Imperial Hint takes Belmont's Vosburgh Stakes with ease

Belmont's Super Saturday of Breeders' Cup preps gave racing fans a 'Hint' of what's to come at Churchill Downs when 1-5 favorite Imperial Hint demolished his competition in the six-furlong, $350,000 Vosburgh Stakes. The son of Imperialism extended his championship-seeking season by two easy lengths Saturday in 1:08.27.

The Grade 1 Vosburgh is a "Win & You're In" qualifier for the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Sprint, scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 4 at Churchill Downs. In 2017, Imperial Hint was second in the Breeders' Cup to Roy H at Del Mar.

It was the fourth win in five starts this year for the Florida-bred horse, trained by Luis Carvajal, Jr. and owned by Raymond Mamone.

"We wanted to try to get an easy race before the Breeders' Cup as a prep," said Caravajal, "because you don't really want to go into that race having to run really hard and I was happy the way the field for this race came out. You always worry, especially when you're 1-5, 1-9, but the way he did it was good. I was a little worried at the end, hoping that Javier (Castellano) didn't hold him back too much, but the track is fast, and I couldn't ask for anything else from this little horse, he was great."

Jockey Javier Castellano was just around for the enjoyable ride.

"Today, I felt he was the fastest horse. I tried to dictate the pace and control the race," he said. "He's a special horse. We were looking for a little workout and looking for the big picture, the Breeders' Cup."

In second was #4 Mr. Crow, under Luis Saez for trainer Ben Colebrook, at 12-1. Third was #5 Silver Ride at 16-1 for Brian Lynch under Jose Ortiz. Sightforsoreeyes at 63-1 was fourthth for Anthony Quartorolo and Loooch Racing Stable.

The Win bet paid $2.40, Exacta paid $3.95, and the Superfecta paid $4.90.