Carvajal, trainer of Imperial Hint, makes career change
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Luis Carvajal Jr., best known as the trainer of the standout sprinter Imperial Hint, has disbanded his stable at Tampa Bay Downs and is now working in the Gulfstream Park racing office.
Carvajal, a 50-year-old native of Chile, ran his last starter Jan. 8 at Tampa. He said the recent dispersal of the racing stock of one of his main owners, Patricia Generazio, was a catalyst in his career switch.
“It was getting difficult to get clients,” said Carvajal, who had 192 wins in the United States, dating to 2006. “I had a slow summer at Monmouth Park and came to Tampa with about 15 horses. The stress and the bills and everything else was really mounting.”
Carvajal gave the nickname “The Little Rocket” to Imperial Hint when the Florida-bred horse was developing into a major force in the national sprint ranks for him and owner Ray Mamone. Imperial Hint was at his best from 2017 through 2019, including a second straight victory in the Grade 1 Vanderbilt at Saratoga in 2019 with a 114 Beyer Speed Figure. Imperial Hint was retired in May 2020 with 14 wins from 25 starts and earnings of more than $2.2 million.
Imperial Hint stands stud for $2,500 at Clear Creek Stud in Louisiana.