Acclimate surprises in San Juan Capistrano

ARCADIA, Calif. – Acclimate, who could have been claimed for $20,000 last September or $25,000 in October, earned $60,000 for winning his stakes debut in Sunday’s Grade 3 San Juan Capistrano Stakes on the closing day of the Santa Anita spring-summer meeting.

Acclimate ($21) led throughout the $100,702 San Juan Capistrano at about 1 3/4 miles on turf. Ridden by Martin Garcia, Acclimate led by as many as three lengths and held off a late threat from 5-2 Oscar Dominguez to win by a half-length.

“It was a masterful ride by Martin,” trainer Phil D’Amato said. “He did it very comfortably.”

Acclimate set fractions of 46.10 seconds for the first half-mile and 1:09.76 for six furlongs. He finished in 2:48.80. Acclimate earned a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 90.

“I had an idea how fast I was going,” Garcia said. “I gave him a little breather and he responded. He took off again.”

Oscar Dominguez, who was claimed for $40,000 in February, finished 1 1/4 lengths in front of the D’Amato-trained Red King, a 7-1 chance who was claimed for $35,000 in February.

Ya Gotta Wanna, third in the Grade 2 John Henry Turf Championship here last September, finished fourth, followed by Causeforcommotion, Mongolian Groom, and Ground Attack.

Causeforcommotion, a 5-year-old mare, was the 2-1 favorite. She was as close as second on the turn, but could not sustain the momentum. Causeforcommotion won the Grade 3 Santa Barbara Stakes at 1 1/2 miles on turf for fillies and mare by nine lengths on May 11.

Acclimate, a 5-year-old California-bred gelding by Acclimation races for the Ellwood Johnston Trust and Timmy Time Racing. Acclimate has won 5 of 14 starts and earned $175,521.

In a prep for the San Juan Capistrano, Acclimate won a starter allowance for $50,000 claimers at 1 1/8 miles on turf on May 31, leading throughout.

Ruby Bradley wins maiden in Melair Stakes

Ruby Bradley, winless in her first five starts, won a poor running of Sunday’s $188,000 Melair Stakes for 3-year-old California-bred fillies.

D’Amato trains Ruby Bradley, giving him two stakes wins on the 10-race program.

Ridden by Aaron Gryder, Ruby Bradley ($9.80) won by a half-length over 3-1 Tiz a Master, finishing 1 1/16 miles in a slow 1:49.92. Ruby Bradley closed from last to reach the front in the final furlong.

Tiz a Master finished 3 1/2 lengths clear of 3-1 Violette Szabo, who was followed by Don’t Sell and Sedamar. Don’t Sell was the 2-1 favorite.

The field was reduced to five following the Saturday morning withdrawal of Sneaking Out, the winner of the $200,000 Evening Jewel Stakes for state-bred 3-year-old fillies in April. Sneaking Out was one of four horses trained by Jerry Hollendorfer scratched by racing officials on Saturday and Sunday. Hollendorfer was ordered by track management to vacate his stalls on Saturday after American Currency sustained a fatal injury in a workout on the training track that morning.

Hollendorfer moved his stable to Los Alamitos on Sunday. Sneaking Out was the 4-5 favorite on the morning-line for the Melair Stakes.

Ruby Bradley, by Grazen, was third in the Evening Jewel Stakes in her third start, and later second in maiden races for California-bred 3-year-old fillies around one turn at Santa Anita on April 28 and at Golden Gate Fields on June 1.

“She’s kind of been unlucky to not break her maiden by now,” D’Amato said. “She didn’t get the greatest of rides up at Golden Gate, but I was intent on running her anyway. I felt the longer the better and Aaron gave her a superb ride.”