Acceptance Stretches Out in King Glorious

After beginning his career with consecutive sprint wins, Acceptance will stretch out to a mile in the $200,000 King Glorious Stakes Sunday at Los Alamitos.

Restricted to 2-year-olds bred or sired in California, the King Glorious, named in honor of the 1988 Hollywood Futurity winner, was run the previous two years at seven furlongs at the now-shuttered Hollywood Park.

The winner of the 2013 King Glorious in Inglewood – the final stakes race conducted at the historic Track of the Lakes and Flowers last Dec. 22 – was California Chrome, who went on to win the 2014 Kentucky Derby and Preakness and is the leading candidate for Horse of the Year honors.

Post time Sunday is 12:30 p.m. The King Glorious is the eighth of nine races and has an approximate post time of 4 p.m.

There will also be a sweatshirt giveaway Sunday – one per paid admission while supplies last.

Trained by Don Warren for Robert Riggio and breeders Bud and Judy Johnston, Acceptance, a son of Vronsky and the Perfect Mandate mare Allswellthatnswell, has earned $143,600.

In his Oct. 5 debut at seven-eighths of a mile vs. state bred maidens at Santa Anita, Acceptance defeated 12 opponents by 13 ¼ lengths, then returned nearly four weeks later to win the Golden State Juvenile by 1 ¼ lengths as the 7-10 choice.

Among those behind him in a 6 ½ furlong race which was part of the Breeders’ Cup undercard was the previously-undefeated Wake Up Nick.

Owned by breeders Mr. and Mrs. Larry D. Williams and trained by Hall of Famer Jerry Hollendorfer, Pulmarack is the only member of the field with a win at the King Glorious distance.

The son of Lucky Pulpit – the sire of California Chrome – and out of the Dehere mare Tamarack Bay – making him a half-brother to 2013 Del Mar Futurity winner Tamarando – Pulmarack defeated maidens by 4 ¼ lengths in his first start at one mile Oct. 17 at Santa Anita.

The win was the first in three races for Pulmarack and pushed his earnings to $34,100.

Kluszewski returns 10 days after breaking his maiden in his return to Los Alamitos, winning by a half-length over fellow Cal breds at 5 ½ furlongs.

Trained by Phil D’Amato for owner-breeder Nick Alexander, the son of Northern Afleet and the Malek mare Melinda Rose has banked $34,100 in his four races. He has yet to run past three-quarters of a mile.

Mischief Clem returns to dirt after finishing second as the 7-5 favorite in an optional claimer vs. open company Nov. 21 at Del Mar.

Owned by Griffin Thoroughbred Stables and trained by Bob Hess, Jr., the Papa Clem colt out of the Bold Badgett mare Glitteringmischief is 2-for-4 with earnings of $116,880. He was third in the Golden State Juvenile, 2 ¾ lengths behind Acceptance.

A distant fourth in the Golden State Juvenile, Comanche Ruler will be seeking his first victory on dirt for John Elick, Firsthome Thoroughbreds and William Peeples.

Trained by Adam Kitchingman, the Tribal Rule colt out of the Rio Verde mare Super Flo is 1-for-4 with a bankroll of $68,850. His score came in his 5 ½-furlong debut Aug. 1 at Del Mar.

Owned by a partnership that includes Peter Allen, Michael Conner and breeder Terry Lovingier and trained by Walther Solis, P Club is a six-race maiden going turf to dirt.

The son of Bushwacker and the Not for Love mare Sheila’s Prospect has earned $27,406. He was second behind Zinvor when 28-1 in a state bred maiden contest at the King Glorious distance Nov. 14 at Del Mar.

Lovingier and Solis won the Soviet Problem Stakes – the female counterpart to the King Glorious – Dec. 7 with favored My Fiona.

From inside out, the field for the King Glorious Stakes: Kluszewski, Rafael Bejarano rides, 117 pounds; Comanche Ruler, Martin Pedroza, 117; Acceptance, Elvis Trujillo, 121; Mischief Clem, Kent Desormeaux, 119; P Club, Fernando Perez, 115 and Pulmarack, Drayden Van Dyke, 117.

Source: Los Alamitos Race Course