Acclimate leads all the way in San Juan Capistrano Stakes

ARCADIA, Calif. - Acclimate led throughout Saturday’s Grade 3 San Juan Capistrano Stakes at about 1 3/4 miles on turf to win the historic race for the second time in three years.

Acclimate was ridden by Ricky Gonzalez, his first career graded stakes win on turf in his first mount in a race that begins at the top of Santa Anita’s signature hillside turf course. Gonzalez, in his first full year of riding in Southern California, described the win as “special.”

Acclimate won the 2019 San Juan Capistrano, the longest stakes race at Santa Anita. A 7-year-old gelding, Acclimate did not start in the 2020 San Juan Capistrano.

Sent off favored on Saturday, Acclimate ($6) was never challenged and pulled clear to win by 3 3/4 lengths over 8-1 Astronaut. Acclimate was in front a few strides away from the gate, and held an advantage of 2 1/2 lengths on the backstretch after six furlongs in 1:11.56 and a mile in 1:35.48.

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Acclimate was timed in 2:49.74, and earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 97.

“He likes to be in front,” Gonzalez said. “We wanted to keep the distance from the other horses.

“He relaxed. I knew when he kicked at the three-eighths pole I had enough to get away from them.”

Astronaut finished 1 1/4 lengths clear of 2-1 Red King, the winner of the 2020 San Juan Capistrano.

Ward ‘n Jerry finished fourth, followed by Lure Him In and Pillar Mountain.

Phil D’Amato trains Acclimate and Red King and has won the last three runnings of the San Juan, which dates to 1935.

Acclimate, a California-bred by Acclamation, has won 7 of 25 starts and has earned $557,872. The $100,500 San Juan Capistrano was Acclimate’s first win in eight starts, since the Grade 2 Del Mar Handicap in August 2019. Later that year, Acclimate was ninth of 12 in the Breeders’ Cup Turf at Santa Anita.

Acclimate made one start in 2020, finishing fourth in the Grade 2 Hollywood Turf Cup last November. The San Juan Capistrano was Acclimate’s sixth start of 2021, preceded by a game second in the Grade 2 Charles Whittingham Stakes at 1 1/4 miles on turf on May 29.

Acclimate races for the family of the late Bud Johnston, Timmy Tie Racing, and Ken Tevelde.

Gonzalez, 25, relocated from northern California last summer and won the first Grade 1 race of his career in the La Brea Stakes last December on Fair Maiden.

The San Juan Capistrano has been won in the past by such runners as John Henry (1980), Great Communicator (1988) and Kotashaan (2003).

Kanderel wins Siren Lure

Kanderel closed from last of seven to win his first stakes in more than a year in Saturday’s $82,950 Siren Lure Stakes for turf sprinters.

Ridden by Juan Hernandez, Kanderel rallied wide to take the lead in the final strides, prevailing by a half-length over 5-1 Commander. Chasin Munny, the 6-5 favorite, closed from fifth in the final turn, finishing third by three-quarters of a length.

Kanderel ($10.60) ran 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:14.98 and earned a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 94.

Wound Tight finished fourth, followed by Tilted Towers, Texas Wedge, and Tatters to Riches.

Kanderel, owned by Alan and Gerard Wertheimer and trained by Richard Mandella, has won 4 of 13 starts and has earned $195,982. A 4-year-old gelding by Candy Ride, Kanderel won the Alcatraz Stakes at a mile on turf for 3-year-olds at Golden Gate Fields in June 2020.

The Siren Lure was Kanderel’s second consecutive win, preceded by a 14-1 upset in an allowance race at 6 1/2 furlongs on turf on May 9.