Racing! Accelerate dominant in Pacific Classic

Hello, my name is John Cherwa and welcome back to our horse racing newsletter as we’re sorry to see Unique Bella having to hang it up so soon.

Before we get to Saturday’s big day at Del Mar, you need to take the time to read Bill Plaschke’s story on Victor Espinoza. Victor is worse off than many of us thought. He needs 24-hour care but is hopeful in the end he can return to racing. He describes the incident and how it has changed his life. Just click here.

Now, let’s get to the big race of the day, the $1 million Pacific Classic. Saying that Accelerate was dominating would be an understatement. He made his move entering the far turn, led by five at the top of the stretch and went on to win by 12 ½ lengths, a record for this race.

The bettors knew he was the best as he paid a sub-prime $2.80, $2.40 and $2.10. Pavel was second and Prime Attraction finished third.

John Sadler is the trainer, breaking an 0-11 streak in the Pacific Classic. Joel Rosario was the jockey.

He certainly has to be considered the favorite in the Breeders’ Cup Classic. But here’s the rub. He’s run 19 of his 20 races all in Southern California. His only out-of-state race was a second in the Oaklawn Handicap to City of Light. This year, the Classic is in Churchill Downs in Louisville.

It was undoubtedly bittersweet for Espinoza, who has ridden Accelerate seven of his last eight races. Again, check out the Plaschke story mentioned above.

For more on the Pacific Classic and what the connections had to say, check out the story in the Times. Just click here.

Unique Bella retired

Superstar filly Unqiue Bella was retired Saturday after a sesamoid fracture was discovered after her morning workout. The sesamoid in a horse is located on what we might call a knee, the area where the two leg bones come together. According to a translated tweet from the Don Alberto Stable: “The doctors have confirmed that once she is stabilized, she will be taken to our farm to continue her recovery.”

Unique Bella had won nine of 12 starts with two seconds. The only time she wasn’t in the top two was her seventh in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint. She won three Grade 1s and earned almost $1.3 million.

“She’s not in any distress,” trainer Jerry Hollendorfer told Jay Privman of the Daily Racing Form. “It’s not a super bad fracture, just a small chip.”

Rob Henie at Del Mar

Our own Rob Henie, of the West and East Coast Handicapping Report, will be Frank Scatoni’s guest at the Del Mar handicapping session on Sunday. The seminars are from 12:45 p.m. until 1:30 p.m. at the Seaside Terrace near the head of the stretch. If you can’t make it out there, there will be a Periscope (that’s a live streaming feed) on Frank’s Twitter feed, which is @ScatoniSureShot. It will be archived, so you can watch on your time. I’m sure Rob would love to see some of his reports and newsletter readers out there to meet him in person.

Del Mar Handicap

Fashion Business won the Grade 2 $250,000 race over 1 3/8 miles on the turf course. But the real story was the ride that Flavien Prat gave the horse. The pace was slow and midway on the backstretch he made a bold move, passing eight horses, and going to the front. He was riding the horse hard in the stretch but the Phil D’Amato gelding had plenty left and won by 5 ¼ lengths.

What’s interesting with Prat on Saturday is he was serving a three-day suspension for causing interference on Unsual Gold in the third race on Aug. 9. The rule with suspensions is you can ride in designated races, which usually means stakes races. However, you are only allowed to run in one a day or your suspension gets longer. Prat rode in all three stakes so he will serve an extra day next Saturday.

“On the backside I could tell they were going slow and I went a little wide around there,” Prat said. “I know it takes a little time to go around. I just kept digging in and he just finished. I had a pretty clean trip.”

It was the fourth time D’Amato has won the Del Mar Handicap.

“I thought he was going to come running,” D’Amato said. I think Flavien just sensed they were going so slow it was a now or never type move. … The last race (the Eddie Read Stakes at 1 1/8 miles) we used as a prep for this race and it just worked out perfect.”

Del Mar Oaks

The Grade 1 $300,000 race was won with a strong stretch move by Fatale Bere who finished a neck in front of Ollie’s Candy.

“It was the trip,” said winning jockey Kent Desormeaux. “Last time [Belmont Oaks on July 7] I had to go their way. This time I got to let her go when I was ready. They were playing ping-pong by the three-eighths [when leader Animosity brushed the fence and came back on other horses], but I avoided all of that and just got to run my race.

Fatale Bere paid $16.00, $6.80 and $5.20. Californiagoldrush was third.

