Daisy Devine remains perfect on turf in Mardi Gras

In a battle of graded stakes winners in Tuesday's $72,000

Mardi Gras Handicap at Fair Grounds, it was James M. Miller's

four-year-old Daisy Devine who fended off an older foe, the

seven-year-old Cherokee Queen, to take the about 1 1/16-mile feature

over yielding turf. Tracking in second behind long-time leader Alluring

Squall to the far turn, Daisy Devine caught that rival approaching the

stretch and drew off to win by 2 1/2 lengths under James Graham. The

final time was 1:47. Daisy Devine returned $4.80, $2.40 and $2.10 as the

7-5 second choice.

"I thought this was the perfect set-up," said Daisy Devine's

Irish-born winning trainer Andrew McKeever. "With the rail being out it

is more conducive to speed."

Cherokee Queen, the 4-5 favorite, was perhaps making her final career

start. Winner of the Grade 3 Suwannee River at Gulfstream Park in March

2011, the mare was purchased by present owner Clark Brewster last fall

at Keeneland November for $240,000. For her new connections, which

includes trainer Steve Margolis, Cherokee Queen captured both the

Blushing K. D. Handicap and Marie Krantz Memorial Handicap earlier in

the Fair Grounds meet.

Cherokee Queen had dead aim on the eventual winner in the stretch but

ultimately could not catch her. She finished 1 3/4 lengths clear of Rose

Medallion, who trailed much of the race. Finishing fourth was Alluring

Squall, who had set fractions of :24 3/5, :50 3/5 and 1:15 3/5. Last of

the quintet was Holidaysatthefarm. Gaya and Sterling Madame were

scratched.

Heroine of the Grade 2 Fair Grounds on the main track 11 months ago, Daisy

Devine subsequently struggled in dirt races like the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks,

Grade 3 Iowa Oaks and Grade 2 Indiana Oaks. However, the bay filly has found new

life as a turf runner and is now a perfect three-for-three on the surface.

Her first attempt on grass was in the Grade 3 Valley View at Keeneland on

October 21, where she sprung a 43-1 upset by a half-length. The margin was a

more comfortable 2 1/4 lengths in her most recent start, the November 26 Pago

Hop at Fair Grounds. With the Bayou Handicap on March 31 a possible next start,

Daisy Devine moves forward with a career mark of 11-6-1-1, $578,349.