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3-Time Grade I Winner It's Tricky Retired

Godolphin Racing's multiple grade I winner It's Tricky has been retired with an injury to her right hind ankle.

Royal Delta Struts Her Stuff in Beldame

Royal Delta blew It's Tricky away in the $400,000 Beldame Invitational (gr. I) at Belmont Park Sept. 29, drawing off to a 9 1/2-length victory under wraps.

Royal Delta, It's Tricky Are Beldame Stars

Royal Delta and It's Tricky look to recover from an Aug. 26 Personal Ensign (gr. I) upset and eye year-end honors when they meet for a fifth time Sept. 29 in the $400,000 Beldame Invitational (gr. I) at Belmont Park.

Gold Cup Probables, Others Announced

The top three finishers from the Aug. 4 Whitney Invitational are expected to headline "Super Saturday" Sept. 29 at Belmont, along with Point of Entry, Shackleford, Royal Delta, and others.

McLaughlin Makes Plans for Godolphin Runners

Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin, following Godolphin's fourth grade I win of the Saratoga meet with Emcee in the Forego Stakes (gr. I) Sept. 1, talked about the upcoming plans for each of those horses.

Top Three in 'Ensign' Exit Race in Good Order

The top three finishers in the Aug. 26 Personal Ensign Stakes (gr. I) at Saratoga Race Course came out of the race in good order, their trainers said Aug. 27.

Love and Pride Stuns Royal Delta in 'Ensign

Love and Pride, staked to a daylight lead in the stretch by John Velazquez, denied the late bid of 3-5 pick Royal Delta to earn her first grade I victory in the $600,000 Personal Ensign Stakes Aug. 26 at Saratoga Race Course.

Royal Delta Returns to Spa in Personal Ensign

Royal Delta will make her first start at Saratoga since winning the 2011 Alabama (gr. I) as the 124-pound highweight in the Personal Ensign Invitational (gr. I) Aug. 26.

McLaughlin Juggling Top Contenders This Year

It's a good time to be Kiaran McLaughlin, but don't confuse that with an easy time. The trainer has his hands full conditioning and placing top runners for Godolphin Racing with year-end goals in mind.

Royal Delta Makes It 'Personal'

Besilu Stable's Royal Delta, the reigning 3-year-old filly champion and 2011 Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic winner looms an imposing favorite in the Personal Ensign for trainer Bill Mott.

Turbulent Descent Heads Ballerina Field

Turbulent Descent returns to the scene of one of her most impressive victories when she makes her second start of the year Aug. 24 in the $500,000 Ballerina Stakes (gr. I) at Saratoga Race Course.

Hansen Works for Travers Stakes

Hansen, the juvenile champion of 2011, worked five furlongs in 1:02 4/5 the morning of Aug. 18 in preparation for a start in the Travers Stakes (gr. I) at Saratoga, where Turbulent Descent and It's Tricky also worked.

C C's Pal Tops 7-Horse Bed O' Roses Field

Eric Fein's C C's Pal searches for her second straight graded stakes victory July 1 at Belmont Park, facing seasoned sprinters in the $150,000 Bed O' Roses Handicap (gr. II).

Plans Undetermined for Memorial Day Winners

The connections of three fillies who won graded stakes on the May 28 Memorial Day card at Belmont Park said they emerged from their respective victories in good order, with future plans undetermined.

After the Wire - 5/28/2012

Evan Hammonds recaps the Met Mile, Acorn Stakes, and Ogden Phipps Handicap.

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Consistent It's Tricky Wins Ogden Phipps

Godolphin Racing's It's Tricky, a daughter of Mineshaft who has won or placed in 11 of 12 starts, wore down pacesetter Cash for Clunkers to win the Ogden Phipps Handicap (gr. I) on the Belmont Park Memorial Day card.

'Maria' the Main Star in Ogden Phipps

Awesome Maria carries highweight of 124 pounds against four rivals May 28 in Belmont Park's Ogden Phipps Handicap (gr. I). The Phipps is one of three grade I races on the Memorial Day card in New York.

Alpha Under Consideration for Belmont Stakes

Godolphin Racing's Alpha, 12th in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands, returned to the track at Belmont Park May 11 and is under consideration for the Belmont Stakes.

It's Tricky Rolls to Distaff Handicap Win

Godolphin Racing's It's Tricky swung three-wide into the stretch, fought her way to the front, and drew clear by 3 1/2 lengths in the $200,000 Distaff Handicap (gr. II) at Aqueduct April 14.

It's Tricky Stands Out in Distaff Handicap

Dual grade I winner It's Tricky will cut back to seven furlongs as she heads a field of seven fillies and mares entered in the $200,000 Distaff Handicap (gr. II) April 14 at Aqueduct Racetrack.

Havre de Grace Tops 'Racing Festival' Noms

Reigning Horse of the Year Havre de Grace tops the list of horses nominated to the stakes extravaganza that, along with the Arkansas Derby (gr. I), comprise the "Racing Festival of the South" at Oaklawn Park April 11-14.

