Criticism goes out a winner in the Long Island

The Goodbye Girls rule. A day after Unbridled Belle won the Turnback the Alarm in her final New York appearance, Darley Stable's Criticism ($3.30) turned in a similarly dominating performance to win Sunday's $150,000 for the second straight year.

Criticism, who posted the first of her five U.S. stakes victories in the 2008 Long Island, was making the final start of her career for trainer Tom Albertrani.

"She was a pleasure to have in the barn it's nice having those kind around," said Albertrani. "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 a while."

Criticism was content to race in second position as Queen of Hearts went to the lead around the first of three turns but took over before going a half-mile in 50.16 seconds. She remained clear thereafter under Javier Castellano to report home by two and one-quarter lengths over Lemonette. Bubbly Jane was third. The order of finish was completed by Dance Pass, Borrowing Base, and Queen of Hearts.

"The number one horse broke on top, and I wanted to lay right off of her, but my filly was feeling so good today," Castellano said. "She wanted to run, and I didn't want to fight her. The pace was very slow, and that's why she won today."

Criticism ran the mile and one-half over a yielding turf course in 2:34.98 more than five seconds slower than her winning time on firm ground a year ago. She retires with a record of 9-7-3 from 22 starts and $815,367 in earnings, including $90,000 on Sunday.