Acclamation doubles up in Whittingham

Acclamation quickened away from Celtic New Year on the far turn through a

mile in 1:36 4/5, opened up on the field entering the stretch, and never faced a

danger. Much the best in a final time of 2:00 for 1 1/4 miles on firm turf, he

furnished mutuels of $3.40, $2.40 and $2.10.

"Man, we had a great trip," Talamo said. "He's always a little slow out of

the gate, so I had to send him a little bit, but once he got to the lead he just

cruised around there. Every time that outside horse (Celtic New Year) would get

close to him I'd kind of let him open up a little bit and boy, he just kept on

striding out.

"He gets into that big, long stride and keeps accelerating. The only thing I

didn't want to do was let that other horse come up and go head and head with me.

I wanted to stay at least a half-length in front. He's really a pleasure to ride

and I really appreciate the connections giving me an opportunity to ride."

"We didn't want him to slow it down too much," Warren said, "because then you

get the pack too close. You have to set a reasonable amount of pace to keep them

strung out a little. If you let him go :48 4/5 or :49 he's tough to catch."

Celtic New Year fended off the mildly closing Bourbon Bay by a head for

second. Another 2 1/4 lengths back came Red Alert Day in fourth, followed by

Haimish Hy and Falcon Rock.

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

compiled a record of 25-6-2-6, $758,048. 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. The bay 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 S. (G1) at Del Mar. 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. The five-year-old 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's rebounded in style since returning to

Hollywood.

"We'll consider the Hollywood Gold Cup ([G1] on Cushion Track on July 9) or

the United Nations H. (on July 2 at Monmouth) again," Warren revealed.

"That course back there would suit him.

"I don't know why he didn't run well there last year. Both times I've shipped

him out of town he hasn't run well. I can't understand why. He's not a nervous

horse, and he acts like he takes to the shipping and the flight and everything

just fine. I'm not convinced he won't ship and run well."

Bred by 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.