A Tricky win in the Acorn

It's Tricky dominated in her first three career starts in

New York, but faded to a distant fourth in the Grade 2 Gulfstream Oaks on

April 2 in her first foray outside of the Empire State. On Saturday, the

Darley Stable colorbearer showed up at Belmont Park for the $300,000

Grade1

Acorn and easily held off 3-5 favorite Turbulent Descent

to score by 3 3/4 lengths under jockey Eddie Castro.

It's Tricky settled in second as Savvy Supreme carved out fractions of :22 4/5 and :45 3/4 for the opening four

furlongs of the one-turn mile. Turbulent Descent had taken up a stalking

position in third, and began her move as the field entered the turn.

Castro also gave It's Tricky her cue and she had grabbed command by the

time the pair hit the stretch. Turbulent Descent put in a game run on

the outside, but could get to her bay rival, who stopped the clock in

1:35 2/5 on the muddy, sealed track.

"She handled it (the wet track) really well," Castro said. "I put her

where I did in the other two races I rode, and then I waited. When we

got in the stretch, she kicked in nicely. She is powerful and has a nice

kick."

It's Tricky was the second longest shot on the board at 10-1 and paid

$22, $6 and $4 for the victory. Turbulent Descent was much the best of

the rest, 10 lengths clear of third-placer Her Smile.

"She got outrun. The filly on the lead ran big," trainer Mike Puype

said of Turbulent Descent. "That's what happens when you get a muddy

track. We must have been seven or eight (lengths) clear of the next

horse. I'm not going to say we ran a short horse. That's the way she

runs. She ran well."

"I had a good trip. No excuse," said jockey David Flores, who piloted

the race favorite. "Just that filly (It's Tricky) looked like she's a

real mud-lover. When you have a horse that likes this kind of track,

it's hard to catch them.