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Genuine Devotion trumps Brownie Points in Locust Grove James J. Barry's GENUINE DEVOTION (Ire) (Rock of Gibraltar [Ire]) had never faced graded company, or raced two turns, prior to Sunday's $171,750 Locust Grove H. (G3), but neither novelty proved to be an obstacle as she posted a front-running score. Under a well-judged ride by Alan Garcia, the Kiaran McLaughlin filly dictated comfortable splits of :23 4/5, :47 2/5 and 1:11 1/5 in the closing-day feature at Churchill Downs. Genuine Devotion gave her pursuers the slip at the top of the stretch, and although Brownie Points (Forest Wildcat) came charging inside the final sixteenth, the winner held on by a half-length in a final time of 1:35 3/5 for the firm-turf mile. The four-year-old bay, who now boasts a four-race winning streak, furnished payouts of $6.60, $4.40 and $3 as the 2-1 favorite. "We were a little concerned about (the distance)," McLaughlin admitted via telephone, "but we thought she would get a mile OK. She is just a very talented filly, and Alan did a great job of trying to slow her down as much as he could and save something for the finish." Brownie Points was remorselessly gaining on Genuine Devotion late, but the wire came too soon for the valiant runner-up. Sent off at 7-2, Brownie Points returned $4.60 and $3 while capping the $33.40 exacta. Bayou's Lassie (Outflanker) reported home another 2 1/4 lengths back in third, yielding $2.80 and ending the $106.80 trifecta. Say You Will (Ire) (A.P. Indy), who anchored the 10-horse field on the far turn, made progress along the hedge to grab fourth. The 1-2-5-10 superfecta was worth $471.40. You Go West Girl (Mr. Greeley), Tears I Cry (Chester House), New Edition (Stormy Atlantic), Meribel (Peaks and Valleys), Grace Happens (Aptitude) and Lemonlime (Lemon Drop Kid) rounded out the order under the wire. Genuine Devotion was racking up her third straight stakes victory. A 2 3/4-length winner of the Xtra Heat H. at Belmont Park last October, she returned to action at that venue with another clear score in the May 17 Upper Noosh S. Her record now stands at 8-5-0-0, $275,725. Bred in the Emerald Isle by Lynch Bages Ltd. and Elite Bloodstock, Genuine Devotion was sold for $90,000 as a yearling at Keeneland September. She was produced by the winning Black Tie Affair (Ire) mare Starlight Dreams, and her juvenile half-brother, Mastercraftsman (Danehill Dancer), is already making a name for himself in Ireland. Trained by Aidan O'Brien, Mastercraftsman remained perfect from two starts when capturing the June 29 Railway S. (Ire-G2) at the Curragh. This is the family of multiple highweight Sakhee (Bahri), hero of the 2001 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (Fr-G1), and Italian Group 1 winner Pressing (Ire) (Soviet Star), among others.
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