Accelerate (horse)

Last updated
Accelerate
DSC 3431Accelerate.jpg
Accelerate at the 2018 Breeders' Cup
Sire Lookin at Lucky
Grandsire Smart Strike
DamIssues
Damsire Awesome Again
Sex Stallion
FoaledMay 10, 2013 [1]
CountryUnited States
Color Chestnut
BreederMike Abraham
OwnerHronis Racing
(Kosta & Pete Hronis)
Trainer John W. Sadler
Record23: 10-5-6
EarningsUS$ $6,692,480 [2]
Major wins
Shared Belief Stakes (2016)
Los Alamitos Derby (2016)
San Diego Handicap (2017)
San Pasqual Stakes (2018)
Santa Anita Handicap (2018)
Gold Cup at Santa Anita Stakes (2018)
Pacific Classic Stakes (2018)
Awesome Again Stakes (2018)

Breeders' Cup wins:
Breeders' Cup Classic (2018)

Awards
American Champion Older Dirt Male Horse (2018)

Accelerate (foaled May 10, 2013) is a retired American Thoroughbred racehorse, best known for winning the 2018 Breeders' Cup Classic. He established his reputation when defeating champion Arrogate in the 2017 GII San Diego Handicap, and prior to his Breeders' Cup success won the GI Santa Anita Handicap, GI Gold Cup at Santa Anita Stakes, GI Pacific Classic Stakes, and the GI Awesome Again Stakes. He is one of three horses from the 2013 foal crop to win the Breeders' Cup Classic, along with Arrogate in 2016, and Gun Runner in 2017.

Contents

Background

Accelerate is a chestnut stallion with a small white star, a white sock on his left hind leg and two coronet bands, one on his right hind leg and another on his right fore.

Accelerate was bred in Kentucky by Mike Abraham. He was from the second crop of foals sired by Lookin at Lucky, who won the 2010 Preakness Stakes and four other Grade I races. Accelerate's dam, Issue, was sired by Breeders' Cup Classic winner Awesome Again and descends on the female side from Kentucky Broodmare of the Year Smartaire. [3]

He was purchased as hip #1162 at the 2014 Keeneland September Yearling Sale for $380,000 by Hronis Racing, the nom de course for Kosta and Pete Hronis. [2]

2016: 3-year-old season

Accelerate did not race until April of his 3-year-old season. He made his debut in a 6-furlong Maiden Special Weight on April 17 at Los Alamitos Race Course, where he finished 2nd, beaten by half a length by Westbrook, but finishing a neck ahead of future champion Arrogate. He finished 4th in his next race, a 6+12-furlong Maiden Special Weight at Santa Anita Park on May 22. He then finished 3rd in a 7-furlong Maiden Special Weight at Santa Anita Park on June 18. He broke his maiden in his fourth try in a mile Maiden Special Weight at Del Mar on July 28, where he defeated future graded-stakes winner Curlin Road by 8+34 lengths.

He made his next start in the inaugural running of the mile Shared Belief Stakes on August 26 at Del Mar. He ran in third position most of the race, before taking the lead on the final turn and holding off Taman Guard and Semper Fortis to prevail by half a length. [4]

After his win, he was the favorite in the 1+18-mile GII Los Alamitos Derby. Sitting in fourth position and wide throughout the race, he made a move on the final turn to challenge Blackjackcat, as Semper Fortis took the advantage on the rail. Semper Fortis was in the lead for most of the long homestretch, but Accelerate gradually wore him down to win by a head. Accelerate had to survive a 13-minute stewards' inquiry for bumping Blackjackcat near the wire. [5]

Accelerate trained for his first attempt in a grade I race, the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile on November 4 at Santa Anita. [6] He finished a rallying third, only a neck behind future Horse of the Year, Gun Runner, and 3+12 lengths behind the winner, Tamarkuz. [7]

