Northfield: Fiyonce posts Courageous Lady upset

There were only six 3-year-old fillies lined up behind the gate in the $110,000 Courageous Lady at Northfield Park, but the first Grand Circuit race of the year provided excitement nonetheless. Fiyonce saved all the ground and circled the field to get up at the wire in 1:55 1/5.

The undefeated Kayla Grace was hustled off the gate in search of her 16th consecutive win. She put up the opening fraction of 27 seconds with Shell Bell in the pocket. The outer flow began to take shape as the field moved around the second turn, with Sister Stroll leading A La Notte Hanover and That Woman Hanover on the rim.

With three fillies inside and a trio on the outside, the field passed the half in 56 1/5 and marched on towards the 1:25 1/5 three-quarter marker. That is when the action truly heated up. Sister Stroll began to attack Kayla Grace and That Woman Hanover launched a wide bid around the final turn.

At the head of the lane, it appeared as if That Woman Hanover was preparing for a picture, but from off her flank came Fiyonce with a late explosion to score a nose-long victory for driver Josh Sutton.

As the longest shot on the board, Fiyonce returned $48.60 to win. That Woman Hanover was second and Sister Stroll finished third.

“My horse was running out pretty good and I couldn’t get her in gear,” said Sutton about his tactics of waiting for the stretch to ask his filly.

Fiyonce’s victory was the second of her career in 11 starts for owners Burke Racing Stable LLC and Weaver Bruscemi LLC. Ron Burke did the training.