Acclamation makes it three in a row in Eddie Read

The betting public accordingly sent Acclamation off as the 3-1 third choice

in the six-horse field, while siding with 3-2 favorite Caracortado (Cat Dreams).

The two were also matched in Del Mar's first-ever "head-to-head" wager, but

Caracortado didn't get close enough to threaten when the real running started.

Ironically, the late-running Caracortado broke sharply and found himself in

front in the opening strides. But Acclamation soon strode forward for Joel

Rosario, and with the withdrawal of likely pace rival Celtic Princess (Brz)

(Public Purse), he didn't have to work to secure the lead.

Acclamation rattled off even splits of :24 1/5, :48 2/5 and 1:12 1/5, and

Jeranimo (Congaree) was the only rival to try to apply pressure down the

backstretch. Smart Bid (Smart Strike) tracked in third, and Caracortado eased

back into fourth.

By injecting a serious change of pace on the far turn, Acclamation broke the

race open and never looked like being caught. The bay stormed clear through one

mile in 1:35 2/5 and widened his advantage to 3 1/4 lengths at the wire,

finishing in 1:46 4/5 on the firm course. Acclamation furnished his loyalists

with payouts of $8.40, $4 and $3.

"He was very comfortable today," Rosario said. "I could see his ears up and

going back and forth. He was just having fun out there. This was like when I

rode him in that mile and a half (Jim Murray) up at Hollywood. He ran the same

way that day. So relaxed."

"He (Joel Rosario) gave him the perfect ride," Warren said. "He broke a

little slow, but he made the lead easy. I like to see him cruising on an easy

lead and I always like to see a horse slip away on the last turn like he did.

Just done to perfection."

Jeranimo held second by a half-length from Caracortado, who nosed out Smart

Bid for third. Leroy's Dynameaux (Leroidesanimaux [Brz]) checked in another 3

1/4 lengths away in fifth, and Goldwaki (Ger) (Dalakhani) was tailed off in

last. Kid Edward (Ire) (Singspiel [Ire]) was scratched along with Celtic

Princess.

Campaigned by Peter and Mary Hilvers and E.W. and Judy Johnston, Acclamation

improved his scorecard to 26-7-2-6, $938,048. The five-year-old is in the form

of his life at present. Earlier in his career, he had run well

at the graded level without managing to win, finishing third in the 2009

Hollywood Derby (G1), Del Mar Derby (G2) and San Gabriel H. (G2), as well as the

2010 Strub S. (G2). He was also second in the 2009 Ralph M. Hinds Pomona

Invitational H.

Acclamation really blossomed once stepped up in distance for the 2010 Jim Murray

and followed up in the Whittingham, but failed to transfer his sparkling

Hollywood form on the road. Last summer, he shipped to Monmouth for the United Nations

S. (G1), where he retreated to last of nine, and checked in sixth when

shortening up for the Eddie Read. Freshened for seven months,

Acclamation returned with a creditable fifth in the March 5 Frank E. Kilroe Mile

H. (G1) at Santa Anita, beaten only three lengths. He tried

another foray, this time to the April 16 Charles Town Classic (G3), but never

landed a blow during his wide trip and trailed home 10th in the slop. He hasn't

lost since returning to turf.

Bred by Johnston's Old English Rancho in California, Acclamation is the last

registered foal from the unraced Winning in Style (Silveyville), who is also

responsible for the stakes-placed pair of Strut Your Stuff (Bold Badgett) and

Always in Style (Lucayan Prince). Another of Acclamation's half-siblings, Flying

in Style (Flying Sensation), is the dam of 2007 Derby Trial S. winner, Flying

First Class (Perfect Mandate). This is the family of Grade 3 victor and multiple

Grade 1-placed Stylish Winner (Obraztsovy), and further back, multiple stakes

queen Fleet Treat (Fleet Nasrullah). Multiple Grade 1 star and $2.3

million-earner Marlin (Sword Dance [Ire]) descends from another productive

branch of this female line.

Johnston indicated after the race that Acclamation would next contest the 1

3/8-mile Del Mar H. (G2) on August 28, a "Win and You're In" race for his

ultimate goal, the November 5 Breeders' Cup Turf (G1) at Churchill Downs.