2017: 4-year-old season

Accelerate started his 4-year-old season in the GII San Pasqual Stakes on January 1 at Santa Anita Park, where he finished second on a sloppy track, 1+14 lengths behind the favorite, Midnight Storm. [8]

He then finished third in the GII San Antonio Stakes on February 4, behind GI winners Los Alamitos Futurity winner Mor Spirit and Jockey Club Gold Cup winner Hoppertunity. [9]

His next planned start was the GII Oaklawn Handicap, but he was forced to scratch when he spiked a fever after arriving at Oaklawn Park. He was then given a short break, and returned in a 1-mile Allowance Optional Claiming on May 5, at Santa Anita Park. He finished 2nd, beaten 1+14 lengths by multiple graded-stakes winner Danzing Candy.

Accelerate's next start came in the 1+116 mile GIII Precisionist Stakes, on June 24 at Santa Anita Park [10] He finished third, 1+34 lengths behind stakes-winner Cat Burglar, and 15+14 lengths behind the winner, Collected. [11]

He then ran in the 1+116 mile GII San Diego Handicap on July 22, where he wore blinkers for the first time and had a rider change from regular rider Tyler Baze to Victor Espinoza. He would face 2016 American Champion Three-Year-Old Male Horse Arrogate, who had not lost a race since his debut. [12] Accelerate was driven to the lead by Espinoza, and he set fractions of 23.49 for a quarter of a mile, 47.07 for half a mile, and 1:11.39 for three-fourths of a mile, while steadily separating himself from his competition. He had a 7-length lead as he entered the homestretch, and widened the margin to 8+12 lengths as he passed the wire, as Arrogate finished far back in fourth. [13] His trainer, John Sadler, said after the race: "He trained really well Sunday up at Santa Anita and showed a lot of pop when Victor worked him from the gate, and they kept telling me it was $50,000 for second. You don't want to concede anything, but I'm surprised we won, because Arrogate is the best horse in the world."

On July 29, Sadler announced that Accelerate would run for the first time at the distance of a mile and a quarter, and would have a rematch with Arrogate in the GI Pacific Classic Stakes on August 19 at Del Mar Racetrack. Sadler said: "He likes the track, and if there was ever a time to try a mile and a quarter it's now." [14] Accelerate broke well and ran in second position most of the race behind Collected, as Arrogate stalked in third. Accelerate challenged Collected on the turn for home, but flattened out in the stretch to finish third, beaten 4 lengths. [15]

Accelerate's next start would be a second try at the GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile, on November 3 at Del Mar. Accelerate was never comfortable and did not fire to finish ninth in a field of ten, the worst finish of his fourteen race career. [16] He came out of the race with a sore foot, that ended up being a quarter crack. [17]

He then finished the year with a run in the GII San Antonio Stakes, which he ran in for the second time that year, as it was rescheduled to be run at the end of December to try to attract horses to prep in it for the Pegasus World Cup. He settled in third position and stalked throughout the race, and ran evenly in the stretch to hold second place, beaten 3+14 lengths by multiple-graded stakes winner Giant Expectations. [18]

2018: 5-year-old season

Accelerate started his 5-year-old season in the GII San Pasqual Stakes on February 3. [19] Accelerate broke awkwardly, was jostled slightly between horses, and settled at the back of the pack. On the backstretch, Espinoza tried to move him through an opening on the rail to press a slow pace set by Mubtaahij. Mubtaahij, ridden by Drayden Van Dyke, moved onto the rail and forced Accelerate to be checked back. [20] Espinoza had to wait behind horses until the head of the stretch, when the rail opened for him again. Accelerate moved through the opening, took the lead and pulled away to win by 1+34 lengths with a time of 1:50.58 for 1+116 miles. [21]

