Acceptance taking proven path in King Glorious
CYPRESS, Calif. – There is a good reason why the unbeaten Acceptance is starting in Sunday’s $200,000 King Glorious Stakes for California-bred 2-year-olds at Los Alamitos and not in the Grade 1, $500,000 Los Alamitos Futurity on Dec. 20.
“Chrome did it last year, and it didn’t hurt him,” said Bud Johnston, the breeder and co-owner of Acceptance.
California Chrome won the King Glorious Stakes at Hollywood Park last December, the first of six consecutive stakes wins that included the Santa Anita Derby, Kentucky Derby, and Preakness Stakes.
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No one can possibly know how far Acceptance will progress, but his two races give Johnston, his wife, Judy, co-owner Robert Riggio, and trainer Don Warren reasons to dream.
Bettors can expect Acceptance to be a short-priced favorite in the one-mile King Glorious. Acceptance is the only stakes winner in a field of six, which includes Mischief Clem, who was third to Acceptance in the Golden State Juvenile at Santa Anita over seven furlongs Nov. 1.
Three of the other four entrants – Commance Ruler, Kluszewski, and Pulmarack – are maiden race winners. P Club is a maiden after six races.
KEY CONTENDERS
Acceptance (Beyers: 77-76)
◗ Acceptance won his debut in a maiden special weight race over 6 1/2 furlongs by 13 1/4 lengths at Santa Anita on Oct. 5. In the Golden State Juvenile, Acceptance was always close to the pace and took control in early stretch, winning by 1 1/4 lengths.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 3 Acceptance. Trainer Don Warren is 64-2-6-8 with a $0.79 ROI over the past five years with all runners going sprint to route. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
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◗ Johnston said the one-mile distance of the King Glorious Stakes is more appealing than the 1 1/16 miles of the Los Alamitos Futurity.
“I don’t know how far he’ll go,” Johnston said. “I don’t know if he’s a Derby horse, but he’s a runner.”
◗ Elvis Trujillo has been aboard Acceptance for his two races and has the mount Sunday. Trujillo said on Thursday that Acceptance is adaptable to any pace situation, but he expects the colt to be near the front.
“The track is fast, and this horse has speed,” Trujillo said. “I think he can do a mile. He’s got a lot of talent.”
Mischief Clem (Last 3 Beyers: 74-71-67)
◗ Mischief Clem returned from the Golden State Juvenile to finish second in a six-furlong optional claimer against open company at Del Mar on Nov. 21, losing by a head by Tizcano.
“I was pleased he finished well and galloped out great,” trainer Bob Hess Jr. said. “I think that bodes well for this Sunday.”
◗ The King Glorious Stakes will be Mischief Clem’s first start at as far as a mile.
“Given his mentality and his patience, I think he will be more effective at a mile,” Hess said. “I think the sprints have been hurry up, hurry up for him. Obviously, the favorite is a freak and the horse to beat. I think at a mile, we have a shot.”
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 6 Pulmarack. Trainer 25-12-3-1 with a $2.95 ROI over the past five years in dirt routes with juveniles following a layoff of 45 days or more. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan