It’s Tricky (USA)
February 26, 2008 – 2017
Mineshaft (USA) x Catboat (USA), by Tale of the Cat (USA)
Family 8-g
February 26, 2008 – 2017
Mineshaft (USA) x Catboat (USA), by Tale of the Cat (USA)
Family 8-g
A very consistent filly in spite of a quirky and headstrong disposition, It’s Tricky was unable to match strides with multiple Eclipse Award winner Royal Delta but was probably the second best filly of her crop. She had only a brief broodmare career but was successful given her opportunities.
Race record
14 starts, 8 wins, 4 seconds, 1 third, US$1,666,500
2011:
2012:
Honors
Eclipse Award finalist, American champion 3-year-old filly (2011)
Assessments
Rated at 117 pounds on the 2011 Longines World’s Best Racehorse Rankings for her performances in the Acorn Stakes and Coaching Club American Oaks, 15 pounds below top-rated filly or mare Black Caviar (an unbeaten superstar in Australia) and 2 pounds below Eclipse Award winner Royal Delta (who earned her rating in the Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic, USA-G1) among 3-year-old fillies on dirt.
Rated at 117 pounds on the 2012 Longines World’s Best Racehorse Rankings for four separate performances that year, 13 pounds below top-rated filly or mare Black Caviar and 4 pounds below American champion older female Royal Delta and American champion female sprinter Groupie Doll among older females on dirt.
As an individual
An energetic bay mare, It’s Tricky proved effective over both fast and off tracks. She had a quirky disposition; difficult to catch in her stall and often difficult to saddle, she demanded an equine escort to the track and could hardly be persuaded to leave the barn without the company of a pony. She was retired after suffering a small condylar fracture in her right hind ankle following a workout at Santa Anita while training for the 2012 Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic.
As a producer
It’s Tricky produced three named foals, of which two started. Her 2015 Medaglia d’Oro colt Enticed won the 2017 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (USA-G2), and her 2016 Ghostzapper filly Enliven was Grade 3-placed as a 2-year-old.
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, It’s Tricky was bred by Stonerside Stable. She was owned by Godolphin Racing and was trained by Kiaran McLaughlin. She was ridden to her Coaching Club American Oaks score by Eddie Castro. She died from complications of laminitis in early 2017.
Pedigree notes
It’s Tricky is inbred 3x4x4 to two-time American champion sire Mr. Prospector and 4x5 to two-time American Horse of the Year Secretariat. She is out of 2004 Arlington Breeders’ Cup Oaks (USA-G3) winner Catboat, whose dam Northern Fleet (by Afleet) is a half sister to the very fast listed stakes-winning sprinter Northern Wolf (by Wolf Power). Northern Fleet is also a half sister to Northern Belief (by Believe It), dam of multiple stakes winner Chez Allie (by Housebuster; dam of restricted stakes winner Chez Lang, by Langfuhr), and to Shannonaire (by Phone Trick), dam of restricted stakes winner Zippy Shannon (by City Zip).
Northern Fleet, in turn, is out of Glenorthern, a stakes-winning daughter of multiple Grade 3 winner Northern Fling (by Northern Dancer). The next dam in It’s Trick’s tail-female line, Glenora, is a winning daughter of 1960 Withers Stakes winner John William (by Johns Joy) out of Glen Arm (by 1955 Travers Stakes winner Thinking Cap) and is a half sister to stakes winner Monarm (by Mongo).
Books and media
The New York Racing Association’s footage of It’s Tricky’s win in the 2011 Coaching Club American Oaks can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5lQFpnLw8fs.
Last updated: May 17, 2024
Race record
14 starts, 8 wins, 4 seconds, 1 third, US$1,666,500
2011:
- Won TVG Acorn Stakes (USA-G1, 8FD, BEL)
- Won TVG Coaching Club American Oaks (USA-G1, 9FD, Saratoga)
- Won Busher Stakes (USA, 8f+70yD, Aqueduct)
- 2nd Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic (USA-G1, 9FD, Churchill Downs)
- 2nd TVG Alabama Stakes (USA-G1, 10FD, Saratoga)
- 2nd Cotillion Stakes (USA-G2, 8.5FD, Parx Racing)
2012:
- Won Ogden Phipps Handicap (USA-G1, 8.5FD, Belmont)
- Won Distaff Handicap (USA-G2, 7FD, Aqueduct)
- Won Top Flight Handicap (USA-G2, 8.5FD, Aqueduct)
- 2nd Beldame Invitational Stakes (USA-G1, 9FD, Belmont)
- 3rd Personal Ensign Invitational Handicap (USA-G1, 9FD, Saratoga)
Honors
Eclipse Award finalist, American champion 3-year-old filly (2011)
Assessments
Rated at 117 pounds on the 2011 Longines World’s Best Racehorse Rankings for her performances in the Acorn Stakes and Coaching Club American Oaks, 15 pounds below top-rated filly or mare Black Caviar (an unbeaten superstar in Australia) and 2 pounds below Eclipse Award winner Royal Delta (who earned her rating in the Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic, USA-G1) among 3-year-old fillies on dirt.
Rated at 117 pounds on the 2012 Longines World’s Best Racehorse Rankings for four separate performances that year, 13 pounds below top-rated filly or mare Black Caviar and 4 pounds below American champion older female Royal Delta and American champion female sprinter Groupie Doll among older females on dirt.
As an individual
An energetic bay mare, It’s Tricky proved effective over both fast and off tracks. She had a quirky disposition; difficult to catch in her stall and often difficult to saddle, she demanded an equine escort to the track and could hardly be persuaded to leave the barn without the company of a pony. She was retired after suffering a small condylar fracture in her right hind ankle following a workout at Santa Anita while training for the 2012 Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic.
As a producer
It’s Tricky produced three named foals, of which two started. Her 2015 Medaglia d’Oro colt Enticed won the 2017 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (USA-G2), and her 2016 Ghostzapper filly Enliven was Grade 3-placed as a 2-year-old.
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, It’s Tricky was bred by Stonerside Stable. She was owned by Godolphin Racing and was trained by Kiaran McLaughlin. She was ridden to her Coaching Club American Oaks score by Eddie Castro. She died from complications of laminitis in early 2017.
Pedigree notes
It’s Tricky is inbred 3x4x4 to two-time American champion sire Mr. Prospector and 4x5 to two-time American Horse of the Year Secretariat. She is out of 2004 Arlington Breeders’ Cup Oaks (USA-G3) winner Catboat, whose dam Northern Fleet (by Afleet) is a half sister to the very fast listed stakes-winning sprinter Northern Wolf (by Wolf Power). Northern Fleet is also a half sister to Northern Belief (by Believe It), dam of multiple stakes winner Chez Allie (by Housebuster; dam of restricted stakes winner Chez Lang, by Langfuhr), and to Shannonaire (by Phone Trick), dam of restricted stakes winner Zippy Shannon (by City Zip).
Northern Fleet, in turn, is out of Glenorthern, a stakes-winning daughter of multiple Grade 3 winner Northern Fling (by Northern Dancer). The next dam in It’s Trick’s tail-female line, Glenora, is a winning daughter of 1960 Withers Stakes winner John William (by Johns Joy) out of Glen Arm (by 1955 Travers Stakes winner Thinking Cap) and is a half sister to stakes winner Monarm (by Mongo).
Books and media
The New York Racing Association’s footage of It’s Tricky’s win in the 2011 Coaching Club American Oaks can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5lQFpnLw8fs.
Last updated: May 17, 2024