Breeders' Cup: It's Tricky getting ready for Ladies' Classic or Filly and Mare Sprint

It’s getting close to decision time, but none has been made as yet regarding It’s Tricky, who will be pre-entered in both the Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic and the Filly and Mare Sprint, said trainer Kiaran McLaughlin.

It’s Tricky began her 4-year-old campaign this year with three graded stakes wins in a row, including the Distaff Handicap at seven furlongs, then suffered consecutive defeats at 1 1/8 miles against Love and Pride and defending Ladies’ Classic winner Royal Delta – who are both going in the Ladies’ Classic.

McLaughlin said he and Godolphin racing manager Simon Crisford will decide where to run It’s Tricky, who is coming off a second-place finish, beaten 9 1/2 lengths by Royal Delta, in the Grade 1 Beldame at Belmont Park. It’s Tricky has remained at Belmont instead of returning to the Godolphin Training Center next to Saratoga Race Course.

“After she ran, I just thought about it, and she does well from here,” said trainer Kiaran McLaughlin. “So we decided to leave here her for now and see how she trains.

“We’ll pre-enter both. Obviously, one is tough-tough and the other is tough as well, but we’ll look at both of them.”

Turbulent Descent, the beaten favorite in the 2011 Filly and Mare Sprint, and Switch, second in the last two Filly-Mare Sprints, turned in bullet workouts Sunday.

Working in company with stablemate Ciao Bella, fourth most recently in the Grade 1 Garden City, Turbulent Descent worked a half-mile in 47.12 – a move termed “breezing” by the clockers and fastest of 68 at the distance on Belmont Park’s training track.

“It didn’t look like they were going that fast, but they did. . . . It might be a step in the right direction,” said trainer Todd Pletcher.

Working on the main track at Santa Anita, over which she is a dual Grade 1 winner, Switch blazed a half in 45.80 seconds, the best time of 73 at the distance.

Munnings Sister, who won the Oct. 7 Dream Supreme overnight stakes on a sealed Belmont track in her first start off a layoff, has “a multitude of problems,” according to new trainer Barclay Tagg. But owner Charles Fipke is keen on running the full sister to Munnings, who was a three-time Grade 2 stakes winner at seven furlongs.

Tiz Flirtatious and Bella Viaggia won divisions of Saturday’s California Cup Distaff on Santa Anita’s 6 1/2-furlong hillside course in 1:11.70 and 1:12.02, respectively. The versatile Tiz Flirtatious remained unbeaten in four sprints – on turf, synthetic, and dirt – beginning with two wins on Santa Anita’s main track last fall. Trained by Marty Jones, she earned a career best Beyer Figure of 93 in the California Cup Distaff.