L’Imperator headlines wide open G2 Bernard Baruch
At 3h14, on September 5, 2021 • By SARATOGA
Four-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer Chad Brown was highly impressed with a comeback allowance optional claiming victory from L’Imperator, so much so that he will step the four-time winner up in class for the 63rd running of the Grade 2, $200,000 Bernard Baruch Handicap on Monday, Closing Day at Saratoga Race Course.
The 1 1/16-mile event for 3-year-olds and up over the Mellon turf honors the late financier and philanthropist. During World War I, Baruch was chairman of the War Industries Board where he managed the nation’s economic mobilization under President Woodrow Wilson. He was subsequently appointed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt as an advisor to the director of the Office of War and Mobilization. As a thoroughbred owner, Baruch campaigned horses under the moniker Kershaw Stable, whose Happy Argo won the 1927 Carter.
Owned by Madaket Stables, Wonder Stables and Robert V. LaPenta, L’Imperator arose from nearly a one year layoff in style, defeating graded stakes placed Ever Dangerous by 1 ¾ lengths in a nine-furlong allowance optional claiming tilt on August 4 over the inner turf. The French-bred son of Holy Roman Emperor settled in fifth along the rail down the backstretch and made a sweeping four-wide move approaching upper stretch, collaring the pacesetter at the eighth pole to secure the victory.
The triumph was a first start for L’Imperator since making his North American debut in the Grade 3 Saranac in August 2020, where he maintained seventh position throughout every point of call.
Brown gave L’Imperator an extended rest, which he said made a huge difference.
“He’s come back really well. He’s a totally different horse and I’ve been very pleased with him,” Brown said. “It’s a little bit of a cutback in distance, that would be the only concern. But we’re giving it a shot. I was impressed and he exceed my expectations in his allowance win.”
Jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr., a two-time winner of the Bernard Baruch, will pilot L’Imperator, who will carry 118 pounds, from post 3.
