Imprimis 'blossomed' on arrival for Royal Ascot's King's Stand

Gulfstream Park-based trainer Joe Orseno respects the competition in Tuesday’s King’s Stand (G1) at Royal Ascot, and for good reason. The top two choices according to European bookmakers, Battaash and Blue Point, are two of the world’s best turf sprinters.

“It's a tough race with good competition,” Orseno said, “but Imprimis is in form and doing well. He is coming here 100%, he'll run his race and hopefully he shows up.”

The Florida-bred Imprimis is one of two Americans in the prospective field, joining Wesley Ward-trained Bound for Nowhere. Both made their prior starts in Keeneland’s April 6 Shakertown (G3), which Impris won by a neck over Bound for Nowhere.

Orseno called that a “massive race” given Imprimis stumbled at the start, then charged forward in the 5 1/2-furlong jaunt to upend the favorite.

“Our horse just exploded in the closing stages,” the trainer said. “It was an easy choice to run in the King's Stand as I just think the shorter trip will suit.”

The King’s Stand goes as the third race Tuesday, at 10:40 a.m. ET, opening day of the Royal Ascot meeting. It’s a five-furlong turf sprint that will see Imprimis race without having to navigate a turn for the first time in his career.

Overall, the 5-year-old son of Broken Vow has won seven of nine starts. He’s 2-for-2 in 2019 with the Shakertown victory following a March 9 score in Gulfstream’s Silks Run.

“I think if he is going to be all out, then five furlongs is going to be a better trip for him,” Orseno said.

Owners Breeze Easy LLC also campaign Shang Shang Shang, a Ward-trained winner of last year’s King’s Stand.

“They had such a marvelous time here and they thought that if Imprimis was good enough, then it was worth coming here,” Orseno said. “He won nicely at Gulfstream first time out this term and then we went to the Shakertown which was a bit ambitious. But he did it well that day and since that race, he has been a different horse.

“We've given him plenty of time off and we're looking forward to it.”

Connections have secured the services of top European jockey Frankie Dettori, who termed Imprimis “probably the best American turf sprinter.”

“The King's Stand looks a very good race this year with Blue Point and Battaash,” Dettori added. “American sprinters have done well in the past, his form is very good, and Joe seems very happy with him. It is another tough race, but hopefully he runs well.”

Orseno, the veteran conditioner who trained upset Preakness winner Red Bullet and Breeders’ Cup Juvenile hero Macho Uno — both in 2000 — said he now has about 35 horses in his care.

Along with Ward’s Ascot charges, which number close to 10, Imprimis has stabled in England at Manton’s stables, “which is very quiet,” Orseno said, “and he has blossomed there. It has been great to train him here and people have bent over backwards to help us.

“To win at Royal Ascot would be at the top of the podium in terms of my career."