Northfield: Sangria Summer wires foes in Grade 3 Courageous Lady

Sangria Summer had an awfully hot summer and continued her winning ways in autumn on Saturday night, going wire-to-wire in capturing the $150,000 Grade 3 Courageous Lady for 3-year-old pacing fillies at Northfield Park in a 1:51 1/5 mile over a track rated "good."

Matt Kakaley had Sangria Summer ready to roll at the start, and the Luc Blais-trained daughter of Captaintreacherous sprinted from post two to gain instant control into the first turn. That forced favorite Be Perfect BG, driven by Justin Irvine, to rethink their strategy and take back. Savage Cindy with Dan Noble, the New York Sire Stakes champion, found no holes following her leave attempt and was forced to press on, forcing Sangria Summer to the first fraction of 26 4/5.

Savage Cindy would remain parked but did not threaten as Kakaley rated Sangria Summer to the half in 54 4/5. Perfect Thought and Be Perfect BG joined the outer flow coming to the half but were stymied when Sangria Summer sprinted a third quarter in 27 2/5 and left the rivals in the dust. A final quarter of :29 flat was more than enough to secure the victory for Sangria Summer, with Perfect Thought rallying late for the place spot and second tier starter Seaside Shuffle finishing third. Be Perfect BG, the 6-5 favorite settled for fourth and Jugette champion Loua Dipa, saddled with post eight, was a non-threatening sixth, racing from well off the action.

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Owned by Determination, Sangria Summer won for the seventh time in 14 starts this year and paid $5.80 to win.

"She won the draw with Loua Dipa drawing eight," Kakaley said. "She zipped around there perfect; she drives like a car."