Imprimis has no problem with Wolf Hill distance

Imprimis means “in the first place,” and that is a fitting name for the winner of the Wolf Hill Stakes on Sunday at Monmouth Park.

Imprimis most recently checked a troubled sixth in the Grade 1 Highlander Stakes over six furlongs at Woodbine, but in his other five starts Imprimis has finished in first place.

Late to debut, Imprimis, trained by Tim Hills at the time, won first out in early February at Gulfstream Park, then won again Feb. 28 after which he was privately purchased by Breeze Easy LLC and turned over to trainer Joe Orseno. Imprimis kept winning, and winning big, scoring open-lengths wins in another Gulfstream allowance race and in his stakes debut, the Turf Sprint at Pimlico, in May.

Those first four races all came over five furlongs and if the Highlander’s six was too far, the 5 1/2 furlongs of the Wolf Hill – as well as a significant class drop – worked just fine.

Imprimis and Jose Ortiz broke from post 10 with the scratch of Triple Burner, but it was Ray’swarrior from post 11 who left the gate running, crossed and cleared. Ortiz calmly positioned Imprimis two paths wide and just behind the leader, Imprimis rating kindly enough and awaiting his cue, which came in upper stretch. Ray’swarrior put up a fight but Imprimis took his measure at the furlong grounds, opened a clear lead, and had plenty left to hold off a mild midstretch challenge from Pool Warrior. Imprimis won by one length, with Pool Warrior 1 1/4 lengths clear of late-running Proforma, who rallied for third.

Imprimis ran 5 1/2 furlongs over firm going in 1:01.69 (no fractions were recorded) and paid $4.60 as the favorite. The 4-year-old gelding is by Broken Vow and out of the Put It Back mare, Shoppers Return, and he looks capable of tackling tougher competition than he faced Sunday.

“The ultimate goal is the first weekend in November, if we can get him to the Breeders’ Cup,” Orseno said.