Accelerate to Lane's End on Retirement

Lane's End Farm announced Aug. 29 that three-time grade 1-winning multi-millionaire Accelerate  will stand at the Kentucky farm upon his retirement. 

"Accelerate has proven to be the best mile-and-a-quarter horse in training in America," said Bill Farish with Lane's End. "In his five starts this year, he's won four, including three grade 1s, and has run three of the five fastest Beyers all year: 115, 111, 110."

A son of champion Lookin At Lucky  out of the stakes-placed Awesome Again  mare Issues, Accelerate began his racing career as a sophomore, winning two stakes, including the Los Alamitos Derby (G2) in his graded stakes debut. He finished 2016 with a third to Tamarkuz  and Gun Runner  in the Las Vegas Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1).

As a 4-year-old, Accelerate was in the money in his next four starts, three of which were graded, before defeating Arrogate  in the TVG San Diego Handicap (G2). This victory marked Accelerate as one of the best handicap horses in training. The Hronis Racing color-bearer earned his first grade 1 score in the Santa Anita Handicap Presented by San Manuel Indian Bingo and Casino in March, which he followed up with a victory in the Gold Cup at Santa Anita Stakes (G1). Accelerate next set a record in the $1 Million TVG Pacific Classic Stakes (G1), winning by 12 1/2 lengths, the largest margin of victory in the history of the race.

Off his Pacific Classic effort, Accelerate has taken the top spot on the most recent NTRA Top Thoroughbred Poll over Triple Crown winner Justify. He is also one of only three horses to win the Santa Anita Handicap, Gold Cup, and Pacific Classic in the same season.

"Accelerate has been a superstar from the beginning," said trainer John Sadler. "He was a good 3-year-old, running third to two very good horses in the Breeders' Cup, he beat Arrogate as a 4-year-old, and this year he's proved he is one of, if not the best, active horses in America." 

Accelerate is from a familiar sire line to Lane's End, which stood Lookin At Lucky's sire Smart Strike. Accelerate is also a half brother to black-type winners Daddy D T and Amarish. He is inbred to Broodmare of the Year Smartaire, which is the family of champion 2-year-old filly Smart Angle and successful sire Smarten, who is most notable as the broodmare sire of Smart Strike. 

"Accelerate is the kind of horse that we seek out, that we believe in," said Will Farish. "Tough, sound, fast, classic distance handicap horses. These are the type of racehorses that have made Lane's End Stallions, what it is today." 

"We have been very fortunate to own a horse of Accelerate's caliber. Undoubtedly, he will be an exciting addition to the Lane's End roster, and we look forward to following his stallion career upon retirement from racing," Kosta Hronis said. 

Accelerate has a record of 8-5-5 from 20 starts and $2,312,480 in earnings.