Imprimis shows no rust off layoff in Silks Run Stakes

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Imprimis made a triumphant return from a six-month hiatus, drawing away to an easy 3 1/4-length victory over defending winner Vision Perfect in the $75,000 Silks Run Stakes, co-feature on Saturday’s 13-race program at Gulfstream Park.

Imprimis benefitted from a perfect trip under jockey Paco Lopez, saving ground while sitting just off a hotly contested pace between course-record holder Pay Any Price and Vision Perfect, who dueled head to head through demanding early fractions. Lopez eased Imprimis outside the embattled leaders turning for home, the ultimate winner readily pulling away once switching leads at the top of the stretch before being allowed to just coast to the wire. Vision Perfect came back in late stretch to finish second, a neck in front of Pay Any Price.

The win was the fourth in as many starts over the local turf course for Imprimis, a son of Broken Vow trained by Joe Orseno for Breeze Easy LLC, and the third of four on the day for Lopez. Imprimis completed five furlongs in 54.64 seconds and paid $6.60.

“We were worried about the speed, but it worked out to our benefit,” said Orseno. “Paco did the right thing, to ease off of them, because the horse is fresh and wanted to go. We didn’t want for him to go head and head and get tired, because obviously we have bigger and better things planned ahead. This was a tough race to get started in, but it was a great way to start. I know he likes this turf course – it’s a little different then it was last year, but I thought he’d handle it the way he worked over it a couple of times.”

Orseno said the April 6 Shakertown at Keeneland could be next for Imprimis.

“The Shakertown comes up a little quick, in 29 days, so we’ll see, although the race at Churchill Downs, on Oaks day, is a definite,” said Orseno, referring to the Grade 2, $250,000 Twin Spires Turf Sprint on May 3.

Samara scores in Captiva Island

Samara overcame a bit of a slow start, ultimately wearing down the pace-setting favorite Morticia to register a well-deserved neck decision in the $75,000 Capitva Island for older fillies and mares.

The win was the third in a row for Samara, who was claimed by trainer Jason Servis for owner Michael Dubb for $40,000 last summer at Saratoga, and her first stakes success. A 5-year-old daughter of Hard Spun, Samara covered five furlongs over the firm course in 55.60 seconds under Nik Juarez and returned $7.20.

Morticia, the prohibitive 3-5 choice, outlasted Goldwood by three-quarters of a length to finish second.