Accelerize turns out to be too good for Just A Touch, Fair Grounds Photo
Fair Grounds Press
NEW ORLEANS – With only three races experience, Spendthrift Farm and Repole Stable’s Accelerate wasted no time in proving his class and denying the chance of being the favorite Just a touch at the wire of the Grade 3 $250,000 Louisiana Stakes presented by Hagyard on the Road to the Derby Day undercard at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots.
After a first-level victory, the 4-year-old colt, trained by Todd Pletcher, defeated seven older males to cover 1 1/16 miles in 1:43.43.
Accelerize battled it out under jockey Flavien Prat Tarantino for the early lead and proved his heart along the way. After being topped by Just a Touch, Accelerize fought back to prevail by a neck. Cadet Corps ran third.
“On paper it looked like there was a lot of speed,” Prat said. “But my horse came from a shorter distance race and also showed speed. So I wanted to brake well and at least let him run to the corner, and we took the lead. He has some fight in him. It’s a bright future for him.”
Accelerize returned $19, $5.60 and $6.
The Omaha Beach colt improved his career record to 4-3-0-1 and increased his lifetime bankroll to $154,480.
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