Accelerate Could Run in Whitney or Pacific Classic Next
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Photo: Coady Photography
Accelerate could be headed to the East coast for his next start
Accelerate, the West Coast's top handicap horse, has been scratched from the $200,000 San Diego Handicap (G2) July 21 at Del Mar and could be headed to the East Coast next, according to his owner.
Kosta Hronis of Hronis Racing said Saturday morning all was well with the 5-year-old son of Lookin At Lucky , and that his next race could come in the Aug. 18 TVG Pacific Classic (G1) at Del Mar or in the Aug. 4 Whitney Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Race Course. Accelerate has only made one start outside of California in his 19-race career, when he came up just a neck short to City of Light in the April 14 Oaklawn Handicap (G2).
Trainer John Sadler, who entered a trio of Hronis' horses in the San Diego, said earlier in the week he would not run all three—Accelerate, Catalina Cruiser, and Curlin Rules. The trainer has described the undefeated but lightly raced Catalina Cruiser as "a monster." Hronis said they wanted to run Catalina Cruiser in an allowance race at Del Mar that didn't fill, and didn't want to run the Union Rags colt and Accelerate against each other.
"Accelerate is perfect and will work tomorrow," the owner said. "No issue, just can't run them both (Accelerate and Catalina Cruiser) in this."
The Oaklawn Handicap is Accelerate's lone defeat of the year. He's won his other three starts—the San Pasqual (G2), the Santa Anita Handicap Presented by San Manuel Indian Bingo and Casino (G1), and The Gold Cup at Santa Anita Stakes (G1)—all at Santa Anita Park. He has more than $1.7 million in earnings and won the San Diego in 2017.