Accelerate gives Sadler first Pacific Classic victory in dominant performance

DEL MAR, Calif. – Trainer John Sadler first met the brothers Kosta and Pete Hronis eight years ago, and in the time since they have gradually developed into a major force on the West Coast, with top-class runners such as the champion Stellar Wind, but their ascension has reached its peak this summer at Del Mar, and was capped off in the most appropriate way on Saturday when their older runner Accelerate made a mockery of the Grade 1, $1 million Pacific Classic.

Accelerate pummeled his rivals and then kicked sand in their faces as he rolled to a 12 1/2-length victory in the track’s major race for older horses, adding to a summer of success for the barn that included Catalina Cruiser’s win in the San Diego and Yuvetsi’s upset in the Rancho Bernardo

It was significant for both horse and trainer. Accelerate became the third horse to win the Santa Anita Handicap, Gold Cup – now run at Santa Anita, formerly at Hollywood Park – and Pacific Classic in the same year, joining Lava Man and Game On Dude. And for Sadler, who has trained on this circuit with success for nearly four decades, this marked his first win in the Pacific Classic after 11 losses.

“I’m ready to retire,” Sadler said, joking. “It’s a race we’ve really wanted to win.

“I thought we had the best horse. It’s rewarding to have the dominant horse out here in the division.”

The only person who should have shared in the enjoyment but couldn’t was jockey Victor Espinoza, who had ridden Accelerate in all four of his starts this year, including three victories. He was injured in a training accident 27 days earlier. Sadler tabbed Joel Rosario to fly in from New York to ride, and Rosario ended up winning four races on the card.

“John always gave me opportunities since I first came here,” said Rosario, who used to ride on this circuit.

Accelerate ($2.80) was deservedly a heavy favorite. Not only had he scored resounding victories in the Santa Anita Handicap and Gold Cup, but this Pacific Classic did not have the depth of some stellar past runnings.

The overall quality of the card was terrific, though, and resulted in a single-day Del Mar record handle of $25,969,128 for a non-Breeders’ Cup Day. The previous record of $25,126,232 came on Pacific Classic Day 2016.

Accelerate was dominant. He broke a half-step slow at the start of the 1 1/4-mile race, but quickly got into an ideal stalking position coming by the stands the first time, just behind and outside pacesetting Roman Rosso and Prime Attraction. He remained three deep down the backstretch and into the far turn, and finally Rosario turned him loose.

“I felt like he was in a good spot,” Sadler said. “In the clear all the way.”

Accelerate had a four-length lead as he headed into the stretch, was up by eight with a furlong to go, and kept adding to the margin of victory. He completed 1 1/4 miles on the fast main track in 2:01.83.

In addition to the first prize of $600,000, Accelerate earned a fees-paid berth to the Breeders’ Cup Classic on Nov. 3 at Churchill Downs through the Win and You’re In program.

Pavel was a distant second, 3 3/4 lengths in front of Prime Attraction. Roman Rosso faded to fourth, then came, in order, Dr. Dorr, The Lieutenant, and Two Thirty Five.

Beach View was scratched the morning of the race with what trainer Leonard Powell said was a minor hoof injury.

Accelerate has now won four times in five starts this year, and he owns three Grade 1 victories. His lone loss came in the Oaklawn Handicap, which he lost by a neck to the top-class City of Light.

The rest of the year is designed to get Accelerate an Eclipse Award as, at least, champion older dirt male, though Kosta Hronis thinks Accelerate would deserve consideration for Horse of the Year should he win both the Awesome Again at Santa Anita and the Breeders’ Cup Classic, his next two scheduled starts.

“With all due respect to Justify, who did something that’s never been done,” he said, referring to the unbeaten Triple Crown winner, who is retired from racing, “that was 3-year-olds only. It’s a narrow lane compared to this level.

“Just being in the same conversation is wonderful. We’ll let it play out. I think he deserves consideration.”

Accelerate, 5, is by Lookin At Lucky. He has now won 8 times in 20 starts, and has earned $2,312,480. He is 4 for 6 Del Mar.

He is clearly in the best form of his life. Although he stunned Arrogate in last year’s San Diego, Accelerate was considered a middle-distance horse; he was third in last year’s Pacific Classic behind Collected and Arrogate. He hasn’t raced at a distance less than nine furlongs this year, and has consistently produced top performances and strong Beyer Speed Figures.

“He’s doing what we thought he would do when we put him at a mile and a quarter,” Kosta Hronis said. “He continues to step up, continues to get better.”

The same could be said about the Hronises and Sadler.