Imprimis Flies Home to Win Shakertown
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Photo: Anne M. Eberhardt
Imprimis (yellow cap) wins the Shakertown Stakes at Keeneland
Imprimis made his way to the Bluegrass April 6, found he liked it just fine, and set his sights on an even greater target.
In his first start in Kentucky and third try in graded company, Breeze Easy's 5-year-old Broken Vow gelding came flying from midpack to score by a neck April 6 in the $200,000 Shakertown Stakes (G2T) at Keeneland. Now trainer Joe Orseno sees the June 18 King's Stand Stakes (G1) at Royal Ascot on the horizon after a stop in Louisville for the $250,000 Twin Spires Turf Sprint (G2T) May 3 at Churchill Downs.
Orseno, who won back-to-back runnings of the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup (G1T) with Perfect Sting in 1999 and Collect the Cash in 2000, saddled his first runner at the Lexington track since 2010 and took home the money.
"You have to have the horse," Orseno said of running at Keeneland, "and this is a pretty fast horse."
A winner of seven of nine starts on the grass, Imprimis came into the Shakertown off a 3 1/4-length victory in the March 9 Silks Run Stakes at Gulfstream Park. He overcame a nerve-wracking moment Saturday when he stumbled at the start of the 5 1/2-furlong turf sprint, and jockey Paco Lopez found himself eighth as Bound for Nowhere and Bay Muzik vied for the early lead over the firm Keeneland lawn.
As Bound for Nowhere raced through an opening quarter in :21.71, Latent Revenge went for an early run from the outside, and Imprimis followed that one into contention but was fanned five wide. Bound for Nowhere opened a daylight advantage, but Imprimis kicked into high gear with a devastating run on the outside and collared that rival close to home to win by a neck.
Bound for Nowhere held for second, 2 1/4 lengths clear of third-place Angaston, in a final time of 1:02.33.
"I know he has the tactical speed to be closer, but Paco did the right thing," Orseno said. "When he was just sitting still, that's all he can do, and just hope he can fire from there. I saw him getting into him going to the half-mile pole, and he looked like he wanted to run. I thought for sure we took the worst of it, and we had too much to do. Paco rode a great race after he overcame the stumble.
"(The horse) didn't grab himself (at the start), and he looks fine so far. (Going to Royal Ascot to run in the King's Stand) is the plan, a very exciting plan, and I don't think it's ambitious, either. The horse has done everything we've asked him to do."
Imprimis was sent off the 5-2 favorite in a field of 13 and returned $7.20 on a $2 ticket. He was bred in Florida by Craig L. Wheeler out of the Put It Back mare Shoppers Return and has won better than $382,000. Included in those wins are the Jim McKay Turf Sprint Stakes at Pimlico Race Course and the Wolf Hill Stakes at Monmouth Park.
"He will run on any (kind of turf)—soft, firm; up or downhill," Orseno said.