Darley’s CRITICISM (GB) (Machiavellian) will seek her third consecutive
graded win when she heads to the post in Saturday’s $250,000
New York
S. (G2) at Belmont Park. A convincing 2 1/4-length winner of the May 23
Sheepshead Bay S. (G2) over the same inner turf course, the five-year-old mare
tops a field of 10 distaffers, including two main-track only runners, in the 1
1/4-mile affair.
Group 3-placed in France, Criticism was transferred to Tom Albertrani and
finished a close second when making her U.S. debut in the Athenia H. (G3) last
October. She followed with a victory in the Long Island H. (G3) and opened her
2009 season with another easy tally in The Very One S. (G3) at Gulfstream Park.
Criticism finished third to DRESS REHEARSAL (Ire) (Galileo [Ire]) in the March
22 Orchid S. (G3), but she reeled off impressive wins in the La Prevoyante H.
(G2) and the aforementioned Sheepshead Bay in advance of the New York. Javier
Castellano will return aboard the likely heavy favorite.
Dress Rehearsal, third in the April 23 Bewitch S. (G3) in her lone
appearance since beating Criticism, will look to take the lead in their rivalry.
Second in The Very One three starts back, the Bill Mott-trained four-year-old
filly will pick up a new rider in Rajiv Maragh. Mott is also responsible for the
uncoupled DYNAFORCE (Dynaformer), winner of Flower Bowl Invitational S. (G1) at
Belmont last September. After concluding 2008 with a troubled seventh in the
Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1), the six-year-old mare opened 2009 with a
disappointing fifth in the May 16 Gallorette H. (G2) at Pimlico. Dynaforce, who
finished second in the 2008 New York, is eligible to move forward off the
tightener in her Belmont return.
Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin will send out Grade 1 queen BACKSEAT RHYTHM (El
Corredor) and Brazilian Group 1 heroine COLINA VERDE (Brz) (Know Heights [Ire]),
and French Group 3 victress BELLE ALLURE (Ire) (Numerous) will make her third
start stateside for Christophe Clement. The latter exits a sharp
allowance/optional claiming win over the course on May 21.