Acceptance fits nicely in wide open San Simeon

While the Grade I Malibu Stakes for three-year-olds and the Grade I La Brea Stakes for three-year-old fillies, both at seven furlongs, will take center stage opening day Monday, the Grade III San Simeon Stakes on the undercard presents an interesting storyline and a daunting challenge for handicappers.

Kenny Black, a former jockey virtually born into racing who now trains, entered Acceptance in the race at about 6 ½ furlongs down the hillside turf course for owners Finish Line Racing and The Ellwood Johnston Trust.

A four-year-old California-bred son of Vronsky, Acceptance won the California Flag Handicap over the same venue by a head last October. Acceptance worked five furlongs on the main track Wednesday in 1:00.40.

Acceptance was third by a length in the Cary Grant for Cal-breds at Del Mar Nov. 2, beaten a length after stumbling at the start of the seven furlong dirt race. “It looks like he’ll be facing the same caliber of horses in the San Simeon he beat in the California Flag,” Black said.

Stewart Elliott, who has ridden Acceptance in his last three starts, retains the mount in the San Simeon for Black, whose passion for the game never ebbs.

“I’ve got 15 head here for this meet including some nice older horses we’re bringing back off layoffs,” Black said, “and I’m really looking forward to that. Desiresoftheheart might be the most talented horse I’ve ever had. She won her only out here by like three (lengths) down the hill about two years ago in her only start.

“She did it with a slight stress fracture in her pelvis but we didn’t find out until later, after we had her sold to Peter Miller for $400,000. When the nuclear scan for the vet check was done for the sale four days after the race, they found the injury. She won the race with it, so that was impressive.

“I think Insubordination is my best three-year-old. He ran once and got beat a head going a mile on the grass, and when we scoped him after the race he was full of mucous. Burntaroundthedges, who will be six Jan. 1, also is coming back and he outworked What a View here last December.”

What a View gave Black his first Grade I win when he won the Kilroe Mile last March 12.

Black, recently turned 53, started riding match races when he was eight years old, mostly in Northern California. “They strapped me on a horse with a girth over my legs and tied me onto it with no saddle, Mexican-style,” Black said. “I only weighed 50 or 60 pounds.”

The San Simeon, race six of nine: Jimmy Bouncer, Mario Gutierrez, 12-1; Hobbits Hero, Rafael Bejarano, 15-1; Stormy Liberal, Norberto Arroyo Jr., 8-1; Drummer, Tyler Baze, 12-1; Ohio, Drayden Van Dyke, 6-1; Acceptance, Stewart Elliott, 6-1; Cape Wolfe, Santiago Gonzalez, 15-1; Richard’s Boy, Victor Espinoza, 5-1; He Will, Flavien Prat, 6-1; Tough Sunday, Chantal Sutherland, 20-1; Betty’s Bambino, Joel Rosario, 6-1; Holy Lute, Jamie Theriot, 9-2; Horse Laugh, 30-1; and Iron Rob, Corey Nakatani, 50-1.

At nearly 9-1 odds, Chao Chom upset Enola Gray, favored at 10 cents on the dollar, in the Betty Grable Stakes at Del Mar Nov. 13.

Chao Chom drew outside of expected pacesetter Enola Gray that day, but it’s a different story for Monday’s Grade I La Brea Stakes for three-year-old fillies at seven furlongs. Enola Gray drew outside Chao Chum in post seven, while Chao Chom has post six in a field of eight that on paper appears loaded with speed.

“Hopefully, we can let Enola Gray go and come outside of her again,” said Gary Stute, trainer of Chao Chom. “I’ve got Kent (Desormeaux), so whatever he does is OK with me.” The Hall of Fame jockey rode Chao Chom for the first time in the Betty Grable upset.