2016 SIM ECLIPSE AWARD WINNER – OLDER FEMALE TURF ROUTE – THE DEVIL DECIDES

2016  SIM  ECLIPSE  AWARD  WINNER  –  OLDER  FEMALE  TURF  ROUTE
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                      THE  DEVIL  DECIDES
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5 year old bay mare         DUBAWI (IRE) x DANEHILL x ROBERTO (scratch bred)
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10  Starts    6  wins        1  second    $ 2,096,250  earnngs
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Hailing from the shadyrest3 barn of the testbarn master stable,  THE  DEVIL  DECIDES brings home the 2016 Eclipse award for older female turf router.  She earned the award by winning three G1’s in a row (including an Equinics score),  with a G1 runner up,  a G2  triumph and a G3 victory,  earning over $2M in purses.  THE  DEVIL  DECIDES  was the sole triple G1 winner in her division,  and just missed making it four in a row when second by a head in The Empire Rose.  
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THE DEVIL DECIDES started her 2016 season with an even 4th in the G2 Forget Me Not Stakes at nine furlongs.  She got her first win of the year next out in a listed stakes at the same route,  and followed that up with a late running victory in the G2 The Saint Ana,  also at nine panels.  She then tried ten furlongs in the G3 Dulcimer Stakes,  but could only manage a sixth place finish.
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Dropping back to nine furlongs,  she exploded in the stretch to win the G1 Ugly Breeders’ Bowl Distaff to begin an impressive streak of G1 performances.  She shortened up to a flat mile next out in the G1 The Foul Mouth Stakes,  mowing them down in the lane to win going away.  Testbarn kept her at a mile for her next try,  in a G1 Equinics event.  Her late foot proved decisive as she defeated 17 opponents for her third straight G1 triumph.
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After a well deserved twelve week rest,  she unleashed her usual late rally to just miss taking the G1 The Empire Rose at a mile,  bypassing a Breeders’ Bowl appearance.  She was fourth next out in the G1 The Motherly Love Stakes,  and closed out her campaign with a victory in the G3 Lady Marmalade Stakes,  her fifth straight run at the mile distance.  THE DEVIL DECIDES now has a career record of 15 starts,  with 11 wins and one second,  good for over $2.3M in earnings.   
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We got a chance to speak with owner/trainer testbarn about his champion.
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First,  congratulations on the Eclipse award,  can you enlighten us about THE DEVIL DECIDES  ?
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Testbarn:  THE DEVIL DECIDES  was a gift horse from texasace, who has been a great mentor and supporter for years now,  and he named her,  though I’m not sure how he did it.  
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When did you think she might be special ?
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Testbarn:    While she was always a very talented horse it wasn’t until her first mile race that i realized how good she really was.  Her three races over the summer (those three straight G1 victories) were so dominant that I am just hoping she will come out running in 2017.  
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That was an impressive display of G1 efforts.
Speaking of 2017,  what are your plans for THE DEVIL DECIDES going forward ?  
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Testbarn:  I am going to try to repeat (win the Eclipse again) with a five or six start season to maximize what she has left in the tank.  Her first start should be April 1st;  hopefully it won’t be an April fools joke.
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Thanks testbarn.  It appears THE DEVIL DECIDES has a bright future as a broodmare after her racing career,  and we could see some of her offspring contending for Eclipse awards down the road.  Congratulations again on a great 2016  and best wishes going forward.