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Imprimus Earns Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint Berth With Hard-Fought Victory At Kentucky Downs

One year after getting beat as the favorite in the Grade 3, $700,000 Runhappy Turf Sprint Stakes, Imprimis rewarded those who retained the faith in him on Saturday as the Broken Vow gelding got up by a neck over Front Run the Fed to capture the 2020 edition of the race at Kentucky Downs in Franklin, Ky.

The six-furlong Turf Sprint offered the winner a fees-paid spot in the $1-million Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (Grade 1) on Nov. 7 at Keeneland as part of the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series' “Win and You're In” program.

The trip to Kentucky Downs for Imprimis represented just the second start of the year for the 6-year-old and his first win since taking the 2019 Grade 2 Shakertown Stakes. Though the record shows the dark bay gelding coming in off a loss in the Grade 3 Troy Stakes at Saratoga on Aug. 8, he actually crossed the wire first by 2 1/4 lengths that day but was disqualified for interference and placed third.

“None of us were happy about it. I'd say 90 percent of the people, because they're my friends or trying to make me feel better, they all thought we got a bad deal,” trainer Joe Orseno said. “But it is what it is. You can't take the win away from the horse. He ran his heart out off a 10-month layoff. Went up there and won that. We're going to get to our goal, that's the Breeders' Cup. He loves Keeneland. So we're pretty excited.”

That big run Imprimis put in at Saratoga was his first start since running sixth in the last year's Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint, and it served a warning for the kind of form he would bring to Franklin, Ky.

Sent off as the 3-1 favorite in the 11-horse field, Imprimis rated in fifth in an outside path as Bombard covered the opening quarter mile in :22.39 but found himself shuffled back with a wall of horses in front of him as the field reached the top of the stretch.

With three-sixteenths of a mile to go, Imprimis began making his big on the far outside under jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. and ended up in a three-way battle to the wire that saw him surge past Front Run the Fed and third-place finisher Bombard.

“A year ago (when fourth as the favorite), it was his first race since Royal Ascot,” Orseno said. “He wasn't quite back to himself. We tried to rush him along for the Breeders' Cup. We probably made a couple of bad moves.

“I had him where I wanted him (this year),” Orseno added. “I did everything we could do as far as the training and everything he's doing, his weight. We were very happy with him coming here. I expected this effort. But this was a tough race. There were some quality horses in there. I mean, the Breeders' Cup won't be any tougher. We're very happy where we have him right now.”

Said Ortiz: “He ran big. I rode him before on the soft turf at Pimlico, and I knew he handled it pretty good. So I wasn't afraid. I rode him with confidence. They moved outside of me, and I didn't want to see that, but they moved so I said let me just wait because it was a little early. When I tipped him out, he responded really well. He was coming.”

When Imprimis hit the wire in 1:09.93 over a course rated soft, it capped a huge day for owner Mike Hall of Breeze Easy, LLC, who also won the $500,000 Bal a Bali Juvenile Turf Sprint Stakes with Outadore.

“It feels wonderful. What a wonderful horse,” Hall said of Imprimis. “We've had so much fun with him. Since the day we bought him, he's just been an awesome horse. Joe Orseno has done a great job keeping him going.”

Hall was just sorry that his Breeze Easy partner Sam Ross was home in Parkersburg, W.Va., and not at the track. “I know he's jumping up and down,” Hall said. “I love him like my dad, and if it wasn't for him, we probably wouldn't be here. He makes this whole game for us much more exciting than what I could do by myself.”

Totally Boss, winner of the Turf Sprint Stakes last year, finished seventh on Saturday.

“He didn't seem to like the track today,” said Florent Geroux, jockey for Totally Boss. “He was stumbling a lot and never got his footing right. He ran even, but hated the track from the beginning. He was never in a good spot.”

Bred in Florida by Craig Wheeler, Imprimis now boasts eight wins from 15 career starts with $759,948 in earnings.

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Breeders’ Cup Berth On the Line in Runhappy Turf Sprint

A full field of 12 and three also-eligibles have been entered for Saturday’s GIII Runhappy Turf Sprint at Kentucky Downs, a ‘Win and You’re In’ qualifier for the GI Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint at Keeneland Nov. 7. The six-furlong dash will offer up one of the afternoon’s toughest handicapping challenges to boot.

Totally Boss (Street Boss) pounced from just off the pace to scoop this valuable prize by 1 1/4 lengths last year, then lost all chance when steadied three furlongs from home in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint and finished 10th. A troubled eighth in a May 29 Churchill allowance he was bound to need in the first place, the bay completed a Rusty Arnold 1-2 in the GII Shakertown S. at Keeneland, dropping a head decision to Leinster (Majestic Warrior) while finishing a neck ahead of Bound For Nowhere (The Factor).

