Acorn Stakes 2021 Results: Search Results gets it done

The Grade I Acorn saw a small field in terms of numbers but extremely high in terms of quality. Miss Brazil was scratched leaving just five three-year-old fillies but with the likes of Search Results, Travel Column, Dayoutoftheoffice and Obligatory there. A good race always looked likely.

Our in-house handicapper and I were lockstep in terms of our top pick with the former writing, 'A G1 winner over this track and distance last fall, Dayoutoftheoffice (#4) was sensational in her return in the G2 Eight Belles on the Oaks undercard. The 90 Beyer she earned may not quite stack up to the number Search Results ran in the Oaks, however she pressed a rapid pace before opening up a daylight lead in the stretch, only to get run down late by longshot Obligatory (#2). It was a terrific effort from Dayoutoftheoffice in her seasonal debut, and I’m expecting her to move way forward off it as her connections were surely pointing to this spot all along. At three or four times the price of the favorite, I think she’s going to offer ample value.'

Our turf-man went elsewhere with his pick, 'Ever since last year in the Alcibiades (G1), I have backed Brad Cox’s Travel Column #1 because she comes from Frosted, and ran fabulously in a couple of tries at the Fair Grounds. Coming into the KYO at Churchill she had much to like. The results did not come … Finishing 5th was decidedly a miss. Now, she is ready for a bounce back, and I like the fact that Florent Geroux makes the trip to New York. Cox’s year just keeps getting better and better...'

Dayoutoftheoffice was the big market mover early when the pools opened going from 4-1 to 9-5 before settling at 2-1. Search Results remained the being favorite however moving in slightly to 4-5.

It was Dayoutoftheoffice who broke fastest and got into the lead early as she was joined by long shot Make Mischief as the two of them made the slow pace before coming into the turn with favorite Search Results coming around the outside. The two favorites went stride for stride for about half a furlong before the favorite went clear and looked like she was cruising to victory. Then the fast-finishing Obligatory made herself known as the daughter of Curlin found that late speed like she did in the Eight Belles. Another six or eight strides and she would've got there but the favorite held on to become a Grade I winner.

Search Results paid out $3.80 for the win.