After indicating earlier in the day that he was still considering cross-entering Devil May Care in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. II) and the Kentucky Oaks (gr. I), trainer Todd Pletcher reiterated that she would still be Derby only.
Prior to taking his Derby and Oaks horses out to the track for exercise on the morning of Tuesday, April 27, Pletcher had said he was still undecided on whether the Malibu Moon filly would be entered in the Oaks. The post position draw for the Oaks is scheduled for 11 a.m. April 27.
But when he met with the media upon his return to the barn, Pletcher said that he was sticking with his April 26 announcement to enter only in the Kentucky Derby.
Glencrest Farm's John Greathouse said Tuesday morning that was going to leave the final decision on which races to enter up to Pletcher.
"I think she fits very well (in the Derby)," said Pletcher Tuesday morning after reaching his decision. "If you look at her Bonnie Miss, where she ran greenly after making the lead and still ran faster than the Florida Derby two races later, she's shown her races are competitive with the colts. I've had the opportunity to train her against the colts and she's done very well."
Ultimately, Pletcher said had he cross-entered the filly in both races "it would have complicated the rider situation" and caused one of the fillies on the Oaks bubble to get left out.
Devil May Care has won three of five starts, including the Frizette Stakes (gr. I) and Bonnie Miss Stakes (gr. II).