Critical Value can improve on last against open allowance company

ELMONT, N.Y. – Critical Value, a two-time stakes winner against New York-breds, makes her first foray into open company Sunday when she meets six rivals in a first-level allowance race scheduled for one mile over Belmont Park’s main track.

The $65,000 race serves as the feature on Belmont’s 10-race card, which begins at 1 p.m.

Critical Value, a daughter of Bodemeister, won the Maid of the Mist Stakes going a mile here last October and the Bouwerie Stakes going seven furlongs here in June. Most recently, Critical Value finished sixth of seven behind stablemate Makingcents in the $150,000 Fleet Indian Stakes going 1 1/8 miles at Saratoga.

“I was really surprised by her last race. I actually liked her a little bit better than Makingcents,” said Jeremiah Englehart, who trains both 3-year-old fillies. “I don’t know if it was the configuration of the race . . . I just thought get her back to Belmont, let’s see how she’s doing.

“From the Fleet Indian, she’s training well. We’ve had issues before with her feet. Even before the Bouwerie we had issues getting her right. She seems like she’s doing a lot better now.”

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Critical Value is well-drawn in post 7 under Junior Alvarado.

“That will allow Junior to let her relax early on and make a run,” Englehart said.

Mrs. Danvers drops back into allowance company after a last-place finish behind Gamine in the Grade 1 Test at Saratoga on Aug. 8. Prior to that, she finished second on July 9 to Grand Cru Classe in this same condition. Grand Cru Classe came back to win the Weber City Miss Stakes at Laurel on Sept. 7.

In the July 9 allowance at Belmont, Mrs. Danvers “stumbled real bad leaving the gate,” trainer Shug McGaughey said. “When [Jose Ortiz] went to gather her back up she got in the bridle with him. She finished fairly decent.”

Joel Rosario rides Mrs. Danvers from post 2.

Pop a Choc, trained by Mark Casse, returns to Belmont Park where on July 9 she won a seven-furlong maiden race by 5 1/4 lengths, earning an 84 Beyer Speed Figure. She raced twice at Saratoga, running third and then second in this same condition. Sunday, she could play out as the primary speed under John Velazquez.

Mrs. S returns to the races following a ninth-place finish behind Swiss Skydiver in the Gulfstream Park Oaks on March 28. Trainer Todd Pletcher takes the blinkers off Mrs. S, who breaks from the rail under Jose Ortiz.

Pletcher also sends out Thankful, who makes her first start against winners after winning a 1 1/8-mile maiden race at Saratoga on Sept. 5.

Passive Investing and Solitary Gem complete the field.