Devileye now 5 for 5 after Arlington Heights win
RACE REPLAY IS NOT AVAILABLE
ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. – The horse named Devileye has a nose for the wire.
Devileye made his fifth career start Saturday in the $66,000 Arlington Heights Stakes and came away with his fifth win, beating stubborn pacesetter Richiesinthehouse by a half-length in the seven-furlong Polytrack race for Illinois-bred 3-year-olds.
Devileye has compiled his perfect record winning sprint races on Polytrack and dirt and the Jim Edgar Illinois Futurity around two turns on dirt last winter. Trainer Michele Boyce had penciled him in for a start last weekend in the Mystic Lake Derby, a turf route at Canterbury, when the addition of this race to the Arlington schedule was announced.
So Boyce stayed home and Devileye came home a winner – as always.
“This horse ... he’s like an old soul from the time he came onto the track last year as a 2-year-old,” said Boyce, who trains Devileye for his breeder, the S.D. Brilie limited partnership. “He’s never gone through a stage of being green or anything. He’s just a remarkable racehorse.”
Devileye broke on top but was eased back to third in the early going while being guided – or, perhaps, guiding himself – to the fence.
“He can go outside, too, but he’s a lot better on the inside,” jockey Santo Sanjur said.
Inside is where Devileye stayed the rest of the race. Richiesinthehouse set splits of 23 seconds for the first quarter and 46.25 for the half, and as favored Smoke ‘n’ Gloat tried futilely to get to him in the three path, Sanjur and Devileye came calling along the fence. Devileye, who is taller than average but well balanced and athletic, reaches out like one of those horses that really enjoys winning, and while Richiesinthehouse finished pretty well, Devileye would not be denied. He ran seven furlongs in a quick 1:22.29 and paid $7.80.
“He’s a nice horse,” Sanjur said. “He showed his class. You can do whatever you want with him.”
Boyce said she has not set plans for Devileye, but options should be plentiful given the horse’s versatility.
Devileye is by Indygo Shiner and out of the very productive Petionville mare Deville.
