Imperialism Wins With Late Burst

It had been 5 1/2 months since Imperialism had run, more than 17 months since he had won, and his owner, Steve Taub, thought the Del Mar track wasn’t favoring the colt’s late-running style.

But none of this mattered when Victor Espinoza, the track’s hottest jockey, brought Imperialism from far behind to win Sunday’s $300,000 Pat O’Brien Handicap. Left in Imperialism’s vapors were Gotaghostofachance and Taste Of Paradise, who finished second and third, and even farther back in the seven-furlong race was Unfurl The Flag, the even-money favorite.

Imperialism, trained by Kristin Mulhall, hadn’t run since his seventh-place finish in the Santa Anita Handicap on March 5. The 4-year-old gray had lost nine in a row, dating to his win in the San Rafael at Santa Anita in March 2004.

Mulhall said Imperialism severely strained his back in the Big ‘Cap, and there had been some question whether he would race again. His comeback has involved a light training pattern; Mulhall said he had only a few workouts since the Big ‘Cap.

“He was probably 80% for this race,” she said.

Espinoza, who has moved into the lead in the jockey standings, was one of three jockeys who have ridden Imperialism during his dry spell. He won the San Rafael and San Vicente with him at Santa Anita last year. Among Imperialism’s losses in 2004 were a third in the Kentucky Derby and a fifth in the Preakness.

“Kirstin told me to ride him with confidence,” Espinoza said after Sunday’s race. “He had had a long time off, but he was ready. This is a classy horse.”

Imperialism was about 10 lengths from the lead after a quarter of a mile. With an eighth of a mile to go, he had only two horses to beat, and had plenty left. The margin was three-quarters of a length, the time 1:21 3/5 .

Unfurl The Flag, who finished sixth, had won his last two starts at Hollywood Park, but this was his fourth straight Del Mar loss, the first three in 2003.

The O’Brien might have been a sprint, but Mulhall plans to stretch out Imperialism again. The Jockey Club Gold Cup and the Breeders’ Cup Classic -- both 1 1/4 -mile tests -- are on tap. Both will be run at Belmont Park in October.

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Suave, who races for Californians Mace and Samantha Siegel, won the $250,000 Saratoga Handicap as Offlee Wild, the 3-5 favorite, finished off the board.... At Emerald Downs in Auburn, Wash., No Giveaway, paying a stakes-record $122 for $2, won the $250,000 Longacres Mile. Secret Corsage, a Golden Gate Fields shipper ridden by Russell Baze, won the $100,000 Emerald Distaff Handicap.