by Ayers Ratliff, for Northfield Park

Northfield, OH — Grand Circuit action is in full swing at Northfield Park on Friday (Nov. 27) as the $120,000 Courageous Lady has drawn an impressive slate of talent. The Friday feature is an open event for North America’s top 3-year-old filly pacers and will be the 11th of a 15 race program.

A $10,000 guaranteed Pick-4 pool has been added to Friday’s program. The multi-race wager will begin in race eight and conclude with the Courageous Lady.

The 2015 Courageous Lady Field:

1. Triple V Hanover draws the rail for trainer Brian Brown and owners Donald Robinson, King McNamara and Strollin Stable. With six wins to her credit and finishing in the top three in 12 of 22 starts, this filly has $183,228 in earnings and a career best of 1:50.3 at Pocono. The daughter of Somebeachsomewhere has victories in a $60,000 leg of the Pennsylvania Sires Stakes at Pocono, the $32,950 Circle City Pace at Hoosier Park and the $32,000 Pennsylvania All-Stars Pace at Pocono. Northfield Park’s leading driver, Ronnie Wrenn Jr., has been given the driving assignment with the 7-2 morning line second choice.

2. Southwind Roulette is one of three daughters of Somebeachsomewhere and one of two entries from the powerful Ron Burke Stable in this year’s edition of the Courageous Lady. She has five lifetime successes, but is winless this year despite an impressive 11 on-the-board finishes in 17 starts. She earned her 1:51.4 mark as a freshman at Pocono and has bankrolled $505,065. This filly is owned by Bradley Grant and Howard Taylor and will be driven by Matt Kakaley. Southwind Roulette was the winner of last year’s $260,000 Pennsylvania Sires Stakes final at Pocono, three divisions of the Pennsylvania Sires Stakes and the $30,400 Pennsylvania All-Stars at Pocono. She enters this race off a 1:55.2 winning qualifier at The Meadows and is the field’s 4-1 morning line third choice.

3. Sassa Hanover sports career earnings of $948,469. She has 33 lifetime starts with 15 wins and 24 top-three finishes. This filly is a daughter of Rock N Roll Heaven with a lifetime mark of 1:49.4 at Mohawk. Sassa Hanover, owned by the partnership of Burke Racing Stable, Panhellenic Stable and Weaver Bruscemi, is trained by Ron Burke. This year Sassa Hanover won the $151,350 Jugette final and the $50,450 Jugette elimination at the Delaware County Fairgrounds, the $55,125 Adioo Volo at The Meadows, two New York Sires Stakes divisions and a $28,350 Fan Hanover elimination at Mohawk. She has been named the 2-1 morning line favorite and has the services of North America’s leading money-winning driver, Yannick Gingras.

4. Somewhere Sweet enters this event having won two of her last three races. The daughter of Somebeachsomewhere is owned by Miller’s Stable Inc. and is trained at the historic Delaware County Fairgrounds by Brian Brown. She sports $216,594 in earnings and has eight wins and 16 top-three finishes in 23 career starts. Somewhere Sweet’s 1:51.1 lifetime mark just came at The Meadows on Oct. 5. She was victorious this year in a $71,472 division of the Pennsylvania Sires Stakes at Harrah’s Philadelphia, the $34,500 Keystone Classic at The Meadows and the $32,000 Pennsylvania All-Stars at Pocono. Aaron Merriman has been named to drive this 10-1 morning line contender. Merriman has won more races than any other driver in Northfield Park’s 58-year history and is a member of Northfield Park’s Wall of Fame.

5. Bettor N Better is a newcomer to the barn of Jeffrey Bamond Jr. and owners Bamond Racing LLC. This recent purchase from Ron Burke has eight wins in 29 lifetime starts and earnings of $365,656. Her 1:51 mark was paced last year at The Red Mile. The daughter of Bettor’s Delight won a $50,450 elimination of the Jugette at the Delaware County Fairgrounds and two divisions of New York Sires Stakes. Bettor N Better makes her second start for her new connections and enters the Courageous Lady after finishing third in the $173,500 Tarport Hap at the Meadowlands. The 6-1 morning line selection will be driven by Tim Tetrick.

6. Band Of Angels is owned by WJ Donovan and trained by Tony Alagna. This filly has 28 career starts, winning 12 races and finishing in the top three 19 times. Her 1:50 lifetime mark was paced earlier this year at the Meadowlands. Band Of Angels is a daughter of Rock N Roll Heaven and has career earnings of $484,038. Ryan Stahl has been listed to drive the 12-1 morning line contender. Band Of Angels won this year’s $225,000 New York Sires Stakes final at Yonkers Raceway and three divisions of the New York Sires Stakes.

7. Luck Be A Lindy enters this event having won four of her last five starts and is one of two fillies in this event by Bettor’s Delight. Her victories include the $47,750 Massachusetts Sires Stake final at Plainridge Park, the $50,000 New York Sires Stakes consolation at Vernon Downs and the $25,000 USS Indianapolis Memorial consolation at Hoosier Park. Frank Antonacci trains Luck Be A Lindy for owner Lindy Racing Stable. She has nine career wins in 20 starts and earnings of $144,797. Her 1:51 lifetime mark was paced at Vernon Downs. Jason Merriman is scheduled to pilot this 20-1 morning line contender.

8. Purrfect Bags enters this event for owner and trainer Joann Looney-King. The daughter of Roddy’s Bags Again has 10 wins in 14 starts this year. She is the only horse to have raced over The Flying Turns, posting a stellar performance and equaling a track record in 1:52.3. Her victories this year include the $117,724 Lismore final at Yonkers Raceway, the $116,430 Lady Maud at Yonkers and the $100,000 Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund Final at Harrington Raceway. This filly has a 1:51.2 lifetime mark at Harrington Raceway and earnings of $364,347. Victor Kirby is coming in to drive this 15-1 contender.

Black Friday Prize Drawings will take place all night. Attendees could win $1,000 cash, a 40 inch LED Insignia Roku television, and concert tickets in Hard Rock Live. Many electronics and household items will also be given away.

Northfield Park’s Lady Luck’s Clubhouse Restaurant opens at 5:30 p.m. The restaurant is featuring a special $19.95 Courageous Lady buffet. Reservations are preferred and can be made by calling 330.467.4101.