NEWS
Devil May Care steals the show in Bonnie Miss
Posted: Saturday, March 20, 2010 6:42 PM
DEVIL MAY CARE
Coglianese Photos
To view the Bonnie Miss Stakes, click here.
by Tim Nichols
While most of the attention prior to Saturday’s Bonnie Miss Stakes (G2) revolved around impressive allowance winner Christine Daae and multiple Grade 2 winner Amen Hallelujah, the lone Grade 1 winner in the field stole the spotlight Saturday at Gulfstream Park.
Devil May Care, largely forgotten by the betting public at 7.10-to-1 odds, inhaled Amen Hallelujah in midstretch to secure victory in the $200,000 Bonnie Miss.
Trained by Todd Pletcher for Glencrest Farm, the Malibu Moon filly covered 1 1/8 miles on a track rated as fast in 1:49.06 to secure her third win from five career starts.
Devil May Care entered off a pair of subpar efforts—finishing 11th in the Grey Goose Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) and a distant fifth in the Silverbulletday Stakes (G3) on February 20 in her season debut—while Amen Hallelujah and Christine Daae both entered off impressive victories.
“We’ve always thought a lot of this filly, but I’m not surprised that some could be a little skeptical after her last two races,” winning trainer Todd Pletcher said.
Racing comfortably in fourth, Devil May Care waited patiently while Amen Hallelujah took the lead on the far turn. In the stretch, John Velazquez gave Devil May Care her cue and she responded by powering past Amen Hallelujah. The 2009 Frizette Stakes (G1) winner ducked in after taking the lead but quickly regained her momentum to extend her advantage to the finish line.
“She has tremendous talent, but she still has some learning to do,” Velazquez said.
Devil May Care won by 2¾ lengths with Amen Hallelujah second, five lengths ahead of Joanie’s Catch. Christine Daae was not a factor and finished fifth.
Bred in Kentucky, Devil May Care is one of three winners from four starters out of the Red Ransom mare Kelli’s Ransom. She is a half sister to Group/Grade 2 winner Regal Ransom. Pletcher said her next start will be in the Kentucky Oaks (G1) on April 30.
For an Equibase chart, click here.
Tim Nichols is internet content editor of Thoroughbred Times
