With Espinoza sidelined, Accelerate needs rider for Pacific Classic

DEL MAR, Calif. – With Victor Espinoza sidelined for the remainder of the Del Mar meeting after fracturing his C-3 vertebra last Sunday, trainer John Sadler will need a replacement rider should Accelerate start, as planned, in the Grade 1, $1 million Pacific Classic on Aug. 18.

Sadler said he’s not in a big hurry to make a decision, but that whoever does ride Accelerate would work him before the race.

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Espinoza was injured when the stakes-winning sprinter Bobby Abu Dhabi was fatally stricken by what appeared to be a sudden cardiac event while working Sunday morning. Espinoza’s agent, Brian Beach, reported that Espinoza will have to wear a neck brace for approximately six weeks, but that Espinoza was up walking Monday afternoon while still hospitalized at Scripps La Jolla.

The Pacific Classic is at 1 1/4 miles, the distance at which Accelerate won the Santa Anita Handicap and Gold Cup at Santa Anita earlier this year.

Excuses for Hunt, Itsinthepost

Hunt and Itsinthepost, two of the top choices in the Eddie Read last Sunday, both turned in uncharacteristically poor performances, finishing last and next to last, respectively. But both had excuses, their trainers said.

Hunt “ran with full plates on both front feet because he had scraped his frogs, and in hindsight I just should have waited for the Del Mar Mile,” said his trainer, Phil D’Amato. “He galloped great in them, but he couldn’t grip the turf.

“Hopefully, he’ll be ready for the Del Mar Mile,” D’Amato said, referring to a grass race Aug. 19. “Draw a line through the race. That was trainer error.”

Itsinthepost was “a little flat after the race,” said his trainer, Jeff Mullins, who also thought the Eddie Read did not unfold in Itsinthepost’s favor.

“Too short, the pace was too fast, and he was too close to the pace,” Mullins said. “He’s been so good to us I think we’ll forgive him one.”

Mother Mother lives up to expectations

Mother Mother, an impressive winner of her debut last Sunday, likely will await the Grade 1 Del Mar Debutante on Sept. 1 for her next start, according to her trainer, Bob Baffert.

Mother Mother came into the meet considered one of the best prospects in the 2-year-old filly division, and she delivered, winning by 6 1/2 lengths and earning a Beyer Speed Figure of 87.

“We were hoping she would run that well,” Baffert said.

◗ Mubtaahij, scratched from the San Diego on Saturday when he spiked a temperature, remains a candidate for the Pacific Classic, Baffert said.