(Newswire.net — October 2, 2018) — Accelerate has established himself as one of the leading contenders for the Breeders’ Cup Classic due to his form over the 2018 season. John Sadler’s charge has won five of his six races, producing a number of quality performances, dominating in the majority of his meets.
As a result, he has been installed as the favourite for the race at the beginning of November. Accelerate has been outstanding from the off and it will take a great competitor to overhaul on the track in the prestigious event. Catholic Boy and Mckinzie have the talent, although the chestnut horse still has the best value to win the race in the racing odds at William Hill coming in at 3/1.
Accelerate’s rise began at the start of the year in the San Pasqual Stakes at Santa Anita. It was not a perfect performance from Sadler’s charge in the Grade Two race. However, he was good enough down the stretch to claim the victory, finishing one-and-three-quarter lengths ahead of his nearest rival, Prime Attraction.
With Victor Espinoza in the saddle, the five-year-old would make a statement in his next outing at the Santa Anita Handicap. The level of competition was raised in the contest in a Grade One meet. He was considered the favourite due to his previous performance and he duly delivered with a dominant run, pulling clear on the final furlong to win by five-and-a-half lengths.
Oaklawn Park was next on the agenda for Accelerate in the Oaklawn Handicap. Once again, he was considered the leading contender for the meet, although, on this occasion, his pace failed him at the decisive moment. City of Light had the lead going into the stretch, and even though Sadler’s charge pushed him all the way to the line, the American horse was able to edge him out by a neck.
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Accelerate issued a response in his next race, returning to Santa Anita in the Gold Cup at Santa Anita Stakes. After his victory at Oaklawn, City of Light was considered the favourite, but Sadler’s charge produced a brilliant performance to take the crown ahead of his rival, who finished in third. The five-year-old was able to pull well clear of the rest of the field to deliver a dominant four-and-a-quarter-length triumph, re-establishing his elite status over one mile and two furlongs.
If his performance at Santa Anita was a good one, he managed to take his game to the next level at the TVG Pacific Classic at Del Mar. Joel Rosario took his place in the saddle for the first time, with his charge well rested after an 85-day break. Accelerate was flawless, trouncing the rest of the field, allowing him to canter over the line by 12 lengths to take the crown.
Accelerate was able to maintain his excellent form at the Awesome Again Stakes, once again delivering a composed display with Rosario in the saddle, securing his place in the winners’ circle. Given the quality of his performances, it would not be a surprise to see him victorious once again at the Churchill Downs.