Devil May Care Still Not Fully Recovered

Multiple grade I winner Devil May Care, who finished 10th in the 2010 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), continues to struggle from complications of a non-contagious form of hepatitis.

The 4-year-old daughter of Malibu Moon was a hopeful for last year’s Breeders' Cup Ladies’ Classic (gr. I) at Churchill Downs, but her diagnosis with hepatitis in October forced her to skip the race. Since then, she has been on and off antibiotics and “continues to carry an elevated liver enzyme count,” according to owner John Greathouse of Glencrest Farm.

“We still don’t have this thing under control,” said Greathouse. Devil May Care is being cared for in Florida. Greathouse was hoping to bring the filly back to the races early this year, but due to her continued poor condition she has remained under medical observation.

If Devil May Care fails to make a complete recovery this year, Greathouse said he will most likely retire her from racing to join his broodmare band. Her condition “won’t preclude” her from performing in the breeding shed, he said.

Bred in Kentucky by Diamond A Racing, Devil May Care is out of the Red Ransom mare Kelli’s Ransom and is a half sister to grade II winner Regal Ransom . Trained by Todd Pletcher, the filly has won five of her nine starts, including the Frizette (gr. I) as a 2-year-old and the Mother Goose (gr. I), Betfair TVG Coaching Club American Oaks (gr. I), and Bonnie Miss (gr. II) as a sophomore, for earnings of $724,000.