Majesticperfection makes short work of rivals in Vanderbilt

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Officially, it took Majesticperfection a little more than 68 seconds to win Sunday’s Grade 1, $250,000 Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap at Saratoga. In reality, the race was over in just under 23 seconds.

When Majesticperfection, under Shaun Bridgmohan, got to run uncontested through an opening quarter in 22.80 seconds, trainer Steve Asmussen said he thought "you'd better win from there."

Indeed, Majesticperfection did win, cruising to a 2 3/4-length victory over Big Drama, who fended off Bribon by a half-length for second. They were followed in the order of finish by Gayego, Temecula Creek, Mambo Meister, and Smokey Fire.

It was the fifth consecutive victory for Majesticperfection, but his first in a graded stakes. He was coming off a track-record performance (1:07.24 for six furlongs) winning the Iowa Sprint Handicap at Prairie Meadows on June 25.

"We could all read how well he’d run in the other spots, but for him to bring it up against this level of competition, it puts him exactly where we want him to be," said Asmussen, who trains Majesticperfection for Satish Sanan’s Padua Stable. "He had his chance to show who he is, and he got it done."

After opening up a 1 1/2-length lead through a quarter in 22.80, Majesticperfection remained clear through a half-mile in 45.60 seconds and five furlongs in 56.89, and he covered six furlongs in 1:08.63. He returned $4 as the even-money favorite.

"He broke really smart and sharply and made my job a lot easier," Bridgmohan said. "He’s just a pretty quick horse."

The obvious goal for Majesticperfection is the Breeders' Cup Sprint at Churchill Downs on Nov. 6. Asmussen said one potential race beforehand is the Grade 1 Vosburgh at Belmont Park on Oct. 2.