“The only instructions I said to Kent was to keep her covered up early,” said winning trainer Leonard Powell. “If you don’t keep her covered up, she’s rank, she pulls, sometimes the saddle goes forward. So the key is to keep her covered up, and then she’s good enough to do the job.”

Del Mar preview

There’s always a comedown after a big day such as Saturday, but Del Mar has a decent 10-race card on Sunday with the usual 2 p.m. post. There are four turf races and a Grade 2 stakes.

The feature is the Grade 2 $200,000 Del Mar Mile for older horses going, well, you can figure that out. It’s a full field of 13 starters and should be going around 5:30 p.m. The favorite, at 7-2, is Sharp Samurai for trainer Mark Glatt and jockey Gary Stevens. The 4-year-old gelding has won five of his last seven races and the favorite in his last six races. He has two wins and one second in four races at Del Mar. He was caught in the stretch in his last and finished second in Eddie Read Stakes, which is 1/8 of a mile longer.

The horse that did the catching was Catapult, who is the 9-2 second choice for John Sadler and Drayden Van Dyke. He won the Eddie Read at 21-1 odds, which won’t happen in this race. It was his only lifetime start at Del Mar. he is nothing if not well traveled, having also run at Santa Anita, Laurel, Saratoga, Belmont, Pimlico, Aqueduct, Tampa and Keeneland. This will be his 15^th start.

Here are the field sizes, in order: 6, 7, 8, 7, 12 (2 also eligible), 7, 11, 13, 8, 11.

Big Races review

A look at graded stakes or races worth more $100,000 or more on Saturday.

Thistledown: $200,000 Lady Jacqueline Stakes, fillies and mares 3 and up, 1 1/8 miles. Winner: Dutch Parrot ($9.20)

Saratoga: Grade 2 $300,000 Lake Placid Stakes, fillies 3-years-old, 1 1/8 miles on turf. Winner: Rusing Fall ($4.70)

Monmouth: Grade 3 $100,000 Monmouth Oaks, fillies 3-years-old, 1 1/16 miles. Winner: Skeptic ($10.60)

Saratoga: Grade 1 $600,000 Alabama Stakes, fillies 3-years-old, 1 ¼ miles. Eskimo Kisses ($20.00)

Woodbine: $400,000 Breeders’ Stakes, Ont-breds 3-years-old, 1 ½ miles on turf. Wnner: Neepawa ($6.80)

Del Mar: Grade 2 $250,000 Del Mar Handicap, 3 and up, 1 3/8 miles on turf. Winner: Fashion Business ($10.20)

Del Mar: Grade 1 $300,000 Del Mar Oaks, fillies 3-years-old, 1 1/8 miles on turf. Winner: Fatale Bere ($16.00)

Del Mar: Grade 1 $1 million Pacific Classic, 3 and up, 1 ¼ miles. Winner: Accelerate ($2.80)

Big races preview

A look at graded stakes or races worth more $100,000 or more on Sunday. All times PDT:

11:41 Saratoga: $100,000 Summer Colony Stakes, NY-bred fillies and mares 3 and up, 1 1/8 miles. Favorite: Awestruck (7-5)

2:20 Woodbine: Grade 2 $175,000 Sky Classic Stakes, 3 and up, 1 3/8 miles on turf. Favorite: Tiz a Sham (9-5)

5:33 Del Mar: Grade 2 $200,000 Del Mar Mile, 3 and up, 1 mile on turf. Favorite: Sharp Samurai (7-2)

Bob Ike’s DMR pick of the day

SECOND RACE: No. 6 Neighborhood Bully (5-1)

Couldn't get to Candy Crew last time but fired well through the lane to be second behind the loose-on-the-lead winner. With more pace in front of him today, look for the Tim Yakteen-trained colt to get his second lifetime win over the Del Mar strip.

Saturday’s result: Ky. Colonel got a good trip but came up empty when the real running began.

Bob Ike is a Partner/VP of Horsebills.com (here's a video) and the proprietor of BobIkePicks.com (full-card picks, 3 Best Plays and betting strategy).

Ed Burgart LA play of the day

FOURTH RACE: No. 7 Yes I’m Ready (2-1)

He was overmatched on the turf at Del Mar in last start but looked strong when scoring local maiden victory at this race’s 870-yard distance. He has tactical speed to get good position from his outside post and can nail the likely pacesetter Shadow Op, who is returning in nine nights after hard-fought runner-up outing.

