings of $69,543 and has won four
of twelve career starts. Kayne Kauffman
picks up the driving assignment aboard this 8-1 morning line starter.
#5 - Frontierpan made her first start of the year on April
13, finishing third and race-timed in 1:53.1 at The Meadows. Frontierpan is
owned by Peter Pan Stables of nearby Pepper Pike, Ohio and is trained by Ron
Burke. Her two-year-old season consisted of fourteen starts, of which she won
five. This daughter of No Pan Intended has earnings of $136,938 and a lifetime
mark of 1:53.3 at Harrah’s Chester.
Pennsylvania regular Mike Wilder is listed to drive this 4-1 morning
line second favorite.
#6 - Sand Latte’
has already won four races this year and will try to become the third Tye
Loy-trained and Bill Sanders-owned filly to win the Courageous Lady. The
Loy/Sanders connection won this stakes race in 2009 with Sand E Fiftyfive and
again in 2010 with Sand Windsor. Sand Latte’ had two unsuccessful starts as a
two-year old, but her three year-old campaign so far shows promise. In addition
to four wins, this Real Desire filly has already banked $26,760 this year and
has a mark of 1:53.3 at The Meadows.
Aaron Merriman has been named to pilot the filly at a morning line of
12-1.
#7 - Darena Hanover was a four-time winner last year in
thirteen starts. This daughter of Yankee Cruiser just lowered her mark on April
20 at Harrah’s Chester to 1:52 and has earned $106,214 lifetime. Owned by Burke
Racing Stable and trained by Ron Burke, her Harrah’s win was her only start
this year. This 6-1 morning line selection is one of two fillies listing Hall of
Famer Dave Palone* to drive.
#8
- Blows Me Away will go to post for owners William Heinz of Madison,
Ohio and Jack Heinz of Mentor, Ohio. Sam
Schillaci trains this New York-bred daughter of American Ideal. She was a
six-time winner last year, earning a mark of 1:57.3 at Saratoga and bankrolling
$36,485. The Courageous Lady will mark
her sophomore debut after starting in three qualifiers to prepare for the
event. She is the morning line long shot
at 20-1 and is one of two starters with 2011 national driving champion Dan
Noble* requested to drive.
#9 - Babe Per View has not raced this year but has three
qualifiers under her belt, one being a 1:55.2 winning effort on April 6 at The
Meadows. The Perretti Racing Stable owns Babe Per View, a daughter of Rocknroll
Hanover, and is conditioned by Ron Burke. Last season, she hit the board six
times, winning one of nine starts and earning $29,543. At long odds of 15-1, she starts from the
second tier and will be handled by Chris Page.
* Requested by owner/trainer interests to drive. Palone
and Noble will decide which horse to drive by 9:00 am Thursday, April 26.
