Acclamation May Opt for Classic Over Breeders' Cup Turf

With the 2011 title of Horse Of The Year looking more wide open than ever after Super Saturday at Belmont, it might actually be a worthy contender making their mark at Santa Anita who starts to build momentum before shipping east for a kick at the Breeders' Cup can. Acclamation now has a multitude of options ahead of him after winning the Grade 1 Pacific Classic at Del Mar and the Grade 2 Clement Hirsch at Santa Anita.

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The versatile west coast runner has Grade 1 wins on synthetic and turf, with connections now indicating that they are considering running the five-year-old son of venerable California sire Unusual Heat on dirt in the Breeders' Cup Classic – a supplement that would cost them a cool $100,000 since he is not Breeders' Cup registered.

2011 may be known as the year of the versatile horse with Animal Kingdom winning the Kentucky Derby despite never having run on dirt before. The lines separating horses by surface are becoming increasingly blurred and with California runners especially jumping between surfaces regularly (Acclamation and Midnight Interlude come to mind immediately), Acclamation would be making a huge statement (especially for a California horse) should he run and win over the Churchill dirt.

Another example of the versatility we're talking about would be the case of Uncle Mo now being considered the betting favourite for the Breeders' Cup Classic despite being bred for 8f and only having won Grade 1's at a mile or less. Should he go on to win the classic that would certainly be demonstrating a different type of versatility.

Uncle Mo is 4/1 ante post for the Classic while Acclamation awaits a price shuffling after a tumultuous weekend in the Breeders' Cup Turf market. The market for the Breeders' Cup Mile is also looking especially interesting after Goldikova was beaten in the Prix De La Foret at Longchamp.