(Trainer Wesley Ward conditions Moonlight Romance, a contender for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint / 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. Bridaled Temper, a 3YO War Front filly trained by Mark Casse for owner Mark Stanley, worked at Churchill Downs this morning. The filly, who has run 3 consecutive seconds since finishing 4th in the Hatoof Stakes at Arlington Park in July, went an easy half mile in :49.60. That was the 18th best time out of 43 to make the distance. Keep an eye on this one. She may be about ready to break through soon. Talented.
  2. Plus Que Parfait, a 2YO Point of Entry ridgling trained by Brendan Walsh, has made 3 lifetime starts to date, with two thirds and a win in the last effort at Keeneland on Oct. 7. This morning, he stretched his legs at Churchill Downs, going a half mile over the dirt track in :50 flat. That was 23rd of the 43. Bears watching next out.
  3. Astrollinthepark, a 4YO daughter of Divine Park and trained by Larry Jones, worked this morning under the Twin Spires, as well. The filly, who ran a game second to Vertical Oak in the Open Mind Stakes on Sept. 15, breezed 5 furlongs in a brisk 1:00.60, which was the bullet move of 26 to go the distance this morning. This filly is really good right now. In her last seven races, she has hit the board six times with one fourth place finish. She has a couple of wins in that mix, as well.
  4. Kowboy Karma, another from the barn of J. Larry Jones, breezed 5 furlongs at Churchill Downs this morning. The 3YO son of Kodiak Kowboy and owned by the trainer and his wife, went the distance in 1:01.60. That was the 5th best time of the day. This gelding has been hot of late, winning an allowance in Louisville on Sept. 14 after running second in the Ellis Park Derby to his stablemate Believe in Royalty. Bears watching next out.
  5. Moonlight Romance, who is expected to run next in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint for trainer Wesley Ward, tuned up over the Keeneland grass course this morning. The 2YO Liaison filly — who will get the services of Jose Ortiz for the BC — went a half mile over the Keeneland sod in :49.80. That was the bullet move out of 3 to go that distance. In the first four starts, this talented gasser has hit the board three times with two wins. The only time she was off the board came in the Windsor Castle Stakes at Royal Ascot back in June. In her last out, she was awesome in the KY Downs Juvenile Turf Sprint Stakes. Don’t discount this filly against the guys on Friday of BC. Talent.
  6. Kirby’s Penny, a 5YO Macho Uno mare trained by Ward, also worked on Tuesday morning at Keeneland. This one, who has been third in both the G2 Honorable Miss Handicap at Saratoga and the G2 Gallant Bloom Handicap at Belmont Park in the last two starts, went 5 furlongs over the dirt track in :59.20. That was the bullet move out of 6 to go the distance. The last win for Kirby’s Penny came in May in the G3 Vagrancy Handicap at Belmont Park. She has come a long way since running for claiming tags last year.