by Ayers Ratliff, Northfield Park Publicity Department

Northfield, OH — The $84,000 Courageous Lady has drawn an impressive field of seven and goes postward this Friday evening (April 26), as Northfield Park’s 11th race with an approximate post time of 10:30 p.m.

An open stakes event for North America’s top 3-year-old filly pacers, it is the first national stakes of 2013 for sophomores and has been added to the roster of Grand Circuit events. The Courageous Lady will be the final leg of the evening’s Pick-4 which carries a guaranteed pool of $10,000 and a reduced takeout rate of just 14 percent.

Trainer Ron Burke, who is no stranger to winning major events at Northfield Park or on the national stage, will start two of his talented fillies in the Courageous Lady. Burke trains the morning line favorite, Charisma Hanover (5-2), and the highly regarded Carols Desire (4-1).

Locally based and Northfield Park Wall of Fame trainer Clair Umholtz makes his first Courageous Lady attempt. Umholtz will start Champagne Tonight who has the fastest mark and highest earnings of this year’s equine athletes.

The 2013 Courageous Lady field:

Post-Horse-Trainer-Driver-Morning Line
1-Miss Madi M-Brian Brown-Ryan Stahl-9-2
2-Diligent Prospect-Peter Foley-Dan Noble-10-1
3-Champagne Tonight-Clair Umholtz-Brett Miller-7-2
4-Carols Desire-Ron Burke-Ronnie Wrenn, Jr.-4-1
5-Charisma Hanover-Ron Burke-Dave Palone-5-2
6-Whetstone Hanover-Daniel Altmeyer-Mike Wilder-12-1
7-Cams Macharena-Tony O’Sullivan-Tyler Smith-8-1

Meet The Field:

#1–Miss Madi M is a five-time winner in 12 career starts. This daughter of Real Artist has a 1:53.1 mark at Pocono Downs and has earned $98,872. She is owned by Jennifer Brown and Cameron McCown and is trained by Brian Brown. In 2013, Miss Madi M has a first and a second in two starts. She is a 9-2 morning line shot and scheduled to receive the driving services of Northfield regular Ryan Stahl.

#2–Diligent Prospect is the only maiden in the field but finished second six times in 12 lifetime starts and has bankrolled $97,601. She has two prep races this year at Pocono Downs, pacing in 1:54.1 in her most recent effort. Diligent Prospect is owned by James McLaughlin, Lynne Foley, Gabe Prewitt and Shane Foley. She is trained by Peter Foley who won the Cleveland Classic this past December with Bolt The Duer. Dan Noble’s purple and white colors will be in her sulky and she carries a 10-1 morning line.

#3–Champagne Tonight has prepared for this race by qualifying three times, the most recent being a 1:55.4 win on April 18 here at Northfield Park. She is a daughter of Western Terror, and was a winner in six of eight starts last year, taking a mark of 1:51.3 at The Meadows and earning $202,316. Champagne Tonight is owned by Umholtz Racing Stable, Ngaire Umholtz and Kennedy Sports Corporation and is trained by Northfield Park Wall of Famer Clair Umholtz. She carries a morning line of 7-2 and is scheduled to have the driving services of Brett Miller.

#4–Carols Desire is owned by Burke Racing Stable LLC, Weaver Bruscemi LLC, Randy Ringer and Phillip Collura. She is one of two fillies in the race trained by Ron Burke. She had one win in 2012 and has been successful in both qualifiers and the only race she has competed in this season. She was a 5-1/2 length winner on April 15 at The Meadows in 1:55.3. This daughter of Real Desire has earnings of $104,519 and a mark of 1:53.3 at Indiana Downs. Ronnie Wrenn, Jr. picks up the driving assignment aboard this 4-1 morning line starter.

#5–Charisma Hanover, a daughter of Dragon Again, won three of eight races last year and is the winner of three of her qualifiers and her only race in 2013. She has taken a 1:52.4 mark last year at Mohawk and again this year at The Meadows and has bankrolled $52,902. She is owned by Burke Racing Stable LLC and Weaver Bruscemi LLC and is the second filly trained by Ron Burke in this race. Charisma Hanover has been impressive in her preps for this race and was made the 5-2 morning line favorite by Northfield Park Executive Vice President of Racing and Simulcasting, Dave Bianconi. Burke enlists the driving services of Dave Palone.

#6–Whetstone Hanover has three career victories in 11 starts, including a win in 2013. She is trained by Daniel Altmeyer who co-owns with Richard Kelson, Jack Piatt and Jeffery Altmeyer. In addition to her three victories, this Somebeachsomewhere filly has banked $34,215 and has a 1:55.1 mark, paced at The Meadows. Pennsylvania regular Mike Wilder has been named to pilot this filly that carries a morning line of 12-1.

#7–Cams Macharena is owned by Chris Arnold, Kenneth Kohut and Michael Drury and trained by Tony O’Sullivan. Cams Macharena has earnings of $93,470 and has a mark of 1:54.2, paced last year at Rideau Carleton. This filly has won four of her lifetime starts and has two races under her belt in 2013. In her most recent showing, Cams Macharena finished third while having broken equipment in a $17,820 race at Woodbine. Tyler Smith has been named to drive and she carries a morning line of 8-1.