Orseno has mixed emotions from Troy
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Trainer Joe Orseno said he thought about appealing the disqualification of Imprimis from first in Saturday’s Grade 3, $200,000 Troy Stakes, but his owners, Mike Hall and Sam Ross, who race under the moniker Breeze Easy Stable, opted against.
“I suggested it, and they didn’t want to do it,” Orseno said Sunday. “They know their horse was good enough and won. We’ll get him ready for the next one.”
Imprimis, making his first start since last November’s Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint, crossed the wire first by 2 1/4 lengths in the Troy. But he was disqualified for interference in the stretch and placed third as the stewards ruled that Imprimis shifting in a path cost Shekky Shebaz a chance at a better placing. Shekky Shebaz finished third, a head behind American Sailor, who was elevated to first.
Unhappy about the disqualification, Orseno was certainly happy that his horse put forth a winning effort in his 6-year-old debut. Imprimis earned a 101 Beyer Speed Figure for the race.
“He put away a pretty good field for his first race in 10 months,” Orseno said. “I was pretty proud of that.”
Orseno said his goal is to get Imprimis to the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint on Nov. 7 at Keeneland. Orseno said the potential spots are all races in Kentucky – the $250,000 Twin Spires Turf Sprint on Sept. 4 at Churchill Downs, the $700,000 Runhappy Turf Sprint at Kentucky Downs on Sept. 12, or the Woodford, a race likely to be run in early October at Keeneland.
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Orseno said Imprimis would return to him at Gulfstream Park on Tuesday and he wouldn’t make any decisions on a next start until he gets to see the horse back on the track.
Meanwhile, trainer Wayne Potts and his 8-year-old gelding, American Sailor, were headed back to Laurel Park on Sunday afternoon. America Sailor gave Potts his first stakes victory, and though it came with some assistance from the stewards, he’ll take it.
“Don’t get me wrong, I know we got beat by a nice horse yesterday, but I’m going to take the win and run with it,” Potts said.
Potts said he had no set plans for American Sailor’s next start and said he would talk to his owner, Raj Jagnanan, before deciding whether to point to the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint.
“He laid it all on the line yesterday,” Potts said. “If I could find a five-eighths of a mile race I’d be smiling. I think he’s one of the faster horses around.”
American Sailor has now won 15 of 45 starts. His only other stakes win came in the Bucharest Turf Sprint at Sam Houston in 2016 when trained by Joe Sharp.