Imperia Breaks Maiden in Belmont's Pilgrim

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Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin took a shot with well-bred maiden Imperia in the $200,000 Pilgrim Stakes (gr. IIIT)  Sept. 28 at Belmont Park, and the colt appears Breeders' Cup bound after running down pacesetter Vision Perfect to get the win.  
 
Godolphin's 2-year-old son of Medaglia d'Oro   out of multiple grade I winner Cocoa Beach (CHI) powered down the outside from sixth entering the stretch and caught Vision Perfect in the final 70 yards for a one-length triumph at 11-2 odds. The win follows a second in his debut Aug. 23 at Saratoga Race Course by a neck going the Pilgrim's 1 1/16-mile distance.
 
Imperia was positioned in fifth or sixth inside on the hedge throughout most trip as Vision Perfect clipped off pedestrian fractions of :25.60, :48.98, nd 1:12.56 through the first six furlongs. Entering the stretch, Imperia was moved to the outside by Javier Castellano and rapidly rallied through the stretch. 
 
Imperia covered the distance in 1:41.36 on firm turf and looks to continue on to the Breeders Cup Juvenile Turf (gr. IT) next month at Santa Anita Park. His appearance as a maiden in a graded stakes is unusual for his connections.
 
"We've only (run a maiden in a graded stakes) one other time that I can remember in the last 10 years, and it was Soldat   (when he won the grade II With Anticipation in 2010). You have to get graded earnings to get into the Breeders' Cup. We really liked him and thought, 'Why run him back in a maiden race? We can always break our maiden. Let's run in a stakes.' "
 
Imperia raced with Lasix for the first time in the Pilgrim.
 
Vision Perfect held for second, a length in front of Offering Plan, who was 1 1/4 lengths in ahead of favorite 1-2 favorite Startup Nation in fourth.
 
Face the Music, Strong Coffee, All I Karabout, Nutty Futty, and Artie's Flight completed the order of finish. 
 
Castellano said Darley-bred Imperia put him in a good position early. 
 
"I got to save all the ground. I had the best horse in the race, I just had to go around the horses and he took off," the jockey said. "I like the way he did it at the top of the stretch. For a young horse, he has a very mature mind."
 
Imperia returned mutuels of $13, $7.30, and $6 keying a $199 exacta with Vision Perfect, who was worth $19.60 and $12. Offering plan brought $5.60 to show.