Daisy Devine remains perfect on turf in Mardi Gras

Daisy Devine added the Mardi Gras to prior Big Easy wins in the Pago Hop and Fair Grounds Oaks (Lou Hodges Jr./Hodges Photography)

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.