Devil May Care Loses Her Battle

Foaled in 2007, Devil May Care seemed primed for racing, with her sire being Malibu Moon, and out of Kelli’s Ransom. Her Grandsire, A.P. Indy also made her a desirable thoroughbred. She was trained by the legendary Todd Pletcher. Her debut into the horse racing industry was astonishing, and all believed that the future for Devil May Care looked bright and would lead to her becoming one of the iconic fillies of the racecourse, as she most certainly had inherited the feisty and determined spirit of her sire.

In 2009, at the Travers Stakes, she walked into the starting gates for her first career start as a two-year-old, and won in magnificent style. Her second start was in the Frizette Stakes, a Grade I event hosted by the Belmont Park Racecourse, where once again she did not disappoint. She came back as a fiery three-year-old to win the Bonnie Miss Stakes, but did not fare well at the Kentucky Derby in 2010, taking tenth position. On 26 June 2010, she redeemed herself in the Mother Goose Stakes, raking in yet another victory. The Coaching Club American Oaks was another of her significant performances. But tragedy struck this multiple Grade I winner when she was diagnosed with lymphosarcoma. Finding out that this talented and loved star had cancer came as a terrible shock to all that were involved with her. The heartbreaking decision was made to euthanize her, and on 4 May 2011, Devil May Care was laid to rest.

During her career she earned $724 000 and enjoyed many proud career victories. Her health problems began just before the Breeders’ Cup, when she was diagnosed with hepatitis, which was non-contagious. She was moved to Greathouse Glencrest Farm where it seemed that she was improving, but suddenly began to show signs of deterioration. Being diagnosed with lymphorsarcoma, which is lymph tissue cancer, was a great setback to the hopes everyone had for her recovery. John Greathouse, owner of Devil May Care, spoke to the press after she was euthanized thanking everyone that had assisted and helped to try and save her, saying: “We tried very hard, only to be overcome by lymphosarcoma, an enemy that we couldn’t beat. We entered a race we couldn’t win.”