Tricky Day Proves a Bargain

Tricky Day would have to be considered one of the best claims trainer Mike Mitchell has made in 2005.

Mitchell took the 4-year-old Phone Trick gelding for $16,000 for a partnership that includes G Racing and Carl VanBurger after a 12-length debut win at Gulfstream Park.

Not risked in any claiming races since that April 7 bow, Tricky Day has won two of four and has a second and a third. Three of his starts for Mitchell have come at Hollywood Park and the Florida-bred is scheduled to make one more in Inglewood in tonight’s sixth, a $51,000 optional claimer at six furlongs.

This will be the second start of the month for Tricky Day. On July 4, he defeated favored King Of L.A. by a nose in a quick 1:15 1/5 for 6 1/2 furlongs. Tyler Baze has been aboard for the gelding’s last two wins and he has the mount again this evening.

The other top contenders in the race are Fairly Crafty, who has won three of nine at Hollywood Park, and Royal Moro, who debuts for trainer Jack Carava after being claimed for $50,000 out of a win on June 2.

Race of the day: Papi Chullo, who finished close in a couple of stakes races earlier this year as a maiden, will try for his first victory in his New York debut in today’s fifth at Belmont Park. Rafael Bejarano, who will ride this summer at Belmont and Saratoga, will ride the 3-year-old Comeonmom colt for owner Greg Norman and trainer Sal Gonzalez in the $44,000 race at one mile. Papi Chullo was second in the Sham Stakes on Feb. 5 at Santa Anita, then was fourth in the Fountain Of Youth at Gulfstream on March 5.

Exotically speaking: A late pick four using Vatchesvendetta, Triple Strand and Bartok’s Banco in the fifth, Tricky Day and Fairly Crafty in the sixth, Dragon King in the seventh and Hayato, Stormin Moe, Getintotheact and C’mon Crafty in the eighth.

Winners: Previous day/meet total: 2/158. Money: Previous day/meet total: $6.20/$857.30. Total money bet: $1,054.