Padua Stables’ PROUD ACCOLADE (Yes It’s True) was blocked going into the turn
of Saturday’s $150,000
Hutcheson S. (G2), dropped to the back of the six-horse
field, but gamely rallied to take the 7 1/2-furlong test by 4 1/2 lengths going
away under jockey John Velazquez. Trained by Todd Pletcher, the sophomore
stopped the clock in 1:29 4/5 over Gulfstream Park’s fast track and returned
$3.60, $2.80 and $2.40 as the 4-5 favorite.
Park Avenue Ball (Citidancer) came from the back with a game run but could
never catch the winner, settling for second at 14-1 and paying $6.80 and $3.80.
Vicarage (Vicar) was worth $3.80 for holding third by a neck over Defer
(Danzig). Devil at Sea (Devil His Due) and Carson’s Bridge (Carson City)
finished out the order under the wire. The $1 exotics gave back $11.50 for the
exacta, $48.40 for the trifecta and $135.90 for the 1-4-3-6 superfecta.
Proud Accolade scored in the Champagne S. (G1) last year to cap a three-race
win streak. In his next one, the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1), the dark bay colt
finished sixth before ending his two-year-old season with a fifth in the
Hollywood Futurity (G1). Making his three-year-old debut here, he improved his
career line to 6-4-0-0 with $454,130 in earnings.
Bred in Florida by Marion G. Montanari, Proud Accolade was purchased by his
current connections as a $450,000 OBS March two-year-old. He is the second
registered foal out of Proud Ciel (Septieme Ciel) and has an unnamed juvenile
full brother as well as an unnamed yearling half-brother by Montbrook.