Accelerate targets Los Alamitos Derby

DEL MAR, Calif. – Accelerate won his stakes debut in Friday’s $100,690 Shared Belief Stakes for 3-year-olds, a victory that will lead to his graded stakes debut next month.

Trainer John Sadler said on Saturday that Accelerate will be pointed for the $200,000 Los Alamitos Derby, a Grade 2 race at 1 1/8 miles. The Los Alamitos Derby is the most lucrative race of the Los Angeles County Fair meeting at Los Alamitos, which runs from Sept. 8-25.

Accelerate had a perfect summer meeting at Del Mar, having won a maiden race at a mile in his fourth career start on July 28. Accelerate had his first start in April and has progressed rapidly in races over longer distances.

“He’s behind the class and catching up,” Sadler said. “He’s improving.”

Accelerate ($5.60) won the Shared Belief Stakes at a mile by a half-length over 14-1 Semper Fortis.

The recent success has Sadler and owners Pete and Kosta Hronis focusing as much on 2017 as on the remaining months of 2016. “He’s not going to run against older horses this year,” Sadler said.

Stellar Wind, the champion 3-year-old filly of 2015 for Hronis Racing and Sadler, worked a half-mile in 48.40 seconds on Saturday. Sadler said Stellar Wind galloped out five furlongs in 1:01.

Stellar Wind won the Grade 1 Clement L. Hirsch Stakes at Del Mar on July 30 and will not race again until the $300,000 Zenyatta Stakes for fillies and mares at Santa Anita on Oct. 1. She is a leading candidate for the Breeders’ Cup Distaff at Santa Anita on Nov. 4.

Stellar Wind has had two workouts since the Hirsch Stakes. The workouts were not designed for speed, Sadler said.

“We’re doing maintenance works and keeping her happy,” Sadler said. “We’ll do more when we get to Santa Anita.”

Illuminant gets a break

Illuminant, the winner of the Grade 1 Gamely Stakes at Santa Anita in May, was turned out this week for a 60-day rest.

Trainer Michael McCarthy said on Saturday that Illuminant will resume training in November for a 2017 season.

Owned by Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Illuminant has not raced since the Gamely Stakes after being sidelined with a back issue earlier this summer. A 4-year-old, Illuminant has won 4 of 11 starts and earned $367,650. The Gamely Stakes is her lone stakes win.