Daisy Devine surprises at 43-1 in Valley View turf debut

James M. Miller's Daisy Devine had suffered three double-digit losses since

taking the Grade 2 Fair Grounds Oaks in March, but a switch to turf sparked a

major form turnaround in Thursday's Grade 3, $150,000

Valley

View at Keeneland. Ignored as the second longest shot on the board at 43-1,

the Andrew McKeever filly forged to the lead in deep stretch and triggered

payouts of $89, $23.20 and $9.40.

Daisy Devine, who picked up a new rider in Calvin Borel for her turf debut,

capitalized on a stalking trip. She was parked right off the pacesetting In Step

through fractions of :23 1/5, :47 3/5 and 1:12 2/5 on ground officially labeled

good. Bizzy Caroline, the 8-5 favorite in her class drop from Grade 1 company,

bided her time in fourth early, and moved into third on the far turn.

As In Step stayed on resolutely down the stretch, Daisy Devine was equally

determined in pursuit. Bizzy Caroline inched forward on the outside, but not

enough to encourage favorite backers. Meanwhile, Daisy Devine was wearing down

the longtime leader. She finally prevailed by a half-length, completing 1 1/16

miles in 1:43 1/5.

Bizzy Caroline managed to deprive In Step of the runner-up spot by a head at

the wire. Holidaysatthefarm checked in another 1 3/4 lengths back in fourth,

followed by Pinch Pie, Dynamic Holiday, Safe Crossing, Barbies M, Christmas Cove

and Maid of Heaven. New Normal, Smart Sting, Diva Ash and Trac N Jam were all

withdrawn.

Bred by J. Reiley McDonald in Kentucky, Daisy Devine was a bargain $5,500

yearling purchase at the Keeneland September Sale. She has now earned $488,349

from her record of 9-4-1-1.

Daisy Devine made an inauspicious debut on Keeneland's Polytrack last

October, fading to ninth in a 10-horse maiden field, and had raced on dirt ever

since. After breaking her maiden next time out for a $30,000 tag at Fair

Grounds, the bay cleared her entry-level allowance condition. That punched her

ticket to stakes company. Daisy Devine just missed as a wide-trip runner-up in

the Silverbulletday Stakes, then promptly broke through in the Fair Grounds

Oaks.

A well-beaten seventh in the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks, she tired badly again

when fifth in the Grade 3 Iowa Oaks on June 25. Daisy Devine did not reappear

until the Grade 2 Indiana Oaks on October 1, but once more dropped far back down

the lane and finished a distant third. McKeever subsequently worked her a couple

of times on the turf, and took a shot that paid off in the Valley View.

By Kafwain, Daisy Devine is a half-sister to New York-bred stakes winner

Patent Pending. They are out of the Devil's Bag mare Devil's Dispute, who is

herself a half-sister to multiple Grade 1 queen Banker's Lady, the dam of

multiple Grade 2-winning sire Banker's Gold. Grade 1 hero, millionaire and sire

Ecton Park is also in the immediate family.