NEWS
Imperial Council impressive in allowance win
Posted: Saturday, February 14, 2009 6:31 PM
by Jeff Apel
Imperial Council, a promising contender in the three-year-old division, seized command near midstretch, edged clear in the closing strides, and posted a two-length win in an allowance race on Saturday at Gulfstream Park.
The 3-to-2 favorite in a field of nine three-year-olds, Imperial Council was rated three wide at the start by Edgar Prado and tracked pacesetter Z Day in fourth through a quarter-mile in :21.95 and third after a half-mile in :44.66. Moving up on the turn, Imperial Council raced in second in early stretch, a head behind Z Day.
Imperial Council and Z Day dueled for the lead in early stretch. Imperial Council gamely gained command approaching the finish and won the 6 1/2-furlong race in 1:16.60 on a track rated as fast.
The Empire Maker colt entered off a 2 1/2-length win in a seven-furlong maiden special weight race on October 4 at Belmont Park.
Imperial Council finished second, a neck behind Hello Broadway, in his debut in a 6 1/2-furlong maiden special weight race on August 30 at Saratoga Race Course.
Trained by Shug McGaughey for Sequoia Racing, Imperial Council earned his second win in three starts and increased his earnings to $65,800. Bred in Kentucky by G. Watts Humphrey Jr., Imperial Council is the first starter out of Grade 3-placed stakes winner Jaramar Rain, by Thunder Gulch.
For an Equibase chart, click here.
Jeff Apel is a Thoroughbred Times assistant daily news editor
