Popular claimers Accelerant, Nextdoorneighbor finally clash

Accelerant and Nextdoorneighbor, both age 9, both have raced 51 times, and both have been mainstays on this circuit for years. Yet they will finally meet for the first time on Friday in race 4, a $12,500 claimer at seven furlongs.

Accelerant largely has run in two-turn races in recent years, and Nextdoorneighbor in sprints. There have been a handful of occasions over the years when they have run on the same card, but never in the same race.

Accelerant has won 8 of his 51 starts, including his last, an $8,000 claimer at Santa Anita on Oct. 16 going one mile.

Nextdoorneighbor has won 13 of his 51 starts, including his last two, both sprints at Santa Anita in which he was in for $8,000.