Craig’s Dr Devious Wins English Derby

EPSOM, England —  When Jenny Craig bought Dr Devious for $2.5 million as a birthday present for her husband, Sid, the colt was touted as a possible derby winner.

Wednesday, it happened.

Irish-bred Dr Devious, who finished seventh in the Kentucky Derby, won the $1-million English Derby at Epsom, giving jockey John Reid his first victory in the classic.

At 8-1, Dr Devious beat 18 of Europe’s top colts over the 1 1/2-mile grass course.

Rodrigo De Traino, the 13-2 favorite, ridden by 56-year-old grandfather Lester Piggott, finished out of the money.

Steve Cauthen’s mount, Alnasr Alwasheek, was seventh. Cauthen will ride Cristofori in Saturday’s Belmont Stakes. It will be his first Triple Crown race since 1978 when he swept the series aboard Affirmed.

Reid was beside himself with joy.

“He’s a tremendous horse. He was always traveling well,” he said. “I’m the happiest man in the world. I’d had some big days, but this I’ve dreamed of since I started racing at 18.”

Reid kept the colt in the pack on Epsom’s uphill ride through the backstretch. With two furlongs to go, Dr Devious was the obvious winner, and he hit the finish line two lengths ahead of runner-up St. Jovite. Next, was Silver Wisp.