Coglianese /NYRA Photo Photo

Vanderbilt victor Imperial Hint gives owner, trainer first Grade 1

by Heather Pettinger

Raymond Mamone's Imperial Hint won his first career Grade 1 in impressive fashion on Saturday at Saratoga Race Course, coasting to a 3 ¾-length domination in the $350,000 Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap for 3-year-olds and up at six furlongs.

Switzerland, the 3-1 second choice, took control of the seven-horse field, leading through an opening quarter-mile in 21.70 seconds and a half in 44.39 under mild pressure from Mr. Crow. Imperial Hint, favored at 4-5 and ridden by Hall of Famer Javier Castellano, settled just off the rail in fourth through the early going. Castellano moved the 5-year-old son of Imperialism four wide and circled his rivals to meet the leader in the turn. 

Carrying the field's 124-pound highweight, Imperial Hint swept by Switzerland as the pair turned for home. Imperial Hint continued on down the lane and, with a shake of the reins and slight flick of a right-handed stick, Castellano wrapped up under the wire to stop the clock in 1:08.98. The winning time was .94 seconds off Speightstown's track record set in the 2004 Vanderbilt. 

"He doesn't have to hook up with the speed. He doesn't have to set the pace and I think now he can settle back a little bit and then he finds the last kick," said Castellano. "[It was] very impressive today the way he performed. I could have opened up by 10, but he is a great horse and I enjoyed the ride."

Warrior's Club closed late for second, finishing 2 ¾ lengths ahead of Sweetontheladies in third. Mr. Crow, Switzerland, Petrov, and Done Deal completed the order of finish.

Trained by Luis Carvajal, Jr., Imperial Hint returned $3.60 for a $2 win wager. The victory gave his owner and trainer their first Grade 1s and boosted the Florida-bred millionaire's career earnings to $1,210,155.

The Vanderbilt was the second straight stakes win for Imperial Hint, who turned in a gutsy performance in the Grade 2 True North on June 8 at Belmont Park, settling in fourth early and digging in with a strong rally to post a neck victory.

Last year, Imperial Hint rode a five-race win streak, which included Grade 3 victories in the General George and Smile Sprint, to a second-place finish in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Sprint behind eventual sprint champion Roy H on November 4.

"When he runs, I always expect him to do this well," said Carvajal. "Winning here at Saratoga, this kind of race, it's my first Grade 1 for me [and] my owner. 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.

"That's the way I wanted to see him win," he continued. "For Imperial Hint, it's great to have a Grade 1. 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."