Racing! Interesting stat on Accelerate

Hello, my name is John Cherwa and welcome back to our horse racing newsletter as we get ready for another weekend of fall racing.

Last Friday, we turned the floor over to our own Rob Henie to make the case for Justify being the horse of the year. This week, we’ve found this nice little bit of equine research by Jeff Tufts that talks about what Accelerate has done.

Jeff used to be the morning-line maker and timer at Santa Anita, Hollywood Park and Del Mar. He’s retired to Oregon but still follows the horses. Take a read at what he has unearthed. Jeff, floor is yours.

“I might have missed it, but I haven't seen any story that pointed out that Accelerate, in winning the Breeders’ Cup Classic, hit a major milestone--winning four Grade 1 races at 1 1/4 miles on the dirt in a single year.

“Winning the Triple Crown is supposed to be one of the toughest achievements in horse racing, right ?

“Well, since the graded-race era began in 1973, there've been five Triple Crown winners.

“The number of horses that have won four Grade 1, mile and one-quarter races on dirt in a single year is only four.

“It might seem like a fairly unacknowledged accomplishment, but maybe it shouldn't be. Grade 1 races are the ultimate goal for any horse, and one mile and one-quarter on the dirt is still the classic distance in American racing and will remain so (because of the Kentucky Derby and the BC Classic) no matter how much money is thrown at turf races or nine-furlong dirt races (sorry Pegasus).

“Affirmed did it in 1979 winning the Strub, the Santa Anita Handicap, the Hollywood Gold Cup and the Woodward.

“Alysheba did it five times in 1988, opening his 4-year-old season with the Strub and the Big 'Cap and ending it with the Woodward, the Meadowlands Cup and the BC Classic.

“Cigar in 1995 won the Gulfstream Park Handicap, the Hollywood Gold Cup, the Jockey Club Gold Cup and the BC Classic.

“And now Accelerate has joined the club.

“The list of top horses that ran in the graded-stakes era but didn't hit the magic number of four includes Alydar, Forego, Spectacular Bid, Easy Goer, John Henry, Sunday Silence, Holy Bull, A.P. Indy, Best Pal, Skip Away, Curlin, Ghostzapper and Tiznow as well as Secretariat, Seattle Slew and the two most recent Triple Crown winners.

“Looking back through the DRF Champions book, the only pre-graded stakes horses I could find that probably would have been credited with four Grade 1 10-furlong wins in a year were Gun Bow in 1964 (Strub, Gulfstream Park Handicap, Brooklyn Handicap and Woodward) and Round Table in 1958 (SA Maturity, SA Handicap, Gulfstream Park Handicap and Woodward).

“Those that didn't make the list included Kelso, Dr. Fager, Damascus, Buckpasser, Sword Dancer, Bold Ruler, Swaps, Nashua, Citation and Seabiscuit.”

Interesting stats to chew on.

Del Mar review

We couldn’t find a feature, so the feature found us. King Abner won his allowance by a stunning 7 ¼ lengths in the mile allowance. King Abner went gate to wire for jockey Tyler Baze. The horse paid $8.20, $3.80 and $2.40 for trainer Phil D’Amato. Ground Attack was second Californoa Journey was third.

Del Mar preview

It’s an eight-race card with two turf races. First post is the usual 12:30 p.m. The feature, I think, is the fourth race, fillies and mares going 6 ½ furlongs in an allowance/optional claimer for a total purse of $56,000. The favorite, at 2-1, is Kelly’s Humor, who despite being winless this year has been running heavy compay graded stakes back i.n Kentucky and Saratoga. Peter Miller is the trainer and Flavien Prat gets the ride. This is her first race in Southern California.

The second favorite is Steph Being Steph, who strung a series of in-the-money finishes before an 11^th in the Unzip Me Stakes. She is 5-2 for Brian Koriner and Tiago Pereira.

Here are the field sizes, in order: 6, 6, 8 (3 also eligible), 7, 10, 10, 8, 10.

Bob Ike’s DMR play of the day

SEVENTH RACE: No. 6 K P Pergoliscious (7-2)

Sophomore filly from the Jeff Mullins barn has a steadily improving pattern and gets some class relief as she drops back in with allowance company. She broke her maiden over this course, so everything looks right for a top try if she can get an honest pace to run at.

