Track record tied in $100,000 Courageous Lady  

Getting a dream two-hole trip through the three-quarters, Test Of Faith easily passed by Oakwoodannabella IR in the stretch to capturing the $100,000 Courageous Lady in a track record tying mile Saturday at MGM Northfield Park.

The 11^th race feature for three-year-old pacing fillies, raced over a good track due to rain, saw the Irish import, Oakwoodannabella IR and driver Ronnie Wrenn, Jr. shoot right out to the early lead. Also leaving on the outside was the 1/9 overwhelming favorite Test Of Faith with driver David Miller.

On the first turn, Wrenn had a stranglehold on Oakwoodannabella IR and Miller saw that, grabbing the two-hole spot with Test Of Faith as they went by the opening quarter mile in :26.3.

They raced Indian-style past the half mile in :55 and to the three-quarters in 1:22.2 as Miller took Test Of Faith to the outside and came after Oakwoodannabella IR. Both Smothastenesewisky (Brett Miller) and Think Of Galaxies (Matt Kakaley) also moved into contention as they started down the stretch.

It was too little too late as Test Of Faith motored by Oakwoodannabella IR and pulled away to a two and one-half length triumph in 1:50.2. Oakwoodannbella IR held for second with Think Of Galaxies third.

TEST OF FAITH REPLAY

The time of 1:50.2 tied the track record for three-year-old pacing fillies and established a new stakes record for the Courageous Lady.

It was the third straight win, all in Grand Circuit events, for Test Of Faith. The Art Major daughter has now won 12 of her 14 starts this year for trainer Brett Pelling and has 20 wins in 23 lifetime starts with career earnings of $1,205,239. She is owned by Melvin Segal, Kentuckiana Racing Stable and Eddie Gran and paid just $2.20 to win.

“She’s had an unbelievable season, all good,” said winning driver David Miller. “I left out of there to see what would happen and got the two-hole trip, it worked out perfectly. She has a turn of speed that is so impressive.”

For full race results, click here.

By Steve Wolf, for Harnesslink