by Ayers Ratliff, Northfield Park Publicity Department

Northfield, OH — The first Grand Circuit event of the season for 3-year-old filly pacers was a wire to wire victory for the Burke Racing Stable and Weaver Bruscemi LLC, when their filly, Charisma Hanover, won the $84,000 Courageous Lady at Northfield Park.

J J Zamaiko photo

Charisma Hanover and driver Dave Palone won the Courageous Lady at Northfield Park on Friday night in 1:53.

Trained by Ron Burke and driven by Dave Palone, Charisma Hanover was 1-1/4 lengths in front at the finish and returned $3.40 to win. Despite being hung for most of the first quarter in 27.1, she cruised through fractions of 56.1, 1:25.1 and 1:53.

“She is quite a nice filly,” said driver Dave Palone, “She is easy to drive and steers with two fingers. I know the Burke’s are very high on her.”

Completing the field were Champagne Tonight, Carols Desire, Miss Madi M, Whetstone Hanover, Cams Macharena and Diligent Prospect.

Charisma Hanover, a daughter of Dragon Again remains undefeated through two races in 2013. Friday’s victory increased her career bankroll to $94,902 and the 1:53 clocking was just one-fifth of a second off of her lifetime mark on 1:52:4.

Dave Palone, harness racing’s winningest driver now has three Courageous Lady victories. He won in 2004 with Pantidepressant and in 2011 with Some Girls Do.