Accelerate won the prep. Can he win the main event?

Accelerate added blinkers and ran the fastest race of his career last out, a San Diego Handicap romp by more than eight lengths in his return to Del Mar. Accelerate is now 3-for-3 at Del Mar. He finished in front of Arrogate the only two times they met.

The challenge facing Accelerate in the TVG Pacific Classic on Aug. 19 is to run two alike. That rarely happens. Although the San Diego is the prep for the Pacific Classic, 15 of the 18 San Diego winners that returned for the Pacific Classic fell short.

Three San Diego winners (two horses) won both:

In 2000, Skimming won the San Diego by eight lengths and the Pacific Classic by two.

In 2001, Skimming won the San Diego again, by a length, and the Pacific Classic by five and one-half.

In 2016, California Chrome won the San Diego by a half-length, and the Pacific Classic by five.

San Diego winners foiled in the Pacific Classic:

1991, Twilight Agenda, runner-up Pacific Classic

1992, Another Review, sixth

1995, Blumin Affair, third

2002, Grey Memo, 12th

2004, Choctaw Nation, fourth

2005, Choctaw Nation, fourth

2006, Giacomo, fifth

2007, Sun Boat, 12th

2008, Well Armed, second

2009, Informed, ninth

2010, Dakota Phone, third

2011, Tres Borrachos, sixth

2012, Rail Trip, fourth

2013, Kettle Corn, second

2015, Catch a Flight, second

So is Accelerate another Skimming? Or is he a Choctaw Nation? If margin of victory means anything, you’d have to consider Accelerate might be another Skimming.

The last eight-length winner of the San Diego was Skimming in 2000.

Skimming retired with two Pacific Classic wins, and a 4-for-4 record at Del Mar. Accelerate, if he wins the Pacific Classic, would be 4-for-4 at Del Mar.

Nine days until the Pacific Classic.