Accelerate © Benoit Photo
Hronis Racing’s Accelerate, the top-ranked older handicap Thoroughbred in the West, will face seven rivals as the 8-5 morning line favorite Saturday in Del Mar’s signature event of the summer season, the Grade I $1 million Pacific Classic.
The 28th running of the mile and one-quarter contest will headline an outstanding 11-race program which will also feature the Grade I $300,000 Del Mar Oaks for three-year-old fillies and the Grade II $250,000 Del Mar Handicap for older grass horses. Post time for the first race is 2 p.m.
Accelerate, a son of Lookin At Lucky, has peaked as a five-year-old under trainer John Sadler’s direction. He will be seeking to become only the third horse to win the Santa Anita Handicap and Gold Cup in the same year when he goes postward in the Pacific Classic, emulating Lava Man (2006) and Game On Dude (2013).
Journeying to Del Mar from the East Coast to ride Accelerate will be Joel Rosario, taking over for the injured Victor Espinoza.
Trying to spring a surprise versus Accelerate will be The Lieutenant, Drayden Van Dyke; Dr. Dorr, Joe Talamo; Prime Attraction, Kent Desormeaux; Roman Rosso, Flavien Prat; Beach View, Rafael Bejarano; Pavel, Mario Gutierrez, and Two Thirty Five, Franklin Ceballos. All horses carry 124 pounds.
Preceding the Pacific Classic, a “Win and You’re In” qualifying race for the Breeders’ Cup Classic in November at Churchill Downs, will be the Del Mar Handicap at a mile and three-eighths on the turf for older horses. Entrants are Kenjistorm, Flamboyant, Whoop Whoop, Ya Gotta Wanna, Unapologetic, Itsinthepost, Multiplier, Ashleyluvssugar, Colonist, Ritzy A.P., Cashman and Fashion Business. Likely favorite in a wide-open race is the 123-pound highweight Itsinthepost. The Del Mar Handicap also is a “Win and You’re In” race, qualifying the winner for the Breeders’ Cup Turf.
The Del Mar Oaks will match a dozen sophomore fillies – Ms Peintour, Streetwithnoname, Fool’s Paradise, Ollie’s Candy, Fatale Bere, Paved, Colonia, Californiagoldrush, Ms Bad Behavior, So Hi Society, Movie Moment and Animosity at nine furlongs over the infield Jimmy Durante Turf Course.
The Del Mar Handicap occupies the sixth race slot, the Del Mar Oaks is the eighth race, while the Pacific Classic will be run as the tenth race.