Imperative targets Native Diver

ARCADIA, Calif. – With an 18-race losing streak behind him, Imperative will be sent to Del Mar this fall in search of his first graded stakes win since April 2014.

On Thursday, Imperative closed from last in a field of eight to win the $89,835 Big Bear Stakes at a mile on the main track at Santa Anita.

“I was so happy to see him back in the winner’s circle,” trainer Richard Baltas said. “He’s had some good races and some bad races. He lost a heartbreaker earlier this year.”

Imperative was beaten a nose by Hoppertunity in the Grade 2 San Antonio Stakes at Santa Anita in February, arguably his best performance of the year. He failed to finish among the top three in his next four starts, all Grade 1 or Grade 2 races, including a sixth-place finish behind California Chrome at Del Mar on Aug. 20.

Following Thursday’s win, the new goal is the $100,000 Native Diver Stakes, a Grade 3 at 1 1/8 miles at Del Mar on Nov. 27. Thursday’s race was the first win for Imperative since a victory in the $1.5 million Charles Town Classic in 2014.

Ridden by Kent Desormeaux, Imperative won the Big Bear by 1 1/4 lengths over 7-2 Conquest Cobra. Sent off favored, Imperative paid $4.80 and was timed in 1:35.98.

Owned by JK Racing, Imperative has won 4 of 34 starts and earned $2,003,365. He was trained by Eoin Harty and George Papaprodromou earlier in his career. Imperative was claimed for $50,000 at Hollywood Park in December 2013 by Papaprodromou.

Baltas began training Imperative in the summer of 2015. JK Racing bought a share of the gelding in 2015 and has been the sole owner since June.