IMPERIAL HINT BREAKS TRACK RECORD IN THE VANDERBILT

Saratoga this weekend saw some exciting stakes action and the star of the day was IMPERIAL HINT in the six furlong Vanderbilt Stakes worth $350,000. Sent off at the generous odds of 11-2 and despite the fact that he was the defending champion, the horse just cruised home by over four lengths in a time of 1.07.92, breaking the track record that had been held by Speightstown for about fifteen years. The reason he went off at those odds was the presence of the exciting Mitole who was going after his eighth straight victory and was sent off as the 1-2 favorite. After showing early pace Mitole weakened easily and finished third, sending a puzzling message to connections that had seen him win over a mile last time out. The horse had been short on work since returning from Dubai, and will now be prepared for a third crack at the Breeders Cup Sprint at Santa Anita.

The feature on the card however was the 56^th running of the Jim Dandy Stakes for three -year olds featuring Preakness winner War of Will and Belmont Stakes runner up Tacitus. However the spoils went to the rapidly improving TAX who was forwardly ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr to register the victory over Tacitus at 9-2 odds. One of the main reasons for the Victory of Tax was the fact that his shoes had been glued on as opposed to being nailed giving the horse more comfort in running. Another reason was the bad start Tacitus had where he bobbed his head badly and lost at least eight lengths. This is a horse that has an excuse every time he runs but invariably picks up a decent pay day because of his class. He tried hard at the end to get by Tax but came up a bit short yet again. War of Will never really looked like the same horse and finished out of the money in the six horse field. Tax, who was a former $30,000 claimer will now be pointed at the Travers on August 24^th.