Imperial Hint posts emphatic repeat in Alfred G. Vanderbilt

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Imperial Hint ran the best race of his career in last year’s Alfred G. Vanderbilt at Saratoga. Then he did that performance one better in Saturday’s 35th renewal of the Vanderbilt.

Sitting third early behind dueling leaders Strike Power and Mitole through a hot pace, Imperial Hint, under Javier Castellano blew past that pair by the quarter pole and drew clear to a four-length victory in the Grade 1, $350,000 Alfred G. Vanderbilt. Longshot Diamond Oops rallied for second, 3 1/2 lengths clear of Mitole, the 1-2 favorite who finished third.

Not only did he win in a gallop, Imperial Hint set a Saratoga track record by running six furlongs in 1:07.92. Spanish Riddle ran six furlongs in 1:08 in 1972 – before times were recorded in hundredths – and Speightstown won this race in 2004 in a final time of 1:08.04.

“When I looked at the time, all the hairs stood up,” trainer Luis Carvajal Jr. said. “Last year, he gave me my first Grade 1, this year he gave me a track record. It’s an amazing feeling.”

Imperial Hint was winless in his first two starts this year. He finished third in the Pelican Stakes at Tampa but apparently came out of that race with a bruised foot. He broke a little slow in the Group 1 Dubai Golden Shaheen in March and finished third behind X Y Jet.

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Carvajal felt Imperial Hint was coming into the race a work or two short. He said Imperial Hint, based at Monmouth Park this summer, missed a scheduled work earlier last weekend due to weather.

“Give credit to my owner Raymond Mamone, he had a feeling he was going to do good in this race even though we felt he was a little short because we lost a week of training because of the weather,” Carvajal said. “He was right. This horse, he keeps surprising me and surprising everybody.”

Strike Power, from post 2, broke on top under John Velazquez, and Mitole, the 125-pound highweight breaking from the rail under Ricardo Santana Jr., dueled through an opening quarter of 21.77 seconds with Imperial Hint sitting a length back in third.

Castellano tipped Imperial Hint three wide around the turn and he rocketed to the lead after running a half-mile in 44.21 seconds. Imperial Hint opened up a 3 1/2-length lead in midstretch and hit the wire four in front. Imperial Hint returned $13.60 as the 5-1 third choice.

“They went pretty quick the first part of the race, I had a perfect position,” Castellano said. “Turning for home, he wanted to go, he wanted to run today. He was feeling good. He gave me everything he had today.”

Imperial Hint, who ran six furlongs in 1:08.98 in last year’s Vanderbilt, improved his record to 13 wins from 22 starts and increased his career earnings to $2,034,155.

Mitole had won his last seven races including the Metropolitan Handicap last month at Belmont and the Churchill Downs – both Grade 1's – at Churchill on Kentucky Derby day.

Steve Asmussen, the trainer of Mitole, felt the rail draw and the way the race set up, compromised his horse in the Vanderbilt.

“It’s where he drew and how the race ran,” Asmussen said. “I don’t think we were going to take him back. But the winner deserves the credit, he just set a track record at Saratoga. They’ve run a few three-quarter mile races here … never faster.”

Following Mitole in the order of finish were Firenze Fire, Strike Power, and Do Share. Mr. Crow was scratched.