Crittenden, Acceptance likely to meet again

DEL MAR, Calif. – Crittenden finished a neck in front of Acceptance in Saturday’s $82,150 Let It Ride Stakes on turf in what could be the first of two showdowns between the 3-year-olds at the Del Mar autumn meeting.

After the Let It Ride Stakes, trainer Eoin Harty said Crittenden “definitely” would be pointed for the $300,000 Hollywood Derby, a Grade 1 at 1 1/8 miles on turf Nov. 28.

On Sunday, trainer Kenny Black said the Hollywood Derby is one of three races being considered for Acceptance, the champion California-bred 2-year-old male of 2014. Black said he would prefer to run Acceptance in the Grade 1 Hollywood Derby.

“The way he looked on the grass, it wouldn’t hurt my feelings if he never saw the dirt again,” Black said.

Black said he plans to discuss options with the partners who own Acceptance – Judy Johnston and Robert Riggio – before forming a plan. Other options include the $100,000 Cary Grant Stakes for California-breds at seven furlongs on dirt Nov. 22 or the $250,000 Seabiscuit Handicap at 1 1/16 miles on turf Nov. 27.

“He will run again at this meeting,” Black said. “I was so proud of my colt. It was the first time he’d been in a dogfight down the lane.”

Acceptance has won 3 of 5 starts. He won his first three starts, including two stakes for California-breds last year – the Golden State Juvenile at Santa Anita and the King Glorious Stakes at Santa Anita. He was turned out with an injury after finishing a well-beaten fourth as the 1-2 favorite in the California Cup Derby at Santa Anita in January.

Don Warren trained Acceptance for his first four starts. Warren retired in the summer when Black took over the stable.

The Hollywood Derby or Grade 2 Seabiscuit would be the graded stakes debut for Acceptance. Crittenden, who races for Sheikh Mohammed’s Godolphin Racing, has run in four such races. Crittenden’s best performance in a graded stakes was a second by a neck in the Grade 3 American Derby at Arlington Park in July.

In the Let It Ride Stakes, Critteden was second early and caught Acceptance in the final strides.

Crittenden won the $75,000 Permanently Disabled Jockey’s Fund Stakes at Indiana Downs in late May before losing three consecutive graded stakes, including a fourth in the Grade 2 Del Mar Derby on Sept. 6.

“He was unlucky in the Del Mar Derby,” said Harty. “He got fanned wide into the first turn.”

Crittenden has won 4 of 11 starts and earned $172,615.

Even with solid performances Saturday, Crittenden and Acceptance will not be favored in the Hollywood Derby. That role is expected to go to Om, who won the Del Mar Derby and the Twilight Derby at Santa Anita on Oct. 24.