Devil May Care a Derby possibility
 

Big doings.

Filly in Derby "a possibility," Pletcher says
By Jay Privman

The filly Devil May Care, considered one of the leading contenders for the Kentucky Oaks on April 30, could be entered instead in the Kentucky Derby on May 1, a scenario her trainer, Todd Pletcher, termed "a possibility" on Tuesday morning.

"We're leaning toward the Oaks, but the Derby is a possibility," Pletcher said from New York, where he stopped for a day en route from Florida to Kentucky. "Everything will be determined after she works this weekend. It costs $2,500 to enter the Oaks. It costs $25,000 to enter the Derby, so you've got to be pretty serious about running in the Derby to spend that money."

Pletcher said the decision on which race or races to enter would have to be made by John Greathouse, whose Glencrest Farm owns Devil May Care.

"Everything is up in the air until she works," said Pletcher, who said Devil May Care had been training sensationally since her victory in the Bonnie Miss Stakes last month at Gulfstream Park. Pletcher said that if Devil May Care ran in the Oaks, he would still strongly consider running her in the final leg of the Triple Crown, the Belmont Stakes, five weeks later on June 5. Pletcher won both races in 2007 with Rags to Riches.

Unless it is strictly an owners decision, if Pletch thought Esken was a cinch, why enter the filly in the race who would be 2nd choice in the Oaks. Hmm

Hurting the chances of even more horses on the bubble especially if one of the two DTrial gang get in after this weekend. Horse 20, be nervous, be very nervous.

I don't know how the earnings stand, but I imagine if Eightyfiveandafifty was 20th without some entering, you could possibly see a horse with earnings being entered, only to scratch, with an interest in keeping that horse out of the race.

Danthebluegrassman Part 2. Shi-tty karma for those who do this.

Then the Derby should allow AEs.

Probably should.

I believe they've started 24 before in the race. At, 20, why not go to 24. Like watching RollerDerby

How so? Didn't Baffert win that Derby with War Emblem?

How so? The public discussion of entering and scratching a horse to keep another one out.

I would imagine that Eightyfiveinafifty will be the big unspoken story Derby week should he have earnings and then be entered in the Derby. You can be pretty sure more than a few people will be wondering if there is a way to keep him out of the race....and this is potentially one of them.

I'm not saying it's fair, or that I would necessarily agree, but it is a very possible scenerio.

22 in 1974 when Cannonade won.

They do 24 in Europe all the time. With Belmonts sweeping turns they could probably do 30.

You apparently haven't actually seen the European courses.

Where was the bad karma was my question? Baffert won the Derby from which Danthebluegrassman was scratched with War Emblem. You think he cares that he upset Barry Irwin?

Even if he won the Derby Trial, Eightyfiveinafifty would only have enough earnings if either Noble's Promise or Interactif dropped out. Pletcher could probably accomplish the same goal by entering Interactif and scratching.

Fair point. Longterm Karma damage.

Or Aikenite if he runs second Saturday.

However, those connections already said they weren't going. Devil May Care never completely ruled it out.

I bet she does if Eightyfiveinafifty doesn't win Saturday.

Todd's a very smart guy.

I am pretty sure this thread has more expressed interest in trying to keep 85ina50 out of the Derby than the genuine interest in such for all of the connections of the other 20 horses combined.

What is one more no-chance speedball in this field, except another good candidate for the "finish last" prop bet?

The horse some people may have worried about is Setsuko, but he ain't making it, not in the current insane atmosphere.

A shame setsuko won 't get in as I thought he was live.