It's Tricky settles for 2nd in the Ladies' Classic

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) - Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin was hoping a quick pace would propel It's Tricky to victory in the $2 million Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic on Friday at Churchill Downs.

McLaughlin didn't get that scenario when Plum Pretty set moderate fractions. As a result, It's Tricky had to settle for second to Royal Delta after sitting second behind the dawdling pacesetter.

``We ran very well,'' McLaughlin said.

McLaughlin hopes that the budding rivalry between It's Tricky and Royal Delta continues next year. The racing status of both 3-year-olds is uncertain with Royal Delta scheduled to be sold at auction next week.

The two faced off twice this summer at Saratoga with It's Tricky winning the Coaching Club American Oaks on July 23 and finishing second to Royal Delta a month later in the Alabama.

Royal Delta's win in the Ladies' Classic clinched the Eclipse Award as champion 3-year-old filly. McLaughlin joked after the race that It's Tricky would be champion next year, assuming she returns for another campaign.

``It's not my decision,'' he said.

It's Tricky is owned by Godolphin Racing, which is the stable of the Maktoum family, Dubai's rulers.

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REMEMBERING JESS: Barbara Banke was ready to call it a season when husband Jess Jackson died of cancer earlier this year and their Stonestreet Stable wasn't winning races.

Things look a lot brighter after My Miss Aurelia, a horse bred by Stonestreet, won the $2 million Juvenile Fillies.

``Well, it's been a rough 2011 for me and for my kids, two of whom are here,'' Banke said. ``We decided that maybe it was more like we were just going to declare a year end and go forward. So it looks like we've turned the corner, and this is a good omen of things to come.''

My Miss Aurelia, owned in partnership with George Bolton, is 4 for 4 and a source of pride for Stonestreet.

``Well, I know it would mean the world to him to win this one with a homebred because Jess was always interested in breeding a race horse, not just horses for sale, but horses that would win at the track,'' Banke said.

It was the second Breeders' Cup win for Stonestreet, having captured the 2007 Classic with Curlin. He also owned filly Rachel Alexandra, who was Horse of the Year.

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NUMBERS DOWN: Attendance and handle dipped compared to Friday of last year's Breeders' Cup, also staged at Churchill Downs.

The crowd fell 2 percent to 40,677 from 41,614 a year ago.

The total handle, which includes all wagering on-track, at off-track sites and online, took a bigger drop. It declined 5.6 percent to $50,053,505 for the 10-race card that included six Breeders' Cup championships.

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STRETCHING OUT: Secret Circle, 3 for 3 after winning the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Sprint, is trained by Bob Baffert, a three-time Kentucky Derby winner.

It's a little early to put Secret Circle on next year's Triple Crown trail. After all, he has never gone beyond six furlongs and the Derby is a demanding 1 1/4 miles at Churchill Downs.

Baffert will give the colt every chance to prove he can handle the added distance before next season's 3-year-old classics.

``We know he's fast,'' Baffert said. ``Let's find out. Down the road, we'll give him his chance but I really don't know where I'll stretch him out.''

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RIGHT SIZED: Too small to play football, Juan Leyva turned to riding racehorses.

Size was an asset Friday when he guided Musical Romance to a 20-1 upset in the $1 million Filly & Mare Sprint in his Breeders' Cup debut.

Leyva, who is 5-foot-4 and 115 pounds, rode the 4-year-old like a veteran, saving ground until finding an opening in the lane.

``Obviously, some horses run better for some jockeys than they do for others,'' Leyva said. ``I just don't get in this filly's way. I let her do what she's comfortable doing, and when it's time to go, I just ask her to go. I just guided her through.''

Leyva, 27, dedicated the win to his mother, Martha, whose birthday was Friday. Born in Mexico, Leyva found his profession thanks to his father.

``I'm doing this because my dad forced me to,'' he said. ``I didn't really want to be a jockey. I wanted to be a football player, but I was too small for that.''

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IN THE HUNT: Garrett Gomez will be looking for an unprecedented fifth Bill Shoemaker award at this weekend's Breeders' Cup.

The Shoemaker honors the outstanding jockey over the two days based on highest finishes in the 15 races.

Gomez, 39, earned his first Shoemaker in 2005 and prevailed again in 2007, 2008 and 2010. He will need a big day on Saturday to repeat, after being blanked on Friday.

``The Shoemaker award is one of my favorite honors,'' Gomez said. ``Not only does it represent the hard work and dedication that goes into having a successful run at the Breeders' Cup, but they represent the memory of a rider who was a legend in our sport.''

The award honors the late Hall of Fame jockey who won the 1987 Classic aboard Ferdinand.