Acclamation staying home for Clement Hirsch; BC Turf run possible

Acclamation is back in the Breeders’ Cup picture following a change in plans that call for California’s top older horse to make his next start Oct. 2 at Santa Anita rather than travel to Woodbine.

Trainer Don Warren said Friday that Acclamation will stay home and run in the Grade 2, $150,000 Clement L. Hirsch at Santa Anita next Sunday. A previously planned ship to Woodbine for the Grade 1, $1.5 million Canadian International on Oct. 16 was scrapped because of complicated shipping arrangements.

“The plan is to stay here and run in the turf race at Santa Anita,” Warren said. “The Breeders’ Cup is back on the table.”

Acclamation, whose four-race win streak includes Grade 1’s on turf at Hollywood Park and Del Mar and on Polytrack at Del Mar, will be considered for the Breeders’ Cup Turf pending his effort in the 1 1/4-mile Hirsch. Acclamation requires a $100,000 fee to become eligible to the Breeders’ Cup.

Owner-breeder Bud Johnston originally planned to run Acclamation on Oct. 16 at Woodbine, which would have precluded wheeling back Nov. 5 in the Breeders’ Cup Turf. The revised campaign means Acclamation would have nearly five weeks from the Hirsch to the Breeders’ Cup.

A 5-year-old California-bred by Unusual Heat, Acclamation has won eight races and more than $1.5 million from 27 starts. He worked seven furlongs on turf Thursday at Santa Anita under exercise rider Fernando Valenzuela.

“It was just a nice maintenance move,” Warren said. “We didn’t want to put the screws to him.”