Acclamation came out of an Aug. 13 gallop with slight swelling in his left front ankle which, owner E.W. "Bud" Johnston said will prevent a title defense in the $1 million TVG Pacific Classic (gr. I) at Del Mar Aug. 26.
"Three days ago we were thrilled with the way he was looking and acting, then he came out of a gallop with a slight filling," Johnston said. "It might just be a lousy little strain, but it could develop into something serious and it's probably going to keep us out of the Pacific Classic. We're only concerned about what's right for the horse."
Deadline for nominations for the Pacific Classic is Aug. 16.
"We probably won't even nominate," Johnston said.
On Aug. 12, trainer Don Warren had indicated that Acclamation would have a workout either Aug. 15 on the Polytrack main surface or Aug. 16 on the turf course at Del Mar. The injury changed everything.
"He had some heat in a pastern," Warren said early Aug. 15. "It could be a minor infection, but we're having it checked out. We'll just have to wait and see until we get a report from the vets later this morning or this afternoon."
Acclamation, a 6-year-old California-bred son of Unusual Heat owned by the Johnstons' Old English Rancho and Peter and Mary Hilvers, won both the Eddie Read Stakes (gr. IT) on grass and the Pacific Classic on Polytrack in 2011 en route to an Eclipse Award as national champion in the older male category.
Acclamation has two victories in as many starts in 2012, including a successful Eddie Read title defense July 21. The career earner of more than $1.9 million had been training since then with the TVG Pacific Classic on Polytrack as a primary goal and the Del Mar Handicap (gr. IT), 1 3/8 miles on turf on Aug. 25, as a secondary option.
