Accelerate wins San Pasqual Stakes with timely ride

Accelerate had the advantage of patience on his side, with jockey Victor Espinoza waiting for an opening on the rail to break away from traffic and capture the Grade 2, $200,000 San Pasqual Stakes on Saturday at Santa Anita Park.

“He got bumped around a little bit but this horse showed a lot of guts today,” said Juan Leyva, assistant to trainer John Sadler. “He’s obviously a really nice horse and he showed it today. We don’t really tell Victor anything; he knows how to ride.”

In a field of nine for 4-year-olds and up at 1 1/8 miles, Mubtaahij and Top of the Game battled on the front, with Irish Freedom running up on the outside to make the frontrunners three wide. Accelerate was behind them on the rail next to Pavel, who was tucked in next to Prime Attraction. The Lieutenant, Win the Space and Ike Walker rounded out the field.

Mubtaahij and Top of the Game continued to swap narrow leads as they set opening fractions of :24.34, :48.94 and 1:12.85. Espinoza waited behind the wall of horses, and his patience paid off. As the field turned for home, Mubtaahij came off the rail just enough for Espinoza to push Accelerate through an opening. Prime Attraction went five wide, but Pavel was still stuck behind a wall of horses.

A small gap between Mubtaahij and Top of the Game closed, and jockey Mario Gutierrez made a sharp move to the outside with Pavel. The front three gave way and Accelerate cruised through a mile in 1:38.23 before finishing the last eight in 1:50.58, winning by 1 ¾ lengths.

“He broke a little slow and they were going slow up front,” said Espinoza. “I put him in the race and they slowed down even more into the first turn. There seemed to be plenty of room up on the lead so I thought I’d take a shot and try to speed up the pace. I thought I could take the lead but when Drayden (on Mubtaahij, on the lead at the rail) saw me try it, he completely shut me down. I bounced off the rail a couple of times.

“I took my time, tried a different technique and just waited until the end.”

Prime Attraction got up for second over Mubtaahij. Pavel, who looked like he would have finished better if he had room to run, was fourth. Top of the Game, Irish Freedom, The Lieutenant, Ike Walker and Win the Space completed the order of finish.

Hronis Racing LLC’s Accelerate, who has consistently hit the board in California stakes company, picked up his fifth win in 16 starts, with four seconds and five thirds. The 5-year-old son of Lookin At Lucky also got closer to the million dollar mark, with earnings now at $907,480.

“I think he’s one of the top Handicap division horses around so he definitely earned his keep today,” said part-owner, Kosta Hronis. “It was an exciting race and Victor earned his pay today as well, no doubt.

“I’m always a little concerned, a little worried. There are nine horses in the race, so I hoped we would break well and that didn’t happen. Then, I thought we’d get the lead on the backside and obviously that didn’t work so we went to plan “C.” So, Victor made it all work out.”