FILLY DEVIL MAY CARE TO RUN IN KENTUCKY DERBY

Todd Pletcher may have lost his best chance for a Kentucky Derby victory with the unfortunate withdrawal of pre-race favorite Eskendereya due to injury, but he’s clearly trying to make the best of a bad situation.  On Monday, Pletcher confirmed that he’ll enter filly Devil May Care in the Derby and not Friday’s Kentucky Oaks as originally planned.  Jockey John Velazquez, who was originally slated to be aboard Eskendereya , will ride Devil May Care in the Derby.

Pletcher brought over a half dozen horses to Churchill Downs, but will now have four running in the Kentucky Derby.  In addition to the injured Eskendereya, Pletcher decided against entering Interactif and Rule after workouts that he deemed unsatisfactory.  He’ll have Devil May Care, Discreetly Mine, Mission Impazible, and Super Saver entered in Saturday’s ‘Run for the Roses’.  Mike Battaglia, who is responsible for setting the morning line at the track, suggested on Monday that Eskendereya would have been a 9-5 Kentucky Derby betting favorite.  Pletcher admitted that losing such a strong candidate for a Derby victory is something that will take time to get over:

"It's one of those things that will take a long time to get over. No matter what happens Saturday, you'll always wonder, What if?"

For now, Eskendereya will remain in Pletcher’s barn with further diagnosis and treatment on his injured foreleg on hold until the swelling subsides:

"Maybe by Wednesday enough of the inflammation will be out of there so we can do the proper diagnostics.”

As a filly running against males, Devil May Care will carry five fewer pounds in the Derby.  She’ll try to become only the fourth filly to win the race and first since Winning Colors in 1988.  The last filly to enter the Derby suffered a tragic fate—Eight Belles finished second in the 2008 race but fractured both legs in the process and had to be euthanized on the track.  Pletcher said he views that as ‘an unfortunate accident’ and suggested that the recent strong performances by superstar fillies Zenyatta and Rachel Alexandra running against male horses "showed it's no more taxing for these fillies to run against colts."

The final decision was made by John Greathouse of Glencrest Farm, the owner of Devil May Care.  When jockey Velazquez became available due to Eskendereya’s withdrawal that was the final determining factor:

"I always said I wanted to get my rider or I won't run. I got what I want."

Pletcher is very optimistic about Devil May Care’s chances for a strong showing:

"She's an exceptional filly. We've always felt that way. August of last year at Saratoga, she worked as good as any 2-year-old we've ever had."

Pletcher also confirmed that he won’t be entering Devil May Care in the Kentucky Oaks.  In theory, she could be entered in both races allowing her handlers to make a last minute decision as to which race they wanted to run.  Pletcher said that he’ll only enter her in the Derby so that she wouldn’t keep another filly out of the Kentucky Oaks, which is limited to 14 entries.