Rosario to ride Accelerate in Pacific Classic

DEL MAR, Calif. – Monday was trainer John Sadler’s 62nd birthday, but he was the one doling out presents. Sadler said that Joel Rosario would replace the injured Victor Espinoza aboard Accelerate in the Grade 1, $1 million Pacific Classic at Del Mar on Aug. 18.

Espinoza fractured the C-3 vertebra in his neck on July 22 and is out for the meet. Sadler said he chose Rosario, who is based on the East Coast but once was the dominant rider in Southern California, because they “have a good history together.”

Sadler and Rosario topped the trainer and jockey standings multiple times at Del Mar over the years, including in tandem in 2009.

“We won the title here, won some big races together,” Sadler said.

Accelerate is expected to be favored in the Pacific Classic, a 1 1/4-mile race for older horses that is the richest race of the season. Accelerate already owns two Grade 1, 1 1/4-mile wins this year – in the Santa Anita Handicap and Gold Cup at Santa Anita, both with Espinoza aboard.

Accelerate worked six furlongs in 1:14.80 on Sunday morning with Sadler’s assistant, the former jockey Juan Leyva.