Tricky in the Acorn Stakes

Perhaps it was the off track, or maybe it was the extra time between races or the performance of a heavy favorite regressing, but whatever it was It’s Tricky easily dominated the Acorn Stakes (gr.1) at Belmont Park on Saturday, handily defeating one of the nation’s most dominant and respected sophomore filly’s. 

In my last post for the Distaff Runner I had absolutely no qualms about pronouncing Turbulent Descent as near a ‘lock’ to win as could be expected in horse racing and just as few qualms about pronouncing It’s Tricky a second tier, slow filly. During the two days preceding the Acorn Stakes I was asked several times which horses would be the best to single in the pick 6 options and said “Turbulent Descent” without batting an eye. When the results became official for the Acorn on Saturday at Belmont Park I learned just how much I really know about handicapping a horse race, especially when it comes to calling a horse virtually unbeatable. And perhaps a measure of humility thrown in as well, just for good measure.

Savvy Supreme broke swiftly in the Acorn Stakes to get up for the lead with It’s Tricky glued to her outside in second. Turbulent Descent took up a position just four lengths behind, ahead of only Her Smile trailing the field three lengths behind. The opening quarter was a fairly quick :22.97 as Savvy Supreme continued to lead the way with It’s Tricky just over a length behind. Snow Fall was another two lengths back as the field approached the far turn and Turbulent Descent began to move up along the inside in fourth. The half went in :45.90 as It’s Tricky moved up to challenge for the lead and Turbulent Descent advanced to third, her sights set squarely on the lead. Coming off the turn It’s Tricky and Turbulent Descent flew past Savvy Supreme and spurted away down the stretch. It appeared the favorite was prepared to sweep on by her less decorated rival as Turbulent Descent closed to within three-parts of a length to It’s Tricky under a hand ride. But Eddie Castro aboard It’s Tricky quickly went to the whip and received an immediate burst from his filly that propelled them two lengths into the lead, then three and still they continued to pull ahead. David Flores put the whip away on Turbulent Descent as It’s Tricky roared home, 3 ¾ lengths the best, hand riding his filly under the line, ten lengths ahead of Her Smile in third.

[Turbulent Descent ranks #2 and It's Tricky ranks #8 on HRN's current 3-year-old filly rankings page; fair rankings or not?]

Shocking upsets happen all the time in horse racing and many times the horses who produce those upsets are rarely seen performing at the same level again. But in this case It’s Tricky has produced what I believe is a completely legitimate performance that has proved her to be one of the better fillies in the country. The sloppy track could have made some difference but It’s Tricky was clearly the best filly on the day. The Mineshaft filly won her fourth race in five lifetime starts and redeemed herself from a dull fourth place showing when she finished more than 20 lengths behind the victorious R Heat Lightning. Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin said It’s Tricky didn’t like Florida and wasn’t acting like herself the week of the Gulfstream Oaks. Returned to New York after the race it took the filly a good amount of time to get back to her old self. The Coaching Club American Oaks and Alabama Stakes, both Grade 1’s at Saratoga, could be on It’s Tricky’s agenda for this summer.

Turbulent Descent went into the Acorn considered by many including myself to be the best three-year-old filly in the land and while she turned in a game effort finishing ten lengths ahead of the rest of the field while hand ridden after facing certain defeat, she still lost her second Grade 1 race of the year. Expect her to be back to her winning ways in no time and I suspect she likes a dry track better than the mud. She is most likely still on target for a start in the Test Stakes (gr.1) at Saratoga in eight weeks
 

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