Californian Stakes Option For Crittenden

Time/Date - 18.00hrs local time/Sunday, May 22, 2016
Racecourse/Country - Santa Anita/USA
Surface/Distance - Dirt/1m 1f

Crittenden could return to racing on dirt in the G2 Californian Stakes over nine furlongs at Santa Anita, USA, on Sunday, May 22.

The Eoin Harty-trained four-year-old, who has raced mostly on turf and all-weather surfaces, faded to sixth on his only previous appearance on dirt in the G3 Sam F Davis Stakes over an extended mile at Tampa Bay Downs, Florida, in January, 2015.

He ran several excellent races on turf last year, winning over a mile in the Listed Let It Ride Stakes at Del Mar and going down by a neck to subsequent G1 runner-up World Approval in the nine-furlong G3 American Derby at Arlington Park.

He steps back up a furlong after finishing sixth on Tapeta on his first start of the year in a mile allowance race at Golden Gate Fields on April 9.

Flavien Prat, who partnered Crittenden in the American Derby, takes the ride again and they meet six rivals including last year's G1 Gold Cup At Santa Anita Stakes winner Hard Aces.

Eoin Harty said: "This looked like a good opportunity for Crittenden when we entered for this race but, if all seven horses turn up, then it is likely that he won't be taking his chance.

"He didn't run too badly on his only previous dirt start at Tampa Bay. It was a graded race and he certainly handled the dirt - it was more a case of the competition being very stiff.

"He trains on the dirt at Santa Anita every day, so I don't think that it will be a problem, but this race looks very strong."