Final thoughts

Always looking to add more subscribers to this newsletter. Can’t beat the price. If you like it, tell someone. If you don’t like it, then you’re probably not reading this. Either way, send to a friend and just have them click here and sign up. Remember, it’s free, and all we need is your email, nothing more.

Any thoughts, you can reach me at johnacherwa@gmail.com. You can also feed my ego by following me on Twitter @jcherwa

And now the stars of the show, Saturday’s results and Sunday’s entries.

SPLASHY KISSES had good early speed and dueled inside, inched away nearing midstretch and drew off under a couple cracks of the whip and steady handling. MADAME VESTAL a step slow to begin, chased a bit off the rail then inside on the turn, came out into the stretch and gained the place. DEVILS DANCE stalked four wide then outside on the turn and three deep into the stretch and bested the others.'. ENAYA ALRABB stalked between horses then a bit off the rail on the turn and into the stretch and weakened. TRUE VALIDITY had speed between horses then dueled outside the winner, drifted in some in the stretch and also weakened. AFTER THE ROSE broke slowly, settled inside, came out on the turn and three deep into the stretch and lacked a further response. CHERISHED stalked off the rail then between horses into the turn, dropped back and angled in on the turn, came out some in the stretch, gave way and was eased in the final furlong.

TOUGH BUT NICE sped to the early lead, angled in and set the pace a bit off the rail, continued inside in the stretch and held on gamely under urging. LUCKY STAXX stalked the winner off the rail then outside a rival leaving the turn and into the stretch and finished willingly. EXCITATIONS angled in and saved ground stalking the pace throughout and was outfinished but clearly bested the rest. SPOKANE EAGLE chased outside then three deep on the backstretch and turn and into the stretch and did not rally. EIGHTY THREE broke out a bit, chased inside, came a bit off the rail on the turn and weakened. TAVASCO ROAD chased between horses then inside on the turn and also weakened. ELWOOD J squeezed a bit just after the start, settled off the rail, came three wide into the stretch and was not a threat. REIGN ON (GB) stalked three deep, dropped back then angled in some leaving the turn and had little left for the drive.

WHERESTHEMONEYJACK stalked three deep then outside a rival on the turn, took the lead outside the pacesetter into the stretch and won clear under urging. JOHNNY STRONG turned his head and broke behind the field, settled off the rail, came four wide into the stretch and finished well. HAYLORD stalked outside then four wide into and on the turn and into the stretch, split horses in midstretch and bested the others. SON OF A ROYAL in a good position stalking the pace four wide then three deep on the turn and into the stretch, did not rally. TWO HAIL MARYS chased between foes then outside a rival leaving the turn, came three wide into the stretch and lacked the needed late kick. SIR VALENTINE close up stalking the pace off the rail then a bit off the fence into and on the turn, weakened. AWESOME HEIGHTS broke a bit slowly, settled inside, came out some in the stretch and did not rally. KINEMATICO sped to the early lead, set the pace a bit off the inside to the stretch and weakened. JOHANN'S COMMAND saved ground chasing the pace throughout and also weakened. LATITUDE well placed stalking the pace between horses on the backstretch and turn, also weakened in the drive. GRAY ADMIRAL chased three deep between foes, dropped back on the turn, gave way and was eased in the final furlong.

SECRETARY AT WAR saved ground stalking the pace, came out into the stretch, bid between foes under urging in deep stretch to gain the lead and held gamely. KENCUMIN (FR) angled in on the first turn and chased inside, came out into the stretch, steadied behind the winner in midstretch and rallied between horses. PERFECTLY MAJESTIC saved ground chasing the pace and rallied along the rail in the drive. FOREVER JUANITO stalked between horses or a bit off the rail, split rivals on the second turn, came four wide into the stretch and finished with interest. ECKERSLEY broke a bit slowly, settled just off the rail to the stretch and also finished well toward the inside. WELL DEVELOPED came off the rail and pulled some but stalked just off the inside, bid between horses leaving the backstretch then outside a rival on the second turn and in the stretch, put a head in front between foes in deep stretch and was outfinished. ACCOUNTABILITY four wide into the first turn, chased outside, came four wide into the stretch and could not quite summon the needed late kick. TULE FOG angled in and sped to the early lead, set the pace inside, fought back on the second turn, drifted out some into the stretch, fought back off the rail in the drive and was outfinished. ARMS RUNNER a bit slow to begin, chased three deep then between horses, came three wide into the stretch and also could not offer the needed late response. SALTINI stalked three deep, bid three wide leaving the backstretch, stalked again on the second turn, came three wide into the stretch and weakened. BIRD IS THE WORD five wide into the first turn, chased three deep, came four wide into the stretch and also weakened.