The latter makes just the 15th start of his career and second at Kentucky Downs, where he annexed the 2018 Tourist Mile. A very impressive winner of a seven-furlong Belmont allowance last October, the 6-year-old entire failed by a head in the GIII San Simeon S. at Santa Anita, skipped the trip to Royal Ascot he’d made each of the last three seasons and instead ran a cracking race in the Shakertown.

Kanthaka (Jimmy Creed) can improve in his second start off a 13-month absence. The chestnut was set what appeared to be a pretty tall task in returning to action in the GI Jaipur S. on the Belmont S. undercard, but he came to win the race at the eighth pole, only to be run down by the talented Oleksandra (Aus) (Animal Kingdom).

Stubbins (Morning Line), a close fourth in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint, was a troubled third in the May 23 GIII Daytona S. at Santa Anita and was right on a sizzling pace in the Jaipur before weakening to fourth. He handled this course nicely when runner-up in last year’s GIII Franklin-Stamps S.

Imprimis (Broken Vow) was 2 3/4 lengths behind Totally Boss in fourth in this event last year and was across the line first in the GIII Troy S. first off a nine-month layoff, only to be controversially disqualified to third.

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Brody’s Cause Colt Sittin On Go Rallies Late To Win Iroquois

Albaugh Family Stables' Sittin On Go roared past Midnight Bourbon at the sixteenth pole en route to a 2 1/2-length victory on Saturday in the 39th running of the Grade 3, $200,000 Iroquois Stakes for 2-year-olds at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky.

Trained by Dale Romans and ridden by Corey Lanerie, Sittin On Go covered the mile on a fast main track in 1:35.

In addition to picking up 10 points toward the 2021 Kentucky Derby, the winner also earned a fees-paid berth into the $2-million Breeders' Cup Juvenile (GI) at Keeneland on Nov. 6.

Favored Therideofalifetime led the field of 10 through uncontested fractions of :23.04, :45.64 and 1:10. At the top of the lane, Midnight Bourbon made the first move at Therideofalifetime and opened a daylight advantage that evaporated at the sixteenth pole.

The victory, the second in two starts for Sittin On Go, was worth $117,800 and boosted Sittin On Go's earnings to $145,520.

Sittin On Go is a Kentucky-bred son of Brody's Cause out of the More Than Ready mare Set'n On Ready.

Sittin On Go returned $50, $18.60 and $9. Midnight Bourbon, ridden by Gerardo Corrales, returned $6 and $4 and finished 1 ¾ lengths in front of Super Stock who paid $5.20 to show under Ricardo Santana Jr.

It was another 5 1/4 lengths back to Therideofalifetime who was followed in order by Pico d'Oro, Notary, Ultimate Badger, Crazy Shot, Drop Anchor and Belafonte.

“He broke really good and put me right where I thought he would be after watching his replay from Ellis Park,” said Lanerie. “Down the backside, he was trying to get out on me. I don't know why, but he settled in real nice. I was actually going to follow Dale's (Romans) other horse (Ultimate Badger), but I had so much horse, I went to the outside and let him come on. Watching the races, it looked like the outside is the best place to be. I didn't want any excuses for getting him stopped. I put him in the clear and he was just like his daddy (stakes winner Brody's Cause).”

“We're having ourselves a great weekend,” said Romans, who on Thursday saddled Girl Daddy to win the Pocahontas, a Win and You're In for the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies. “This horse reminds us a lot of his father (Brody's Cause). We were pretty confident he'd be able to stretch out from his training and this race set up perfectly for us. We're on to the Breeders' Cup.”

“Man, to pick up the Pocahontas (with Girl Daddy) and then follow it up with the Iroquois two days later is unreal,” said Dennis Albaugh. “We couldn't be happier. That's why we're in the racing business. That horse was unbelievable coming around the turn. I was like, 'Man, he's moving.' ”

Steve Asmussen was positive about the performances of his two runners, Midnight Bourbon and Super Stock. “Both of them are solid colts, good finishing times,” Asmussen said. “Just another step in the development of 2-year-olds that we hope end as good 3-year-olds. Super Stock, he kind of stumbled just a tad away from there. He wasn't exactly where we expected him to be early but I thought he adjusted and ran a solid race considering. And Midnight Bourbon ran really well. I thought he should have won from the position he was in but he was back on short rest and has room to improve.”

Florent Geroux, aboard favored Therideofalifetime, the beaten favorite who finished fourth, said: “Disappointed. He broke sharp and made the lead very easily. He did not finish for some reason. I don't know if it was too far for him or if it was too soon after the Saratoga race.”

