Imperial Hint notches fifth win in row with Levine Memorial

BENSALEM, Pa. - Raymond Mamone has owned horses since 1976 but has never had a runner as talented as Imperial Hint, who won his fifth race in a row Monday in the $100,000 Donald Levine Memorial at Parx Racing.

Imperial Hint easily won the Levine by 6 3/4 lengths. Following a quarter-mile in 21.74, Javier Castellano moved Imperial Hint to the lead outside Lewys Vaporizer. They steadily pulled away through fractions of 43.81 and 55.61, stopping the timer in 1:07.55, .04 of a second off the track record set by Royal Currier in 2011.

"That was fantastic," Mamone said. "A helluva race."

Imperial Hint earned a Win and You're In fees-paid berth in the Breeders' Cup Sprint with his 4 3/4-length victory in the Grade 3 Smile Sprint in July at Gulfstream Park. Trainer Luis Carvajal Jr. intends to train imperial Hint up to the Nov. 4 Sprint, where he will be among the favorites.

Carvajal was nervous before the race but relaxed afterward.

"I didn't smoke my cigarette before the race, I ate it," he said. "I wanted him to win like a 1-5 favorite today."

Imperial Hint, who is based at Parx, paid $2.40 to win in the four-horse field. Life in Shambles finished second, three-quarters of a length ahead of Fast Friar in third.

Imperial Hint has now won six of his last seven starts. Overall, he is 8 for 11 with earnings of $560,155.

Carvajal took Imperial Hint to Dubai in March for the $2 million Golden Shaheen, but the 4-year-old son of Imperialism became ill and missed the race.

"Ever since we got back from Dubai, the way he is working has been amazing," Carvajal said. "I think he is maturing at the right time."

Greenwood Cup: Madefromlucky whistles

Madefromlucky broke a 12-race losing streak dating back to the 2015 West Virginia Derby in the Grade 3, $200,000 Greenwood Cup. And he did it in style.

With Javier Castellano aboard for his second easy stakes winners on the card, Madefromlucky relaxed off a taxing early pace set by even-money favorite Scuba. Castellano sent Madefromlucky up between horses to gain the lead on the third turn of the 1 1/2-mile race and he pulled away to win by 12 1/4 lengths without being asked for his best in the stretch.

Madefromlucky, who is trained by Todd Pletcher, paid $5.80 as the second choice in the field of seven. He was timed in 2:32.72, after fractions of 47.33 and 1:38.67.

Testosterstone rallied to finish second at 15-1. Let Me Go First, who bid for the lead outside of the winner, finished third, three-quarters of a length behind Testosterstone. Scuba tired to finish sixth.

Madefromlucky, a 5-year-old son of Lookin At Lucky, is now 5 for 23 with earnings of $1.23 million. He made have found a new career as a marathoner.