Santa Anita Entry For Crittenden
Crittenden could run in the G2 Mathis Brothers Mile at Santa Anita, USA, on Saturday, December 26, provided the contest is switched from turf to dirt.
Time/Date - 14.47hrs local time /Saturday, December 26, 2015
Racecourse/Country - Santa Anita/USA
Surface/Distance - Turf/1m
Crittenden could run in the G2 Mathis Brothers Mile at Santa Anita, USA, on Saturday, December 26, provided the contest is switched from turf to dirt.
The Eoin Harty-trained colt has raced almost exclusively on turf this year and faded to 12th, beaten six and a half lengths, in the G1 Hollywood Derby over nine furlongs at Del Mar on November 28.
He posted a neck success over a mile in the non-graded Let It Ride Stakes, also at Del Mar, on October 31 and finished fourth at the same course in the nine-furlong G2 Del Mar Derby on September 7.
The three-year-old son of Distorted Humor was fifth in the G1 Secretariat Stakes over a mile and a quarter at Arlington Park on August 15 and was beaten a neck at the same course in the nine-furlong G3 American Derby on July 11.
His only appearance on dirt so far this year came in the G3 Sam F Davis Stakes over an extended mile at Tampa Bay Downs on January 31, in which he finished sixth.
Martin Garcia, who partnered Crittenden to victory in the Let It Ride Stakes, is booked to ride.
Eoin Harty reported: "Crittenden is doing very well but he probably won't run unless the race is switched to the dirt. We have had some rain, which has made the track a little muddy, and there is more forecast.
"If the race switches to the dirt, it becomes a completely different contest because some of the field will scratch.
"He was beaten fair and square by some of these horses in the Hollywood Derby, when I thought he was disappointing, but maybe nine furlongs was a little too far for him.
"He has had a couple of runs on dirt before and he trains well on the surface. I would think that he would handle dirt better than soft turf, which is why we are hoping that the race is switched."
Crittenden could take on up to 11 other three-year-olds headed by Hollywood Derby third Om, G2 Twilight Derby runner-up Mister Brightside and Keeneland allowance race winner Vigilante.
Crittenden © Linscott Photography
