In what has become a pattern this season, Darley Stable’s homebred CRITICISM
(GB) (Machiavellian) went straight to the early lead, carved out fractions at
her leisure, and sprinted home in Saturday’s $150,000
Sheepshead Bay S. (G2) at Belmont Park. The Tom Albertrani mare reeled off 1
3/8 miles on the firm inner turf in 2:13 4/5 and returned $3.60, $2.50 and $2.10
as the 4-5 favorite.
Under a well-judged ride by Javier Castellano, Criticism set splits of :24
4/5, :50 2/5, 1:15, 1:39 1/5 and 2:02 1/5. The only modicum of a challenge came
from the hard-held Mushka (Empire Maker), who tracked in second throughout and
tried to take a run at Criticism at the top of the stretch. The winner had far
too much left, however, and she drew clear to leave Mushka 2 1/4 lengths adrift
at the wire.
“Perfect trip — you can’t beat it,” Castellano said. “She’s a very special
filly. She’s sharp in the beginning. You just have to hold it. The worst part is
if somebody hooks with her, she’s gone. She’s the kind of the horse you need to
go the first quarter-mile nice and easy and after that she does the rest.
“She’s very competitive, though,” the winning rider added. “I saw on the
backside Ramon (Dominguez aboard Mushka) hooked up with me, because it was a
slow pace and when he hooked up with me, my filly took off again.
“You can do whatever you want with her. I didn’t ask her at all, just
(showed) the whip, and kept hand riding. It looked to me like she was giving
everything she had. And she finished strong — I knew in the end. Wow, she flew
in the end! I don’t think any horses from behind could have beaten her the
way (she finished).”
Mushka narrowly saved second by a nose from the rallying Caprice (Ger) (Monsun),
who was in turn a neck in front of fellow closer Colina Verde (Brz) (Know
Heights [Ire]). The 4-1 Mushka gave back $3.90 and $3, while Caprice paid $4.20
to show at 16-1. The exacta was worth $11.80, and the 3-5-7 trifecta totaled
$66. Backseat Rhythm (El Corredor), the 5-2 second choice, never landed a blow
in fifth, and Venetian Causeway (Giant’s Causeway) rounded out the order under
the wire. Russian Rosie (Ire) (Traditionally) and Shadiyna (Ire) (Dubai
Destination) were scratched.
Criticism was earning her fourth graded stakes victory, following an
off-the-pace score in the Long Island H. (G3) in November and front-running
tallies in The Very One S. (G3) and La Prevoyante H. (G2) this season. The
five-year-old began her career in France, where she scored her signature win in
the La Coupe de Marseille and placed in a trio of stakes, including the Prix
Andre Baboin (Fr-G3). Criticism was sidelined for 10 months and resurfaced with
Albertrani in New York last fall, finishing a sharp second in her U.S. debut in
the Athenia H. (G3). She is four-for-six in the United States, with her only
other loss being a third in the Orchid S. (G3) two back. Overall, Criticism
sports a career mark of 18-8-5-3, $553,411.
Bred in England, Criticism was produced by Grade 2 winner Innuendo (Ire) (Caerleon),
who is also the dam of a yearling filly by Selkirk. Criticism’s second dam is
Infamy (Ire) (Shirley Heights), winner of the 1988 Canadian International
(Can-G1). This female family has produced Italian champion High Hawk (Ire)
(Shirley Heights); French highweight and Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1) winner In the
Wings (GB) (Sadler’s Wells); and English highweight and Epsom Derby (Eng-G1)
winner High-Rise (Ire) (High Estate [Ire]).
Albertrani indicated that Criticism could aim for the June 20 New York S.
(G2) at 1 1/4 miles.