Dearest Trickski Hangs on in 'Bernardo'

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Dearest Trickski, claimed for $32,000 a little more than a year ago, continued her amazing run toward the top of the filly and mare sprint division, as she broke to an early lead under Mike Smith and held off Tiz Elemental by a nose to win the $200,000 Rancho Bernardo Handicap (gr. III) (VIDEO) in scintillating fashion Aug. 24 at Del Mar.

Just as she had when taking the A Gleam Handicap (gr. II) June 28 at Hollywood Park, Dearest Trickski broke sharply and went straight to the front. She clicked off ambitious fractions of :22.50, :44.68, and :1:08.68, and took a 1 1/2-length advantage into the stretch. After wearing down pace stalker Spring Awakening, the 4-year-old Proudest Romeo filly had to deal with Tiz Elemental, who came four-wide into the lane and was eating up ground from the middle of the racetrack under Joel Rosario. The photo went to Dearest Trickski.

In winning the Rancho Bernardo, Dearest Trickski, who is trained by John Sadler, earned an automatic bid to the $1-million Breeders’ Cup Sentient Filly & Mare Sprint Oct. 24 at Santa Anita. Her time of 1:15.17 broke the 6 1/2-furlong track record on the Del Mar Polytrack.

Tiz Elemental finished 1 1/2 lengths in front of third-place La Tee. Silky Smooth was fourth in a field of nine sprinters.

"I was praying for a good break; she needs that good break," Smith said. "And my handler was terrific. He got us out of there great. She broke  terrifically. And we needed it. I got pressure right away from the outside. Look how fast we went. She was game all the way. Dead game. At the end, she reached down to the bottom of her hooves and gave me all she had." 

Sadler claimed Dearest Trickski last August for Tom Mankiewicz, the third time in a little more than three months that she had been claimed. Since that time, she has won eight times, including the Dec. 29 La Brea Stakes (gr. I) and Jan. 26 Sunshine Millions Filly and Mare Sprint, both at Santa Anita.

“She is the most unbelievable, courageous little filly,” said Mankiewicz, who said he would want to enter her in the Breeders’ Cup. “She’s won eight of nine for me now. She’s just been the gamest little filly you’ve ever seen in your life.”

Going off as the 2-1 second choice, Dearest Trickski paid $6.20, $4.20, and $3.20. The exacta (7-5) returned $27.70, while the $1 trifecta (7-5-4) with 25-1 La Tee was worth $285.90.

Magnificience, who went off as the 3-2 favorite, broke slowly for the second consecutive race and was never a factor. She finished fifth under David Flores.

Bred in Florida by Dr. K.K. Jayaraman and Dr. V. Devi Jayaraman, Dearest Trickski is out of the Peteski mare Trickski. She is now 11-2-0 from 16 starts and has earned $660,108. It was Sadler's fourth victory in the Rancho Bernardo.

View Stakes Detail and Full Equibase Chart

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