OCEANPORT – At 8 years old and coming off a five-month layoff, The Critical Way showed that, as trainer Jose Delgado said, “he’s still got it.”
Sent to the front quickly, The Critical Way blazed fast early fractions and still had plenty in reserve to score an impressive two-and-a-half-length victory in the $100,000 Get Serious Stakes at Monmouth Park on May 22, according to a press release.
The winning time for the five furlongs over a turf course rated “good” was :55.52.
“I was a little worried going into the race, because when you come off a four- or five-month layoff you often see a horse getting tired late,” said Delgado, who won three races on the nine-race card. “But five furlongs for him is like a workout in the morning. The only difference is it’s in the afternoon. We got him ready. We showed he can still do it.
“I wasn’t worried about the (fast early) fractions because we discovered he is better on the lead than coming off the pace and that’s where he was today.”
Sent off at 4-1 in the field of nine, The Critical Way ripped through an opening quarter in :21.08, making the opening half-mile in :43.73. But there were no serious challengers late,
The gelded son of Tizway won for the 10th time in 29 career starts, earning his eighth career victory on the grass.
He was pulled up in his last start on Dec. 1 at Tampa Downs.
“He got pulled up in his last start because the jockey (Samy Camacho) said he didn’t feel right,” said Delgado. “We had him checked out and nothing was wrong, but we gave him 90 days off to let him get back to being himself and to get fresh. It worked very well because it showed today he still has it.
“You have to pick your spots with him because he is an 8-year-old. But the one thing about 8-year-olds is they know where the wire is.”
The Critical Way returned $10.20 to win. High Limit Room rallied for second, a half-length better than Discreet Tune.
Gulfstream shipper Yes I Am, the 2-1 favorite in part because of a Grade 3 victory two races back, was last.
In other Monmouth Park news, jockey Samy Camacho already has a memorable moment from his first summer riding at Monmouth Park since 2012.
The Caracas, Venezuela, native notched his 1,000th career victory during a three-win day on May 21 at the shore oval. The milestone victory came aboard Toned Up in the ninth race that day.
“It’s very special,” said Camacho. “When I came to this country I came just hoping to win some races. I never thought I would win 1,000 races here. It’s a dream come true. I’m very happy. I’m thankful to all of the owners and trainers who have given me the opportunity to ride.”
Camacho first rode in the United States in 2012 as an apprentice, riding mostly at Parx, The Meadowlands and Monmouth Park before returning to Venezuela for the next three years after he lost the weight allowances.
He came back to riding full-time in the United States in 2016 and has been based at Tampa Downs and Gulfstream Park since then.
His favorite horse to this point, he said, is 2020 Tampa Bay Derby winner King Guillermo, who scratched from the Kentucky Derby due to a fever two days before the race.
“Hopefully I will get my chance in the Kentucky Derby someday,” Camacho said.
