Accelerate's Gold Cup win improves his status

ARCADIA, Calif. - Accelerate announced his presence in the California older horse division last July with a win in the Grade 2 San Diego Handicap at Del Mar by 8 1/2 lengths over a field that included 2017 Dubai World Cup winner Arrogate.

Accelerate is likely to start in the $200,000 San Diego Handicap again this year, on July 21, with an enhanced status on the circuit.

Accelerate won his second Grade 1 race at 1 1/4 miles this year in Saturday’s $500,345 Gold Cup at Santa Anita.

Ridden by Victor Espinoza, Accelerate ($5.80) swooped past two recent stakes winners in City of Light and Dr. Dorr to win by a commanding 4 1/4 lengths.

“It was such a good-looking win,” trainer John Sadler reflected Sunday.

Sadler said Accelerate is likely to have two starts at Del Mar, with the Grade 1 Pacific Classic at 1 1/4 miles on Aug. 18 as the main goal. Accelerate was third in the 2017 Pacific Classic behind Collected and Arrogate.

Sadler said an eight-week gap between the Gold Cup at Santa Anita and San Diego Handicap will work in favor of Accelerate, who has won 7 of 19 starts and $1,712,480 for Pete and Kosta Hronis.

“That’s a lot of time,” Sadler said.

The Gold Cup at Santa Anita was Accelerate’s fourth start of the year and third victory. He won the Grade 2 San Pasqual Stakes at 1 1/8 miles on Feb. 3 and the Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap at 1 1/4 miles on March 10 as the 5-2 favorite.

Accelerate was second by a neck to City of Light in the Grade 2 Oaklawn Handicap at 1 1/8 miles on April 14, carrying 123 pounds, three more than the winner. On Saturday, Accelerate carried 125 pounds, four more than City of Light under the allowance conditions of the Gold Cup at Santa Anita.

Dr. Dorr, who won the Grade 2 Californian Stakes at 1 1/8 miles on April 28, also carried 121 pounds. Dr. Dorr set the pace in the Gold Cup, and held second, finishing 1 1/4 lengths in front of City of Light, the 6-5 favorite.

City of Light started at 1 1/4 miles for the first time in the Gold Cup in his eighth start. He has won two Grade 1 races at seven furlongs in recent starts: the Malibu Stakes for 3-year-olds in December and the Triple Bend Stakes in March.