It's Tricky Returns a Winner in Top Flight

Godolphin Racing's two-time grade I winner It's Tricky made her season debut successful in the Top Flight Handicap (gr. II) when she took over from pacesetter Love and Pride at the top of the lane and cruised to victory.

It's Tricky Begins Season in Top Flight

Breeders' Cup Ladies Classic (gr. I) runner-up It's Tricky will launch her 4-year-old campaign against five rivals in the $200,000 Top Flight Handicap (gr. II) March 3 at Aqueduct.

A Lot to Look Forward to in 2012

There is an impressive list of older horses returning next year.

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Royal Performance in the Ladies' Classic

Favorite Royal Delta takes the Ladies' Classic in deep stretch, claiming her second grade I for the year and giving trainer Bill Mott consecutive victories in the race.

Ladies' Classic: It's Tricky a Fun Challenge

Dealing with It's Tricky is tricky. Just ask Kiaran McLauglin, who trains the 3-year-old daughter of Mineshaft for Godolphin Racing.

Gio Ponti, It's Tricky in Final BC Works

Multiple Eclipse Award winner Gio Ponti and dual grade I winner It's Tricky had their final works over at Belmont Park Oct. 26 in preparation for the Breeders' Cup next week at Churchill Downs.

Plum Pretty Scorches Cotillion Field

Front-running Plum Pretty left favored It's Tricky far behind in the $750,000 Cotillion Stakes (gr. II) Oct. 1 at Philadelphia's Parx Racing, earning her first victory since the Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) in the spring.

TCI: Super Saturday (Video)

Jon and Joel reveal the Filly and Mare Sprint Top 5, and preview Super Saturday and how it will impact the Breeders' Cup. Presented by Taylor Made Stallions.

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Trio of Grade I Winners Converge in Cotillion

It drew only six, but the lucrative Cotillion Stakes (gr. II) from Parx Racing lured three of the top-ranked sophomore fillies in the nation -- each of them grade I winners.

Royal Delta is Evidence of a Powerful Cross

PORTER ON PEDIGREES, by Alan Porter
The feeling that Empire Maker's move to Japan was a significant loss for U.S. breeders, especially as an excellent cross for A.P. Indy, was reinforced when Royal Delta won the Alabama.

Royal Delta Exacts Revenge in Alabama

Royal Delta flew by It's Tricky and Plum Pretty at the eighth pole and pulled clear for an easy win in the $500,000 TVG Alabama (gr. I) Aug. 20 at Saratoga.

2011 Alabama Stakes - Predict the Order

With only 6 fillies, it should be easy to predict the order. Right?

Predict the Order

THS: Alabama Stakes 2011

Jason, Tom and Les Instone of TwinSpires.com handicap the stacked Alabama Stakes at Saratoga.

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Alabama: It's Tricky Seeks Third Straight G1

After winning consecutive grade I races, It's Tricky has earned the title as leader of the 3-year-old filly division. The daughter of Mineshaft will have to prove herself all over again against a stellar field in the Alabama.

It's Tricky, Rattlesnake Bridge Turn in Works

It's Tricky turned in her first work following her victory in the TVG Coaching Club American Oaks (gr. I), breezing four furlongs in :49 1/5 Aug. 6 at Saratoga.

Slideshow: The Week In Photos - July 26, 2011

This week is devoted to Saratoga and Del Mar.

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It's Tricky Puts Away Plum Pretty in CCA Oaks

Godolphin Racing's It's Tricky recorded her second straight grade I victory when she outdueled Plum Pretty and defeated an all-star cast in the $250,000 TVG Coaching Club American Oaks July 23 at Saratoga.

Stellar Cast in Short but Strong CCA Oaks

It drew a short field, but the $250,000 TVG Coaching Club American Oaks (gr. I) July 23 at Saratoga features five of the best 3-year-old fillies in the nation in a race that could go a long way in deciding divisional honors.

It's Tricky Turns Back 'Descent in Acorn

Darley Stable's It's Tricky turned back a stern challenge from 3-5 favorite Turbulent Descent to win the TVG Acorn Stakes (gr. I) by 3 3/4 lengths over a muddy track June 11 at Belmont Park.

Turbulent Descent Headlines Acorn Field

Turbulent Descent, the only filly with grade I status entered in the TVG Acorn Stakes, will be tough to beat if the excellent form she has exhibited on the California circuit and Keeneland carries over to Belmont Park.

R Heat Lightning Brilliant in GP Oaks Victory

R Heat Lightning devoured six rivals in the 1 1/8-mile Gulfstream Oaks (gr. II), powering home to a 8 1/4-length victory under John Velazquez for her second straight dominating win.

R Heat Lightning Streaks Into Gulfstream Oaks

R Heat Lightning, a dominant winner last time out and one of the favorites for the Kentucky Oaks (gr. I), is the horse to beat in the $300,000 Gulfstream Oaks (gr. II) on April 2.