Imprimis the star on a stakes doubleheader

An outstanding card is on tap for Wednesday at Tampa Bay Downs with a pair of $100,000 turf sprints rescheduled from their original date.

Imprimis, one of the leading turf sprinters on the continent, figures as a heavy favorite in the Tampa Turf Dash (race 7), while a more evenly matched group of fillies and mares will end a busy card in the Lightning City Stakes (race 9).

Both five-furlong races were postponed from Saturday because of weather and course-condition considerations. With an ideal Wednesday forecast of sunshine and temperatures in the mid-70s for Oldsmar, Fla., it appears track management made a savvy call.

Imprimis was withheld by trainer Joe Orseno from a Grade 3 race at his home track, the Feb. 13 Gulfstream Park Turf Sprint, to wait instead for the Turf Dash. Orseno said the new Gulfstream policy that bans Lasix in stakes was the compelling reason.

Orseno said Imprimis “bled a speck in his last race,” a victory in the Jan. 1 Janus Stakes at Gulfstream, “and I don’t need him to bleed any more. He’s 7, and we want to have a good year with him. Anything detrimental like that [an internal bleeding incident] can really set you back.”

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Imprimis will have Antonio Gallardo aboard when breaking from post 2 in the Turf Dash, which drew 11 older horses, although at least one, My Boy Lenny, can be expected to scratch as a main-track-only designate. Gallardo begins the week with the slightest of edges, 61-60, over Samy Camacho in their ongoing duel atop the local jockey standings.

Imprimis has amassed $805,983 for owner Breeze Easy LLC when competing in the upper levels of the North American turf-sprint division over the last couple of seasons. Before the Janus, the Florida-bred gelding had an extremely troubled trip when essentially eased as the third wagering choice in the Nov. 7 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint.

Orseno said he is using this race as a springboard to the April 3 Shakertown at Keeneland, with no thought having been given to the Al Quoz Turf Sprint a week beforehand in Dubai.

“Our end goal is returning to the same Breeders’ Cup race at Del Mar,” he said. “Assuming he can use this as a good race toward the Shakertown, I think he’ll be that much better down the road toward the Breeders’ Cup.”

A habitual stretch-runner with nine wins and four triple-digit Beyer Speed Figures to his credit, Imprimis departed Gulfstream for Tampa after training Monday. His primary opposition Wednesday could come from Turned Aside, making his first start for Mark Casse after winning two turf-sprint stakes last year for prior connections, or The Critical Way, beaten just a neck by Imprimis when third in the Janus.

Meanwhile, the Lightning City also has its fair share of Atlantic Coast shippers as major contenders, although the locally based The Goddess Lyssa is listed as a lukewarm program favorite in an oversubscribed field. The Goddess Lyssa has never raced on grass and would be wheeling back in 11 days after going gate-to-wire in the Feb. 13 Minaret.

The capable cross-state shippers include Payntdembluesaway for Jane Cibelli, Miss Auramet for Eddie Plesa, and Jeanie B for Casse. In all, 14 are entered, with only as many as 12 allowed to start.

Earlier in the day, Casse will send out Soup and Sandwich as a decisive favorite in race 2, a $31,250 allowance for 3-year-olds going a mile and 40 yards. Soup and Sandwich, bred and owned by the Live Oak Plantation of Campbell’s Soup heiress Charlotte Weber, earned an 89 Beyer at Gulfstream winning his first and only start Jan. 28.

First post is 12:15 p.m. Eastern, with the Turf Dash set for 3:21 and the Lightning City at 4:21.

A course record was set over very firm going last year in the Turf Dash when Faction Cat went in 53.97 seconds. Jean Elizabeth lowered the record for the Lightning City the same day when finishing in 55.09.

Purses upped yet again

For the third time at a five-month meet that began Nov. 25, a 10 percent purse increase has been approved for most races at Tampa, effective last Saturday. Previous purse hikes came Dec. 16 and Feb. 3.

Tampa continues to permit ontrack spectators willing to adhere to strict health protocols, including social distancing and mandatory face masks. The track will admit as many as 2,500 fans to its annual marquee event, the March 6 (Tampa Bay Derby Day), with a $15 general admission (plus a service fee via required pre-purchase) in effect.

Because it is a Kentucky Derby points qualifier, there will be no Lasix usage permitted for the Tampa Bay Derby, the only such ban for upcoming races at Tampa. Nominations are out for the $350,000 Tampa Bay Derby and the other four stakes that day.