It was then announced that Accelerate would target the 1+14-mile GI Santa Anita Handicap on March 11 at Santa Anita. His owner, Kosta Hronis, was pleased about the patience the horse had shown in his last race, and thought that he had shown enough maturity to try a mile and a quarter again. Accelerate broke well on the sloppy track, and stalked Mubtaahij throughout much of the race. He took the lead on the far turn, and pulled away in the stretch to win by 5+12 lengths over Mubtaahij, with a time of 2:01.83. [22] It was the first time trainer John Sadler had won the race. [23]

He next ran in the 1+18-mile GII Oaklawn Handicap on April 13. [24] He broke well, and moved up to third, with Malibu Stakes and Triple Bend Handicap winner City of Light sitting directly behind him. On the far turn, Accelerate moved up to take the lead, under strong driving from Espinoza, while City of Light moved up easily without asking from his jockey, Drayden Van Dyke. City of Light pulled a length in front, but Accelerate continued to battle from the inside to close the margin to a neck. Sadler said after the race: "First time out of town, and I thought he ran a great race, I was pleased. Remember, it was a handicap, and we were giving away the weight." [25]

Accelerate and City of Light would have a rematch on May 27 in the GI 1+14-mile Gold Cup at Santa Anita. [26] Accelerate broke well and stalked in third position as Dr. Dorr lead with City of Light in second, before Accelerate made his move turning for home and opened up a 4+14-length lead as he crossed the wire in front. He had a final time of 2:01.38. [27]

He was entered to defend his title in the GII San Diego Handicap on July 21 at Del Mar, but he was scratched since John Sadler did not want to run his stablemate, Catalina Cruiser, and Accelerate in the same race. [28]

Accelerate was then trained up to the GI Pacific Classic on August 18 at Del Mar. [29] [30] He drew post 5 with a new rider in Joel Rosario who would replace the injured Victor Espinoza. He was bumped at the start before moving up to stalk the pace, which was set by Roman Rosso, he stayed in third until he made a strong move around the far turn and drew off in the stretch to win by 12+12 lengths—a record margin in the 1+14-mile event. The final time was 2:01.83. [31] It was announced on August 29 that Accelerate would stand at Lane's End Farm upon retirement. [32]

His next start would be the GI 1+18-mile Awesome Again Stakes on September 29, where he would meet the returning West Coast. Accelerate was reluctant to load and hopped out of the gate to be last of six horses. He was 4-wide on the first turn before moving up to 3rd nearing the final turn. He was challenged by Isotherm before he took the lead on the turn and won by 2+14 lengths over West Coast with a final time of 1:50.38.

Then Accelerate shipped outside of California for the second time in his career to run in the GI 1+14 Breeders' Cup Classic on November 3 at Churchill Downs. [33] Accelerate drew post fourteen in a fourteen-horse field. He was again reluctant to load and broke in 5th position. He stayed in fifth until the final turn when he challenged Mendelssohn for the lead and took it when they entered the stretch. He held off a challenge from Thunder Snow and a fast closing-Gunnevera to win by 1 length, with a final time of 2:02.93. [34]

Accelerate arrived at Lane's End Farm on November 4 for a brief break and to be available for inspection by breeders before training for his final start in the GI 1+18-mile Pegasus World Cup on January 26. [35] His stud fee was set for $20,000 on November 7 [36]

Accelerate began his preparations for his final start on December 8. [37]

2019: 6-year-old season

Accelerate was voted the Eclipse Award for 2018 Champion Older Male.

