Daisy Devine Eyes Distaff Turf Mile

The incredibly hot run for trainer Andrew McKeever boiled over Saturday when he sent out James Miller’s Daisy Devine to win the $300,000 Jenny Wiley (G1) by a length over Bay to Bay with Grade 1 winners Zagora (FR) and Aruna finishing farther back.

The victory was the fourth in four starts on the grass for Daisy Devine, who began her streak here last fall with a score in the Pin Oak Valley View (G3).

“She worked well over it (before the Valley View) and it was an ideal time after the Indiana Oaks (G2),” McKeever said. “She had had a lot of foot problems and we never had her 100 percent until then.”

Was there any regret in not trying her earlier on the turf?

“She had won the Fair Grounds Oaks (G2) and run in the Kentucky Oaks (G1),” McKeever said. “I think she can run on anything. There might be a half-length difference for her on the surfaces.”

The Churchill Distaff Turf Mile (G2) on May 5 may be the next start for Daisy Devine.

In the Jenny Wiley, James Graham was able to dictate the pace and had plenty of horse left for the run down the stretch.

“It looked like on paper she was the only speed,” said Graham, who won his second Grade 1 race of the meet, with the other being on Karlovy Vary in the Central Bank Ashland. “In the Valley View, she was sitting second off a 47-second pace, and she was running halves in :50 at Fair Grounds when people didn’t want to be on the lead.

“Yesterday, she ran the first half in :50 and when I asked her, she just exploded. Everybody else exploded, too, but she was gone.”

Daisy Devine was the second winner of the day for Graham and McKeever. In the sixth race, Street Seranade broke his maiden in his third start.

“I’ve always thought he was a very nice horse,” McKeever said of the son of 2007 Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense. “He caught a tough field in his first race and I think the Street Senses need a race. He has a high cruising speed and I think he can run on anything.”

Saturday’s double gave McKeever four victories from six starters this meet, a total that leads all trainers.

“It has been a great meet so far,” McKeever said. “I also have two thirds, including Ariana D, who was third in the Vinery Madison (G1).”

McKeever said the Arlington Matron (G3) on May 26 would be the likely next start for Ariana D.