Devil Made Me Doit returns from lengthy layoff in turf sprint

Last December, the colt Devil Made Me Doit won the first race of the Santa Anita winter-spring meeting in such impressive style that observers rightfully wondered how much he could accomplish in the 3-year-old division in 2020.

Devil Made Me Doit did not race for the rest of the winter or spring. He will have his 2020 debut in a first-level allowance with a $40,000 claiming option at five furlongs on turf Sunday at Del Mar, a reflection of how trainer Doug O’Neill has had to alter goals.

“He’s such a nice horse,” O’Neill said. “You could tell by his debut the talent that he has. We were hoping to get a dirt race or sprint into him and try some of the 3-year-old races.

“Here were are sprinting on the turf. We’re optimistic we’ll see a big effort and something we can build on.”

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Owned by Paul and Zillah Reddam and bloodstock agent Ciaran Dunne, Devil Made Me Doit resumed workouts in early June. He had his first career workout on turf last Sunday, going a half-mile in 49.20 seconds.

“I think he handled it beautifully,” O’Neill said.

In Sunday’s race, Devil Made Me Doit is part of a field of nine and will be ridden by Mario Gutierrez, who was aboard for the December win. Devil Made Me Doit is likely to be in pursuit of early leader Brickyard Ride, a three-time winner who has shown ample speed in recent starts.

Devil Made Me Doit will need a clean trip, O’Neill said.

“In a turf sprint, very little can go wrong,” he said. “There is not a lot of ground to overcome trouble.”