by Ayers Ratliff, Northfield Park Publicity Department

Northfield, OH — April begins a full slate of stakes action at Northfield Park.

The $100,000 Courageous Lady will go to post on Friday (April 25). A nationally open stakes event for North America’s top 3-year-old filly pacers, it is the first national stakes race of the 2014 season.

Among the 16 fillies nominated to the Courageous Lady are A La Notte Hanover p,2,1:56.1h ($73,459), Fiyonce p,2,1:52.4 ($61,549), Rusty’s Bliss p,2,1:52.4f ($90,751) and Sister Stroll p,2,1:54.1f ($102,617).

The connections of the top 3-year-olds in the country have shown great interest in the newly added $500,000 (est.) Carl Milstein Memorial. This race is for colt and gelding pacers and is the richest single race in the Buckeye State for 2014 and has been slated for Friday (August 15).

Included in the 42 nominees are Allstar Partner p,2,1:51.4f ($282,454), Boomboom Ballykeel p,2,1:50.4s ($370,828), Luck Be Withyou p,2,1:50f ($359,417) and Western Vintage p,2,1:49.4 ($316,838).

The $150,000 Cleveland Classic is the final open stakes event this year. North America’s top 3-year-old pacing colts will take the stage to compete for this year’s Classic crown on Friday (Dec. 12).

There are 38 colts nominated to the Cleveland Classic, including Allstar Partner p,2,1:51.4f ($282,454), Boomboom Ballykeel p,2,1:50.4s ($370,828) and He’s Watching p,2,1:50f ($291,722).

In other racing news at Northfield Park, the $150,000 Battle of Lake Erie is set for Saturday (July 19) and has 25 nominees that have combined career earnings in excess of $23 million. The nominated list includes past Cleveland Classic winners Apprentice Hanover p,3,1:49.4f ($609,605) and Bolt The Duer p,3,1:47.4f ($1,723,645) and two-time Battle of Late Erie champion and the richest standardbred of all-time, Foiled Again p,1:48f ($6,080,968).

Battle nominees also include a host of other millionaire performers in Aracache Hanover p,1:48.1f ($1,603,359), Clear Vision p,1:48.2f ($1,779,868), Heston Blue Chip p,3,1:48f ($1,565,781), Michael’s Power p,3,1:48.1s ($1,576,817) and Sweet Lou p,3,1:47.4s ($2,129,961).

Northfield Park’s Stakes Calendar for 2014
Friday (April 25)–Courageous Lady
Thursday (July 3)–Ohio Sires Stakes (2-year-old filly pace and trot)
Saturday (July 19)–Battle of Lake Erie; Ohio Sires Stakes (2- and 3-year-old colt pace and trot)
Saturday (July 26)–Summit County Fair Stakes
Friday (August 15)–Carl Milstein Memorial
Friday (Sept. 5)–Ohio Sires Stakes (2- and 3-year-old filly pace and trot)
Friday (Dec. 12)–Cleveland Classic