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.

Devil May Care, along with a slew of Pletcher horses including Derby favorite Eskendereya, were flown to Kentucky from Florida on Tuesday. Pletcher said all of his male Derby horses - Discreetly Mine, Eskendereya, Mission Impazible, Rule, and Super Saver - are scheduled to work at Churchill Downs this weekend.

"I want to work Eskendereya and Devil May Care on Saturday, and the others either Saturday or Sunday, but the weather looks like it could have some say in when we go," Pletcher said.

If Devil May Care were to run in the Derby, her graded earnings would impact those on the bubble. She has $363,000 in graded stakes earnings, which puts her in the top 20. The Derby field is limited to 20 starters. If more than 20 enter, the field is determined by earnings in graded stakes. For earnings purposes, the Derby's conditions do not differentiate between money made in open races and money made in races restricted to fillies.

Three fillies have won the Kentucky Derby, the last being Winning Colors in 1988.

This whole thing has just gotten ridiculous. We're less than 2 weeks from the rcae and the field still isn't set yet, because of garbage like this and the freaking one-turn Derby Trial this weekend.

i believe this is something like when they didnt want ra to run in the preakness they were going to enter some of zayats horses in just to stop her...its just funny that he has big e and the whole chapter 11 thing comes out and he will get more money if he wins the derby and now this comes out....we all know she does not have a shot in hell...what she pay 17 bills in a 6 horse race last out.....this should be on the monday night football countdown segmet of come on man.....lol