(Hall of Fame Trainer Bill Mott conditions both Hofburg and Yoshida / Photo Courtesy of Keeneland)

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. Limonite, a 2YO colt by Lemon Drop Kid and trained by Steve Asmussen, won his second career start at Keeneland on Oct. 6. Going 7 furlongs on the dirt, the colt rallied from well off the pace to catch the win on the wire by a head. Certainly, this one figures to get better with more distance, and, perhaps, a switch to the grass. After all, he has sod influence on the sire side, and is out of a Brazilian mare (who happens to be by an Irish stallion). This colt worked at Churchill Downs this morning, going a half mile in :49.80. That was the 18th best time out of 37 to make the distance. Worth keeping an eye on this guy, who is owned by Winchell Thoroughbreds and Willis Horton Racing. They purchased him for just $115,000 at the 2017 Keeneland September Sale.
  2. Carrizo, a 2YO Paynter filly in the barn of Asmussen, worked 5 furlongs at Churchill Downs on Monday morn. She went the distance in 1:02 flat, which was the 16th best time out of 37. This filly flashed a lot of talent on debut, winning a MSW event at Churchill on Sept. 29. She ran off to a near 6-length victory that day, and was never headed leaving the gate in the 6-furlong effort over the dirt. This one RNA’d for $50,000 at the Keeneland September Sale last year, and is still owned by Mike Rutherford. Well done keeping this one.
  3. Hofburg, a 3YO son of Tapit who has the great distinction of being the “Hot Horse” for both the Kentucky Derby and the Belmont Stakes this year and failed in both of those attempts, worked under the Twin Spires at Churchill Downs this morning. The Bill Mott-trainee will NOT be the “Hot Horse” for the Breeders’ Cup Classic, though. Instead, he will be entered for the Fayette Handicap on Keeneland’s closing day. Today, he prepped for the final time, going 5 furlongs in 1:00.60. That was the 5th fastest time out of 37 to make the distance. In 7 career starts, Hofburg is 2-1-1 and has earnings of nearly $500,000 for the Juddmonte Farms. Could still become the horse that everyone touted him to be, but may take a bit more time.
  4. Hot Springs, a 3YO Uncle Mo colt trained by Asmussen, won the Jefferson Cup Stakes at Churchill Downs on Sept. 29 in his last start and is looking like he may become the kind of horse that his connections hoped he would become when they purchased him for the tidy sum of $750,000 at the 2016 Keeneland September Sale. In 6 career starts to date, he now has 3 wins and a second. This morning, he toured the Churchill Downs facility in 1:02.80, which was the 25th best time out of 37. Purely a maintenance move.
  5. Midnight Bisou, the benefactor of some late running antics by Monomoy Girl and the stewards decision in the G1 Cotillion Stakes last time out, worked this morning in preparation for the Breeders’ Cup Distaff and a reunion with her old nemesis, worked today under the Twin Spires. She went 5 furlongs in a brisk 1:00 flat. That was the bullet move of the 37 to go the distance, and she looked supreme in doing it. The 3YO daughter of Midnight Lute may now be maturing into the real deal that many expected earlier this year. Challenge is on.
  6. Vertical Oak, another star in the Asmussen barn, worked 5 furlongs at Churchill Downs this morning, as well. The Giant Oak filly went the distance in a time of 1:00.60, which was the 5th fastest time. In the last six Stakes races in a row, she has hit the board — including a nice win here in the Open Mind Stakes. She was third in the G2 Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes at Keeneland in her last out. A very good one. In a tough crowd.
  7. Yoshida, a Japanese-bred son of Heart’s Cry and trained by Bill Mott, is taking dead aim on this year’s Breeders’ Cup Classic. In his last race — and only effort to date over the dirt track — Yoshida proved his class and versatility by winning the G1 Woodward in absolute style and grace. He stormed from the back of that pack to win by 2 lengths, beating the likes of Gunnevera, Leofric, Rally Cry and others. He will have to step his game up in the Classic, but he may be headed in the right direction on a new surface. Today, he worked over the Churchill Downs’ dirt, going 5 furlongs in 1:00.80. That was the 7th best time of the day. Improving?