Imperative nips Stanford at wire in inaugural Poseidon Handicap

Carded as a “consolation” race for those under consideration for the G1 Pegasus World Cup later on the card, the inaugural running of the $400,000 1 1/8 mile Poseidon Handicap was nothing less than thrilling. The slugfest began on the far turn and continued all the way down the stretch, and to the wire, as Imperative won the head-bob over Stanford.

Longshot Ranger In Paradise leaped out for the early lead while Fearless Dragon missed the break by a beat. Imperative, Stanford, and Sunshine Millions Classic winner Hy Riverside were right in the early mix, too. Cherry Wine, Madefromlucky, and Fearless Dragon brought up the rear.

While maintaining a length to two length lead, Ranger In Paradise set splits of :23.83 and :48.10 for the opening half. As the field approached the far turn, Stanford found himself in a precarious position down on the rail. With Hy Riverside looking to move through to the inside of Ranger In Paradise, too, Stanford was forced to move for the lead and was quickly joined by Hy Riverside.

To Ranger In Paradise’s outside, Imperative launched his move simultaneously with Stanford and Hy Riverside so that as they turned for home, it was Imperative to the outside, Stanford to the inside, and Hy Riverside had given way between those two.

Battling down the length of the Gulfstream stretch, neither Stanford nor Imperative gave an inch. Stanford had the advantage down toward the rail, but Imperative had plenty of time to grind away at Stanford’s narrow half-length lead.

As the wire approached, Stanford tried valiantly to hang on while Imperative surged forward to his outside. Heads bobbing, the two hit the wire with neither having run a losing race. Despite having lead through the entire stretch, Stanford lost the nod to Imperative right on the wire. The winning time was 1:48.97.

Madefromlucky closed from the back of the field to nab third in a close exchange with fourth place finisher Papa Zulu. Hy Riverside, Cherry Wine, Mylute, Ranger In Paradise, and Fearless Dragon completed the order of finish.

Winning jockey Antonio Gallardo stated, "I talked to Mr. Hess and he told me how to do it. He said he had been working really good. When I was riding down the back I could have gone in and decided to stay out, and he took the bend really well. I was really confident in him. I'm hungry, and he was hungry."

Off odds of 7-1, Imperative paid $16.40, $5.60, and $3.80. Race favorite Stanford, 2-5, returned $2.60 and $2.10, and Madefromlucky returned $2.80 to show. The $2 exacta paid $44.20, the $1 trifecta returned $75.00, and the $0.10 superfecta was worth $88.39.

By Bernardini and out of the Caller I.D. mare Call Her, Imperative was purchased by Loooch Racing Stables and Imaginary Stables since his last start in the Native Diver Handicap back in November. Co-owner Dan Paolucci privately purchased Imperative at the end of his 6-year old campaign with the intent to run him in the Pegasus but could not come to an agreement with any of the stakesholders.

"I needed a horse. I needed a backup for War Story (who he partners with Dan Schafer with for the Pegasus). Me and Dan talked about needing a second horse," Paolucci said. "I tried to get him into the big race and I didn't have any takers. The way he trained over this track, we knew he was going to run good. To beat Stanford he had to run really good, and he did."

Previously, Imperative had been a $325,000 yearling purchase out of the Keeneland September 2011 Sale. Now 36: 5-8-3, Imperative has earned $2,242,710. Previous wins include the 2014 G2 Charles Town Classic and the 2016 Big Bear Stakes.

Trainer Robert B. Hess, Jr. believes that Imperative liked the sandier surface at Gulfstream. He also said that the 7-year old gelding tends to run with his head up, so it was lucky that he dropped his head in time to win the headbob over Stanford.