Acclamation extended his winning streak to five and stamped himself as a legitimate contender for next month's Breeders' Cup Turf when he held off a very game Champ Pegasus in the Santa Anita homestretch to win the $150,000 Clement Hirsch Turf Championship Stakes (gr. II) by a length.
Ridden by Patrick Valenzuela, the five-year-old Acclamation, who was sent off at 2-5 off of three straight grade I wins, broke quickly and made an attempt to get to his usual position at the front of the pack but was beaten to the lead by both Make Music for Me and Ashtar. Despite the change in tactics, Acclamation settled nicely into the third spot while two wide as Make Music for Me carved out steady fractions of :24.16, :48.47, and 1:12.58. In the meantime, Champ Pegasus, winner of this race last year, had settled into the fourth spot and was going along nicely under Garrett Gomez. Imponente Purse, Buenos Dias, and Dynamic Host trailed the field.
On the far turn Acclamation began to advance on the outside of Make Music for Me to challenge for the lead. But Champ Pegasus was getting into gear on the far outside and as the field entered the homestretch, Acclamation and Champ Pegasus appeared poised for a dramatic stretch duel. They did not disappoint. Champ Pegasus gave it a good try, but Acclamation kept finding more and stemmed him off to win the race in a sharp 1:59.45. Seeing that he ran the mile in 1:36.19, Acclamation came home his final quarter in a brilliant :23.26.
Imponente Purse came on to be third, while Ashtar held fourth at 35-1.
-Keelerman
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