Imperative shows liking for racing surface

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Ten days after being purchased privately by Ron Paolucci’s Loooch Racing in California, the multimillionaire Imperative was on the track at Gulfstream Park on Friday, working a sharp six furlongs in 1:13.46 in his final prep for the $400,000 Poseidon Stakes, which serves as a lead-in next Saturday for the $12 million Pegasus World Cup.

Working immediately after the renovation break over a lively track, Imperative eased away from the six-furlong pole, posting splits of 13.25 seconds, 25.70, and 38.18 for his opening three-eighths. He then joined in with another worker and was coaxed along by his unexpected company through a strong final three furlongs in 35.28 before galloping out seven furlongs in 1:26.81.

Bob Hess Jr. has taken over the training of Imperative from Richard Baltas.

“I only had him three or four days before we brought him here Sunday,” said Hess. “I got a lot of information from the Baltas barn and Kent Desormeaux, who’d ridden him. But I really didn’t know a ton about him, which is why I had to be here for the work. And I was really pleased with the way he went. What I really liked is that this is the kind of track some horses might love and others hate, and I thought he got over it super.

“I was also very happy with the way he came back after the work. He wasn’t tired, he didn’t get hot, and he scoped clean. I think he’s in a good place mentally and expect him to fire his best shot on Saturday.”

Imperative, a 7-year-old son of Bernardini, has banked more than $2 million, half of which he earned for his victory in the 2014 Charles Town Classic.

Loooch Racing will run War Story in the Pegasus World Cup, with both horses to be ridden by Antonio Gallardo.

A short field is expected for the Poseidon, which, like the Pegasus World Cup, will be run at 1 1/8 miles. Others expect to start include the Todd Pletcher-trained pair of Stanford and Madefromlucky, Semper Fortis, and Cherry Wine.

There will also be two Grade 3 stakes on the Pegasus undercard, the W.L. McKnight and its filly counterpart, the La Prevoyante, both at 1 1/2 miles on the turf.

Among the prospective starters in the McKnight are Danish Dynaformer, Montclair, Mr Maybe, Sadler’s Joy, Tobias, and Twilight Eclipse. The La Prevoyante is expected to attract Arles, Dad’s Princess, Desiree Clary, Gypsy Eyes, Lobelia, Paige, and perhaps Suffused, according to stakes coordinator Mike Costanzo.