It's Tricky, Consortium Breeze for McLaughlin
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.”