Thursday’s result: Peachy was anything but, running near the back of the pack early and never rallying. Sour effort.

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).

Los Alamitos weekend preview

This weekly segment is in the hands of Orlando Gutierrez, marketing and media maven at Los Al. So, the floor is yours, Orlando.

“There will be a $12,104 pick six carryover on Friday night. It starts in the third race with a four-furlong event headed by recent winner Molly Got Even. With the new money expected to be wagered, the total pool in the pick six should be over $50,000.

“The $25,000 Corona Chick Handicap is the main quarter-horse race going as the eighth and final race Friday night. Arizona Favorite and Mister FDD, the second and third place finishers, respectively, in the $137,000 Wild West Futurity on Oct. 28, will highlight the 400-yard dash for 2-year-olds. Arizona Favorite was a standout in the Wild West trials before his solid effort against KR Hi Five in the final. The Ruben Magallanes-trained runner was second in the Pot O' Gold Futurity earlier this year.

“Eight of Saturday’s 10 races are stakes, five of them graded events as part of the Bank of America Challenge Championships card. The rematch between BH Lisas Boy and champion Hold Air Hostage in the Grade 1 $250,000 Bank of America Challenge Championship will head the evening, which starts at 6 p.m. The late pick four has fields of 10, 10, 10, and 11 horses.

“BH Lisas Boy and Hold Air Hostage first met in the California Championship on Aug. 11. The first half of the race was all Hold Air Hostage, as he held a daylight advantage until the 6-year-old veteran BH Lisas Boy kicked it into a higher gear. From there, the second half belonged to the son of Mighty Invictus, as he moved from fourth to win his second stakes of the year. Ridden by Cesar De Alba, BH Lisas Boy had also won the Grade 1 Brad McKinzie Los Alamitos Winter Championship in February. De Alba reunites with BH Lisas Boy after missing a couple of his races with an injury. He'll ride the winner of 19 races and $585,162 from post four.

“Trained by Jaime Gomez and ridden by Rodrigo Sigala Vallejo, Hold Air Hostage will start from the outside post 11 while looking to add to his nine wins and $1,352,051. The Apollitical Jess gelding enters this race after a fifth in the Robert Boniface Los Alamitos Invitational Championship. Other top contenders include Katies Easy Moves, fourth in a pair of Grade 1s this season, and the Brazilian Challenge Championship winner Corona Jumpin MRL. The winner will earn a provisional berth to the Grade 1, $600,000 Champion of Champions on Dec. 15.

“Led by One Sweet Racy, 10 top distaffers race in the Grade 1, $100,000 AQHA Distaff Challenge. Runner-up to Hold Air Hostage in the 2017 All American Derby, One Sweet Racy won the California Distaff Challenge on Aug. 12 and enters after running second in the Grade 1 Mildred Vessels Memorial Handicap to multiple stakes winner Jess Ravin. One Hot Habit and local stakes winner Duck Dash N Go are among the other top contenders.

“Steve Luhn of the Salt Lake Tribune pointed out on Twitter that last Sunday’s Grade 1 Los Alamitos Super Derby Sunday featured “A very BYU exacta. Winner (Jesstacartel) owned by Wally Joyner’s wife. KVN Corona named after (New England Patriots linebacker) Kyle Van Noy ran second. Both horses are Utah-bred.” At BYU, Joyner starred in baseball and Van Noy was a third team All-American in football. With the victory, Jesstacartel advances to the Champion of Champions.”

Ed Burgart’s LA play of the day

SEVENTH RACE: No. 3 The Cartel Dream (6-1) and No. 4 Getit Hot (5-2)

The Cartel Dream caught my eye on the video tape replay and so did Getit Hot. The odds will be much better on The Cartel Dream, who is coming off two rugged trips when well beaten. He missed the break badly and was loaded with run late in last seventh-place outing. He can easily win if he repeats his first three races. Getit Hot took advantage of the outside post draw for a daylight victory in last and gets positive class hike. Use both horses in the exotics.

