Imagination conjures up come-from-behind win in Riyadh Dirt Sprint (G2)

Bob Baffert’s top-class sprinter Imagination got the biggest win of his career to this point Saturday night in Saudi Arabia, coming from the back of the pack to win the $2 million Riyadh Dirt Sprint (G2).

The race is a ‘Win and You’re In’ qualifier for the Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) at Keeneland this fall. Imagination was second in last year’s Sprint.

Imagination had just one horse beat for much of Saturday’s 1,200-meter race. With 11 horses in front of him, he began to make up some ground with about three furlongs to run. He came some seven-wide into the stretch and found his best stride in the final furlong, blowing past Beat the Odds and Muqtahem (IRE) inside the last 100 yards to win by a half-length.

“Usually when they hit the 100-meter mark, my horses start gassing out, but he was just getting going,” Baffert said. “Brilliant ride by Prat. You have to have a really good horse to win here and they have to show up on this big night.”

Owned by the partnership of SF Racing, LLC, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, LLC, Stonestreet Stables, LLC, Dianne Bashor, Robert E. Masterson, Waves Edge Capital, LLC, Catherine Donovan, Tom J. Ryan, Saturday’s big payday upped Imagination’s earnings to $2,143,700.