Acclimate continues comeback in Unusual Heat Turf Classic

When Acclimate ran on Thanksgiving weekend, he was trying to overcome a 13-month layoff caused by a minor injury, the pandemic, the effects of a massive wildfire, and the absence of a suitable prep race.

When Acclimate finally did start, he finished fourth, beaten two lengths by the multiple stakes winner Arklow, in the Grade 2 Hollywood Turf Cup at 1 1/2 miles at Del Mar on Nov. 27. The performance left trainer Phil D’Amato confident Acclimate was back to the form that led to two graded stakes wins and an appearance in the Breeders’ Cup Turf at Santa Anita in 2019.

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Acclimiate’s 2021 campaign begins in Saturday’s $200,000 Unusual Heat Turf Classic for California-bred 4-year-olds and up at 1 1/8 miles at Santa Anita, and the race could lead to a start in the Grade 2 San Marcos Stakes at 1 1/4 miles on turf on Jan. 30.

“This is against Cal-breds and a turn-back in distance,” D’Amato said. “I’m expecting a nice 2021 campaign and to stretch him out.”

Acclimate’s top rivals on Saturday include Ward ’n Jerry, the winner of the Grade 3 San Luis Rey Stakes at 1 1/2 miles on turf at Santa Anita last March, and Margot’s Boy, who was beaten a head after leading late in the Grade 2 Del Mar Derby at 1 1/8 miles on Sept. 6.

The race drew a field of 11, including the stakes winners Brandothebartender, Fly to Mars, Heck Yeah, Indian Peak, and Marckie’s Water.

Acclimate, owned by the family of the late Bud Johnston, Timmy Time Racing, and Ken Tevelde, set the pace in the Hollywood Turf Cup. He won the Grade 3 San Juan Capistrano Stakes at about 1 3/4 miles and the Grade 2 Del Mar Handicap at 1 3/8 miles in the summer of 2019 by setting the pace.

D’Amato said the presence of speedy runners Fly to Mars and Heck Yeah may keep Acclimate from the front on Saturday. Tyler Baze, who was aboard for the Hollywood Turf Cup, retains the mount.

“I’ll leave it up to Tyler,” D’Amato said. “I’ll let him play the break. He knows he’s got a class horse underneath him.”

After a ninth-place finish behind Bricks and Mortar in the 2019 BC Turf at Santa Anita, Acclimate was turned out with what D’Amato described as a “soft-tissue” injury.

“It wasn’t anything major,” he said. “The owners decided to give him two months more, and when we did bring him back it was the heart of the COVID crisis and we were trying to figure out when to race again.

“I had him ready at Santa Anita and we had the fires. Then there was no race. It was one thing after another.”

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Ward ’n Jerry was seventh by 4 1/4 lengths at 114-1 in the Hollywood Turf Cup, a loss that did not discourage trainer Mike Puype.

“The race was full of talent,” Puype said. “He ran really well. That was the toughest race of his life.”

Puype’s concern about Saturday’s Turf Classic is the distance, which is shorter than Ward ’n Jerry’s ideal trip.

“The distance is not his best,” Puype said. “It’s $200,000 and it’s Cal-breds. We’ll try. I think we’ll be okay.”