Deep Field Entered in First Lady

Dayatthespa and Daisy Devine, winners of Grade 1 races here in 2012, headline a deep field for Saturday’s 16th running of the First Lady that attracted a field of eight. Seven of the eight entrants have graded or group stakes victories on their resumes.

Jerry Frankel, Ronald Frankel, Steve Laymon and Bradley Thoroughbreds’ Dayatthespa is undefeated on Keeneland’s turf course with victories in last fall’s Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup (G1) and in the 2012 Appalachian (G3). Trained by Chad Brown, Dayatthespa will break from post position six and be ridden by John Velazquez.

James Miller’s Daisy Devine won the 2012 renewal of the Jenny Wiley (G1) and was second in last year’s First Lady. Trained by Andrew McKeever, Daisy Devine also won the Pin Oak Valley View (G3) here in 2011. James Graham has the call on Daisy Devine, who will break from post position four.

The other Grade 1 winner in the field is Godolphin Racing’s Better Lucky, winner of last fall’s Matriarch. Trained by Tom Albertrani, Better Lucky has raced twice on the Keeneland turf, finishing third in last fall’s Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup and this spring in the Jenny Wiley. Julien Leparoux has the mount on Better Lucky, who will break from post position three.

The field for the First Lady, from the inside out, is as follows: Say (IRE) (Joe Bravo, 121 pounds), Hungry Island (Garrett Gomez, 124), Better Lucky (Leparoux, 124), Daisy Devine (Graham, 124), Winding Way (Robby Albarado, 124), Dayatthespa (Velazquez, 124), Miz Ida (Shaun Bridgmohan, 124) and Amazonas (IRE) (Joe Rocco Jr., 121).