In her first workout since returning to New
York from Palm Meadows in Florida, Godolphin Stable’s It’s Tricky breezed four furlongs on
the Belmont Park training track in 48.77 on Sunday with exercise rider Renzo
Morales aboard.
Winner of the 2011 Grade 1 TVG Acorn and Grade 1 TVG Coaching Club
American Oaks, It’s Tricky is slated to commence her 2012 campaign on
Saturday in Aqueduct Racetrack’s Grade 2, $200,000 Top Flight Handicap, a
1 1/16-mile race for fillies and mares. It will be the 4-year-old’s first
start since finishing second to Royal Delta in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup
Ladies Classic in November.
“Very good work,” said Art Magnuson, assistant to trainer
Kiaran McLaughlin. “She’s not real fast in the morning. She
galloped out well, and we’re happy with that. She came up from Florida carrying great
weight. She ran hard last year, and she wintered well in Florida. Her major work was done down there.
I’ll tell you, she’s training as well as she ever has.”
The McLaughlin barn admits It’s Tricky, who is accompanied to her
workouts by a pony, has her eccentricities, but Magnuson said she has been
better behaved in recent months.
“She’s really into a good routine,” said Magnuson.
“Even toward the end of last year and right now, she’s not being
very tricky at all. She’s a quirky filly who is acting very well.”
The Top Flight is part of the undercard for the Grade 3, $400,000 Gotham, with the McLaughlin barn set to send out Godolphin’s
Consortium in the 1 1/16-mile event
for 3-year-olds. Consortium, who in his lone 2012 start finished last of six
over a sloppy track in Gulfstream
Park’s Grade 3 Holy
Bull on January 29, covered four furlongs in 49.76 in company with Redding
Colliery on Sunday. Redding Colliery,
winner of the January 28 Evening Attire for owner Mrs. Fitriani Hay, is
targeting the Grade 3, Excelsior $150,000 on March 17 and was clocked in 49.65.
“[Consortium] went very well,” said Magnuson. “Just
in hand, just what we wanted: a nice half with Redding Colliery.”