Saudia Sprint gives Imperial Hint big chance at big score

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – It is a long way to travel to restore a reputation – 7,500 miles from Florida to Saudi Arabia. The trip makes sense for premier sprinter Imperial Hint.

Scratched from the Breeders’ Cup Sprint in fall at Santa Anita, third at even-money in his winter return at Gulfstream Park, Imperial Hint has a score to settle Saturday in Saudi Arabia where the multiple Grade 1 winner is favored in the $1.5 million Saudia Sprint at King Abdulaziz Racetrack.

Imperial Hint meets 12 rivals at 1,200 meters, a few yards short of six furlongs, trying to erase the memory of a late-season fizzle in 2019. Memory is not the right word, based on how trainer Luis Carvajal responded this week when asked about the BC Sprint scratch.

“I don’t remember that,” Carvajal said.

He was joking, but the message was clear. Carvajal is looking forward, not back.

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Imperial Hint had a foot problem that led to the scratch, the problem is resolved, and Carvajal believes he will run a top race Saturday.

Imperial Hint’s overall history is outstanding. The 7-year-old has won 14 races, including four Grade 1’s, and earned more than $2.2 million. He drew comfortably in post 10, and if he fires, he will be tough. The Saudia Sprint is race 7 on an eight-race card that ends with the $20 million Saudi Cup.

Sprint contenders include former Florida-based Gladiator King, a top sprinter in Dubai. California sprinter Captain Scotty exploited a soft pace last out to win the small-field Grade 2 Palos Verdes at Santa Anita. Japan speedster Matera Sky, runner-up while finishing in front of third-place Imperial Hint last year in a $2.5 million sprint in Dubai, will influence the pace. Matera Sky pressed the pace and faded in the BC Sprint last out.

It is an international sprint field on an international card.

“Around the world and coming here to Saudi Arabia is a big deal,” Carvajal said. “I wish this could happen to every trainer that has a small stable.”

Last out, Imperial Hint chased a blazing pace in the Grade 3 Mr. Prospector at seven furlongs. He made the lead in deep stretch and finished third.

“Seven-eighths is a little too long for him right now,” Carvajal said.

Imperial Hint is not a layover Saturday. His workout pattern has been sporadic, and he is racing over a new surface.

“I think he’ll like this track,” Carvajal said. “It has a nice cushion in it. It seems a little heavy.”

Peter Miller trains Captain Scotty, a 6-year-old gelding on an improving pattern.

“He’ll either be on the lead or just off it,” Miller said recently. “Imperial Hint has some speed if he wants to use it, but Scotty’s pretty quick as well.”

Miller did not make the trip to Saudi Arabia; Kenny Black has been riding and training Captain Scotty in Saudi Arabia.

Matera Sky breezed over the King Abdulaziz surface early this week under jockey Yutaka Take, who will ride him the race. Take told Saudi publicity: “He is very relaxed and is in good shape. Dirt here is . . . similar to that in Dubai and U.S.A. I think it is very deep and tough, so horses need power. I think Matera Sky will handle it.”

From the inside out, the field lines up like this: Maypole, Muhtaram, Drafted, Sobre Action, Captain Scotty, New York Central, Gladiator King, Majuzi, Indelible Ink, Imperial Hint, Mesquite, Matera Sky, and Beau Warrior.