DIVERSIONIST had good early speed and dueled between horses, fought back between foes in the stretch, put a head in front under left handed urging in late stretch and gamely prevailed. SATRAPA chased four wide then off the rail, continued outside on the turn and four wide into the stretch and surged late three deep on the line. RED ENVELOPE dueled inside, fought back along the rail through the stretch and continued gamely to the end. JEFFERSON DAVIS angled in and dueled three wide, fought back through the stretch and weakened some late. CAYATE chased between horses then off the rail, came out four wide into the stretch and was outfinished. PALERMO STYLE stalked four wide then off the rail on the turn, came three deep into the stretch and weakened. LEROY PEGASUS bobbled in a bit of a slow start, settled just off the rail to the stretch and lacked a rally. AIR JOCKEY saved ground stalking the pace, continued inside in the stretch and weakened. TRUE REGARDS stalked between horses, dropped back and angled in on the turn and also weakened.

FASHION BUSINESS (GB) settled outside then three deep, advanced rapidly four wide into the final turn to gain the lead, kicked away and angled in, entered the stretch along the rail and drew off under urging. YA GOTTA WANNA chased a bit off the rail then inside, steadied into the final turn and was shuffled back, steadied sharply leaving that turn, split horses into the stretch, came out in upper stretch and finished well for the place. MULTIPLIER four wide on the first turn, chased three deep, came out four wide into the stretch and got up for the show between foes. COLONIST three deep early, stalked between horses, came out three wide into the stretch, continued between foes through the drive and was edged for second. FLAMBOYANT (FR) settled inside then outside a rival on the backstretch, came out on the last turn and five wide into the stretch and was edged for a minor award. ASHLEYLUVSSUGAR took the early lead and angled in, relinquished command in the stretch the first time and stalked inside, was in tight into the final turn and shuffled back, split horses in the stretch and finished with some interest toward the inside. ITSINTHEPOST (FR) stalked three deep then outside a rival, bid three wide between horses into the last turn, angled in outside a rival into the stretch, was between rivals in the drive and was outfinished for a minor award. CASHMAN (FR) stalked outside a rival, bid alongside the leader then between foes into the last turn, angled to the inside into the stretch and weakened in the final furlong. UNAPOLOGETIC broke a bit in the air, chased between horses, pulled and steadied off heels early on the backstretch, went up between foes again on the final turn and three wide into the stretch and lacked the needed rally. KENJISSTORM stalked inside then split rivals into the stretch the first time, took the lead and set the pace inside, dueled into the final turn, dropped back and weakened. WHOOP WHOOP (NZ) saved ground chasing the pace, dropped back into and on the final turn, was pulled up and vanned off.

MR VARGAS dueled three deep then outside a rival, inched away leaving the turn, kicked clear in the stretch and drifted in and held under urging. GATO DEL ORO chased outside then three deep to the stretch, also drifted in some and finished well. STONE HANDS stalked between horses, continued outside a rival into the stretch and gained the show. ADENS DREAM had speed between horses then stalked between foes, continued inside leaving the turn and in the stretch and was outfinished for a minor award. JAN'S RESERVE settled off the rail, went outside on the turn and four wide into the stretch and lacked the needed rally. DENMAN'S CALL saved ground chasing the pace, came out leaving the turn and three wide into the stretch and could not offer the necessary response. CAPTAIN SCOTTY bobbled at the start, angled in and stalked inside, dropped back in the stretch and weakened. TAMAN GUARD had good early speed and dueled inside, stalked leaving the turn and gave way in the stretch.