On January 26, he finished 3rd on a sloppy track in the GI Pegasus World Cup. This was his final career start before embarking on a new career as a stallion at Lane's End Farm in Versailles, Kentucky. [38] After standing five seasons at stud, Accelerate failed to get a big runner and was pensioned from stallion duty, relocating to the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington to reside at the Hall of Champions. [39]

Pedigree

Pedigree of Accelerate, chestnut horse, 2013 [1] [40]
Sire
Lookin at Lucky
2007
Smart Strike (CAN)
1991
Mr. Prospector Raise a Native
Gold Digger
Classy 'n Smart (CAN) Smarten
No Class (CAN)
Private Feeling
1999
Belong to Me Danzig
Belonging
Regal FeelingClever Trick
Sharp Belle
Dam
Issues
2003
Awesome Again (CAN)
1994
Deputy Minister (CAN) Vice Regent (CAN)
Mint Copy (CAN)
Primal Force Blushing Groom (FR)
Prime Prospect
Darlin Echo
1996
Eastern Echo Damascus
Wild Applause
Darlin Lindy Cox's Ridge
Smart Darlin, out of Smartaire (family: A13) [41]

Accelerate is inbred 3S x 5D to Mr. Prospector, meaning that stallion appears in the third generation of the sire's side of his pedigree, and in the fifth generation of the dam's side. Accelerate is also inbred 5S x 5D to Smartaire, and is 5S x 5D x 5D to Northern Dancer.

Related Research Articles

Saint Liam was an American thoroughbred racehorse who was voted 2005 Eclipse Award Horse of the Year honors after winning the Donn Handicap, Stephen Foster, Woodward Stakes and Breeders' Cup Classic. He died in 2006 due to a freak accident, leaving behind a single crop of foals that included Horse of the Year Havre de Grace.

Medaglia d'Oro is an American Thoroughbred racehorse who won several major stakes races including the 2002 Travers Stakes and the 2003 Whitney Handicap. He also finished second in the 2002 Belmont Stakes, the Breeders' Cup Classic in both 2002 and 2003, and the 2004 Dubai World Cup. Since retiring to stud, he has become an excellent stallion whose progeny include 2009 Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra, two-time champion filly Songbird and two-time Hong Kong Horse of the Year Golden Sixty.

Candy Ride is a retired Thoroughbred racehorse who went undefeated in six starts on both turf and dirt racing surfaces in Argentina and the United States. In Argentina, he won the Gran Premio San Isidro and the Joaquin S. de Anchorena, setting a world record of 1:31.01 for 1,600 meters on the turf in the latter. He was named Argentina's Champion Miler of 2002. Relocated to the United States in 2003, he won the American Handicap and set a track record in the Pacific Classic Stakes. Retired to stud in Kentucky, he developed into a top 10 sire whose notable offspring include American Horse of the Year Gun Runner.

John W. Sadler is an American horse trainer in the sport of Thoroughbred horse racing. He’s got over 2,600 race wins, including the 2018 Breeders' Cup Classic with Accelerate, who was subsequently named American Horse of the Year. He has won multiple training titles at Santa Anita Park, Del Mar and the now defunct Hollywood Park. Sadler trained Flightline, the winner of the 2022 Breeders' Cup Classic.

The 2002 Kentucky Derby was the 128th running of the Kentucky Derby. The race took place on May 4, 2002, and 145,033 people were in attendance. The race was won by War Emblem who led from start to finish.

Secret Circle is a Thoroughbred race horse who won the 2011 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Sprint, 2013 Breeders' Cup Sprint, and Dubai Golden Shaheen.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Songbird (horse)</span> American-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Songbird is a retired US Hall of Fame Thoroughbred racehorse who was a two-time Eclipse Award winner. She won thirteen times, nine of them in Grade I races, and had career earnings of almost $4.7 million.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stellar Wind (horse)</span> American Thoroughbred racehorse

Stellar Wind is an American Thoroughbred racehorse, known for her Eclipse Award winning three-year-old season, and later for her rivalry with the champion mare Beholder. Bred in Virginia, she raced in Maryland as a juvenile, winning one minor race from two starts. As a three-year-old, racing mainly in California, she improved to become arguably the best filly of her generation. In the spring of 2015, she won the Santa Ysabel Stakes and the Santa Anita Oaks before finishing a troubled fourth in the Kentucky Oaks. On her return to California, she recorded further victories in the Summertime Oaks and the Torrey Pines Stakes, and then ended her season by finishing a strong second in the Breeders' Cup Distaff. She was voted American Champion Three-Year-Old Filly of 2015.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arrogate</span> American-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Arrogate was a Thoroughbred racehorse.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shaman Ghost</span> Canadian Thoroughbred racehorse

