California-bred Acclimate enjoyed a clear early lead in the $100,500 San Juan Capistrano Stakes (G3T) June 19 at Santa Anita Park and was still full of run late in the 1 3/4-mile marathon. It was the 7-year-old Acclimation gelding's second victory in the race after winning it for the first time in 2019.
Trainer Phil D'Amato enjoyed a third consecutive San Juan Capistrano score after also taking it in 2020 with Red King, who came from last of six to finish third this year. Both Acclimate and Red King were sent off at 2-1, with Acclimate ($6.00) slightly favored.
"I'm elated, really. This horse, he's been through the highs and lows and he's bounced back," D'Amato said. "He's just an old warrior and he gave it his all today. It's just a beautiful thing to watch.
"The San Juan Capistrano was my favorite race growing up. When I was a kid coming to the races, this is the race I always came to see."
The Ellwood Johnston Trust, Timmy Time Racing, and Ken Tevelde's Acclimate scored his first victory since returning from a year-long layoff in November 2020, though he placed in four of his last six starts leading up to the San Juan Capistrano.
Under Ricardo Gonzalez for a second straight time, Acclimate broke from post 4 and quickly took the lead on the downhill turf course. He opened up by two lengths, ticking off fractions of :23.43, :48.19, 1:11.56, and 1:35.48 along the way. The bay stretched that lead out by another half-length as he ran 1 1/4 miles in 2:00.30.
Showing no signs of tiring, Acclimate stretched that advantage even further as he crossed the finish line 3 3/4 lengths the best. The final time on the firm turf was 2:49.74.
"Just get him in front, nice and comfortable is where he likes to be. Just keep the other horses away from him and he's as happy as he could be," Gonzalez said. "I was really happy. We barely got beat last time (in the May 29 Charles Whittingham Stakes, G2T), it was just the head bob, but after the wire he was in front again, so I knew the distance wasn't going to be a problem for him."
Astronaut rallied for second, finishing 1 1/4 lengths ahead of Red King.
Acclimate was bred by Old English Rancho, Sal Berumen, and Patsy Berumen. He is out of the Boundary mare Knows No Bounds, the dam of four winners from five starters, including $374,846 earner Jonny's Choice (by Unusual Heat.) Knows No Bounds' last foal is Nicole Knows, an unraced 3-year-old filly by Misremembered who has been working consistently at Pleasanton.
"He still has it! He took a little time off at the ranch, he liked his vacation, but he likes to run better," said Judy Johnston, part owner and breeder of Acclimate. "This horse is very special because we race him and we raced his dad. His dad ran just like he does; they like to get in front and try to dare somebody to catch them, and nobody caught him today."
Tim Henry purchased Acclimate for $30,000 from Havens Bloodstock Agency, agent for Ellwood Johnston Estate and Patsy Berumen, from the 2015 Barretts October Yearling and Horses of Racing Age Sale.
From 25 starts, Acclimate has a 7-4-4 record and has earned $557,872.
"I thought this was an 'A' performance for him today, and this is a horse that I would target for the Del Mar Handicap (G2T)," D'Amato said.
Acclimate also won the Del Mar Handicap Presented by the Japan Racing Association in 2019. This year's edition is scheduled for Aug. 21 at Del Mar. The race is part of the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series, awarding the winner a berth in the Nov. 6 Longines Breeders' Cup Turf (G1T), also at Del Mar.
