Accelerate in excellent form for Pegasus

ARCADIA, Calif. - Accelerate has launched the final month of his career in excellent form.

The nation’s leading older male of 2018, Accelerate worked five furlongs in 1:00.40 at Santa Anita on Saturday in preparation for the $9 million Pegasus World Cup at Gulfstream Park on Jan. 26. It will be his last race before he is sent to stud in Kentucky in February.

Trainer John Sadler described Accelerate’s condition Sunday as “bright and great.”

Accelerate is scheduled for three additional workouts at Santa Anita before being sent to Gulfstream Park early on the week of the Pegasus World Cup. Accelerate has not raced since a one-length win in the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Churchill Downs on Nov. 3, his fifth Grade 1 win of 2018.

“He’s not going into the race a used-up horse,” Sadler said. “He’s not a tired horse. The spacing in perfect.”

Accelerate will have 84 days between the BC Classic and the Pegasus World Cup. Last summer, Accelerate won the Gold Cup at Santa Anita on May 26 and did not race again until a win in the Pacific Classic at Del Mar on Aug. 18, a gap of 84 days.

“It’s very similar to the amount of time between the Gold Cup to the Pacific Classic,” Sadler said.