Crittenden Bids For American Derby

Time/Date - 15.19hrs local time/Saturday, July 11, 2015 Racecourse/Country - Arlington Park/USA
Surface/Distance - Turf/1m 1f

Crittenden steps up in class and trip for the Grade Three American Derby over nine furlongs on turf at Arlington Park, USA, on Saturday, July 11.

The Eoin Harty-trained three-year-old came with a storming late run to post a neck success on turf in the non-graded PDJF Stakes over an extended seven furlongs at Indiana Grand on May 31.

He was third in an extended-mile turf allowance race at Keeneland on April 12 and came home sixth on his only appearance on dirt in the Grade Three Sam F Davis Stakes over the same distance at Tampa Bay Downs on January 31.

The son of Distorted Humor posted a pair of turf wins over an extended mile at Tampa Bay Downs in December, following up an easy maiden success with a straightforward victory in an allowance optional claimer.

Eoin Harty said: "Crittenden couldn't be doing any better and has a great post position in stall one.

"This is a very different turf course compared to Indiana Grand because it is a lot wider and the grass is a lot longer. It's very much a European-type of turf course but I wouldn't like to be using that as an excuse for him.

"It's a decent bunch of horses but Crittenden is training very well and, the older he gets, the better he gets."

Crittenden, with Flavien Prat in the saddle for the first time, faces six rivals including Firespike and World Approval, who have both finished third in Graded races.