Accelerate, 'Cruiser' Taking Different Paths to BC

Relaxed and admittedly a bit tired sitting on the stairs outside of his office on the Del Mar backside in between training sessions Aug. 19, trainer John Sadler reflected on one of the signature victories of his career.

"I'm just very happy—very pleased," Sadler said of Accelerate's 12 1/2-length victory in the TVG Pacific Classic (G1) a day prior. "It was such a good race for him. I looked at him once early and he looks good. We'll check him out the next two, three days. I feel like he's not even really that cooled out. He got back at about 8:30 last night.

"We'll let the adrenaline get down and see exactly where he's at. We're looking forward to the Breeders' Cup."

BALAN: Accelerate Dominates Pacific Classic by Record Margin

The Sept. 29 Awesome Again Stakes (G1) at Santa Anita Park will likely serve as a prep for the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) for Accelerate, but Hronis Racing's other standout chestnut, San Diego Handicap (G2) winner Catalina Cruiser, won't be joining him in the 1 1/4-mile feature at Churchill Downs.

Sadler's plan, for now, is to keep the two separate, and have Catalina Cruiser run in the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1). His next start will come in the Aug. 25 Pat O'Brien Stakes (G2) at Del Mar, which won out over the Sept. 1 Woodward Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Race Course.

BALAN: Catalina Cruiser Powerful in San Diego Victory

"We can do all that with Catalina Cruiser next year, because he's got off to a late start, and he's definitely going to run at 5," Sadler said of the lightly raced 4-year-old Union Rags  colt. "That was at the bottom of my decision not to run him in the Pacific Classic. Three starts, lightly raced horse, a mile and a quarter—a lot of people were pushing me to run.

"But why would I want to make it harder on my other horse? It's all different if it's different owners—then you have to represent them—but it's the same owners."

Sadler indicated he leaned toward the Pat O'Brien over a trip to Saratoga in part because the race at Del Mar is a "Win and You're In" qualifier for the Dirt Mile, and because the weather has been so poor at Saratoga this summer.

"What I keep going back to is how tough a year it's been with the weather over there," the trainer said. "I was talking to a radio show the other day, and they asked if I was going to come, and I said, 'Can you turn off the water?' If it was Accelerate (who won the grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap on a wet track), I wouldn't have to worry about it."