Sammy Jo Hanover won the Grade 3 $125,000 Courageous Lady Stakes for 3-year-old pacing fillies on Saturday night at MGM Northfield Park in gate-to-wire fashion. She finished the mile in 1:51 3/5.
Leaving from the rail, Sammy Jo Hanover was put into play early by driver Dan Noble. Odds On Chesapeake (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.) also left alertly and was steered into the two hole, when they entering the first turn. A 31-1 longshot, Sammy Jo Hanover led the field past the opening quarter in 27 1/5. Entering the far turn for the first time, race favorite Rodeo Drive Deo (David Miller) flushed out Time Of The Season (Aaron Merriman), and at the half, which was posted in a well-rated 56 seconds, Sammy Jo Hanover led Time Of The Season by three-quarters of a length.
Up the backstretch, Time Of The Season continued her attack on Sammy Jo Hanover, but Noble continued to forge forward. They arrived at the three-quarters in 1:23 1/5, but going into the final turn, Sammy Jo Hanover put away Time Of The Season. However, Sammy Jo Hanover then had fresh competition from Odds On Chesapeake and Rodeo Drive Deo, who began a three-wide bid for the lead.
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Off the final turn, both Time Of The Season and Rodeo Drive Deo went wide, which made them no threat to Sammy Jo Hanover, and the Captaintreacherous daughter cruised to a 2-1/4 length victory. Odds On Chesapeake wound up second over Rodeo Drive Deo.
"I learned a few things about her after the first time I drove her," said Noble. "I wanted to be on the lead, but I was willing to give up the front-end if I had to. She's just been in some tough spots this year."
The 3-year-old filly, who is owned by Oompa's Farm Inc and Joseph Barbera and is trained by Scott Di Domenico, pushed her career earnings to $248,920 with the victory.
--press release (Northfield)--