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Criticism bows out on a high note in Long Island Darley Stable's homebred CRITICISM (GB) (Machiavellian) made her final career start a winning one when defending her title in Sunday's $150,000 Long Island H. (G3) at Aqueduct. Dispatched as the 3-5 favorite, the Tom Albertrani mare took command after the opening quarter-mile and proceeded to outclass her rivals by 2 1/4 lengths. Criticism thereby became only the third repeat winner of the Long Island, following champion grass horse Parka (1964-65) (before the race was restricted to distaffers) and Hush Dear (1982-83). Queen of Hearts (Thunder Gulch) shot to the early lead, with Criticism pursuing in second through an initial quarter in :25 4/5 on the yielding turf. The defending champion was eager to assert herself, however, and regular rider Javier Castellano allowed her to stride forward. Criticism opened up a comfortable advantage while clocking splits of :50, 1:17 4/5 and 1:44. Bubbly Jane (Brz) (Yagli), who had reared up at the break, advanced to challenge on the final turn through 1 1/4 miles in 2:10 1/5, but Criticism shrugged her off and drew clear. The winner completed 1 1/2 miles in 2:34 4/5 and returned $3.30, $2.40 and $2.10. "We were the only speed in the race," Castellano observed. "The number 1 horse (Queen of Hearts) broke on top, and I wanted to just lay right off of her, but my filly was feeling so good today. She wanted to run, and I didn't want to fight her. I just let her go on the lead and she really enjoyed the trip. The pace was very slow and that's why she won today. She had given me a good run the whole race and turning for home I wanted to be patient, and make the job a little easier." "I was very pleased with her race today," Albertrani said. "It looked like they were going a pretty honest pace over the course, and I was a little concerned when I saw the first three-eighths of a mile because it looked like it was a little cat-and-mouse there for awhile. I was glad Javier got her to settle off the bridle -- it looked like she was maybe on the bit too much the first three-eighths or so, and then when he made the lead with her, it looked like he was able to really start controlling the race and he had plenty left. She was a pleasure to have in the barn, it's nice having those kind around." Lemonette (Lemon Drop Kid) rallied for runner-up honors, a half-length ahead of Bubbly Jane. The 7-1 Lemonette gave back $4.50 and $2.80 and ended the $13.20 exacta, and the 5-1 Bubbly Jane paid $2.60 and rounded out the $42.80 trifecta (5-7-3). Dance Pass (Ire) (Sadler's Wells) raced evenly in fourth in her U.S. debut, followed by Borrowing Base (Personal Flag) and Queen of Hearts. Tidal Dance (Pleasant Tap) was withdrawn. The five-year-old Criticism signs off with a record of 22-9-7-3 and $815,411 in earnings. The bay scored six stakes victories, five of them graded, and placed in seven others. Criticism 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). Sidelined for 10 months, she resurfaced with Albertrani in New York last fall and finished a sharp second in the Athenia H. (G3). Next time out, she posted an off-the-pace score in the Long Island. Criticism developed into a dangerous front runner this season, capturing the Sheepshead Bay S. (G2), La Prevoyante H. (G2) and The Very One S. (G3). She also finished third in the Orchid S. (G3), a distant runner-up to Icon Project in the off-the-turf New York S. (G3) in the mud, and a solid second to Pure Clan (Pure Prize) in the Flower Bowl Invitational S. (G1) last time out. Bred in England, Criticism was produced by Grade 2 winner Innuendo (Ire) (Caerleon), who is also the dam of an unraced juvenile filly named Peacoat (Doyen), an unnamed yearling filly by Selkirk and a weanling filly by Street Cry (Ire). 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); One Thousand Guineas (Eng-G1) queen Virginia Waters (Kingmambo); English highweight and Epsom Derby (Eng-G1) winner High-Rise (Ire) (High Estate [Ire]); and French/Irish highweight Dubawi (Dubai Millennium), hero of the Irish Two Thousand Guineas (Ire-G1) and now a promising young sire.
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