Daisy Devine keeps on winning at Fair Grounds

Daisy Devine has virtually run out of competition this winter at Fair Grounds (Hodges Photography/Jamie Hernandez) James M. Miller’s Daisy Devine took care of business over five overmatched rivals in Saturday’s $72,750 Marie G. Krantz Memorial at Fair Grounds. Leading throughout, the five-year-old mare opened up a three-length in the strength and crossed the wire 1 3/4 lengths ahead of 19-1 chance Ausus. The 1-10 favorite returned $2.20, $2.20 and $2.10. Daisy Devine set splits of :24 1/5, :50 3/5, 1:15 2/5 and completed about 1 1/16 miles on the turf in 1:46 3/5. The course, which had not been used much this month due to persistent rain and was slow to dry during a spell of more favorable weather this week, was rated good, although winning jockey James Graham said after the race it was still soft in spots. There was a large gap — 13 3/4 lengths — between Ausmus and third-placed finisher Anniversary Girl. Zapper Belle, Artemus Kitten and Totheendoftheearth completed the order of finish.

Daisy Devine, whose 2011 tallies included the Grade 2 Fair Grounds Oaks,
Grade 3 Valley View and the Pago Hop, captured the Mardi Gras Handicap, Grade 1
Jenny Wiley and Grade 3 Cardinal Handicap and Blushing K.D. Handicap last
season. She was also a narrowly-beaten second in the Grade 1 First Lady. With
this third consecutive win, and fourth in as many starts over the Fair Grounds’
turf, her record now stands at 17-10-2-1, $991,281.

Trainer Andrew McKeever said the $75,000 Bayou Handicap on February 23 would
be considered, but that Daisy Devine’s main goal is a title defense of the Jenny
Wiley at Keeneland on April 13.

A daughter of Kafwain, Daisy Devine was bred in Kentucky by J. Reiley
McDonald and fetched a mere $5,500 at the 2009 Keeneland September Yearling
Sale. She was produced by the Devil’s Bag mare Devil’s Dispute, who also reared
the stakes-winning Patent Pending.

Daisy Devine’s second dam is Grade 2 winner Impetuous Gal, the dam of
multiple Grade 1-winning producer Banker’s Lady and Grade 3 winner Idabel. Also
hailing from this family are Grade 1 winner Ecton Park and multiple Grade 2 hero
Banker’s Gold.

Rivals of Delaunay lost ground through the stretch as he won the Gaudin Memorial by more than four lengths (Hodges Photography/Jamie Hernandez) Delaunay solidified his position as the leading Fair Grounds-based sprinter with an impressive tally in the $72,000 F.W. Gaudin Memorial. Under Shaun Bridgmohan, the Smoke Glacken gelding set splits of :21 2/5 and :44, shook off Hamiltonian approaching the quarter pole and drew clear to win by 4 1/4 lengths in a time of 1:09 for six furlongs on the fast main track. The 3-5 favorite returned $3.40, $2.20 and $2.10. Gantry, last year’s Grade 2 Smile Sprint Handicap winner, rallied for second, three-quarters of a length ahead of Hamiltonian. It was more than eight lengths back to Flashpoint, who was a long ways ahead of the trailing Hollywood Hit. Laurie’s Rocket and Pass the Dice were scratched, the former in favor of Saturday’s King Cotton at Oaklawn Park.

Delaunay has now compiled a mark of 37-12-8-3, $449,455. The six-year-old was
an allowance-caliber horse through 2011, and then dipped into the claiming ranks
last year where he proved popular at the claim box. Acquired via claim for
$40,000 by owner Maggi Moss at Churchill Downs last May, the Tom Amoss trainee
has now won five of six starts for his present connections, all in stakes. His
previous black type scores came in the Kelly’s Landing and Bet on Sunshine at
Churchill Downs, the Temperence Hill at Louisiana Downs, and the Thanksgiving
Handicap at Fair Grounds prior to this one.

Delaunay was bred in Maryland by Robert Meyerhoff’s Fitzhugh LLC. He was
produced by the stakes-winning Perilous Night, a Coronado’s Quest mare who also
reared the stakes-placed Night Officer. Delaunay’s second dam was Grade 3 winner
Broad Smile, and his third dam was Grade 1 queen Wings of Jove.

Animal Style found an outside path on the Stall-Wilson turf course favorable (Hodges Photography/Lynn Roberts) More than six lengths behind with a furlong to go, Ken and Sarah Ramsey’s Animal Style turned in a strong, wide rally to garner top honors in the inaugural running of the $75,000 Van Berg, an about 5 1/2-furlong turf race for three-year-olds. Under Shaun Bridgmohan, Animal Style was closer to the outside rail as he overtook 16-1 chance Strong Response en route to a 1 1/2-length score in a time of 1:05 4/5. The 5-1 fourth choice Animal Style paid $12.60, $6.40 and $4.20. Strong Response held second by a length over 17-1 shot Evan’s Calling. Completing the order of finish were Agave Cat, Strike the Note, 6-5 favorite Party Lad, Seeking Payday, Sir Pulpit, Nev’s Cat, and Jo Jo’s Comet. The latter set the early pace of :22 and :47 1/5 while under pressure from Strong Response.

Initially campaigned by Roger Braugh Jr. and trainer Chuck Peery, Animal
Style finished third and second in his first two outings, both in maiden
claiming company. Haltered for $30,000 out of a disappointing fourth-place
finish in his third career start, Animal Style next tried the turf and finished
second to Evan’s Calling in a December 15 maiden special weight at Fair Grounds
in his debut for the Ramseys. They bay added blinkers for his next race, an
off-the-turf maiden on January 13, and won that 5 1/2-furlong dash by 1 1/4
lengths. His record now stands at 6-2-2-1, $83,410.

A son of Spanish Steps, Animal Style was bred in Kentucky by Eduardo Racing
Stables and was produced by the Grade 3-winning Seeking the Sky. That Seeking
the Gold mare has also produced this year’s Grade 2 Palos Verdes winner Sahara
Sky.

Other notables from this family are Grade 1 winner Bachelor Beau, Grade 2
vixens Seeking Regina and Just Jenda, and Grade 3 winners Dixie Band and All
Squared Away

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