Jugette winner, Rodeo Drive Deo, headlines Grade 3 $125,000 Courageous Lady at MGM Northfield Park

Rodeo Drive Deo will travel to MGM Northfield Park on Saturday (Oct. 11), where she will face eight other talented fillies in Grade 3 $125,000 Courageous Lady, an invitational for 3-year-old filly pacers.

Jugette champion Rodeo Drive Deo has built a strong resume during her sophomore campaign.

Following a 1:51.2 victory in the $32,000 Home Grown Series at The Meadowlands, her connections sent her to Woodbine Mohawk Park to race in the Grade 1 $288,600 Fan Hanover.

She rebounded in the Fan Hanover Final, after a tough trip in the elimination, by rallying late down the stretch and finished a game second to world-champion Miki And Minnie.

Rodeo Drive Deo had a runner-up performance in the $300,000 Pennsylvania Sire Stakes Final at The Meadows, she shipped to Delaware, OH, for the Grade 1 $280,000 Jugette, where she won both her elimination (1:51) and final (1:50.1) by open lengths.

In last week’s $241,000 Glen Garnsey Memorial at The Red Mile, she was parked to a :53.4 half and tired late in the mile. She faded to eighth.

“We had a tough trip in the Garnsey, she came out of the race really well, and I expect her to be better on Saturday,” said Ron Burke, the nation’s leading trainer.

On Saturday, Rodeo Drive Deo will challenge some familiar competition, but also face some new shooters, who are taking their crack at Grand Circuit company for the first time.

“We’re very pleased to get such a strong and full field of fillies, including the Jugette champion, to highlight our final stakes card of 2025,” said Dave Bianconi, Northfield Park’s director of racing.

The $300,000 Ohio Sires Stakes champion, Prolific Fire, has her eyes set on a Grand Circuit prize, following a remarkable season, also highlighted by a victory in the Ohio Breeders Championship at the Delaware County Fair.

The Catch The Fire daughter has banked $280,820 as a sophomore. She is owned by Greg Luther Racing and trained by Todd Luther.

Her connections have watched their talented filly grow throughout the year and believe she is ready for the challenge on Saturday.

“She started training better after the last leg of the sires stakes and that’s when I noticed her attitude start to change for the better in the barn,” said Todd Luther.

Also competing on Saturday are Nadia Lobell runner-up Sammy Jo Hanover, Nadia Lobell champion Odds On Chesapeake, Adio Volo champion Time Of The Season, New York Sires Stakes standout Fansville, New Jersey Classic champion Worklifebalance, Keystone Classic winner Pilar Hanover, and freshman Bluegrass champion Papi Grad.

The Grade 3 $125,000 Courageous Lady is one of nine stakes races on the power-packed 15-race program. The evening also features eight $50,000 Ohio Fair Championships and a pair of paces with all-female drivers.

From a wagering standpoint, guests will be treated to a pair of estimated $20,000 estimated Pick-4 pools in race eight and race 11. Both wagers feature a $1 minimum and a low 14% takeout.

Post time on Saturday is 6 p.m.