Printer Friendly Page 

Devil May Care makes it look easy in CCA Oaks

Following impressive wins in the CCA Oaks and Mother Goose, Devil May Care could be favored in her expected showdown with Blind Luck in the Alabama (Harold Roth/Horsephotos.com) Glencrest Farm's DEVIL MAY CARE (Malibu Moon) cruised to the lead under a snug hold and drew off in the stretch of Saturday's $250,000 Coaching Club American Oaks (G1), winning convincingly by a four-length margin under John Velazquez. The prestigious event for three-year-old fillies was held for the first time at Saratoga and reduced in distance to 1 1/8 miles, and the well-built bay stopped the teletimer over the drying-out fast track in 1:49 2/5. An overwhelming 3-5 favorite among six rivals, the Todd Pletcher-trained Devil May Care bobbled slightly at the start and was under heavy restraint in fourth among horses through early splits in :24 2/5 and :48 1/5. She was steered into the clear on the outside approaching the far turn as pacesetter Absinthe Minded (Quiet American) continued to show the way through six panels in 1:12 1/5, and moved effortlessly toward the lead through the final bend. Velazquez sneaked a peak for any competition entering the stretch, but Devil May Care was all alone and lengthening her advantage with every stride. It was only a matter of how far she would win by as she was hand-ridden to the wire. "When I let her go, she was there for me," Velazquez explained. "I wanted to have her covered up for a while because she was pulling pretty strong going through the backstretch. Going to the half-mile pole I wanted her to get into a good rhythm and then a nice cruising speed. At the quarter-pole I took another hold of her because I didn't want to get into the lead too quickly. But she was just dragging me up to that point." An easy winner of the Mother Goose (G1) in her previous outing, Devil May Care returned $3.40, $2.40 and $2.10 to her many supporters. Mother Goose third-placer Biofuel (Stormin Fever), the 5-1 third choice in the wagering, offered a strong rally from last for runner-up honors and paid $4 and $2.60. It was three-quarters of a length back to Acting Happy (Empire Maker), who was in position to offer a challenge at the top of the stretch but could not go on with the winner. The 3-1 second favorite gave back $2.50 for the show. Bahama Bound (Empire Maker), Seeking the Title (Seeking the Gold) and Absinthe Minded rounded out the order of finish. Connie and Michael (Roman Ruler) and Lisa's Booby Trap (Drewman) were both scratched.

The exacta yielded $13 and the 7-6-8 trifecta was good for $24.20.

All but one of Devil May Care's four career wins have now come against graded competition. She broke her maiden last August by 4 3/4 lengths at Saratoga and proceeded to take the Frizette S. (G1) at Belmont next out. The miss did not take to the synthetic Pro-Ride when trying the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) at Santa Anita, rounding out her juvenile campaign with an 11th-place finish in that race. She returned on February 20 to be fifth in the Silverbulletday S. (G3), after what Pletcher described was her extreme aggravation following issues in the gate, but got back on track when posting a 2 3/4-length triumph in the Bonnie Miss S. (G2). That particular win earned her a shot against the boys in the Kentucky Derby (G1), and the sophomore lass beat half the field when running 10th in the classic.

"You can see by the way that she won today why we tried the Kentucky Derby," Pletcher said. "The thing that I think gets lost in the shuffle a little bit is how much there is left in the tank. When she makes the lead, she tends to wait a little bit, so Johnny rode her perfectly. Once he was able to ease her back to the outside down the backside, he got in the clear and just kept her on cruise control. 

"We didn't want to make the lead too soon and have someone surprise her and he waited as long as he could," the conditioner added. "We tried to do the right thing after the Derby and give her plenty of time to the Mother Goose. She rewarded us with a big effort and did the same today. I've felt all along that this filly is the best of her generation and if she continues to run like today, I think she'll prove it."

Pletcher said the Alabama S. (G1) on August 21 is probably next.

"The spacing is good and it's a good series for her," he noted.

Bred in Kentucky by Diamond A Racing Corp., Devil May Care passed through the sales ring twice, bringing $110,000 as a Keeneland September yearling and then RNAing for $400,000 as a Fasig-Tipton Calder two-year-old. She is out of Kelli's Ransom (Red Ransom), who has since produced a juvenile colt named Ransom Demand (Grand Slam) and a Posse yearling colt. Kelli's Ransom is also the dam of Regal Ransom (Distorted Humor), winner of last year's U.A.E. Derby (UAE-G2) and Super Derby (G2) as well as second in the U.A.E. Two Thousand Guineas (UAE-G3). The 11-year-old mare is a half-sister to Grade 2 winner and 2003 Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) runner-up Minister Eric (Old Trieste), and this is also the female family of multiple Grade 3 queen and 2009 Canadian Broodmare of the Year Pico Teneriffe (Red Ransom), who is herself the dam of Canadian champion Marchfield (A.P. Indy).

She's now earned $699,000 from her 8-5-0-0 line.

More Graded Recaps:

Twirling Candy survives inquiry as much the best in Del Mar Derby

Lightning heats up Spinaway

Combination produces Lethal late kick in Saranac

Get Serious overcomes trouble to defend Red Bank title

Gran Estreno repeats in Washington Park

Send this article to a friend