Quirky It’s Tricky chasing history in Alabama

It’s Tricky will bid to become the seventh filly to win the Acorn, CCA Oaks and Alabama (NYRA/Adam Coglianese) When Janice and Robert McNair sold Stonerside to Sheikh Mohammed’s Darley in 2008, one of the weanlings on the farm was a sprightly bay daughter of Mineshaft out of the Tale of the Cat mare, Catboat. IT’S TRICKY was her name, and along with her talent, the appropriateness of her moniker became apparent not long after her arrival at trainer Kiaran McLaughlin’s barn last summer. “She had been at Greentree (training center) with the Darley two-year-old trainer, who told us we were going to get this filly,” McLaughlin recalled. “She worked that day, and she was like ‘whooosh!’ I said, ‘Bring her on!’ We started training her, and she was pretty good. She wasn’t being too tricky, but she did some things that were a little funny right away. She has these, uh, little fits.” Some of her quirks include an inordinate fondness for the stable pony, Shorty; her antipathy toward having water poured on her head, and her refusal to let anyone into her stall before a race.

“She was a little tricky, but she could run, and we knew that right away,”
McLaughlin said. “The first time we ran her at Aqueduct (November 28) she was
part of an entry. Carlos Martin’s horse (R Valbella [Sky Mesa]) was 4-5, but
It’s Tricky won impressively, and wide. When we went to Florida, we left her in
New York, and she won an optional claimer, and then the Busher.”

Following her eight-length victory in the one mile and 70-yard Busher S. on
February 20, the decision was made to skip the Big A’s Comely S. (G3) on April 9
and ship It’s Tricky to Florida for the Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2). Sent off as
the second choice behind eventual winner, R Heat Lightning (Trippi), It’s Tricky
showed little and finished fourth, beaten more than 22 lengths.

“That wasn’t her,” McLaughlin said. “She didn’t take well to the heat.”

After regrouping, the next objective was the Acorn S. (G1) at a mile on
Belmont Stakes Day, June 11. Much of the attention was focused on multiple Grade
1 winner Turbulent Descent (Congrats), who was sent off the 3-4 favorite over
the muddy track. But It’s Tricky outfoxed them all, barreling into the lead at
the top of the stretch and onto a 3 3/4-length victory at odds of 10-1.

The vast majority of Darley horses with Grade 1 victories are “graduated” to
Sheikh Mohammed’s other, higher-profile stable, Godolphin Racing, and moved to a
different trainer. But in It’s Tricky’s case, her peccadilloes were so
pronounced that the decision was made to leave her with McLaughlin.

For example, her trip to the July 23 Coaching Club American Oaks (G1) from
the barn to the track was far more convoluted than the race itself. Finally
haltered in her stall at Greentree following 45 minutes of playing
“catch-me-if-you-can,” It’s Tricky was led by Shorty the pony to the assembly
barn, where she remained with her nose firmly planted against his tail until it
was time to hand off to her favorite NYRA pony.

A few minutes later, in her first appearance at Saratoga, It’s Tricky again
pulled the upset, collaring favored Plum Pretty (Medaglia d’Oro) in the stretch
and edging clear in the final yards for a three quarters of a length victory.
Immediately after the race, as if to leave no doubt as to the appropriateness of
her name, It’s Tricky dumped jockey Eddie Castro after he poured water on her
head.

“She was just being tricky,” McLaughlin said. “That’s her.”

On Saturday, It’s Tricky has the chance to join a select group of fillies
that have strung together victories in the Acorn, the Coaching Club American
Oaks, and the Alabama S. (G1). Since 1932, only a half-dozen fillies have won
all three races: Top Flight (1932), Damaged Goods (1940), Shuvee (1969), Mom’s
Command (1985), Open Mind (1989), and Sky Beauty (1993).

It would be an amazing accomplishment, said McLaughlin, and her connections
are hopeful It’s Tricky can, well, turn the trick.

“I love how she’s coming up to the race,” he said. “I think she’s the one to
beat, and I wouldn’t trade places with anyone.”