Trainer Robert King Jr. wouldn't mind it a bit if he were to have another 'Devastating' year at Woodbine. In fact, he'd more than welcome it.It was Devastating, the 5-year-old mare, who provided King with more than one highlight at the Toronto oval in 2002, winning back-to-back added-money events (Sweet Briar Too and Kamar Stakes). The chestnut gets her first start of 2003 in Saturday's $140,125 Whimsical Stakes at Woodbine. The Orange Blossom Stable star finished third last year's edition at odds of 15-1."Her works have been great and she's in good order, but she's never won coming off the shelf," said King, who had $369,247 in Woodbine purse earnings last year. "She's a great horse, but we'd like to break that jinx."While the daughter of Bold n' Flashy is full of talent, the Ontario-bred is also full of personality, attributes, says King, that only increase his respect for the veteran performer."She's a bully when she gets to the track and she definitely knows when she's won or lost," said King, who had six wins and 17 top-three finishes in 34 starts last year. "And I can tell you this...she's not in a good mood if she loses."Devastating, who'll face nine rivals in the six-furlong Whimsical, bankrolled $205,152 in earnings in 2002 and never finished worse than third in six starts at Woodbine, a testament to her competitive nature on the racetrack. The kindest compliment King has for the lifetime winner of six races in 17 starts, though, is her ability to adapt to varying distances with the same success.
"She's proven she handle different distances throughout her career and regardless of how far she runs, she fights right to the end. I love the way she battles.""If I had 12 more like Devastating, I'd be the leading trainer."$140,125 Whimsical Stakes, older fillies & mares, 6 furlongs
PP / Horse / Trainer / Jockey
1 / Marisa Go / Carlo Fuoco / Steve Bahen
2 / Mille Feville / Roger Attfield / Slade Callaghan
3 / Acting Deputy / Vito Armata / Todd Kabel
4 / Dreams Go Bye / Mike Catania / Emile Ramsammy
5 / Fleet Of Foot / Mark Frostad / Robert Landry
6 / Brass In Pocket / Robert Tiller / David Clark
7 / Devastating / Robert King Jr. / James McKnight
8 / Leading Role / Gail Casselman / Dino Luciani
9 / Mysterious Affair/ James Mort Hardy / Richard Dos Ramos
10 / Touch Of Ginger / Dan Vella / Jim McAleney