04.05.19
Breeze Easy’s Imprimis emerged from his neck victory over defending champion Bound for Nowhere in the $200,000 Shakertown (G2) with a future trip to England in the plans, trainer Joe Orseno said Sunday morning.
Imprimis is to take a shot at the King’s Stand (G1) on June 18 at Royal Ascot.
“We had discussed running this race or the one at Churchill Downs (the $250,000 Twin Spires Turf Sprint [G2] on May 3),” Orseno said. “We are passing on the Churchill race as that would only give us 45 days instead of 10 weeks to train up to Royal Ascot, which is kind of perfect for him.”
After a stumbling start in the Shakertown, Imprimis found himself back in the pack. Jockey Paco Lopez swung him wide in the turn, and he gradually wore down Bound for Nowhere.
“Yesterday showed that he does not need the lead,” said Orseno, who posted his first Keeneland stakes victory since winning the 2000 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup (G1) with Collect the Cash.
After Royal Ascot, Orseno’s goal for the 5-year-old son of Broken Vow is the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G1) at Santa Anita in November.
“That’s the ultimate goal, and I’d like to get back to the Breeders’ Cup,” said Orseno, who has won two Breeders’ Cup races but not had a starter since 2002 when Macho Uno finished fifth in the Classic (G1). “I was thinking maybe a race at Saratoga for a comeback race after Ascot, but this horse can handle any kind of course and there is a $700,000 race at Kentucky Downs that we could consider.”