Accelerate © Benoit Photo
Hronis Racing’s Accelerate, who has emerged as one of the top older Thoroughbreds in America this year, will pack highweight of 125 pounds versus nine rivals in the Grade II $200,000 San Diego Handicap Saturday at Del Mar.
Co-feature Saturday is the $200,000 San Clemente Stakes for three-year-old fillies at one mile on the grass.
In the sharpest form of his career, Accelerate will have regular rider Victor Espinoza aboard when he seeks to defend his title in the San Diego at a mile and one-sixteenth on the main track. He was an 8 ½ -length winner a year ago while packing 117, a race also notable for the fact 1-9 favored Arrogate finished a distant fourth in a stunning upset.
Accelerate, a five-year-old son of Lookin at Lucky trained by John Sadler, has won three of four starts in 2018, including two Grade I events, the Santa Anita Handicap and the Gold Cup at Santa Anita. In his only loss this season, he was second, beaten a neck, to City of Light in the Oaklawn Handicap. He also won the Grade II San Pasqual. After his victory in the ’17 San Diego, he was second to Collected in the $1 million TVG Pacific Classic.
Opposing Accelerate will be Catalina Cruiser, Drayden Van Dyke; Dr. Dorr, Joe Talamo; Sharp Samurai, Gary Stevens; Two Thirty Five, Franklin Ceballos; Curlin Rules, Tyler Baze; Prince of Arabia, Stewart Elliott; El Huerfano, Tyler Conner; Dabster, Flavien Prat, and Harlan Punch, Martin Pedroza.
Dr. Dorr was unplaced in the Suburban at Belmont Park July 7, but prior to that was second to Accelerate in the Gold Cup and won the Grade II Californian at Santa Anita. Sharp Samurai was Del Mar’s champion three-year-old last summer after winning the La Jolla Handicap and Del Mar Derby on turf. In from the East Coast is Harlan Punch, victorious in the Grade III Phil Iselin at Monmouth Park.
The San Clemente Stakes attracted 14 fillies – Rocking Ready, Ms Bad Behavior, Flammetta, Miss Sienna, Ahimsa, Dulce Ride, Streak of Luck, Animosity, West Palm Beach, War Heroine, Pursuing the Dream, Lexington Grace, Ms Pintour and Ollie’s Candy.
Post time for the first of ten races is 2 p.m.