Northfield: Drama Act rallies to capture Courageous Lady

Drama Act and driver Matt Kakaley pulled off a small upset, overcoming post eight to capture Saturday's $120,000 Courageous Lady Stakes for sophomore pacing fillies at Northfield Park in 1:51 1/5.

Perfect Storm, the 3-5 favorite in the field, was parked through a 27 2/5 opening quarter for the front as Kakaley settled Drama Act in sixth in the early stages. Pettycoat Business and Ronnie Wrenn Jr. took up the chase without cover as the field went through the second turn, and he towed Drama Act from second-over, with JK Finendandy following third-over as Perfect Storm and David Miller hit the half in 55 4/5.

The pace picked up down the backstretch as Perfect Storm maintained the lead, but past three-quarters, which went on the board in 1:23 3/5, Drama Act moved three-wide for Kakaley and began closing in on the leader. It took the entire stretch, but Drama Act was able to get her nose up on the wire, just edging Perfect Storm as Pettycoat Business held on late for third.

Sent off as the 9-5 second choice, Drama Act returned $5.60 for the victory. Trained by Ron Burke for owner-breeder The OK Corral, Drama Act, a daughter of Well Said, won for the fourth time in ten starts this year.

"I sensed Ronnie's (Wrenn Jr. behind Pettycoat Business) was tiring," said Kakaley, "So I moved her three-wide, and she got the job done."