Tenfold at Churchill Downs

(Tenfold at Churchill Downs last summer / Photo by Gene McLean)

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. Strike Power, a 4YO Speightstown colt trained by Mark Hennig, worked this morning at Gulfstream Park. This one hasn’t started a race since last August, when he was 9th in the Better Talk Now Stakes at Saratoga. But he has talent. Real talent. He won his first two career starts — including the G3 Swale Stakes at Gulfstream last Spring. Then, he ran second in the G2 Fountain of Youth. Fell apart in the G1 Florida Derby and was never the same the rest of the year. Now, this speedster is on the comeback trail, and he got his third published work since Jan. 29 today. Went 3 furlongs in :36.74 — which was the 2nd fastest time out of 4. In great hands with this barn, and here’s hoping he gets back to running soon.
  2. Bernin’ Thru Gold, a 3YO Bernardini ridgling trained by Hennig, also trained this morning. This one — who was third on the career debut at Belmont Park last June in his only career start to date — went 5 furlongs in 1:00.49. That was the 2nd fastest time out of 11 to go the distance. This was his 6th published work since Jan. 15, and he seems to be getting closer to the return. The current ownership team of Lee Lewis purchased this one for $150,000 at the Fasig-Tipton 2YO March Sale a year ago. Keep an eye out for this one.
  3. Wicked Indeed, a 3YO Tapit colt trained by Steve Asmussen for the Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC, worked on Monday morning at the Fair Grounds. That was the final tuneup for the Mine That Bird Stakes at Sunland Park that will be contested on Feb. 24. He blew out a half mile in :50 flat, which was the 16th fastest time out of 28 to go that far. In his last out, Wicked Indeed was 4th in the LeComte Stakes in New Orleans — behind War of Will. He looks to be the best, on paper, for this weekend’s contest.
  4. Tenfold, who is on the comeback trail for Asmussen and the Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC connections, worked on Monday, as well. This 4YO son of Curlin — who was third to Justify in the Preakness Stakes a year ago — went 6 furlongs in 1:13 flat. He was the only horse on the day to clock out at that distance. It was his 6th published work since Jan. 18, and he should be getting close to making his first start since last August, when he was 7th in the Travers Stakes at Saratoga.
  5. Bulletin, undefeated in 2 lifetime starts and winner of the 2018 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint at Churchill Downs last November, was back in action this morning at Palm Beach Downs for trainer Todd Pletcher. He got his third published work since Jan. 31, and went an easy half mile in :52.52. That was third out of 3 to go the distance. This son of City Zip broke his maiden in the Hollywood Beach Stakes at Gulfstream Park last September. Will be fun to see this one back in action.
  6. McKinzie, a 4YO Street Sense colt who has won 5 of 8 lifetime and is coming off a second in the G2 San Pasqual Stakes on Feb. 2, trained at Santa Anita this morning for trainer Bob Baffert. He went 5 furlongs in 1:o2 flat — which was 18th best out of 19. He lost the last race by a half length to Battle of Midway, who has certainly returned from his stint at stud duty to be masterful once again on the racetrack. It will be interesting to see where Baffert goes next with McKinzie. Shorter, perhaps? Some are suggesting so.