Trainer Don Warren confirmed speculation that Acclamation, the 2011 Eclipse Award winner as outstanding older male, would not make the Breeders' Cup World Championships at Santa Anita Park Nov. 2 and 3.
"It flared up a little bit again," Warren said the morning of Oct. 7, referring to a sprain in the horse's left leg. "It heated up on me, the sprain that he had a month ago. He worked good on the training track four or five days ago, but it heated up the next day, so we're going to give up on the Breeders' Cup."
Acclamation last worked Sept. 30 on the Santa Anita training surface, going six furlongs in 1:17 3/5.
The 6-year-old California-bred son of Unusual Heat had been ticketed for the $3 million Turf (gr. IT) at 1 1/2 miles. In his most recent start, Acclamation won the nine-furlong Eddie Read Stakes (gr. IT) July 21 on turf at Del Mar. In his only other start this year, the big bay captured the 10-furlong Charles Whittingham Memorial Handicap (gr. IT) June 9 at Betfair Hollywood Park.
Racing for Bud and Judy Johnston and Mary and Peter Hilvers, Acclamation owns a seven-race win streak, including four groups I and three group II events. His career record is 11-2-6 in 30 starts with earnings of $1,958,048.
Warren said Acclamation "probably" would remain at Santa Anita. "Everything had to go perfect to make the race. We're done for the rest of the year. We've got to get him fixed right. We've got to give him more time."
Meanwhile, time and hope were diminishing for Caracortado to make the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (gr. IT). The late-running California-bred gelding hasn't raced since wining the Daytona Stakes (gr. IIIT) at Santa Anita Jan. 8 due to a burn on the frog of his right front foot.
"I don't know if he'll make the race," trainer Mike Machowsky said by phone from Hollywood Park. "I haven't ruled it out yet. It's still up in the air. I'd say it's 50-50; we'll keep our fingers crossed."
Caracortado breezed several times at Del Mar, but there have been no recorded works since at Hollywood or Santa Anita. Caracortado won his first five starts, including the Robert B. Lewis Stakes (gr. II) as a 3-year-old.
Owned by AJL Productions, Blahut Racing, and Lo Hi Racing, Carcortado has nine wins overall from 19 starts with earnings of $864,105.
