Imprimis on the mend after throat procedure

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Trainer Joe Orseno reports his Grade 2-winning turf sprinter Imprimis is currently recuperating from minor throat surgery he underwent in Ocala following his sixth-place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint. Imprimis opened the season with victories in the Silks Run at Gulfstream Park and the Grade 2 Shakertown at Keeneland before heading across the pond to finish sixth in the King’s Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot. He tailed off a bit in three subsequent starts upon returning to the states, although was beaten only four lengths by Belvoir Bay at Santa Anita in the Turf Sprint.

“We discovered after the Breeders’ Cup he was having some trouble with his air, so he had the surgery, and in light of this news we’re really looking forward to him having a big year in 2020 since he ran pretty well even with that issue this year,” Orseno said. “We are not going to rush him back. I think having made the trip over to Ascot and with everything else, giving him plenty of time is the best option. Right now the goal is to get him back to the Breeders’ Cup again next season with the plan to map out a schedule of three or four races working backwards from that, which will definitely include the Troy next summer at Saratoga since it is a Win and You’re in for the Turf Sprint.”

Six turf stakes coming up

There will be six stakes on the card, all scheduled for the turf, on Dec. 28, the final Saturday of the 2019 racing season. Big fields are expected, if the weather cooperates.

Both the 1 1/16-mile Tropical Park Derby and its filly counterpart, the Tropical Park Oaks, should attract the full complement of 14 starters apiece, according to stakes coordinator Eric Friedman. The Derby will come up by far the stronger of the two races, with Saratoga Derby Invitational winner A Thread of Blue, Virginia Derby winner English Bee, American Derby winner Faraway Kitten, and Canadian invader Armistice Day, who captured the Toronto Cup last summer at Woodbine, among the list of leading contenders, according to Friedman.

Entries for all six stakes will be drawn Monday.

◗ The Florida Horsemen’s and Benevolent Association and Gulfstream Park played host to holiday parties at Gulfstream Park, Palm Meadows, and Gulfstream Park West earlier this week, providing food and toys to more than 650 families.

“The kids were excited, each one received four or five gifts, and it was great for the parents and everyone else who came out for the events,” said chaplain Tom LaPointe of His Place Ministries.

The two groups plan to host a Backstretch Appreciation event for all backstretch workers in the area in February.