(Monomoy Girl winning the KY Oaks over Wonder Gadot / Photo by Holly M. Smith)

Every day, we scour the work tabs at racetracks all over the country.  We are looking for workouts that may be of interest and helpful to you — as both race fans and handicappers.  Some of the horses we will be tracking, you will know.  Some of them, you may not know — as of yet.  We will keep a keen eye and stopwatch to see who may be working well:

  1. Arklow, a 4YO Arch colt trained by Brad Cox, is coming off a narrow win in the KY Downs Preview Turf Cup Stakes at Ellis Park in his last start. In five starts this year, he has a record of 2-1-0, and he now has career earnings of over $420,000. It appears this one will be pointed to KY Downs in September, but he has never raced over that pasture in his past. That will be an interesting transition for this one. He trained this morning at Churchill Downs, going a half mile in :48.60. That was the 17th best time out of 83 to go the distance. Keep an eye on this one. Has talent and is peaking at just the right time for the Fall season.
  2. Honorable Duty, now a 6YO gelded son of Distorted Humor, has raced only twice this year, but is coming off a nice 2nd to Pavel in the G1 Stephen Foster Stakes at Churchill Downs in his last out. This one is trained by Brendan Walsh, and he breezed a half mile in an easy :50 flat this morning under the Twin Spires. That was the 61st best time out of 83. This one loves Churchill Downs, and should be ready to go either in September or November. He is less than $63,000 in earnings from joining the $1 million club. Good luck.
  3. Mr. Misunderstood, a 4YO Archarcharch gelding trained by Cox, also won in his last out. He captured the KY Downs Preview Tourist Stakes at Ellis in the last and that makes two wins in a row now. He won the G2 Wise Dan Stakes at Churchill Downs in the previous out. This one has never run at KY Downs, either. It will be interesting to see if this barn opts to stay home at Churchill Downs, or roll down I-65 to Franklin for the next out. He went a half mile today in :48.60. that was the 17th best time out of the 83. Fit. Sound. Ready to go.
  4. Miss Kentucky, a 4YO Blame filly trained by Rusty Arnold and the top assistant Jack Bohannon, has won 3 of 5 starts this year and has one second, to boot. Over the last three outs, she has two wins and a second. One of the wins came in the G3 Winning Colors at Churchill Downs. She breezed a half mile this morning, going the distance in :47.20. That was the bullet time out of the 83. Razor sharp. Watch for this one.
  5. Pole Setter, a 2YO Take Charge Indy colt trained by Cox, worked this morning at Churchill Downs, as well. he went an easy half mile in :48.80 — which was 23rd best of the 83. This one won on debut at Ellis Park on Aug. 5. Ran off to a near 3-length victory over a nice field. Watch for this one’s return.
  6. Fascilitator, a son of The Factor and trained by Steve Asmussen, worked this morning under the Twin Spires. This one, who either won or ran second in the first four career outings, went 5/8ths in 1:03.20. That was the 28th best time out of 38. It was just his second published work since Aug. 19. He was last seen running in the Black Gold Stakes at the Fair Grounds in March. Ran 7th that day and been on the shelf since. It will be awhile before we see him again in the afternoon, but his one has a world of talent.
  7. Monomoy Girl, a 3YO filly by Tapizar and trained by Cox, may be one of the top 3 horses in training today. I think she may be the best. But that’s another story. The KY Oaks winner — who is 8-1-0 in 9 career starts — went 5 furlongs at Churchill Downs today in 1:01 flat. That was the 4th best time out of the 38, and she was well in hand. She is just spectacular. That’s all you can write or say. Spectacular. And, a pleasure to watch. To train. To run. To compete. To win. One of my favorites of all time.
  8. Mr. Freeze, a 3YO son of To Honor and Serve and trained by Dale Romans, has three wins in just four starts to start the career. The only set-back was a second in the Iowa Derby at Prairie Meadows in July. Ran a half-length behind High North in that one, but came right back to win the West Virginia Derby. He breezed 5 furlongs at Churchill Downs today in 1:01.60. That was 10th best of 38. Some in the Romans’ barn may get more attention, but few can run with this one. Watch worthy.