Accountability First Winner for Acclamation

Champion and California freshman sire Acclamation gained his first winner Aug. 12 at Del Mar when son Accountability posted a game half-length victory in the eighth race. 

Acclamation, a 10-year-old by six-time leading California sire Unusual Heat—Winning in Style, by Silveyville, stands at Old English Rancho near Sanger, Calif., where his 2016 fee was $15,000. He has 30 2-year-olds in his first crop.

Acclamation, who was bred and raced by Old English Rancho, was champion older male of 2011 after scoring five graded wins, including three at the grade I level in the TVG Pacific Classic, Eddie Read Stakes, and Charles Whittingham Memorial Handicap. Overall, he compiled an 11-2-6 career line from 30 starts and earned $1,958,048 in five seasons. He was California's Horse of the Year twice, in 2011 and 2012.

Craig Martin and Paul L. Newhart's Accountability dueled for command until getting a slim lead in the final furlong and then digging in under urging from jockey Drayden Van Dyke to triumph for trainer Rafael Becerra. The colt covered the 5 1/2-furong maiden special weight race in 1:05.48. 

Out of stakes winner Roberta's Mango, by Bold Badgett, Accountability was bred in California by Old English Rancho, which sold him via agent Harris Farms to Newhart for $25,000 at last year's Barretts select yearling sale at Del Mar