Chicago Handicap 2011 at Arlington Park - Devil by Design wins in dramatic fashion under Corey Nakatani
The five-year old daughter of Medaglia d’Oro, Devil by Design, made a successful season debut in the $100,000 Grade 3 Chicago Handicap, at Arlington Park, 3 July.
Trained by Bill Mott and ridden by Corey Nakatani, Devil by Design bagged the seven furlong event in a visually impressive come-from-behind performance.
Devil by Design now goes up to six wins out of 14 starts and the tally could have been higher if the brown mare had started her season a little earlier.
Devil by Design extended her career earnings to $259,874, and was a 5-to-7 for the seven furlongs race. She was up against favourite, Tidal Pool, and, Dr. Zic. Both horses did not have the reputation to threaten the field and have lone wins to show for their
career records respectively.
The Joan Scott trained Dr. Zic had her only victory in at the Keenland when she defeated Dubai Majesty in the Grade 1 Vinery Madison Stakes for fillies and mares by 2 ½ lengths, on 8 April 2010.
On the other hand, the favoured Tidal Pool registered her first win on the field of six fillies, and, mares, at Oaklawn Park in the Red Bud Stakes on 13 April 2011.
Devil by Design under jockey Corey Nakatani was not in contention at the start of the race and found it difficult to get past seven other fillies and mares. She had to see through the tight quarters early and fight her way out of the congested field to breakaway
where the pair could test the sprint.
Though Devil by Design has limited experience on synthetic surfaces, she put aside the early hiccup and rallied on the outside to gain the lost momentum. Once Medaglia d’Oro's mare got to the eighth pole she grabbed the initiative and edged past Tidal Pool
and Dr. Zic to grab the win by 1 ¾ lengths under severe urging.
The final time over the Poly-track race was not so sharp and ended at 1 minute 25.24 seconds. Devil by Design came back to racing after a long layoff, made her last start back in November 6 2011, when she competed in the Grade 2 Chilukki Stakes, where she
was defeated by Distinctive Dixie by a mammoth 11 lengths.
Jockey Corey Nakatani at the end of the race was pleased with the filly. Even on the track, Devil by Design looked responsive at every cut and turn. Seven furlongs is just about her distance and she feels comfortable sprinting after an easy start and that’s
exactly what the jockey did, he bided his time to kick off at the right time.
La Rocca ran a huge race and finished in front of Tidal Pool to finish second.
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