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On the Acorn reaches new heights in Capistrano Indizguys Stable's ON THE ACORN (GB) (Inchinor [GB]) was content to settle near the rear while going the marathon distance of about 1 3/4 miles in Sunday's $250,000 San Juan Capistrano Invitational H. (G2) at Santa Anita, circled his rivals exiting the final turn and went on to post a 1 1/2-length score on the firm grass. With Victor Espinoza aboard, the Mike Mitchell-trained six-year-old finished the closing day feature in 2:48. "I knew my horse would get the distance," said Espinoza, who tied Garrett Gomez for the jockey's title with this win. "I wasn't worried about the pace. I just wanted to make sure my horse was comfortable and he was. "At the half-mile pole, I started asking him a little. At the three-eighths pole, I could see the favorite (Sweet Return) was struggling a little bit and I had a ton of horse under me. At the quarter-pole he was was really rolling and I knew he was going to be very tough to beat. This horse can really finish." Sweet Return (GB) (Elmaamul) bounded onto the lead when the gates opened, setting a moderate pace of :50 1/5, 1:14 3/5 and 1:41 while held in check by jockey Alex Solis. Never far back was Embossed (Ire) (Mark of Esteem [Ire]), with Icy Ridge (Ire) (Orpen) keeping close attendance. Embossed began turning up the pressure on the backstretch as Sweet Return posted 10 furlongs in 2:07 1/5. As the top three entered the final turn, Embossed began to move up to the outside of Sweet Return with Icy Ridge close on his hooves. It appeared to be a three-horse race at that point, but the rest of the field was catching up and suddenly On the Acorn circled the three leaders to take the advantage. Set down for the drive by a confident and patient Espinoza, the dark bay gelding held off Sweet Return, who gamely re-rallied along the rail to get a neck in front of Fitz Flag (Arg) (Flag Down) for second. "He ran hard," Solis said of Sweet Return. "He ran a great race. He fought hard down the stretch and especially since it was his first time going beyond a mile and a quarter. You have to be happy." Sent off the 5-2 second choice, On the Acorn rewarded his backers with payouts of $7.40, $3.80 and $3 while starting the $11.80 exacta ($1). Sweet Return was good for $3.40 and $2.60 as the 3-2 favorite, while Fitz Flag returned $4.40 at 11-1. The 5-3-2 trifecta ($1) paid $72.30. Next under the line were Embossed, One Off (GB) (Barathea [Ire]), Boule d'Or (Ire) (Croco Rouge) and Icy Ridge. On the Acorn earned a first stakes score with this one, moving his line to 27-5-3-3 and increasing his earnings to $410,812. Prior to being claimed by Mitchell for $40,000 in November, the six-year-old's previous best when facing stakes company came as a third in the 2004 Bay Meadows Derby (G3). While making his seasonal bow, and his second start for his new connections, On the Acorn posted a head score in an allowance/optional claimer at Santa Anita in January. He returned in February to earn a 1 3/4-length victory while running under those same conditions and returned to the stakes ranks with a runner-up placing in the San Luis Obispo H. (G2) prior to this one. Bred in Great Britain by Mrs. S. O'Brien, On the Acorn is the first registered foal out of the winning Amarice (Suave Dancer) and brought $26,559 as a Tattersalls April two-year-old. His dam is a half-sister to Italian Group 2 winner Dancer Mitral (Shareef Dancer). Co-owner Jack Disney said that On the Acorn could show up next in the May 12 Jim Murray Memorial H. (G2) going 1 1/2 miles on Hollywood Park's turf.
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