Daisy Devine goes to front, stays there to win Jenny Wiley

If trainer Andrew McKeever had been so bold, he could have started making his way to Keeneland's winner's circle right around the time his filly Daisy Devine reached the half-mile mark in Saturday's Grade I Jenny Wiley Stakes.

The end result of the 11⁄16-mile Jenny Wiley was all but put in the books then as Daisy Devine was allowed to set a pedestrian pace under jockey James Graham en route to a one-length, front-running triumph over Bay to Bay on the Keeneland turf.

The $300,000 Jenny Wiley was one of three graded stakes on the undercard of Saturday's showcase Grade I, $750,000 Toyota Blue Grass program.

Daisy Devine sprinted clear entering the first turn and had things all her way as she registered fractions of :25.12 and :50.78, with Bay to Bay sitting about a length behind.

Despite the presence of Grade I winners Zagora and Aruna in the field, Daisy Devine never wavered in leading the procession, hitting the wire in 1:43.21 at odds of 7-1 over a course rated firm. Bay to Bay held on for second over Tapitsfly.

"There was no pace in the race," McKeever said. "We were hoping to stalk because that's how she likes to run, but I told James to go if there was no pace, and he gave her a brilliant ride."

Zagora, the 7-to-5 favorite, finished fifth while Aruna, winner of the 2011 Judd monte Spinster at Keeneland, was last in the six-horse field.

Owned by James Miller, Daisy Devine is unbeaten in four starts since switching to the turf. She came into the race off a win in the Mardi Gras Handicap at Fair Grounds on Feb. 21. The daughter of Kafwain made seven of her first eight career starts on dirt, winning the Grade II Fair Grounds Oaks last March, but she was switched to the grass after battling some foot issues.

Commonwealth

Ken and Sarah Ramsey's Lonesome Street snapped a four-race losing skid, rallying from last to first in the stretch of the Grade II Commonwealth Stakes over 7 furlongs on Keeneland's main track.

Comedero led the seven-horse field through fractions of :22.42 and :44.85 while being pressed by Plutonium, and he was still holding stubborn up front as he set down for the drive. Lonesome Street came running five-wide down the middle of the stretch and drew clear under jockey Joel Rosario for a 21/4-length victory in 1:21.17.

Favored Bergerac, who took a short advantage in the stretch, ended up second, with Right One third.

Shakertown

The Tony Dutrow-trained Perfect Officer delivered a monster kick in the stretch to catch pacesetter Great Mills at the wire, winning the Grade III Shakertown Stakes by a nose over the Keeneland turf.

Great Mills was winging away up front through a half in :44.26 and had opened up a three-length advantage in the stretch. The son of War Front looked as if he was going to hold on, but Perfect Officer rallied strong on the outside under Javier Castellano to stop the teletimer in 1:01.53 for the 51/2 furlongs.

This story was originally published April 14, 2012 at 9:59 PM with the headline "Daisy Devine goes to front, stays there to win Jenny Wiley."