Sunday, October 21, 2012

MULTIPLE GRADE 1 WINNER IT’S TRICKY RETIRED

ELMONT, N.Y. – Godolphin Racing’s multiple Grade 1 winner It’s Tricky has been retired with an injury to her right hind ankle, trainer Kiaran McLaughlin announced Saturday afternoon.

The 4-year-old Mineshaft filly sustained the beginnings of a condylar fracture to the ankle during a bullet five-furlong breeze Thursday morning as she prepared for the Breeders’ Cup next month at Santa Anita, said the trainer.


“She worked well and the next morning when we went to look at her, she had heat and inflammation in her right hind ankle,” said McLaughlin. “We had it X-rayed, and forwarded the X-rays to Dr. Larry Bramlage, and both he and Dr. Christian Rhein, who did the X-rays, agreed it was the beginning of a condylar fracture. No surgery will be required; we just have to stop on her and at this point, she’ll go on to her new career as a mother.”

First, second or third in all but one of her 14 career starts, It’s Tricky notched her first Grade 1 victory in last June’s TVG Acorn at Belmont Park and a month later added a second in the TVG Coaching Club American Oaks at Saratoga Race Course. Second in the Grade 1 TVG Alabama and the Grade 2 Cotillion, she concluded her 3-year-old campaign by finishing second behind eventual 3-Year-Old Filly champion Royal Delta in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic.

It’s Tricky opened her 2012 campaign with a pair of Grade 2 victories at Aqueduct Racetrack in the Top Flight and Distaff Handicaps, and added a third Grade 1 when she rallied to take the Ogden Phipps Handicap on May 28 at Belmont. A gallant third in the Grade 1 Personal Ensign Invitational Handicap at Saratoga after stumbling at the start, she finished second to Royal Delta in the Grade 1 Beldame Invitational on September 29 in her most recent outing.

“She was a real star,” said McLaughlin of the filly, who had her quirks and often proved difficult to saddle early in her career. “Even though she was tricky, she was a barn favorite, because there were so many people involved with her because of that. She was highly thought of and respected in our organization. Grade 1s are hard to win and she was a multiple Grade 1 winner.”

McLaughlin said It’s Tricky, who retired with a record of 8-4-1 with earnings of $1,666,500, would depart for Lexington, Ky., in a week or so.

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