Imperial Hint (Imperialism) sat just off a blistering pace to record an embarrassingly easy victory in the GI Alfred G. Vanderbilt at Saratoga Saturday.
The 4-5 favorite raced in fourth through a sharp opening quarter in :21.70 carved out by Switzerland (Speightstown), who was prompted by Mr. Crow (Tapizar). Guided four wide while extremely confidently handled by Javier Castellano on the far turn, Imperial Hint took over in style in the wink of an eye and was geared down late to win for fun.
“When he runs, I always expect him to do this well,” winning trainer Luis Carvajal, Jr. said. “Winning here at Saratoga, this kind of race, it's my first Grade I for me [and] my owner [Raymond Mamone]. It's just fantastic. I have a good group of people who work with me and I can't put into words how happy I feel.
“For Imperial Hint, it's great to have a Grade I. I think I'll go back to the barns and see how he came back. It'll probably be [in] New York [his next start], we don't know yet. I'll pick a spot. Now, I have to keep him sound and healthy and hopefully I can go back to the Breeders' Cup. Probably right now, I'll keep him at three-quarters [of a mile].
Winner of a pair of Grade III events last season, Imperial Hint capped off the season with a classy runner-up finish behind Roy H (More Than Ready) in the GI Breeders' Cup Sprint at Del Mar. The 5-year-old won two out of three prior starts this term, including a narrow tally in the GII True North H. at Belmont last time June 8.
Saturday, Saratoga
ALFRED G. VANDERBILT H.-GI, $350,000, Saratoga, 7-28, 3yo/up, 6f, 1:08.98, gd.
1–IMPERIAL HINT, 124, h, 5, by Imperialism
1st Dam: Royal Hint, by Lahint
2nd Dam: Ray's Trial, by Skip Trial
3rd Dam: Ray's Gift, by Text
1ST GRADE I WIN. O-Raymond Mamone; B-Shade Tree Thoroughbreds Inc (FL); T-Luis Carvajal, Jr.; J-Javier Castellano. $192,500. Lifetime Record: 17-11-2-0, $1,210,155. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.[bullet ad=”florida-breds-ftboa”]2–Warrior's Club, 118, c, 4, Warrior's Reward–Thirty Eighth St., by Citidancer. ($25,000 Ylg '15 KEESEP; $47,000 RNA 2yo '16 OBSAPR). O-Churchill Downs Racing Club; B-John O'Meara (KY); T-D. Wayne Lukas. $70,000.[bullet ad=”keoghjames-soldbygrovendale”][bullet ad=”top-line-sales-new”]3–Sweetontheladies, 115, c, 4, Twirling Candy– Whataclassybroad, by Yankee Gentleman. ($25,000 2yo '16 OBSAPR). O-The Four Horseman Racing Stable and Lady Lindsay Racing Stables; B-English Range Farm (FL); T-Henry Collazo. $42,000.[bullet ad=”machmer-hall-pinhooked-and-raised”][bullet ad=”florida-breds-ftboa”]Margins: 3 3/4, 2 3/4, 1 3/4. Odds: 0.80, 6.70, 35.00.
Also Ran: Mr. Crow, Switzerland, Petrov, Done Deal.
Click for the Equineline.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
