It’s Tricky edges out Plum Pretty after a brilliant duel to win the TVG Coaching Club American Oaks
Kiaran McLaughlin trained 3-year-old filly It’s Tricky wins the $250,000 TVG Coaching Club American Oaks after a long duel stretch with Bob Baffert’s 3-year-old Plum Pretty.
Godolphin owned It’s Tricky went on to record her second back-to-back Grade 1 win at Saratoga on 23 July and beating a start studded cast in the CCA Oaks.
The daughter of Mine Shaft took control of the situation under jockey Eddie Castro, as the pair fiercely dueled with the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks winner Plum Pretty, defeating her by three quarters of a length.
It was a hard fought race, defying the dominant and intimidating field which contained the likes of Joyful Victory, Royal Delta and Buster’s Ready.
Certainly after the win, It’s Tricky has an upper hand over the 3-year-old division by downing top level competition and landing her fifth win out of six career stars.
It’s Tricky started off her career with a six furlong maiden race win in 2010, that was her lone race in the fall last year, but beginning the year 2011 strongly with a win in an Allowance Claiming race under Eddie Castro on 26 January at Aqueduct race course.
She defeated Buster’s Ready in that 1 mile 70 yard event, forcing her to finish second. Next up was another 1 mile 70 yard race called Busher also at Aqueduct on 20 February. It’s Tricky won the race with considerable ease to finish the track in 1 minute
43.21 seconds.
After a flawless record at Aqueduct, her connections thought it was time to try their luck elsewhere, as they brought the filly to Hollywood Park in the Grade 2 Gulfstream Oaks on dirt on 2 April. The distance of 1 1/8 miles proved to be a little too much
as she finished fourth.
It’s Tricky answered her critics in the best way possible when she landed the Grade 1 Acorn Stakes at Belmont Park on 11 June. With a mile to run, the track was sloppy and muddy as the filly magnificently guided by Eddie Castro reached the wire in style.
Saratoga was considered to be her toughest predicament yet, with top level rivals to contend, It’s Trick bravely took on Plum Pretty on the final turn. Despite the 3-year-olds perseverance, Plum Pretty held a narrow lead throughout the stretch.
It wasn’t until the sixteenth pole that the 3-year-old bay filly, It’s Tricky edged out for the first time and assumed the leaders position on the outside.
Plum Pretty under Martin Garcia bolted to the leader’s position straight from the outset, but she was tracked down by a filly that possesses some serious pace. She completed the 1 1/8 mile distance in 1 minute and 49.15 seconds.
It’s Tricky is a possible for the Grade 1 Alabama Stakes on 8 August, where she will have another tough line up waiting for her.
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