Keeneland news: Imprimis adds American's Royal Ascot charges

Breeze Easy’s Imprimis emerged from his neck victory over defending champion Bound for Nowhere in the Shakertown (G2) with a future trip to England in the plans, trainer Joe Orseno said Sunday morning.

Imprimis is to take a shot at the King’s Stand (G1) on June 18 at Royal Ascot.

“We had discussed running this race or the one at Churchill Downs (the $250,000 Twin Spires Turf Sprint on May 3),” Orseno said. “We are passing on the Churchill race as that would only give us 45 days instead of 10 weeks to train up to Royal Ascot, which is kind of perfect for him.”

After a stumbling start in the Shakertown, Imprimis found himself back in the pack. Jockey Paco Lopez swung him wide in the turn, and he gradually wore down Bound for Nowhere.

“Yesterday showed that he does not need the lead,” said Orseno, who posted his first Keeneland stakes victory since winning the 2000 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup (G1) with Collect the Cash.

After Royal Ascot, Orseno’s goal for the 5-year-old son of Broken Vow is the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint at Santa Anita in November.

“That’s the ultimate goal, and I’d like to get back to the Breeders’ Cup,” said Orseno, who has won two Breeders’ Cup races but not had a starter since 2002 when Macho Uno finished fifth in the Classic (G1). “I was thinking maybe a race at Saratoga for a comeback race after Ascot, but this horse can handle any kind of course and there is a $700,000 race at Kentucky Downs that we could consider.”

Trainer Peter Miller said he is still inclined to go on to the Twin Spires Turf Sprint with Conquest Tsunami and Richard’s Boy, who finished 11^th and 13^th, respectively.

“It was not their day yesterday,” Miller said. “Conquest Tsunami was coming back off short rest and Richard’s Boy just didn’t fire.”

SPICED PERFECTION GIVES MILLER FIRST  KEENELAND STAKES WIN

Trainer Peter Miller was all smiles Sunday morning following the gritty neck victory by Spiced Perfection over Amy’s Challenge in the Madison (G1).

“That was nice,” Miller said. “She is tough and it’s on to the Humana (Distaff [G1] on May 4 at Churchill Downs). “She is not much to look at compared with the other fillies I saw in the Walking Ring, but she is tough.”

Trainer Mac Robertson was pleased with the run by Amy’s Challenge.

“She ran big,” Robertson said of the 4-year-old filly, who is owned by Novogratz Racing Stables.

Shamrock Rose, champion female sprinter of 2018, checked in fifth as the 1.90-to-1 favorite in the Madison.

“She was wide in the race because we wanted her a little closer to the lead,” said David Carroll, assistant to trainer Mark Casse. “Maybe that put her a little out of her element. The Humana Distaff is definitely under consideration for her next start.”