Devileye looks like his old self in Lightning Jet Handicap

Devileye was slow to get his 2019 campaign going and fast to finish Saturday at Hawthorne in the $55,300 Lightning Jet Handicap.

Among the more talented Illinois-breds of the last three seasons, Devileye, owing to various middling infirmities, didn’t race this year until October. He was a distant eighth in a two-turn turf race coming back into action, a better fifth dirt-sprinting in his most recent start Nov. 2, and all the way back to his best Saturday.

As with his 2019 debut, Devileye got out of the blocks very slowly in the Lightning Jet, breaking on cue, but quickly dropping to the tail of a seven-horse field of older Illinois-bred sprinters. Devileye, who has done much of his best work on synthetic surfaces, lagged well behind his six rivals for half the race but kicked into gear under Carlos Marquez Jr. midway around the turn. Still several lengths behind the back at the five-sixteenths pole, Devileye jetted into contention while cutting the corner and blasting into the homestretch with a full head of steam. Marquez, loaded with horse, considered an outside finish on a couple of occasions but eventually was forced to make his final move up the rail, which was just fine with Devileye. He hit the front in the final furlong and won going away, crossing the finish 2 1/2 lengths best.

What’s Up Dude, who appeared to be under a strong ride to go nowhere as Devileye found his stride, slogged along to win a five-horse blanket finish for place. Behind him came Colonel Clink, W W Cookie Monster, 4-5 favorite Wynn Time, and Wile E Peyote. Scarlet City was a distant last while Richiesinthehouse, Archiemyboy, and Riv were early scratches. Devileye ran six furlongs in 1:10.23 and paid $14.40 to win.

Wynn Time, making his first start since January and facing Illinois-breds for the first time since he became a solid open-stakes performer, never looked like a winner while stalking the pace wide down the backstretch and around the turn.

Michele Boyce trains Devileye for his breeders, the S.D. Brilie Limited Partnership of Steve and Diane Holland. Devileye is a 5-year-ol gelding by Indygo Shiner out of Deville, by Petionville. His career record now stands at 9-4-0 from 16 starts.

Jean Elizabeth shades Puntsville in Powerless

Odds-on favorite Jean Elizabeth edged away in deep stretch to win the $53,925 Powerless Handicap by a neck on Friday at Hawthorne.

Six-year-old Puntsville did all she could to end her racing career a winner, battling head and head with Jean Elizabeth on the lead for much of the Powerless’s six furlongs. Getting four pounds from the winner, who carried high weight of 125, Puntsville dug deep and had her head in front a furlong out, but she has always at heart been best in 5 1/2-furlong races and Jean Elizabeth just got the best of her after a stirring duel.

Meeka, who broke poorly, tried to get involved late but wound up third, one length behind Puntsville, who’s going off to become a broodmare.

Jean Elizabeth stopped the timer at 1:11.03 for six furlongs over a fast track and paid $3.40 to win. Jareth Loveberry rode Jean Elizabeth for trainer Larry Rivelli, who co-bred the 4-year-old filly with Richard Ravin and co-owns her with Ravin and Vince Foglia’s Patricia’s Hope LLC.

Jean Elizabeth is by Adios Charlie out of Rooney Doodle, by Lit de Justice, and ran her career mark to an excellent 10-4-2 from 16 starts.