Godolphin Racing's Crittenden, energetically handled by jockey Martin Garcia, wore down pacesetting Acceptance in a prolonged stretch battle to win Saturday's featured $82,150 Let It Ride Stakes for three-year-olds.

 

Crittenden, trained by Eoin Harty, scored by a neck over a stubborn Acceptance, who went to the lead from the gate under Alonso Quinonez and held on gamely in the stretch in his first race since last January.

 

Perfectly Majestic finished third, another three-quarters of a length farther back and one and one-half lengths ahead of fourth-place Fueled by Bourbon in the field of six. Ground Rules, the lukewarm 5-2 favorite, was last.

 

Crittenden, a Kentucky-bred son of Distorted Humor, ran the mile over the infield Jimmy Durante Turf Course in 1:34.56 and returned $9.80, $5 and $3 as third choice in the betting. Acceptance returned $7 and $4.40, while Perfectly Majestic paid $2.40 to show. 

 

For Crittenden, it was his fourth triumph in 11 career efforts and first money of $46,440 increased his bankroll to $172,615. Last summer, the colt was fourth to Om in the Hollywood Derby at Del Mar.

 

With no perfect tickets in the Pick Six, there will be a carryover of $59,754 into Sunday's eight-race program beginning at 12:30 p.m.

 

Saturday's crowd was 5,086.