(from Hollywood Park)
Criminologist, a multiple graded stakes winner, will be supplemented to the $500,000 Matriarch (gr. IT) on Nov. 30 at Hollywood Park, trainer Shug McGaughey confirmed Nov. 19 from New York. The fee is $10,000 for the one-mile turf test for fillies and mares.
“All systems are go,” said McGaughey from Belmont Park, where the 5-year-old mare has worked three times since a third-place finish as the favorite in the Oct. 11 Athenia Handicap (gr. IIIT).
“She was down inside and the turf was a little soft,” said McGaughey of her Athenia showing. “She’s been doing awfully well, and we thought she deserved another chance.
“She should get firm turf and probably some pace out there,” added McGaughey. “This will be her last race. She has won four grade IIIs but no grade Is.”
McGaughey said the mare would be flown west Nov. 24 and be ridden by Edgar Prado, who won the 2006 Matriarch on Price Tag.
Criminologist, winner of the Noble Damsel Handicap (gr. IIIT) at Belmont two starts back, has won nine of 21 outings and earned $544,313 for owner-breeders Stuart Janney III and the Phipps Stable.
The Matriarch is the co-feature with the $500,000 Hollywood Derby (gr. IT) on closing day of the three-day, six-race Turf Festival, which begins Nov. 28.