FATALE BERE (FR) settled a bit off the rail, came out on the second turn and five wide into the stretch, rallied under urging and got up outside the runner-up on the line. OLLIE'S CANDY stalked outside a rival, bid outside the leader leaving the second turn to gain the advantage into the stretch, inched away in deep stretch and just failed to hold off the winner. CALIFORNIAGOLDRUSH chased three deep, went up four wide on the second turn and three wide into the stretch and edged a foe for third. MS BAD BEHAVIOR angled in and dueled inside then stalked a bit off the rail, bid again outside a rival to regain the advantage into the second turn, angled in and fought back inside leaving that turn and to deep stretch and was edged for the show. COLONIA (FR) broke slowly, settled inside, came out in upper stretch and found her best stride late. PAVED chased between horses, was in tight briefly into the second turn, continued between foes leaving that turn and into the stretch and lacked the needed rally. MOVIE MOMENT settled outside a rival, came out three wide into the stretch and could not offer the necessary response. FOOL'S PARADISE saved ground stalking the pace, was in tight nearing the second turn, split horses into that turn, angled back inside and lacked the needed late kick. MS PEINTOUR tugged along the inside stalking the pace, steadied briefly into the backstretch, continued along the rail, was in a bit tight into the second turn, came out into the stretch and lacked a rally. SO HI SOCIETY (IRE) chased outside a rival, came out four wide into the stretch and could not offer the needed response. ANIMOSITY four wide in the chute, dueled outside a rival then inched away and set the pace inside, drifted in and hit the rail taking awkward strides into the second turn, dropped back inside on that turn and weakened. STREETWITHNONAME bobbled at the start, saved ground off the pace, continued inside on the second turn and did not rally.

GAME WINNER dueled four wide, took the lead on the turn, inched clear leaving the turn, continued off the rail in the stretch and won clear under left handed urging. DUELING stalked between horses then outside on the turn, came four wide into the stretch, angled to the inside in the drive and was clearly second best. STREET CLASS sent inside, saved ground chasing the pace, came out leaving the turn and into the stretch and gained the show. NO TREBLE had good early speed and dueled a bit off the rail then inside, stalked leaving the turn and into the stretch and was outkicked for third. SEVEN SCENTS stalked between horses then three deep, came four wide into the stretch and lacked a rally. TAOS also stalked between horses then a bit off the rail, angled in on the turn and did not rally. ASANO had good early speed and dueled between horses, stalked between foes leaving the turn and weakened. MIDNIGHT SWAP settled inside, came out leaving the turn and three wide into the stretch and did not rally. ISTANBUL dueled three deep between horses then stalked between foes leaving the turn, came three wide into the stretch and had little left for the drive.

ACCELERATE bobbled in a bit of a slow start, stalked outside a rival, bid three deep on the backstretch, took the lead into the second turn, opened up on that turn and drew off under left handed urging and strong handling through the drive. PAVEL three deep early, chased just off the rail, came out on the second turn, went three wide leaving that turn and into the stretch and was clearly second best. PRIME ATTRACTION drifted in early, came out and stalked a bit off the rail, bid between horses on the backstretch and into the second turn, tracked between rivals leaving that turn and bested the others. ROMAN ROSSO (ARG) had speed outside then angled in, set the pace inside, dueled along the rail on the backstretch and into the second turn, continued along the rail and weakened in the drive. DR. DORR drifted in early, chased outside a rival then between foes, came out on the second turn and three wide into the stretch and lacked the necessary response. THE LIEUTENANT drifted in after the start then was forced in at the gap, saved ground chasing the pace, came a bit off the rail nearing and on the second turn and weakened. TWO THIRTY FIVE chased off the rail then three deep, continued off the inside on the second turn, angled in some and also weakened.

MORSE CODE broke out a bit, chased between horses, came out some in the stretch, bid outside the leader under urging to gain the advantage a sixteenth out and held gamely. AVALANCHE went four wide into the first turn then angled in and settled a bit off the rail, continued inside on the second turn, came out into the stretch, split horses in midstretch and finished well. ALSATIAN chased a bit off the rail, came out on the second turn and four wide into the stretch and rallied willingly. ANY QUESTIONS settled between horses chasing the pace, came out leaving the second turn and four wide into the stretch and was edged for third. COMMA SISTER pulled between horses then pressed the pace outside a rival, stalked a bit off rail, bid again between horses leaving the backstretch and outside the pacesetter on the second turn, took a short lead into the stretch, could not match the winner late but gave ground grudgingly to the others. PIONEER LAD saved ground chasing the pace, split horses past midstretch and lacked the needed rally. ROYAL ALBERT HALL (GB) squeezed a bit at the start, angled in and chased inside to the stretch and lacked the necessary response. FRITZ JOHANSEN came off the rail on the first turn, went up four wide into and on the second turn and into the stretch and did not rally. KY. COLONEL bid three deep then stalked outside a rival, re-bid three wide a half mile out, stalked on the second turn and three wide into the stretch and weakened. MALIBU MUSIC chased three wide then four wide into the stretch and did not rally. DREAMS OF VALOR had speed outside then angled in, dueled inside then inched away on the first turn, fought back along the rail into and on the second turn and to midstretch, then weakened. INCREDIBLE LUCK stalked three deep, dropped back three wide into the stretch and also weakened.