Tricky Business clear-cut winner of $200K Albany
R.A. Hill Stable’s homebred Tricky Business led every step of the way to coast to victory in Sunday’s $200,000 Albany, a nine-furlong route for New York-bred sophomores, at Saratoga Race Course.
Trained by George Weaver, the son of his former pupil Vekoma successfully stretched out from a neck defeat to returning foe Onebigbeautfulbill last out when setting the pace in a seven-furlong state-bred allowance on August 9 here. That effort and the Albany were an impressive turnaround from a pair of off-the-board efforts with stalking tactics in June and July. He adds to a debut graduation in May at Belmont at the Big A around a one-turn mile in state-bred company.
Weaver said he was not deterred by afternoon showers that made the track sloppy and sealed, pointing to Vekoma’s dazzling 7 1/4-length Grade 1 Carter Handicap win in 2020 over a sloppy main track at Belmont Park.
“Vekoma won the Carter, one of his best races, in the slop,” Weaver said. “You would assume for a wet number and this and that, that he [Tricky Business] would like it, but you never know.”
The bay gelding emerged from the inside post in the field of 7 and was hustled away from the gate by Flavien Prat as Tuning In caught a flyer from the outermost post 7 and sprinted up to the front while angling in to save ground into the first turn, tracking Tricky Business through the opening quarter-mile in 23.68 seconds.
“I don’t know what instructions the other riders got, but our instructions were to go at all costs – quarter-horse him out of there and make the lead,” Weaver said. “Luckily, Flavien was able to do that. The horse broke well enough, and he responded well enough – it’s part jockey, part horse – but once he got where he was and got comfortable up the backside, I felt confident we would have a chance to win if he can handle the distance, and he did.”
The favored Talk to Me Jimmy broke awkwardly and rushed up on the outside into third position before Manny Franco took a hold to settle him as Tricky Business marked the half-mile in 47.86. Tuning In ranged up to challenge the pacesetter and Franco got busy atop Talk to Me Jimmy after three-quarters in 1:11.72, but Tricky Business found more every time he was asked to kick clear at the top of the stretch and keep his foes at bay, driving home a three-length winner in a final time of 1:49.84.
Talk to Me Jimmy continued his sustained run to claim second by 2 3/4 lengths over Sunday Boy, who nipped Tuning In by a nose for third. Onebigbeautfulbill, Minorinconvenience and Sociably Johnny completed the order of finish.
Tricky Business was ridden from off-the-pace in his two off-the-board finishes earlier this summer, including the Listed NYRA Bets Pegasus at Monmouth Park and a local state-bred allowance with Prat was aboard. The dual Eclipse Award-winning rider said more prominent tactics have helped the gelding put more into his races.
"It felt like he wasn't very honest at least the last time I rode him and the time before [with Samuel Marin up], so we thought he might get better on the lead,” Prat said. “He just needed to learn how to run."
Weaver added that he will take his time in evaluating a next target for the developing bay.
“We’ll see how the speed figures come back and look for another good spot against 3-year-olds,” he concluded.
Franco said Talk to Me Jimmy, a dual stakes-winner for trainer Rudy Rodriguez, was brave after the slow break greatly affected his chances.
"Broke slow and after that I'm out of position,” Franco said. “After that, I had a wide trip. Not our day."
Out of the stakes-winning Warrior’s Reward mare Super Marina, Tricky Business is a full-brother to stakes-placed Super Swift and a half-brother to stakes-placed Russian Realm – who is entered in Friday’s West Point presented by Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital here. Each of the siblings are homebreds for R.A. Hill Stable. Tricky Business earned $110,000 in victory while returning $20 on a $2 win bet.
Live racing resumes Wednesday at Saratoga with an eight-race card, featuring the Listed Bolton Landing in Race 7. First post is 1:10 p.m. Eastern.
Saratoga Live presents daily coverage and analysis of the summer meet at Saratoga Race Course on the networks of FOX Sports. For the complete broadcast schedule, visit https://www.nyra.com/saratoga/racing/tv-schedule/.
NYRA Bets is the official wagering platform of Saratoga Race Course, and the best way to bet every race of the summer meet. Available to horseplayers nationwide, the NYRA Bets app is available for download today on iOS and Android at www.NYRABets.com.
