Keeneland: Daisy Devine pulls off 43-1 upset in Valley View

LEXINGTON, Ky. - Trainer Andrew McKeever said the day before they ran the Valley View Stakes at Keeneland on Friday that Daisy Devine was "getting better," but that he doubted she could prevail in a rugged lineup. Most everyone else agreed.

Ignored at 43-1, Daisy Devine had the final say about how she was doing when she upset the 21st running of the Grade 3, $150,000 Pin Oak Valley View under a well-judged ride from Calvin Borel.

Amid bright sunshine, and before an ontrack crowd of 14,346, In Step set the pace in the 1 1/16-mile turf race, with Daisy Devine clinging to her flank. Down the stretch, as In Step began to give way grudgingly, Borel urged his mount to the lead and kept her to a stiff drive to prevail by a half-length over Bizzy Caroline, the 17-10 favorite in a field of 10 3-year-old fillies.

In Step held third, just a head back, followed by Holidaysatthefarm, Pinch Pie, Dynamic Holiday, Safe Crossing, Barbies M, Christmas Cove, and Maid of Heaven.

The winner returned $89 after finishing in 1:43.30 over a course rated good.

"She just skipped right along," said Borel. "Perfect trip."

Daisy Devine, owned by Jim Miller, was good enough to earn a spot in the Kentucky Oaks after winning the Grade 2 Fair Grounds Oaks in late March. But compromised by foot problems, her stock soon went south, as she fared poorly in three straight Oaks races, all on dirt, in Kentucky, Iowa, and Indiana.

McKeever said Daisy Devine, a Kawain filly bred in Kentucky by Reiley McDonald, was "doing good" in her training coming up to the Valley View but that the competition looked daunting, especially since she was making her grass debut. In fact, McKeever had a second starter in the Valley View, Barbies M, who was lower odds than her stablemate at 33-1.

McKeever said he worked Daisy Devine "a couple times on the turf and she really liked it. She just hasn't been the same from the Kentucky Oaks until the last two weeks, when she's really come back to herself."

Trac N Jam, Smart Sting, Diva Ash, and New Normal were early scratches.