Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint: Rain alters work schedule for Imprimis
MIAMI – All the rain that has inundated the South Florida area this past week has done more than just totally disrupt the turf racing schedule at Gulfstream Park West. It also has thrown a curve to the connections of a couple of prospective Breeders’ Cup contenders, Imprimis and Diamond Oops.
Both Imprimis and Diamond Oops were scheduled to breeze over the Palm Meadows turf course Friday. But more heavy rain over the training center, located approximately 40 miles north of Gulfstream Park West, forced trainers Joe Orseno, with Imprimis, and Patrick Biancone, who trains Diamond Oops, to alter plans.
Imprimis, who is stabled with Orseno at Gulfstream Park, was slated to van to Palm Meadows early Friday morning for what was to be his final official work prior to the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint.
“I got a call from Patrick [Biancone] telling me they’d had about four inches of rain and the course wasn’t good, so I called the work off for this morning,” Orseno said. “Then I talked to the turf superintendent here at Gulfstream Park, and he said he’s going to try his hardest to get us out on the Gulfstream turf course [Saturday]. Either way, he’s working on Saturday. If I can’t get him on the grass, he’ll breeze on the dirt instead.”
Imprimis, who finished sixth in the 2019 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint, has quickly ascended to the top echelon of the division in just two starts this season. He crossed the finish line first by a comfortable and widening 2 1/4 lengths in the Grade 3 Troy at Saratoga in his 2020 debut before being disqualified and placed third for interference through the stretch. He followed that performance with an equally impressive victory in the Grade 3 Runhappy Turf Sprint at Kentucky Downs when overcoming a bit of an eventful trip to run down the leaders at the end.
“Now that Battaash isn’t coming, I think we could be the favorite in the Turf Sprint after the race he ran at Kentucky Downs,” Orseno said. “And don’t forget, he did win the race at Saratoga too, even though the stewards didn’t see it that way.”
Orseno said because of the schedule he has mapped out for Imprimis leading up to the Breeders’ Cup in two weeks, he needs to get a work in by Saturday.
“Turf or dirt, it really doesn’t matter, although he just seems to perk up a little more when he gets out on the grass, and right now our main goal between now and the Breeders’ Cup is just to keep him happy,” said Orseno, who will put Imprimis on a van for Keeneland next Thursday.