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Sim Trainer Stats Sim Race Stats |
MR DEVIOUS Owner/Trainer: londoner Record: 55-27-6-4; $5,830,615
Win: Breeders’ Bowl Turf Sprint-G1 (2x), DPCD 7 Penn Dash S-G1, Japan Sprint-G1, Rising Spring Cup-G1, Sydney Sprint-G1, The MGD Special-G1, Cliff Claven-G3, Simon and Simon Cap-G3, Lepaca Dragon S, Al Shadeed (FR) Challenge S, Shut Down Time Memorial S, Kaibab Memorial S, Classy Class S Place: Frugal Hero (IRE) Memorial S Show:World Cup Long Turf Sprint-G1, Starke Storm Bonanza S, Alyurbasblongtous S, His Rate S The Crafty Prospector x Storm Cat cross has been a potent one over the years, resulting in G1 dirt sprinter/milers Crazy Horse Too, Trillium Craft, Sly Cat and Late Bro. The best horse resulting from this cross, however, was Mr Devious, who did his best running sprinting on the turf. Kevoman (who is also responsible for top turf router Rain God), thought he was breeding a dirt sprinter as well. Campaigned by his londoner stable, the big brown colt began his career sprinting on the dirt, and was fairly successful. At two, he would win three of six starts, including a pair of listed stakes races. After an unsuccessful tilt at the Equinics, Mr Devious stayed largely in the allowance ranks, winning some, but losing more often than he won. The colt was filling out and gaining maturity, and late in his three year old year, he seemed to put it all together, winning a 7 furlong allowance by 2 ½ lengths with the best speed figure of his career (100 SF). For the colt’s next start, Kevoman would make a fateful decision. Rather than go in another allowance, or try stakes, he would decide to give the colt a try on the lawn. Mr Devious responded with an easy win. Stretched out to a mile, he would win again, this time with a 103 SF. The last race of his sophomore season came in another mile allowance, where the colt faded late to second. No one had any idea the heights Mr Devious would hit the following year. His four year old campaign kicked off in the impossibly named Alyurbasrblongtous S (which I believe is All Your Bases Are Belong To Us – the name of a Grade 1 stakes), where Mr Devious finished a good third. After two solid allowance scores, it was time for the colt to attempt the next level. Kevoman chose the Simon and Simon Cap-G3, and the big brown colt simply exploded, winning by almost 2 lengths over Wonderboy Da Vinci with a career best 110 SF. Despite that flashy win, the colt would be dismissed at 11-1 in his next outing, the Rising Sun Spring Cup-G1. This is probably because a Breeders’ Bowl caliber field was in the starting gate. The likes of General’s Chariot, Northern Pirate, Digging the Grave, I Make Stuff Up, Tequila With Lime, and Night’s Desire were all in the starting gate. The lukewarm favorite was Two Storms. Digging the Grave set the early fractions, but Mr Devious sat close behind, biding his time, and at the wire, it was Mr Devious, the upset winner by 1 ¼ lengths. Final time was a sensational 1:21 flat (114 SF). Despite a six week break, the colt was still a little flat next out, finishing fourth in the Warsaw Sprint-G2, and then was narrowly defeated by Like Magic (winner of the Simon & Simon S-G3, which should not be confused with the Simon and Simon Cap-G3) in a 6 furlong listed stakes. A return to 6 ½ furlongs did the trick, as Mr Devious was an easy winner, posting a 110 SF. From there, it was off to the inaugural World Cup-G1 and a tilt at the long sprint. Mr Devious took the lead at the top of the stretch, but could not quite hold on, ending up third behind Legendary Lemon. Kevoman saw what he wanted out of the race, with his colt moving just a little bit earlier, a trait that would serve Mr Devious in good stead in the 6 furlong Breeders’ Bowl Turf Sprint-G1. The field was a who’s who in the turf sprint division. General’s Chariot, Digging the Grave, Northern Pirate, Seekin Destroy, Cronus, Tequila With Lime, Night’s Desire, Omerta Code and Drunken Lullabies were all there. Sent off as the narrow 7-1 favorite, the big brown colt dueled for the early lead with Digging the Grave, emerging the victor of that battle (Digging the Grave would fade to fifth) as the field turned for home. From that point, it was a sprint to the wire, as Cronus was closing fast. At the end, Mr Devious would hold Cronus safe by a determined head, hitting the wire in 1:09 (109 SF). Kevoman would wheel his prize colt back just two weeks later in a listed stakes, and it proved to be a bit too quick, as the colt stumbled at the break, ending up further back than usual, and ended up a distant third. Things went much better in the prestigious Japan Sprint-G1. The field was not as strong as