Crittenden Steps Up Again For Secretariat

Time/Date - 16.17hrs local time/Saturday, August 15, 2015
Racecourse/Country - Arlington Park/USA
Surface/Distance - Turf/1m 2f

Crittenden takes another rise in class when he goes for the Group One Secretariat Stakes over a mile and a quarter on turf at Arlington, USA, on Saturday, August 15.

The three-year-old colt, trained by Eoin Harty, ran on strongly to go down by a neck to World Approval in the Grade Three American Derby over nine furlongs on turf at the same course on July 11.

He also produced 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, and was third in an extended-mile turf allowance race at Keeneland on April 12.

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

William Buick rides Crittenden for the first time.

Eoin Harty reported: "Crittenden is doing super and I expect him to run accordingly. He has never run a bad race but he has really stepped up on his last couple of runs.

"The way he finished in the American Derby suggests that a mile and a quarter won't be a problem and he doesn't have to travel, unlike everyone else in the race, so he has home advantage.

"I expect the ground to be slightly faster compared to his last run and I think it will be more to his liking.

"If he can improve a little bit, then I think he is going to run a huge race."

Crittenden, drawn four, tackles six other three-year-olds including Belmont Derby victor Force The Pass plus European challengers Highland Reel, Goldstream and War Dispatch.