Accelerate targeting Pacific Classic; Catalina Cruiser to skip race

DEL MAR, Calif. – Accelerate will be the likely representative from the John Sadler barn in the Pacific Classic on Aug. 18, the trainer said Sunday morning, a bit after Accelerate worked five furlongs in 59.60 seconds and the morning after stablemate Catalina Cruiser romped in the San Diego Handicap.

Sadler said that having pondered the situation overnight, he thought running the unbeaten Catalina Cruiser 1 1/4 miles in the Pacific Classic in only his fourth start might be a bit much, so he was inclined to wait with him for something later this summer or fall – perhaps the 1 1/8-mile Awesome Again at Santa Anita – and keep Accelerate on target for the Pacific Classic, rather than send him to Saratoga for the Whitney.

Sadler said his long-term goals for the two are to get Accelerate to the Breeders' Cup Classic and look at the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile for Catalina Cruiser. Those races are at Churchill Downs this year.

Catalina Cruiser got a Beyer Speed Figure of 107 for his San Diego victory.