Orseno assails Lasix rules after Imprimis bleeds in Shakertown

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Trainer Joe Orseno said his star turf sprinter Imprimis bled from the nostrils when beaten just a nose Saturday by Bound for Nowhere in the Grade 2 Shakertown and blasted the new Keeneland policy that bans usage of the bleeder medication Lasix in stakes races during a post-race interview.

“They’re taking the best horses in the country and they’re penalizing them,” said Orseno, who won his first race in 1977. “My horse bled today, visibly, blood coming out of his nose. How is that good for the public’s perception? It’s just not fair.”

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Orseno said Monday that part of the bleeding incident stemmed from Imprimis banging his head on the starting gate when breaking through prior to the break, but “we did scope him afterward, and there was blood in the trachea, although not as much as all the blood we saw would’ve suggested.”

Lasix usage is being phased out in numerous jurisdictions following the December passage of the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act. Uniform guidelines across the country are scheduled to go into effect on July 1, 2022.

◗ Julien Leparoux became just the fourth jockey to win 500 races at Keeneland when Gear Jockey ($4.40) captured the fifth race on opening day. Only Pat Day (918), Don Brumfield (716), and Robby Albarado (526) have ridden more winners here than Leparoux, who has won or tied for 12 Keeneland riding titles since 2006.

◗ All-sources handle on an 11-race Blue Grass card was $22,723,198. The Keeneland record for a non-Breeders’ Cup card is $25.8 million, set on Blue Grass Day 2019. Total handle on the Blue Grass card run last July after the 2020 spring meet was canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic was $23.8 million.

◗ Field size from the first 21 races at the spring meet averaged 8.33 horses per race, which is comparable to the 8.60 average during 149 races at the 2019 spring meet. Favorites won 10 of 21 (48 percent), compared to a 42 percent win strike for favorites at 2019 spring.

◗ Workout activity for Derby hopefuls at Churchill is already under way. Mandaloun, who definitely has enough points to make the May 1 race, breezed a half-mile in 49.80 seconds Saturday, while O Besos, on the bubble, went a half-mile in 49 seconds Monday.