by Ayers Ratliff, Northfield Park Publicity Department

Northfield, OH — The $90,000 (est.) Courageous Lady, an open event for North America’s top 3-year-old filly pacers, is the first national stakes race in 2012. The April 28 race has 22 fillies nominated, and some of them have been preparing for the event in impressive fashion.

Frontierpan has two winning qualifiers under her belt at The Meadows. The Ron Burke-trained filly’s latest qualifier was on April 6, where she prevailed by 13-1/4 lengths and stopped the clock in 1:54.4. Frontierpan is owned by Peter Pan Stables of Pepper Pike, Ohio. Her 2-year-old season consisted of 14 starts and five wins. The daughter of No Pan Intended has earnings of $136,938 and a lifetime mark of 1:53.3 at Harrah’s Chester.

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 2-year old, but her 3-year-old campaign so far shows promise. In addition to four wins, this Real Desire filly has already banked $25,760 this year and has a mark of 1:53.3 at The Meadows.

Sectionline Yankee is another filly with solid credentials who is heading into the Courageous Lady. This Yankee Cruiser filly is rich with Buckeye connections. She is trained at the iconic Delaware County Fairgrounds by Michael Conklin and is owned by Harold Lee Bauder and Harold L. Bauder of Delaware and Michael Dixon of Hilliard, Ohio. Sectionline Yankee’s freshman campaign bankrolled $86,345; she earned a mark of 1:54.4 at Delaware. Yet to race at three, Sectionline Yankee qualified at Northfield Park on April 5 in an impressive gate-to-wire effort of 1:58.3.

Kaneoka gets an “A”

Local driver Rachel Kaneoka was just upgraded from a “P” (provisional) driver to an “A” license holder. Kaneoka started her driving career in 2011 and has piloted 11 victories while amassing purse earnings of nearly $25,000.

Northfield Park presiding judge Bud Teeters stated that Kaneoka is only the second female that he has upgraded to an “A” driver in the 12 years he has been a judge.

Sophia’s (off track) successes

Pacing mare Sophia has begun a second career and has already seen success. The Admirals Galley mare has 261 career starts and lifetime earnings of $69,166. Although she is a 10-year-old, she is not slowing down.

In addition to having already raced 12 times this year, she has been training for show competition as a riding horse. Sophia recently performed in her first horse show and was the blue ribbon winner in both the “Ball in a Barrel” and “Pole Bending” classes at the Spinning Wheels Horse Show in Geneva, Ohio. Her rider was none other than her regular driver, Frank Harris. The event represented Harris’ first horse show competition.