Acclamation's Injury Not Career Ending
The injury that will keep Acclamation from defending his championship in the TVG Pacific Classic has been determined to be a “mild strain” of a ligament in the area of the left front pastern.
“It’s not serious. It’s not career-ending, at least we don’t think so right now,” owner E.W. “Bud “ Johnston said Thursday morning. “But it’s something that makes it impossible to train on it for a short period of time at least.
“We’ve been very fortunate with him and we were really looking forward to the race. But we’re hoping that maybe we can meet those guys (Pacific Classic rivals) in the Breeders’ Cup.”
The Breeders’ Cup World Championships are November 2-3 at Santa Anita. Acclamation, the reigning Eclipse Award winner in the Older Male category, is a candidate for either the $3 million Breeders’ Cup Turf or $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic on November 3.
“I’m sorry for Del Mar,” Johnston said. “He’s a very popular horse and he would
have brought interest to the race and some people to the grandstand. And it’s just nice to have those kinds of horses in a race.”
There is no timetable, Johnston said, for a return to training or racing. “We have to keep a close watch, and he’ll tell us when he’s ready,” Johnston said. “We can’t say one way or the other, but he’s not lame or anything, he’s acting fine this morning, and I think he’ll be back.”
With Acclamation out, stablemate Norvsky will be nominated to the TVG Pacific Classic, Del Mar Handicap and Del Mar Mile – races on August 25 and 26 for which the nomination deadline is today – and decide on a race next week.
“We’re probably leaning toward the mile ($200,000 Grade II Del Mar Mile on turf, Sunday, August 26), but we’ll see what the races look like and consider our options,” Johnston said. “He’s doing really well right now.”