Sunday, February 26, 2012
Contact: NYRA Press Office
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NYRA NOTES
- It’s Tricky breezes at Belmont in return to New York; Consortium works in company for Gotham
- Raconteur, Calibrachoa & Love and Pride set for Gotham Day
- Velasquez expected to return Wednesday
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – In her first workout since returning to New York from Palm Meadows in Florida, Godolphin Stable’s It’s Tricky breezed four furlongs on the Belmont Park training track in 48.77 on Sunday with exercise rider Renzo Morales aboard.
Winner of the 2011 Grade 1 TVG Acorn and Grade 1 TVG Coaching Club American Oaks, It’s Tricky is slated to commence her 2012 campaign on Saturday in Aqueduct Racetrack’s Grade 2, $200,000 Top Flight Handicap, a 1 1/16-mile race for fillies and mares. It will be the 4-year-old’s first start since finishing second to Royal Delta in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Ladies Classic in November.
“Very good work,” said Art Magnuson, assistant to trainer Kiaran McLaughlin. “She’s not real fast in the morning. She galloped out well, and we’re happy with that. She came up from
The McLaughlin barn admits It’s Tricky, who is accompanied to her workouts by a pony, has her eccentricities, but Magnuson said she has been better behaved in recent months.
“She’s really into a good routine,” said Magnuson. “Even toward the end of last year and right now, she’s not being very tricky at all. She’s a quirky filly who is acting very well.”
The Top Flight is part of the undercard for the Grade 3, $400,000
“[Consortium] went very well,” said Magnuson. “Just in hand, just what we wanted: a nice half with Redding Colliery.”
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Raconteur, winner of two straight on the inner track, completed major preparations for the Gotham with a 48.89 four-furlong breeze on the
Owned by Dogwood Stable, Raconteur went in company with Mike Repole’s Calibrachoa, who will attempt to remain unbeaten in five stakes starts on the inner track when he defends his title in Saturday’s Grade 3, $200,000 Tom Fool Handicap at six furlongs.
“I thought it was a decent move today; I was pleased with what I saw,” said Michael McCarthy, assistant to trainer Todd Pletcher, of Raconteur’s work. “He got into a nice rhythm and maintained it throughout the work, and he galloped out well.”
McCarthy also expressed satisfaction with the drill posted by Calibrachoa, who repeated in the Grade 3 Toboggan on February 4.
“The horse seemed to come out of the Toboggan in decent order,” said McCarthy. “He worked nicely today. He’s on schedule.”
Green Hills Farm’s Love and Pride, victorious in the Affectionately on January 29, was also on the worktab, breezing four furlongs in 50.55 as she tunes up for Saturday’s Top Flight.
“She does not need a lot,” said McCarthy. “She got over the racetrack well, galloped out well, and came back in good order.”
The stable’s other
Additional New York-based Gotham workers were Hardened Wildcat (five furlongs in 1:02 at
On the worktab in
In addition to Hardened Wildcat, Andrew Byrnes, stakes coordinator for The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA), added Suns Out Guns Out and Went the Day Well to the list of
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Jockey Cornelio Velasquez, who was taken to
“All the tests were negative,” said Muzikar Sunday morning. “He’s just body sore. Obviously, he took off his mounts today, but he plans on riding Wednesday.”
Velasquez, 43, is in second place on the Big A’s inner-track jockey standings with 73 winners behind reigning Eclipse champion jockey Ramon Dominguez.
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