Acclamation takes to Del Mar turf course for work

By: SPORTS NETWORK

Del Mar, CA (Sports Network) - Champion thoroughbred Acclamation put in a workout Monday morning at Del Mar in preparation for the track's summer season. The six-year-old is trained by Don Warren and owned by Bud and Judy Johnston's Old English Rancho and Peter and Mary Hilvers.

Acclamation, winner of last year's Pacific Classic at Del Mar, worked six furlongs in 1:14 2/5 on the Jimmy Durante Turf course under jockey Patrick Valenzuela.

"It was a very good work, he looked wonderful out there and finished strong," Warren said. "He wasn't blowing very hard when he came off the track and now that he's back at the barn he's cooling out well. We're very pleased."

Last year's Eclipse Award winner as champion Older Male thoroughbred, Acclamation is scheduled to start in Saturday's Eddie Read, a race he won by 3 1/4 lengths last year.

His only 2012 start came in the Charlie Whittingham on June 12 at Hollywood Park, when he went wire-to-wire to win the 1 1/4 mile grass race in 2:01.50.

"The goal was to run him six times this year," Bud Johnston said. "We missed one, over what turned out to be nothing. But he's all right, and we'd love to repeat in both races here."

Acclamation won the Pacific Classic along with the Hirsch Turf Championship last year. He also won the Jim Murray, Charlie Whittingham and Eddie Read on the turf. The versatile runner finished 2011 with a record of five wins in seven starts for more $1.1 million.