It's Tricky Named the 2011 Aiken Trained Horse of the Year

Aiken Thoroughbred Racing Hall of Fame and Museum Press Release

12/20/2011 - It's Tricky Named the 2011 Aiken Trained Horse of the Year

It's Tricky, owned by Godolphin Racing LLC, is set to receive the “2011 Aiken Trained Horse of the Year” Award on Sunday, March 18, 2012 at 12:30 pm at the Aiken Thoroughbred Racing Hall of Fame and Museum. Memorabilia from It's Tricky's 2011 racing season will be on display and the public is invited to attend the ceremony which follows the 70th annual Aiken Trials which is held on Saturday, March 17, 2012.

It's Tricky, a 3-year old filly, whose sire is Mineshaft (USA) and Dam is Catboat (USA), was bred by Stonerside Stable and foaled in Kentucky on February 26, 2008. She was broken and trained at the historic Aiken Training Track by Tim Jones and the Aiken staff of Darley.

Her outstanding wins in the 2011 TVG Coaching Club American Oaks [G1] and TVG Acorn Stakes [G1], her $ 1,019,500 in earnings this year and a 2011 race record of 4 (3) wins, 3 seconds and 1 third in eight starts left little doubt as what horse would be honored with this prestigious award. It's Tricky also ran in the TVG Alabama Stakes [2], the Cotillion Stakes [G2] and the Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic [G1], placing 2nd in all three of those races.

Now trained by Kiaran McLaughlin, It's Tricky becomes the second filly to win the Aiken Trained Horse of the Year, the first being Country Star in 2007. Interestingly, both fillies were bred by Stonerside Stable in Kentucky. It's Tricky is among the last crop of foals bred by Stonerside, which sold its entire breeding and racing operation – farm, training center, racehorses, and bloodstock – to Sheikh Mohammed in 2008.

Past winners of this award are:

The Aiken Thoroughbred Racing Hall of Fame and Museum is located in Hopelands Gardens at 135 Dupree Place and is open Tuesday - Friday & Sunday (September - May) from 2 - 5 pm and Saturday from 10 am - 5 pm, weather permitting.

For more information call 803-642-7631, e-mail halloffame@cityofaikensc.gov or visit the Hall of Fame website at www.aikenracinghalloffame.com.