It’s Tricky gets tested in Gulfstream Oaks

It’s Tricky, unbeaten in three starts, will try to prove herself worthy of being considered for the Kentucky Oaks when she makes her graded stakes debut in Saturday’s Gulfstream Oaks, a 1 1/8-mile race that drew a field of seven. It’s Tricky drew the outside post.

It’s Tricky, a daughter of Mineshaft, won a maiden race over Aqueduct’s main track last Nov. 28 then won an allowance race by 4 3/4 lengths on Jan. 26 and the Busher Stakes by eight lengths on Feb. 20. With myriad races from which to choose, trainer Kiaran McLaughlin opted for the Gulfstream Oaks.

“We think she wants the mile and an eighth,” McLaughlin said Wednesday from his Palm Meadows barn. “We’re here, so we brought her down here. We’ve always liked her; this is definitely her big test. If she should finish one-two we could go on to the Kentucky Oaks.’’

R Heat Lightning, the 7 1/4-length winner of the Grade 2 Davona Dale here on Feb. 26, will try to prove herself going nine furlongs in the Gulfstream Oaks. In her lone start around two turns, R Heat Lightning finished second to Awesome Feather in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies.
R Heat Lightning will break from post 5 under John Velazquez.

Others entered include Salary Drive, Triune, Kindersley, Beso Grande, and Island School.