Roy H Looks For Under the Radar Repeat in Sprint

Although Imperial Hint is the steam horse coming up to the Nov. 3 TwinSpires Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1), there is a defending champion in the field that is still dangerous despite heading out from his California base.

Roy H dominated the 2017 Sprint at Del Mar, defeating Imperial Hint by a length to grab that division's Eclipse Award. Now a 6-year-old gelding, Roy H is coming off a dominant victory in the Santa Anita Sprint Championship (G1), which he took by 2 3/4 lengths a month ago. Trainer Peter Miller is convinced his charge is sitting on another big race at the right time of year.

"The horse is doing every bit as well, if not better, than last year," he said. "We're just as confident going into this race."

Roy H began this season with an easy win in the Palos Verdes Stakes (G2) before traveling to Dubai for the Dubai Golden Shaheen Sponsored by Gulf News (G1). After breaking slowly from the gate, Roy H fired late to get up for third behind Mind Your Biscuits, who is being pointed to the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) this year after running third in last year's Sprint.

After a four-month break, Roy H again started slowly and could only manage a second in the Bing Crosby Stakes (G1) at Del Mar in July, but rounded back into form at Santa Anita. The travel to Churchill Downs should not be a problem. Roy H ran a bang-up race last year in the True North Stakes (G2), winning by 2 1/2 lengths at Belmont Park.

"He travels so well," Miller said. "He shipped and ran great there, and he shipped well to Dubai. He has so many great attributes: talent, heart, a great mind. He's got all the tools. I respect Imperial Hint; he's a very good horse, and it should be a great race."

Imperial Hint, the 9-5 morning-line favorite, has strung together three straight graded victories since weakening to sixth in the slop in the Churchill Downs Stakes presented by TwinSpires.com (G2) on Derby Day, including back-to-back grade 1 scores in the Alfred  G. Vanderbilt Handicap and Vosburgh Stakes. He is a threat on the lead or from a rating position.

When asked about Imperial Hint getting more attention than Roy H, Miller said, "That's typical. The East Coast horses get the hype and the West Coast horses get the money."

Whitmore, a millionaire twice over, has put together another stellar campaign, highlighted by a stunning score in the Forego Stakes (G1). He would benefit from a hot pace up front.

Returning to Churchill for the first time since his off-the-board Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) finish is Promises Fulfilled, who enters off three straight graded stakes wins after moving to sprints for trainer Dale Romans and owner Robert Baron.

Entries: TwinSpires Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1)

Churchill Downs, Saturday, November 03, 2018, Race 7

• Grade I
• 6f
• Dirt
• $2,000,000
• 3 yo's & up
• 2:46 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Whitmore (KY)	Ricardo Santana, Jr.	126	Ron Moquett	6/1
2	2Promises Fulfilled (KY)	Luis Saez	124	Dale L. Romans	6/1
3	3B Squared (CA)	Mario Gutierrez	126	Doug F. O'Neill	20/1
4	4Warrior's Club (KY)	Luis Contreras	126	D. Wayne Lukas	15/1
5	5Imperial Hint (FL)	Javier Castellano	126	Luis Carvajal, Jr.	9/5
6	6Always Sunshine (FL)	Frankie Pennington	126	Edward T. Allard	20/1
7	7Distinctive B (FL)	Drayden Van Dyke	126	Peter Miller	12/1
8	8Limousine Liberal (KY)	Jose L. Ortiz	126	Ben Colebrook	6/1
9	9Roy H (KY)	Paco Lopez	126	Peter Miller	5/2