Imagination upsets Santa Anita Sprint for Baffert, Hernández

Making his first start since late January, Imagination swept past champion Straight No Chaser in deep stretch to win the Grade 2, $200,000 Santa Anita Sprint Championship.

With the victory Imagination won a berth in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint, also six furlongs, on Nov. 1 at Del Mar. Trainer Bob Baffert and jockey Juan Hernández swept the challenge-series races Sunday at Santa Anita. Earlier they teamed with undefeated Cavalieri to take the Zenyatta (G2), a win-and-you’re-in qualifier for the Breeders’ Cup Distaff.

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Reigning champion male sprinter Straight No Chaser (3-5) hustled to the early lead Sunday with John Velázquez aboard. He completed an opening quarter-mile in 22.02 seconds. Imagination (5-1) broke in the middle of the eight-horse field but soon fell back to seventh.

Straight No Chaser motored a half mile in 44.71 seconds and then reached the eighth pole at 56.71 seconds with a clear 2 1/2-length advantage. Uncorking a rally on the far outside was Imagination, who collared Straight No Chaser inside the final sixteenth of a mile and went on to win by 1 3/4 lengths.

“When I asked him to pick it up, he swung out, and he passed everybody,” Hernández said. “This horse has talent. Bob told me to ride this horse with a lot of confidence. He was working really good, and he was right. He did it really easy.”

Dr. Venkman (4-1), winner of the Pat O’Brien (G2) last out for trainer Mark Glatt, also went past Straight No Chaser in the late going to finish second under Umberto Rispoli.

Imagination won with a time of 1:09.00.

“We gave him a lot of time,” Baffert said of Imagination’s layoff. “He looks beautiful. He has filled out, and his work was just sensational the other day. I thought you know what? I am just going to run him in the (Breeders’ Cup) Sprint. There is not a race for him for another three weeks, but this will set him up. He’s always been a good horse. He’s a little quirky, but that is his thing.”

Straight No Chaser, who is trained by Dan Blacker for owner MyRacehorse, made his first start since April 5 in Dubai.

“I thought he ran good,” Velázquez said. “It had been a long time. Hopefully he’ll be ready for the Breeders’ Cup.”

Imagination had not started since Jan. 25 when he finished fourth in the San Pasqual (G2) going 1 1/8 miles at Santa Anita. His only previous stakes win came in last year’s 1 1/16-mile San Felipe (G2), also at Santa Anita.

Imagination is a 4-year-old colt by Into Mischief out of Empire Maker mare Magical Feeling. He was bought for $1,050,000 at the September 2022 Keeneland yearling sale. Imagination is campaigned by a big partnership which includes SF Racing, Starlight Racing and Madaket Stables. With the win he improved to 13: 3-5-2 with $600,700 in earnings.

Imagination paid $13.20, $5.00 and $2.80; Dr. Venkman $4.20 and $2.40; and Straight No Chaser.