Imperative stays on schedule for Santa Anita Handicap
RACE REPLAY IS NOT AVAILABLE
A grim forecast could not keep Imperative from a half-mile workout at Santa Anita on Friday.
Imperative worked in 49 seconds on the infield training track, an exercise trainer Bob Hess Jr. said keeps the 7-year-old gelding on schedule for the Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap on March 11.
Hess did not intend to work Imperative on Friday until he evaluated the condition of the training track. A significant rainstorm was expected on Friday but had not arrived early in the morning, contributing to the decision to work Imperative, Hess said. Track officials canceled Friday’s races in anticipation of the storm.
“The plan was not to work if we thought it would be pouring,” he said. “I thought I might be able to get in a work. He looked awesome.”
Imperative was acquired last month by Loooch Racing Stable and Imaginary Stable and won his first start for them in the $400,000 Poseidon Stakes at Gulfstream Park on Jan. 28.
Imperative has won 5 of 36 starts and has earned $2,240,790. The Poseidon Stakes was his third stakes win.
There was no timed workout on the main track Friday because of conditions, but there were more than 440 recorded works on both tracks Thursday.
Stellar Wind, the champion 3-year-old filly of 2015, worked a half-mile in 48 seconds. Stellar Wind has not raced since finishing fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff here last November.
Also Thursday, Abel Tasman, the winner of the Grade 1 Starlet Stakes at Los Alamitos in December, worked five furlongs in 59.80 seconds. Trained by Simon Callaghan, Abel Tasman is scheduled to start in the Grade 3 Santa Ysabel Stakes on March 4.
The 2016 stakes winners Big Score and Cupid had workouts.
Big Score, who won the Zuma Beach Stakes for 2-year-olds on turf in October and was fifth in the BC Juvenile Turf in November, worked three furlongs in 37.60 seconds. Tim Yakteen trains Big Score.
Cupid, who won the Rebel Stakes, West Virginia Derby, and Indiana Derby last year, worked a half-mile in 48.60 seconds. Trained by Bob Baffert, Cupid has not raced since finishing eighth in the Pennsylvania Derby last September.