the Breeders’ Bowl, but still had some solid competitors in Indiscretion and Ends in Ski. It was a dreary, wet day, and the turf came up soft, but that proved to be no problem for Mr Devious, who had never run on over an off track before. The son of Crafty Prospector broke alertly, and was well in hand coming down the stretch, ultimately winning by 2 lengths, and equaling his time for the Breeders’ Bowl. At the end of the year, Mr Devious had won three of the turf sprint division’s top races, and was rewarded with championship honors as turf sprinter. Mr Devious bounced right back in a residency restricted stakes to kick off his 5yo campaign. However, he finished a dull fifth behind the winner. An allowance score did the trick, and from there, he would cut all the way back to 5 ½ furlongs in the Sydney Sprint-G1. Some wondered that the distance was too short, but he prevailed over Rudy (winner of the Castle Point S-G2 last time out), for the victory, with an outstanding 117 SF. Another easy score in a listed stakes, again with a 116 SF, and he was sent off the favorite in the Golden Jamboree-G1. Something inexplicably went wrong, and the colt faded down the stretch to finish ninth behind Red Light Run It. Kevoman went over his star with a fine-tooth comb, but nothing serious seemed amiss, and so Mr Devious returned in an allowance, and won like a champion should. From there, it was off to the Equinics, and Mr Devious broke in a tangle, fell far back early, and never could quite get it going, finishing seventh behind Red Light Run It. From there it was time for a final prep race, as the champ prepared to defend his Breeders’ Bowl title. The colt’s fans breathed a sigh of relief, as he dashed home strongly, posting a 113 SF. Mr Devious would need to be in top form, because standing between him and racing immortality were Van Hoevenberg, Assaulted, Seek N Destroy, Credit Addition, Appropriately, Curious Candy, Libertine, Road Not Taken, Farotto, Doth’raki, Alberta Fire and several others. This time, the Sprint was 6 ½ furlongs, which also played to the colt’s liking. Mr Devious made sure no one was in doubt of the outcome, breaking smartly, and assuming the lead by the first quarter. He would be challenged by others, but never gave up the lead, hitting the wire a ½ length ahead of Van Hoevenberg and posting a 118 SF, the best of his career. The crowd roared in appreciation of the remarkable feat they had witnessed. The effort took quite a bit out of the colt, who would finish second and fourth in two prep races for the DPCD7 Penn Dash S-G1. Favoritism went to Otto Vasher, a top miler dropping down in distance. Van Hoevenberg, Seek N Destroy and several others were also in the field. Based on the two recent losses, Mr Devious was dismissed at odds of almost 10 to 1, and once again, the colt made his doubters pay. After staying in contention in the early fraction, the big brown colt made his move in the final furlong, clearing his competition by 1 ¼ lengths, and equaling his speed figure in the Breeders’ Bowl with a 118 SF. While the colt had more ups and downs than the previous year, his three grade 1 wins and repeat victory in the Breeders’ Bowl were enough to nab him a second championship as top turf sprinter. Other than a minor hiccup in the Strand Broke S-G1, Mr Devious kicked off his 2009 campaign in style, winning the Cliff Claven-G3 after dueling with Appropriately the whole way, and capturing the MGD Special-G1 by ½ length over Ethics Paradox and Appropriately. He would win two allowances that year, but the rest of the season was a disappointment, as Mr Devious failed to hit the board in three Grade 1 races, including a dull 11th place effort in his attempt to pull of a Breeders’ Bowl hattrick. His speed figures also declined in his final two starts. The writing appeared to be on the wall – after so many races and gallant efforts, the wear and tear was showing. He would race only two more times, finishing a dull 11th in his seasonal debut, and then winning a sponsored allowance named The Devious Farewell. He responded by winning his swan song race. After that final win, the champ was retired. Devil’s Child, by Pivotal, has yet to come close to emulating his sire, but does have 5 wins from 17 starts (as of this writing). Mr Devious is the second richest turf sprinter in history, behind only fellow Hall of Famer General’s Chariot, and with seven grade 1 stakes win in a division that historically does not have many grade 1s, including impressive back to back wins in the Breeders’ Bowl Turf Sprint-G1, he has shown himself to be one of the best turf sprinters in the history of the game. |
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