Final thought

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Now, the stars of the show, Thursday’s results and Friday’s entries.

DEVILS DANCE had good early speed and dueled between horses then outside the runner-up on the turn, gained a slim lead into the stretch, battled outside that one through a long drive and gamely prevailed under urging. MISS STORMY D went up inside to duel for the lead, put a head in front on the turn, fought back along the rail in the stretch and continued willingly to the wire. RATHER NOSY four wide early, prompted the pace three deep, stalked outside on the turn and alongside a foe into the stretch and held third between horses late. GALLANTLYSTREAMING (IRE) pulled between horses and was in tight a half mile out, stalked inside on the turn and into the stretch and was edged for the show. MO ME MO MY stalked between foes and also was in tight nearing the half mile pole, split horses leaving the turn, came out in the stretch and was edged for a minor award three wide on the line. ELUSIVELY between rivals early, stalked inside, fell back some on the turn, came out in the stretch and weakened.

ACK had speed between horses then angled in and set a pressured pace inside, inched away leaving the second turn, fought back along the fence in the stretch and held on gamely under left handed urging. SILENT ALARM three deep into the first turn, pressed the pace outside the winner then between foes leaving the backstretch and into the second turn, stalked leaving that turn, re-bid alongside the winner into the stretch and battled gamely to the wire. CLASSY CHASIE chased a bit off the rail then inside on the second turn, came out into the stretch and bested the others. REDROCK TRAIL broke a step slow and a bit awkwardly, went four wide into the first turn then stalked off the rail, bid three deep leaving the backstretch, tracked again leaving the second turn and three wide into the stretch and weakened. SOONER BETTER chased inside then split horses midway on the backstretch and again into the second turn, angled to the inside into the stretch and also weakened. SPECTATOR'S DREAM chased three deep then off the rail, continued a bit off the fence on the second turn and did not rally. ROCKANDAHARDPLACE bobbled at the start, chased off the rail then outside a rival, went three deep into the second turn and also into the stretch and lacked a further response. BEAN STREET saved ground stalking the pace, dropped back into and on the second turn, gave way and was eased in the drive.

MO SEE CAL had good early speed a bit off the rail then dueled outside a rival, took the lead on the second turn, inched away into the stretch and held gamely under some left handed urging. STARR OF QUALITY stalked a bit off the rail, came out on the second turn, went three deep leaving that turn and into the stretch, loomed behind the winner in midstretch, could not catch that one but was clearly second best. CONVINCE three deep on the first turn, chased just off the rail then outside a rival, was between foes leaving the second turn and into the stretch and bested the others. AUNT LUBIE went up inside with a bid on the first turn, dueled along the rail, fought back leaving the second turn and weakened in the stretch. WHIRLING four wide into the first turn, chased off the inside, angled in leaving the backstretch, saved ground on the second turn, came out into the stretch and weakened. CHICKATINI three deep into the first turn, stalked just off the rail then outside a rival leaving the backstretch, came three wide into the stretch and also weakened.

TIG TOG (IRE) stalked outside a rival then a bit off the rail, came out leaving the second turn and four wide into the stretch, drifted in and bid outside the runner-up under left handed urging to gain the lead past the eighth pole and won clear. SEE THAT KAT stalked off the rail then outside a rival, was briefly between horses on the second turn, bid outside the pacesetter to gain the lead into the stretch, battled inside the winner in midstretch and just held second. SENSIBLE THOUGHTS saved ground chasing the pace, came out leaving the second turn, swung three wide into the stretch and just missed the place. BREEZY BEE stalked the pace inside, awaited room leaving the second turn, came out into the stretch and was outfinished for a minor award. GATTAIA angled in on the first turn, chased inside then outside a rival on the second turn, came three deep into the stretch, angled out when a bit crowded in midstretch and lacked the needed rally. SUPER GOOD sped to the early lead, angled in and set the pace inside, fought back into the stretch and weakened in the final furlong. BELLA PAPA three deep early, chased outside a rival, dropped back on the second turn and also weakened.

