Acclamation repeats in Eddie Read on Del Mar turf

By: SPORTS NETWORK

Del Mar, CA (Sports Network) - Eclipse Award winner Acclamation took the lead at the start and went on to notch his second straight win in the $300,000 Eddie Read Stakes Saturday at Del Mar. The repeat victory was also the champion's seventh consecutive win.

Trained by Don Warren, Acclamation was ridden by Patrick Valenzuela and was the 1-2 favorite in the five horse field.

Making just his second start of the year, the six-year-old led every step of the way in the 1 1/8 mile turf race. At the wire he was 2 3/4 lengths ahead of runner-up Interaction followed by Casino Host, Hog's Hollow and Slim Shadey.

Acclamation, owned by Bud and Judy Johnston's Old English Rancho and Peter and Mary Hilvers, stopped the timer at 1:46.86 on a firm grass course.

"I think he is the best turf horse in the country at a mile and an eighth or more, don't you?," commented the winning trainer. "Has anybody beaten him at it yet? Until they do, he's the best turf horse in the country. He's just developed into a wonderful, wonderful horse."

Acclamation paid $3.00, $2.60 and $2.10. Interaction returned $5.40 and $3.00, and Casino Host paid $2.80 to show.

Acclamation, winner of last year's Pacific Classic at Del Mar, has won 10 of 21 grass starts for better than $1.2 million. Overall, the champion has earned just over $2 million in 30 career starts with 11 wins. His only non-turf victory was the Pacific Classic.

"He's a great horse. I've been lucky enough to ride some very good horses, champions, like Sunday Silence and Arazi and Best Pal. And this horse is right there with them," noted Valenzuela. "No doubt about it. He fits. Any horse that runs the way he does, making all the pace himself, then comes home the way he did is a really good horse."

He opened 2012 by winning the Charlie Whittingham on June 12 at Hollywood Park for the third straight time. His win streak began with last year's Jim Murray followed by the Whittingham, Eddie Read, Pacific Classic and Clement L. Hirsch Turf Championship.

Acclamation was voted the Eclipse Award as 2011 champion older male thoroughbred.