Sherrifa scores upset in Critical Eye Stakes

ELMONT, N.Y. – Trainer Linda Rice won the Critical Eye Stakes for the second straight year. Last year, it was expected. This year, not so much.

Electing to keep defending Critical Eye winner La Verdad in the barn, Rice went to battle in Monday’s $200,000 Critical Eye with Sherrifa, who, under Jose Ortiz, galloped to a clear advantage and then, despite tiring noticeably, held on for a 2 1/4-length victory in the Critical Eye at Belmont Park.

Sheriffa ran her first half-mile in 45.77 seconds and her second half-mile in 51.55. She ran a mile in 1:37.32.

The Critical Eye was the last of six stakes races offered on Big Apple Showcase Day, a 10-race program devoted entirely to horses bred in New York. Sheriffa was the longest-priced winner of the six stakes races, returning $20.40 as the 9-1 sixth choice in the field of 10.

Rice had claimed Sheriffa, a 4-year-old daughter of Posse, for $16,000 last September. After sprinting her three times without success, Rice stretched Sheriffa out in distance this winter at Aqueduct, and she won two straight over the inner track. In her most recent start, Sheriffa stumbled at the start and had to come from off the pace, settling for second, 2 1/2 lengths back of Saythreehailymary’s, who finished second on Monday.

“When I claimed her, she was running short, and she was certainly worth $16,000, but it’s really been a switch to a route of ground that’s made the difference with her,” said Rice, who claimed the filly for Antonino Miuccio.

Rice claimed Palace for $20,000 in 2012 for Miuccio, and that New York-bred became a multiple Grade 1 winner.

Rice said her aspirations for Sheriffa are not as grandiose.

“I was looking to try and get as [much] purse earnings as possible with her. I didn’t really have stakes in mind,” Rice said. “It creates a new problem. I can’t run her for a claiming price.”

Hot Stones, who finished second in this race a year ago, finished fourth on Monday, beaten 5 1/2 lengths as the 2-1 favorite under John Velazquez.

“He had her in a good spot. When it came time to run, she didn’t pick it up,”
trainer Bruce Levine said.