Shaman Ghost is a retired Thoroughbred racehorse who won the 2015 Queen's Plate and was named Canadian Champion Three-Year-Old Colt. In 2016, he won two graded stakes races in the United States, including the prestigious Woodward Stakes. He started 2017 with a runner-up performance in the world's richest horse race, the Pegasus World Cup, followed up by wins in the Santa Anita Handicap and Pimlico Special. He was inducted into the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame in 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2016 Breeders' Cup</span> Horse race

The 2016 Breeders' Cup World Championships was the 33rd edition of the premier event of the North American thoroughbred horse racing year. A total of 185 pre-entries were announced on October 26 in what was considered a highly competitive year in most divisions. The races, all of which were Grade I, took place on November 4 and 5 at Santa Anita Racetrack in Arcadia, California and were telecast by NBC. The Breeders' Cup is generally regarded as the end of the North America racing season, although a few Grade I events take place in later November and December.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2016 Breeders' Cup Classic</span>

The 2016 Breeders' Cup Classic was the 33rd running of the Breeders' Cup Classic, part of the 2016 Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships program. It was run on November 5, 2016 at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California with a purse of $6,000,000.

The 2012 Breeders' Cup Classic was the 29th running of the Breeders' Cup Classic, part of the 2012 Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships program. It was run on November 3, 2012 at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California with a purse of $5,000,000.

Cupid is a retired American Thoroughbred racehorse who won multiple graded stakes races despite several interruptions to his training. At age three, he was a leading contender for the 2016 Kentucky Derby until he developed a breathing problem and missed the race. Returning later in the year, he won the Indiana and West Virginia Derbies before finishing eighth in the Pennsylvania Derby. After an eight-month layoff, he returned in May 2017 to win the Grade I Gold Cup at Santa Anita. He finished his career with six wins from thirteen starts and earnings of $1.7 million.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">West Coast (horse)</span> American-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

West Coast is a retired American Thoroughbred racehorse, foaled, raised and sold by historic Thoroughbred nursery, Hermitage Farm. Unraced at age two, he was named the Champion three-year-old colt of 2017 after wins in the Travers Stakes and Pennsylvania Derby, plus a third-place finish in the Breeders' Cup Classic. At age four, he finished second in the Pegasus World Cup, Dubai World Cup and Awesome Again Stakes. He finished his career with a record of six wins from 13 starts and earnings of $5,803,800.

The 2017 Breeders' Cup Classic was the 34th running of the Breeders' Cup Classic, part of the 2017 Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships program. It was run on November 4, 2017, at Del Mar Racetrack in Del Mar, California with a purse of $6,000,000. It was expected to be a showdown between the top two horses in North America, Gun Runner and Arrogate, with several other Grade/Group 1 winners providing additional depth in an 11 horse field. However, Arrogate broke poorly and was never a factor in the race. Gun Runner led for most of the race and scored a comfortable victory, likely wrapping up Horse of the Year honors.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Forever Unbridled</span> American-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Forever Unbridled is a retired American Thoroughbred racehorse who was named the Champion Older Mare of 2017 after winning the Fleur de Lis Handicap, Personal Ensign Stakes and Breeders' Cup Distaff. She also won two Group I stakes races in 2016 before finishing third in that year's Distaff.

