Daisy Devine Steals Jenny Wiley

In Saturday's Grade 1 Jenny Wiley at Keeneland, James Miller’s Daisy Devine remained perfect in four starts on turf by turning back five rivals including two Grade 1 winners.

A $5,500 Keeneland September Sale purchase in 2009, Daisy Devine added $180,000 to her bankroll that swelled to $758,349 with an overall record of 12-7-1-1. Daisy Devine is a 4-year-old Kentucky-bred daughter of Kafwain out of the Devil’s Bag mare Devil’s Dispute.

Daisy Devine began her winning streak on turf here last fall when she won the Pin Oak Valley View (G3) at odds of 43-1.

Trained by Andrew McKeever, Daisy Devine went right to the lead under James Graham with Bay to Bay and Garrett Gomez in closest pursuit. Daisy Devine cut out early fractions of 25.12, 50.78 and 1:15.35 as the running order remained unchanged with Grade 1 winners Aruna and Zagora (FR) at the back of a compact field.

Daisy Devine, who threw in a fourth quarter in :22.23 to complete the mile in 1:37.58, kicked clear at the head of the stretch and had enough to hold off Bay to Bay, who finished a half-length in front of Tapitsfly and Julien Leparoux. Daisy Devine completed the 1 1/16 miles on a firm turf course in 1:43.21.

Daisy Devine returned $16.20, $7.80 and $4.40. Bay to Bay paid $7 and $4.60 with Tapitsfly returning $4.20 to show.  It was 1 ¾ lengths back to Heavenly Landing in fourth, followed in order by favored Zagora and Aruna.

The victory was Graham’s second Grade 1 score of the meet, coming on the heels of last Saturday’s triumph in the Central Bank Ashland on Karlovy Vary.