Hard-luck horse Imprimis not throwing in the towel
MIAMI – Trainer Joe Orseno went into the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint confident Imprimis had as good a chance as anybody to win the race. And as the field turned into the stretch, with Imprimis well positioned to launch his closing bid, Orseno’s confidence level grew.
But within seconds the dream ended. Jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. had to steady Imprimis sharply inside Leinster, ridden by Luis Saez, and behind the tiring Texas Wedge at the furlong marker, losing all chance. Ortiz eased Imprimis to the finish line in 13th place, 9 1/2 lengths behind race winner Glass Slippers.
:: Click to learn about our DRF's Free Past Performance program.
Imprimis entered the Turf Sprint in peak form, having crossed the finish line first in his only two starts this season, the Grade 3 Troy at Saratoga (disqualified and placed third) and Grade 3 Turf Sprint at Kentucky Downs. He and Leinster were co-second choice on the morning line at 4-1 for the Turf Sprint behind the 7-2 Got Stormy.
“It’s just so tough to digest,” Orseno said. “I had him to a point where I hadn’t seen him in two years, but what can you do? Irad said the horse felt so good underneath him, he thought coming into the stretch he was going to win, but when he went to go around Leinster, Saez came right over on him. We could have lodged an objection, but it wasn’t going to do us any good so we decided to leave it alone, although I do feel there should have at least been an inquiry.”
Orseno said Imprimis is back at Gulfstream Park and “bouncing around the barn.” Orseno said he and the owners are in the process of discussing their options down the road.
“He got a little cut above his left knee, but fortunately, with all the steadying and twisting him sideways, he didn’t jam anything up,” Orseno said. “He looks fine now. We’re looking at a couple of races coming up. There is one at the Fair Grounds in mid-December and one here at Gulfstream on Jan. 1. Either race would be a prep, since we’re hoping to take him to Saudi Arabia and run in the $1 million turf sprint there this winter.
“The good thing about that particular race is that they run it around a turn, as opposed to the turf sprint in Dubai that’s run down a straight, which he didn’t seem to like when we tried him at Ascot last year. We feel he still deserves a shot at a $1 million race after this opportunity was taken away from him the way it was.”