Report: Flashy debut winner Devil Made Me Doit 'needs some time'

Devil Made Me Doit, a breakout star on Santa Anita Park's opening day undercard when he ran off to win his debut by 9 1/2 lengths, won't be back at the races anytime soon.

Trainer Doug O'Neill told the Daily Racing Form's Brad Free that Devil Made Me Doit exited the race sore. The Daredevil colt will receive two months off from training.

“He needs some time, and we’re giving it him,” O’Neill told DRF. “He’s a super talented horse -- a big-time horse.”  Reddam Racing and Ciaran Dunne campaign Devil Made Me Doit, who sold most recently for $245,000 as a 2-year-old. Jockey Mario Gutierrez rode, guiding the colt across the wire in a hand ride to finish 3/4 of a mile in 1:10.29. The effort registered a respectable 87 Beyer Speed Figure.
Devil Made Me Doit registered a pair of bullet works before clocking an easier 5/8 of a mile in 1:01.40 back on Dec. 18. That was apparently enough for bettors to hammer him down from 4-1 morning line odds to 3-2 favoritism.

As a son of former WinStar stallion Daredevil, there figure to be distance limitations with Devil Made Me Doit, who's out of a U S Ranger mare. That horse finished his career as a west coast-based miler in 2009. Look for him to be back sprinting later this year.