The remarkable rags-to-riches career of Imperial Hint has come to an end, trainer Luis Carvajal Jr. confirmed Sunday morning. But when one door closes, another sometimes opens. Imperial Hint is a full horse, and Carvajal has been speaking with stud farm operators in the United States and overseas. During four seasons of competition, Imperial Hint won 14 of 25 starts while earning more than $2.2 million. His victories include the last two editions of the Grade 1 Vosburgh at Belmont Park and the 2018-19 runnings of the Grade 1 Vanderbilt at Saratoga. His four-length victory in last summer’s Vanderbilt was accomplished in a track-record 1:07.92, breaking the mark of 1:08 (before races were timed in hundredths) set by Spanish Riddle in 1972 and equaled by Speightstown (1:08.04) in the 2004 Vanderbilt. In March, Imperial Hint was at Meydan Racecourse pointing to the Golden Shaheen when the Dubai World Cup card was canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic. He was flown to New Jersey and sent to the Fair Hill Training Center where he is being cared for by Bruce Jackson, just as he was following his third-place effort in the 2019 Golden Shaheen. :: Want to get your Past Performances for free? Click to learn more. “He’s retiring sound but has a little bit of wear and tear,” Carvajal said. “I think he might not be able to perform as well as last year and I don’t want to run him if he’s not going to be able to race at the same level.” Imperial Hint, nicknamed the Little Rocket by Carvajal, is not your prototypical stallion prospect. He’s a smallish but solidly built individual who is light on pedigree, being by Imperialism. He will be 8 years old next breeding season. On the positive side, Imperial Hint always had a long stride, fluid action, and a big heart. “I deeply know inside of me that he has something to pass on,” Carvajal said. “His sire line traces to Danzig and Northern Dancer, neither of whom were big horses. “And, when you look him in the eye you can see he’s special. He’s probably smarter than some people. When you train him, it’s like he knows the poles. When he gets to the five-eighths pole you’d better be ready or he will take you for a ride. He knows when to switch leads. At the eighth pole, you’d better be ready because he will take off again.” Carvajal was at Shade Tree Thoroughbreds in Ocala, Fla., checking on one of owner Raymond Mamone’s horses when he first saw Imperial Hint in a field as part of a group. The colt caught Carvajal’s eye, and he bought him on Mamone’s behalf. Ironically, Imperial Hint was out of the mare Royal Hint, who Mamone had bred and raced before giving her to Shade Tree operator Bert Pilcher Jr. because she had become difficult to get into foal. Although Imperial Hint never won an Eclipse Award, he was a finalist in the sprint division from 2017-19. He finished second to two-time champion Roy H in the 2017 Breeders’ Cup Sprint and third to him in the 2018 BC Sprint. His lone meeting with 2019 champion Mitole came in the Vanderbilt when he beat him by 7 1/2 lengths. Carvajal is currently at Tampa Bay Downs but will soon be headed to Monmouth Park. He admits it will be tough not having Imperial Hint in the barn. “He took Mr. Mamone and his family and me and my family on an amazing journey,” Carvajal said. “It will be hard to repeat. I feel so lucky to have had this horse and am so glad he is retiring healthy.”