Imperial Hint, Carvajal both breathing easier after hard-fought Vosburgh win

Trainer Luis Carvajal Jr. said he received a congratulatory text from his colleague Arnaud Delacour following Imperial Hint’s nose victory over Firenze Fire in Saturday’s Grade 1, $300,000 Vosburgh.

“You look at a little pale in the face,” Carvajal said the text read. “I think I’m getting my color back.”

Carvajal said Imperial Hint came out of his tougher-than-expected race in good shape and will now be pointed to the Breeders’ Cup Sprint on Nov. 2 at Santa Anita. Imperial Hint returned to Monmouth Park on Saturday night and “went right to licking his feed tub,” Carvajal said. “He looks great this morning and that’s what you want to see after a race like that.”

Imperial Hint earned a 103 Beyer Speed Figure for the Vosburgh.

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Carvajal is hoping that a hard race, in which Imperial Hint had to come back on again after getting passed by Firenze Fire in midstretch, could have him better prepared for what will be a third try at the Breeders’ Cup Sprint.

“Definitely we can say we got something out of this race,” Carvajal said. “Last year, it was a little different scenario.”

Last year, Imperial Hint had an easy race in the Vosburgh and then finished third in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint at Churchill Downs, a track he has not run well at in the past. This will be his first race at Santa Anita.