 2/21/2012
- Daisy Devine with jockey James Graham (blue cap)pulls away in the
stretch to win the 68th running of the Mardi Gras Handicap at Fair
Grounds. Hodges Photography / Lynn Roberts
DAISY DEVINE TRUMPS ‘QUEEN’ IN FG’S MARDI GRAS
‘CAP
NEW ORLEANS - Feb. 21, 2012 – James Miller’s Daisy Devine, cleverly
ridden by Irish-born jockey James Graham, took advantage of a short
field and a temporary rail set 22 feet away from its inside position
that left Clark Brewster’s odds-on favorite Cherokee Queen somewhat
tactically challenged and was able to draw off late for a 2
1/2-length tally in Fat Tuesday’s featured $75,000 Mardi Gras
Handicap for older fillies and mares over Fair Grounds’ yielding
Stall-Wilson turf course.
“I thought this was the perfect set-up,” said Daisy Devine’s
Irish-born winning trainer Andy McKeever. “With the rail being out
it is more conducive to speed.”
After alternating in an early pace maintained mostly by Lothenbach
Stables’ Alluring Squall with splits of 24.66 and 50.61, Daisy
Devine, who won last year’s Grade II Fair Grounds Oaks on the main
track but may favor grass going, dispatched that rival and then
easily held the older mare Cherokee Queen safe at the wire. The
daughter of Kafwain has now won three straight over the lawn after
taking Keeneland’s Grade III Valley View last Oct. 21 and then Fair
Grounds’ $74,000 Pago Hop Stakes Nov. 26, but had not gone to the
post since that Thanksgiving weekend performance until the Mardi
Gras.
Daisy Devine returned mutuels of $4.80, $2.40 and $2.10, increased
her career earnings to $578,349 with her sixth victory in 11
lifetime starts and toured the final distance in 1:47.19.
Cherokee Queen, scheduled for the breeding shed shortly, won Fair
Grounds’ $75,000 Blushing K. D. and $75,000 Marie Krantz Memorial
handicaps in her two previous local starts this winter in New
Orleans. She paid $2.20 and $2.10 while John Paplaczyk and Edward
Mallon’s Rose Medallion, who rallied to finish 1 3/4-lengths farther
back, returned $2.60 to show.
Racing resumes Thursday at Fair Grounds with a nine-race program
beginning at 12:40 p.m.
About Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots
Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, the nation’s third-oldest
racetrack, has been in operation since 1872. Located in New Orleans,
Fair Grounds is owned by Churchill Downs Incorporated (NASDAQ Global
Select Market: CHDN); it also operates a slot-machine gaming
facility and 10 off-track betting parlors throughout southeast
Louisiana. The 140th Thoroughbred Racing Season continues through
April 1, 2012, highlighted by the $1 million Louisiana Derby for
Kentucky Derby hopefuls on April 1. More information can be found
online at
www.FairGroundsRaceCourse.com
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