SWEET TREAT had speed three deep then set a pressured pace between foes, inched away a half mile out, continued just off the rail, drifted out a bit from the whip in deep stretch and held gamely. ROLLING SHADOW pulled early, stalked a bit off the rail then between foes, loomed behind the winner in midstretch, could not quite match that one in the final furlong but was clearly second best. COPPER COWGIRL angled in on the first turn and chased just off the rail, tugged her way between horses a half mile out, angled in on the second turn, went around a rival in deep stretch and edged a foe for third. INLAND EMPIRE stalked four wide then three deep, bid three wide into the second turn, came four wide into the stretch and was edged for the show. PEACHY a bit washy at the gate, bobbled at the break, stalked between foes then off the rail on the second turn, came three wide into the stretch and lacked the needed rally. K P'S SMOKIN saved ground stalking the pace throughout and weakened in the drive. PRAY FOR CORDAY four wide into the first turn, pressed the pace three deep then stalked outside, continued three wide into the stretch and weakened. SUGARATSUNDOWN had speed between foes then angled in and dueled inside, stalked leaving the backstretch, dropped back between horses on the second turn, gave way and was eased in the drive. MOUSEY MOUSEY stalked three deep, was four wide leaving the backstretch, dropped back outside on the second turn, also gave way and was eased in the lane.

SOLD IT angled in and dueled inside, came a bit off the rail into the stretch, drifted out some and held on gamely under urging. DATA STORM KITTY also was angled in and dueled outside the winner, was floated out a bit into the stretch and in deep stretch and continued willingly to the wire. OBJECTIVE broke slowly, settled inside to the stretch, came out a bit in upper stretch and surged between foes late. SHUT IT UP saved ground chasing the pace and finished with interest inside but was edged for the show. APPLES ARCH stalked the pace inside, came out a bit into the stretch and also was edged for a minor award between foes late. HARMLESS angled in and stalked outside a rival, came out into the stretch and was outfinished for a minor share late. COMEGOWITHME between horses early, stalked a bit off the rail on the backstretch and turn, was outside a rival into the stretch and did not rally. ANY TWO CARDS broke slowly, settled outside a rival then off the rail leaving the turn and lacked a response in the drive.

KING ABNER bobbled some at the start, sped to the early lead, set the pace a bit off the rail, drifted in a bit from the whip in the stretch and drew off under urging. GROUND ATTACK fractious in the gate, stalked just off the rail then outside a rival leaving the second turn and outfinished that one for the place. CALIFORNIA JOURNEY broke behind the field, settled just off the rail chasing the pace, angled in on the second turn and was outfinished for second. PLAIN WRAP angled in on the first turn and saved ground chasing the pace, cut the corner into the stretch and weakened. NEW KARMA stalked three deep then outside a rival, went three wide into the second turn, continued off the rail into the stretch and also weakened. DULUTH dropped back along the inside early, saved ground off the pace, swung out a bit wide into the stretch and failed to menace.

EPICAL between horses early, dueled outside a rival then inched away and angled in past the wire the first time, set the pace inside, opened up on the backstretch and final turn and drew off under urging in the stretch. TOUGH IT OUT saved ground stalking the pace, split horses into the last turn, continued outside a rival on that turn and in the stretch then a bit off the rail in deep stretch and edged a foe for the place. RED KING chased along the inside, steadied in tight into the final turn, continued inside, came out past midstretch and was edged for second. HARD FOUGHT angled in and dueled inside then saved ground stalking the pace, continued along the rail in the stretch and lacked a late response. SALTINI wide into the first turn, angled in and chased outside a rival then between foes leaving the backstretch, came three deep into the stretch and could not offer the needed late kick. LUCKY SOUL settled a bit off the rail, split rivals leaving the final turn, came out in the stretch and lacked the needed rally. ICY STREET chased just off the inside, split horses into the last turn, continued inside on that turn, came out a bit into the stretch and did not rally. ALSATIAN chased outside a rival then three deep on the backstretch, went four wide into the final turn and three wide into the stretch and lacked the necessary response. SAVE GROUND between foes early, stalked outside a rival then three deep between horses leaving the backstretch, continued three wide on the final turn and into the stretch and weakened. GAIN GROUND chased outside then four wide into and on the last turn and into the stretch, drifted inward in the drive and also weakened.