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L’Imperator earns first Grade 1 triumph in inaugural Beverly R. Steinman

by Christian Abdo

Hudson River Farms’ dual Grade 1-placed L’Imperator earned a breakthrough score at the topflight in Thursday’s inaugural running of the Grade 1, $150,000 Beverly R. Steinman, a 2 3/8-mile handicap for older steeplechasers, at Belmont at the Big A.

Trained by Archibald Kingsley, Jr., the 7-year-old Holy Roman Emperor gelding had hit the board in his last four starts, including a last-out third at the Grade 1-level to the victorious Rampoldi Plan in the Commonwealth Cup on May 4 at Great Meadow. Today, he closed for victory over that same foe with a well-timed ride by Jordan Gainford.

Kingsley, Jr. hopes it will mark just the beginning of a campaign that will feature a trio of upcoming Grade 1s in New York, including the $150,000 A. P. Smithwick Memorial on July 17 and the $150,000 Jonathan Sheppard on August 14 at Saratoga Race Course, as well as the Grade 1 Lonesome Glory in September at Aqueduct.

“There’s four Grade 1s in New York now counting today over the next few months and if I can keep him healthy, he’s going to run in all of them,” said Kingsley, Jr. “He’s just come into his own and it has always been the plan that these races would be the sweet spot of his year – thank you, NYRA.”

L’Imperator traveled towards the back of the eight-horse field during the early going over the firm inner turf, finding himself in sixth position, well off-the-pace set by the Jamie Bargary-piloted Rampoldi Plan, who was tracked by the Grade 1-placed Jimmy P as the field crossed the wire for the first time.

Rampoldi Plan continued to lead while the Graham Watters-piloted Ziggle Pops moved past Jimmy P into second position to pressure the early pacesetter, with L’Imperator advancing simultaneously along the inside to sit in behind the front three. Rampoldi Plan and Ziggle Pops drew four lengths clear as the field passed the grandstand for the second time.

L’Imperator was by himself as he crept closer to the front-end duel between Rampoldi Plan and Ziggle Pops with the rest of the field still multiple lengths behind. Down the backside, Gainford moved L’Imperator into striking distance of the front pair who were head-and-head for the lead after two miles.

After clearing the final fence, Watters asked Ziggle Pops to go and he assumed a narrow lead over Rampoldi Plan approaching the final turn. The pair dueled for the front spot through the turn and into the top of the lane as L’Imperator joined the fray to their outside, sweeping by just before the stretch call to a half-length advantage.

L’Imperator, who was second in the Grade 1 Lonesome Glory here in September, would not be denied today, extending to a two-length victory in a final time of 4:31.97.

Gainford said it was an ideal trip for the talented steeplechaser, who was also a Grade 2-winner on the flat.

“We wanted to get cover and we did. On the last circuit, I was just curious of the two in front of me and I thought Jamie’s [Bargary] horse [Rampoldi Plan] was the horse to beat,” said Gainford. “I just wanted to keep him in my sights. Once I turned in, I nearly got there too soon.”

Kingsley, Jr. said he had full confidence in the late move.

"I only grew more confident as the race was unfolding. With a turn to go, I said to myself, ‘we’re going to win it,’” said Kingsley, Jr. “He was going after those two that had shaken loose, and he was going to take his time to get there and keep an eye on them, but it all unfolded perfectly.”

Rampoldi Plan battled back to the inside of Ziggle Pops for place-honors by a head. It was another 6 3/4 lengths back to Jimmy P who rounded out the superfecta. Awakened, Freddy Flintshire, West Newton, and Gordon’s Jet rounded out the order of finish.

Kingsley, Jr. said he will cherish this breakthrough score for L’Imperator, who was making his fourth Grade 1 attempt in his tenth race as a steeplechaser for Ed Swyer’s Hudson River Farms.

“Ed Swyer and I have been around the world together racing at this level and to share in a moment like this is as good as it gets,” said Kingsley, Jr. “My daughter [jockey Taylor Kingsley] is walking the course at Leopardstown to ride a race later today and she just called me from watching a horse on TV that she’s done a lot of work on win a Grade 1 in New York. We’re just all living our best lives around these good horses, and we feel so fortunate to be custodians of animals with this kind of talent and to be entrusted by the owners to do it.

“I can’t say enough in gratitude to the horses that have brought us all around the world and given us a better life than we could have dreamt on our own,” Kingsley Jr. added.

Bred in France by Jean-Pierre Dubois, L’Imperator banked $90,000 in victory while improving his record to 27-10-1-8 and 10-3-1-5 over the jumps. He returned $6.60 for a $2 win bet.

The Steinman was originally slated for June 9 on the final day of the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival at Saratoga Race Course, but was rescheduled after strong rains forced the cancellation of turf racing that day.

Live racing resumes Friday, at Belmont at the Big A with a nine-race program. First post is 1:05 p.m. Eastern.

America’s Day at the Races will present daily coverage and analysis of the Belmont at the Big A spring/summer meet on the networks of FOX Sports. For the complete broadcast schedule, visit https://www.nyra.com/aqueduct/racing/tv-schedule.

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