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Brody’s Cause’s Sittin On Go Upsets in the Iroquois

Longshot Sittin On Go blew past his rivals in the stretch to become the first stakes winner for his freshman sire (by Giant’s Causeway), who was campaigned by these same connections. The chestnut was wheeling back on relatively short rest after an off-the-pace 4 1/4-length tally going five furlongs at Ellis Aug. 16–he earned just a 49 Beyer Speed Figure.

Unhurried early and guided a bit off the potentially dead rail, Sittin On Go traveled nicely on the bridle while far back as odds-on Therideofalifetime (Candy Ride {Arg}) zipped away through splits of :23.04 and :45.64. He was still hard held by Corey Lanerie heading around the turn, and circled up very wide into the lane. Midnight Bourbon wrestled the lead away from the chalk at the top of the lane, but Sittin On Go continued to gobble up ground and kick away convincingly to stamp his ticket to the GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile.

“We’re having ourselves a great weekend,” said trainer Dale Romans, who also saddled ‘TDN Rising Star’ Girl Daddy (Uncle Mo) to a victory in Thursday’s GIII Pocahontas–the equivalent race to this one for fillies–for Dennis Albaugh and Jason Loutsch’s powerful stable. “This horse reminds us a lot of his father. We were pretty confident he’d be able to stretch out from his training and this race set up perfectly for us. We’re on to the Breeders’ Cup.”

Lanerie, who rode Brody’s Cause to an 11-1 victory in the 2015 GI Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity while employing very similar tactics, offered: “He broke really good and put me right where I thought he would be after watching his replay from Ellis Park. Down the backside, he was trying to get out on me. I don’t know why, but he settled in real nice. I was actually going to follow Dale’s other horse [Ultimate Badger {Commissioner}], but I had so much horse, I went to the outside and let him come on. Watching the races, it looked like the outside is the best place to be. I didn’t want any excuses for getting him stopped. I put him in the clear and he was just like his daddy.”

Dennis Albaugh said, “Man, to pick up the Pocahontas and then follow it up with the Iroquois two days later is unreal. We couldn’t be happier. That’s why we’re in the racing business. That horse was unbelievable coming around the turn. I was like, ‘Man, he’s moving.'”

Pedigree Notes:
Brody’s Cause was a $350,000 Keeneland September yearling purchase in 2014, and was third in the GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile after his Breeders’ Futurity win. He added the GI Toyota Blue Grass S. at three before checking in seventh in the GI Kentucky Derby. The Spendthrift Farm resident has been represented by three winners thus far.

More Than Ready has now sired the dams of 43 graded stakes winners. Dam Set’n On Ready–whose dam is by Brody’s Causeway’s sire Giant’s Causeway–was a precocious type who was claimed for $35,000 out of her final career start. She hails from the female family of European highweight sprinter Lucayan Prince, MGSW Comic Strip, and graded stakes winner and producer Silver Comic. Set’n On Rady was barren in her next two seasons before producing a Mor Spirit filly this January. She was bred back to Flameaway.

Saturday, Churchill Downs
IROQUOIS S. PRESENTED BY FORD-GIII, $200,000, Churchill Downs, 9-5, 2yo, 1m, 1:35.00, ft.
1–SITTIN ON GO, 118, c, 2, by Brody’s Cause
                1st Dam: Set’n On Ready (SP), by More Than Ready
                2nd Dam: Laughingly, by Giant’s Causeway
                3rd Dam: Now That’s Funny, by Saratoga Six
   1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. ($65,000
Wlg ’18 KEENOV; $62,000 RNA Ylg ’19 KEESEP). O-Albaugh
Family Stables LLC; B-Wynnstay LLC (KY); T-Dale L. Romans;
J-Corey J. Lanerie. $117,800. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0,
$145,520. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
Werk Nick Rating: C+.
2–Midnight Bourbon, 118, c, 2, Tiznow–Catch the Moon, by
Malibu Moon. ($525,000 Ylg ’19 KEESEP). O-Winchell
Thoroughbreds LLC; B-Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings LLC
(KY); T-Steven M. Asmussen. $38,000.
3–Super Stock, 120, c, 2, Dialed In–Super Girlie, by Closing
Argument. ($70,000 Ylg ’19 KEESEP). O-Woolsey, Erv and
Asmussen, Keith; B-Pedro Gonzalez & P.J. Gonzalez (KY);
T-Steven M. Asmussen. $19,000.
Margins: 2HF, 1 3/4, 5 1/4. Odds: 24.00, 5.20, 8.30.
Also Ran: Therideofalifetime, Pico d’Oro, Notary, Ultimate Badger, Crazy Shot, Drop Anchor, Belafonte. Scratched: Dreamer’s Disease. Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.

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