Accelerate Works Five Furlongs at Del Mar

A day after Catalina Cruiser dominated the $200,000 San Diego Handicap (G2), trainer John Sadler worked last year's San Diego winner at Del Mar.

Sadler scratched favored Accelerate from the San Diego July 21, but the two-time grade 1 winner got to stretch his legs July 22 at Del Mar in preparation for a possible start in the Aug. 4 Whitney Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Race Course or the Aug. 18 TVG Pacific Classic (G1).

Accelerate was clocked in :59 3/5 for five furlongs (from the half-mile pole to a furlong past the wire) and galloped out strongly through the turn.

"We've got three or four more works before the Pacific Classic, so we're happy with that," said Sadler, who said after the San Diego he would not run Catalina Cruiser and Accelerate (they're both owned by Hronis Racing) against each other in the Pacific Classic. "Two (works) if he goes to (the Whitney)."

BALAN: Catalina Cruiser Powerful in San Diego Victory

Sadler said he hasn't decided who will run in the Pacific Classic, but if it ends up being Accelerate, Catalina Cruiser could land in the Sept. 29 Awesome Again Stakes (G1).

"We'd probably run (Catalina Cruiser) in the one at Santa Anita (the Awesome Again)," Sadler said. "Somebody will run in the Awesome again and somebody will run somewhere else. (A race in between for Catalina Cruiser is) going to be bad timing no matter what. He runs so fast you have to space things out, but I've got to look."