Acclamation wins Eddie Read at Del Mar

DEL MAR, Calif. (AP) - Acclamation led all the way in defeating Interaction by 23/4 lengths to win the $300,000 Eddie Read Stakes for the second straight year at Del Mar on Saturday.

Ridden by Patrick Valenzuela, Acclamation ran 1 1/8 miles on the turf in 1:46.86 and paid $3, $2.60 and $2.10 as the 1-2 favorite in extending his winning streak to seven races including four Grade 1 wins. He carried high weight of 123 pounds in the five-horse field.

"I've been lucky enough to ride some very good horses, champions like Sunday Silence and Arazi and Best Pal," Valenzuela said. "And this horse is right there with them. No doubt about it. He fits. Any horse that runs the way he does, making all the pace himself, then comes home the way he did (the last three-eighths in 34.29 seconds) is a really good horse."

Interaction returned $5.40 and $3, while Casino Host was another 21/4 lengths back in third and paid $2.80 to show.

A year ago, Acclamation won by 31/4 lengths and covered the distance in 1:46.99 for trainer Don Warren. Acclamation finished sixth while running in the race as a 4-year-old in 2010.

He won the $1 million Pacific Classic last year and Warren said Acclamation was being pointed toward a defense of his title on Aug. 26.

The victory, worth $180,000, increased Acclamation's career earnings to $1,958,048, with 11 wins in 30 starts.

Because of heavy wagering on Acclamation to show, there was a minus show pool of $66,680.86. Of the $453,281 in the show pool, $378,984 was wagered on the winner.