The 2017 Dubai World Cup was a horse race held at Meydan Racecourse on Saturday 25 March 2017. It was the 22nd running of the Dubai World Cup and the third running of the race since the synthetic Tapeta surface was replaced by a dirt track.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2018 Breeders' Cup Classic</span>

The 2018 Breeders' Cup Classic was the 35th running of the Breeders' Cup Classic, part of the 2018 Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships program. It was run on November 3, 2018, at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky with a purse of $6,000,000. It was won by Accelerate, who earned his fifth Grade I win of the year.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">City of Light (horse)</span> American racehorse

City of Light is an American Thoroughbred racehorse who won the 2018 Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile and 2019 Pegasus World Cup in his final two starts. He also won the 2017 Malibu Stakes and 2018 Triple Bend Stakes and Oaklawn Handicap.

References

  1. 1 2 "Pedigree of Accelerate". Equineline. Retrieved 23 January 2019.
  2. 1 2 "Equibase Profile". Equibase. Retrieved 23 January 2019.
  3. "» Lookin' at a Deserved Change of Luck". Thoroughbred Daily News. June 2018. Retrieved 23 January 2019.
  4. "Accelerate hits the gas and wins Shared Belief". Daily Racing Form.
  5. "Accelerate Finds Just Enough in Los Al Derby". BloodHorse.
  6. "Accelerate on Fast Track for Dirt Mile". BloodHorse.
  7. "Tamarkaz upsets Dirt Mile". BloodHorse.
  8. "Midnight Storm speeds to win". BloodHorse.
  9. "Hoppertunity grinds out another San Antonio score". BloodHorse.
  10. "Keene set for debut". BloodHorse.
  11. "Collected dominant again". BloodHorse.
  12. "Accelerate begins journey". BloodHorse.
  13. "Accelerate springs upset". BloodHorse.
  14. "Accelerate pointing for Pacific Classic". BloodHorse.
  15. "Collected outlasts Arrogate". BloodHorse.
  16. "Battle of Midway breaks through". BloodHorse.
  17. "Collected tunes up for San Antonio; Smith to ride". Daily Racing Form.
  18. "Giant expectations". BloodHorse.
  19. "World Cup Prep". BloodHorse.
  20. "Charts". Equibase.
  21. "Accelerate powers through". BloodHorse.
  22. "Accelerate rolls in Big 'Cap". 10 March 2018.
  23. "Accelerate romps". BloodHorse.
  24. "Accelerate pointed to Oaklawn". BloodHorse.
  25. "City of Light edges Accelerate". BloodHorse.
  26. "City of Light stretches out lead". BloodHorse.
  27. "Accelerate pulls away late". BloodHorse.
  28. "Accelerate could run in the Whitney". BloodHorse.
  29. "Accelerate works five furlongs". BloodHorse.
  30. "Accelerate in the spotlight". BloodHorse.
  31. "Accelerate dominates". BloodHorse.
  32. Eric Mitchell (29 August 2018). "Accelerate to Lane's End on Retirement". BloodHorse.
  33. "Accelerate Steady in Preparation for Classic". BloodHorse. 20 October 2018.
  34. Frank Angst (3 November 2018). "Accelerate Finds Top Gear to Win Breeders' Cup Classic". BloodHorse.
  35. Eric Mitchell (4 November 2018). "Accelerate, West Coast Arrive at Lane's End". BloodHorse.
  36. Eric Mitchell (7 November 2018). "Lane's End Sets Stud Fees for Strong Sire Trio". BloodHorse.
  37. Alicia Wincze Hughes (8 December 2018). "Accelerate Begins Preparations for Career Swan Song". BloodHorse. Retrieved 14 December 2022.
  38. "Accelerate, City of Light Headline $9 Million Pegasus World Cup". Gulfstream Park Press Release. Retrieved 22 January 2019.
  39. Howe, Kerry (2023-11-21). "Accelerate relocates to Kentucky Horse Park Hall of Champions". Kentucky Horse Park. Retrieved 2023-12-13.
  40. "Accelerate Horse Pedigree". www.pedigreequery.com. Retrieved 23 January 2019.
  41. "*Randolph of Chatsworth Mare – Family A13". Bloodlines.net. Retrieved 23 January 2019.