Imprimis Gets Acid Test in Highlander

[Wandering Eyes]

Four impressive wins in four starts have stamped Breeze Easy LLC’s Imprimis (Broken Vow) as a budding star in the turf sprint division, but the gelding will get easily his toughest test yet, along with a chance to prove he’s the real deal, as the favorite in Saturday’s GI Highlander S. at Woodbine, a “Win and You’re In” qualifier race for the GI Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint.

Debuting Feb. 2 at Gulfstream, the dark bay rallied to a 33-1 upset, and he repeated in a Florida-bred allowance there 26 days later. Privately purchased from owner/breeder Craig Wheeler after that effort, Imprimis quickly proved a shrewd purchase when romping in an open allowance in Hallandale Mar. 24. Getting his first stake opportunity in the boggy-going Turf Sprint S. May 18 at Pimlico, he was more than up to the task, running away in the stretch to a powerful 5 1/4-length score. The Highlander, however, represents a steep class hike, as three graded stakes winners and several other up-and-comers await Imprimis as part of a nine-pronged challenge to the undefeated 4-year-old. He will also be stretching out past five furlongs for the first time in the six-panel test.

Madaket Stables and Ten Strike Racing’s Long On Value (Value Plus) returns to the scene of one of his career-best efforts. The two-time graded winner, who just missed when second by a nose in the G1 Al Quoz Sprint last spring, finished third to champion World Approval (Northern Afleet) despite a nightmare trip in the GI Ricoh Woodbine Mile Sept. 16. The bay went through the ring at Keeneland November after that, selling to these connections for $100,000, and made a winning debut for them and new trainer Brad Cox with a last-to-first tally in the Mighty Beau S. June 2 at Churchill.

“We liked the horse; we knew he had some back class,” Cox told the Woodbine notes team. “Obviously, he’s accomplished a lot and he’s versatile, anywhere from five-eighths of a mile to one mile. He came out of [the Mighty Beau] in outstanding shape, and he’s had two really nice breezes at Churchill.”

Live Oak Plantation’s Holding Gold (Lonhro {Aus}), upset winner of the GII Shakertown S. last spring, has scored just once in his subsequent eight starts, but hinted at rounding back into form when running fourth, beaten just over a length, in the GII Jaipur S. June 9 at Belmont.

A pair of female runners entered against the boys merit long looks. Heider Family Stables’ Lady Alexandra (More Than Ready), also purchased after her career started at last summer’s Fasig-Tipton July sale, exploded forward with a sharp victory in the License Fee S. last out Apr. 29 at Belmont. The 104 Beyer she earned that day is tied for highest in the field. Team Valor International and Gary Barber’s Belvoir Bay (GB) (Equiano {Fr}) ships in from Southern California off a three-race winning streak, including a tally against males in the GIII San Simeon S. Apr. 29 at Santa Anita.

Ontoawinner and Partner’s Corinthia Knight (Ire) (Society Rock {Ire}) adds some foreign flavor as the field’s lone 3-year-old. Shipping over to run fourth at 24-1 in the Juvenile Turf Sprint S. last November at Del Mar, the chestnut reeled off four consecutive triumphs over synthetic ground to start his sophomore season in Europe before fading to finish ninth as the favorite in the grassy G3 Prix Texanita last out May 9 at Maisons-Laffitte.

“France was a bit of a disaster,” said trainer Archie Watson. “We took him over and the ground was slated to be good to firm, but they watered and it was quite sticky ground really. He obviously has very good form on the all-weather but on the turf, he wants it firm.”

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