Daisy Devine to get back on winning ways in the Cardinal Handicap
There will be high expectations pinned on James M. Miller’s 4-year-old filly, Daisy Devine in the Grade 3, $100,000 Cardinal Handicap, who was an all out winner of the Grade 1 Jenny Wiley Stakes at 1 1/16 miles at Keeneland on 14 April, 2012, by defeating the likes of Bay to Bay, and Tapitsfly.
The Kafwain filly turned in an impressive performance after a lackluster fifth place finish in the Grade 2 Distaff Turf Mile, to finish narrowly behind Tapitsfly in second in the Grade 1, $350,000 First Lady Stakes over Keeneland’s turf course at a mile on 6 October, 2012.
The Cardinal Handicap will be run over a distance of 1 1/8 miles on turf at Churchill Downs on 10 November, 2012, as it has drawn nine, 3-year-old and above fillies and mares.
Daisy Devine ran over 1 1/8 miles way back May last year, when she finished seventh to winner, Plum Pretty, in the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks also at Churchill Downs.
Trained by Andrew McKeever, Daisy Devine strung together a four race win streak, starting from October last year to April this year, and in all stakes wins, she won the Grade 3 Valley View Stakes at Keeneland’s turf course, Pago Hop Stakes and Mardi Gras Stakes at Fair Grounds, and the Grade 1 Jenny Wiley Stakes at Keeneland.
“I guess I prefer it that way as opposed to people thinking she’s unbeatable,” said McKeever. “But she doesn’t know anything about that. She just goes out and runs her race.”
Jockey Calvin Borel will be aboard the filly in the Cardinal Handicap, and the last time the two raced together, they won the Grade 3 Valley View Stakes. The duo will break from post number 4 in the 1 1/8 mile event, and will be the 122 pound highweight against 8 other fillies and mares.
“I guess I prefer it that way as opposed to people thinking she’s unbeatable,” said McKeever, a 46-year-old Irishman who ships between Keeneland and Fair Grounds during the year. “But she doesn’t know anything about that. She just goes out and runs her race.”
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