Northfield: Ucandoit Blue Chip heads $100,000 Courageous Lady

Shortly after the sun sets on Saturday (October 14), morning-line favorite Ucandoit Blue Chip will call it a career following a start in the $100,000 Courageous Lady at MGM Northfield Park.

The 3-year-old filly by Keystone Velocity was purchased for just $32,000 at the Harrisburg Yearling Sale. She enters Saturday's Courageous Lady on a two-race win streak, following a victory in the $255,000 Jugette Final at the Delaware County Fair in September.

For the connections, the Courageous Lady will be special, as Ucandoit Blue Chip will bring down the curtain on her racing career while hopefully adding to her $559,127 in earnings.

Owner Bill Elliott confirmed that Ucandoit Blue Chip will be bred to world-champion Captaintreacherous. The talented filly will be driven by the "Money Man" Scott Zeron, who is having a remarkable season thus far with significant wins in the Hambletonian, the Little Brown Jug, and the Kentucky Futurity this past Sunday at The Red Mile.

"This year has been pretty surreal. I haven't had a chance to sit back and reflect on it," said Zeron. "It probably won't feel real until I start hanging up the win photos from this year."

Jugette runner-up Zanatta will look to avenge her loss in the Jugette on Saturday night. The 3-year-old filly by Stay Hungry was purchased as a yearling for $115,000 and recently surpassed $550,000 in career earnings.

Trainer Jennifer Bongiorno realized how resilient her filly was in September when she raced in the $400,000 Kentucky Sire Stakes Final and then returned for two heats just three days later at the Delaware County Fairgrounds.

"She showed her talent during that period," said Bongiorno. "She enjoyed a week of vacation in the field and is training back now sharper than ever."

Brother Joe Bongiorno will drive Zanatta, who has four victories in 25 career starts.

Ucandoit Blue Chip and Zanatta will take on seven other foes on Saturday, including Ohio Sires Stakes runner-up Cruise Alert, New York Excelsior champion Rec Time, Ohio Sires Stakes champion Tarapasta, Pennsylvania Fair Champion Little Lady J, lightly-staked Prosecco Princess, Ohio Breeders Championship winner Somwherunderheavn, and Southwind Bella.

The $100,000 Courageous Lady Stakes is just one of 12 stakes races on Saturday night. The card will feature eight $50,000 Ohio Fair Championships, four $85,000 Ohio Sires Stakes events for 4-year-olds and up, and the Pace for the Cure featuring nine of Ohio's top female drivers.

Bettors will also have plenty to swing at with a $20,000 guaranteed All-Stakes Late Pick-4 beginning in Race 11 and a $20,000 guaranteed 20-cent Super High Five in Race 13. Both wagers feature a low 14% takeout.

Post time on Saturday is 6:00 p.m.

-edited release (Michael Carter for Northfield Park)