(Tom Amoss and James Graham, both connected to Roiland / Photo Courtesy of the Fair Grounds)

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. Battalion Runner, the 5YO Unbridled’s Song horse, has not started a race since running 5th in the G3 Smarty Jones Stakes at Parx in September of 2017. But before then, he had never missed the board in 5 races and had a second in the G2 Wood Memorial and a third in the G3 Dwyer Stakes. Today, he got his 4th published work since Jan. 19. He went a half mile in :48.80, which was the 2nd fastest time out of the first 10 to go that far. Would be fun to see this guy return to the races. Just hope he can find the old form.
  2. My Legacy, a 3YO Street Boss colt who was bred in Maryland, may be one to watch the next time out. This guy ran 4th on debut at the Fair Grounds on Feb. 9. when he raced 6 furlongs over the dirt track. Was beaten only about 21/4 lengths for it all that day and pushed the pace from the get-go, before tiring late. Got his first published work since that race this morning at Oaklawn Park. He went 3 furlongs in :38.80. That was 3rd best out of 3 to go that far. The connections paid $260,000 for this one at the OBS April Sale a year ago. Must really look the part, and he has some obvious gas in the tank.
  3. Warrior’s Club, a 5YO owned by the Churchill Downs Racing Club and trained by D. Wayne Lukas, has been a real warrior for much of his race career. To date, he has made 30 starts and has a tidy record of 5-7-5 and has earned nearly $750,000 in purses. Made his 2019 debut at Oaklawn Park on March 3, and nearly pulled off a nice allowance win. Ran 2nd in that effort, and that should set him up nicely for some bigger events to come this Spring. He stretched his legs at Oaklawn Park this morning, going a half-mile in :50.40. That was the 2nd fastest of 5.
  4. King of Speed, a 3YO Jimmy Creed colt trained by Jeff Bonde, worked at Santa Anita this morning. In his last three starts, he finished 12th in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf; 6th in the Los Alamitos Futurity; and 10th in the El Camino Real Derby. But before those 3 disappointments, he won the Zuma Beach Stakes at Santa Anita and the Del Mar Juvenile Turf Stakes. Looks like he should head back to the lawn soon. This morning, the colt went 4 furlongs in :50.80 — which was the 24th best time out of 40 to make the distance. The trainer bought this colt for $140,000 at the Keeneland September Sale in 2017. To date, he has won $146,625 in purses. Go time.
  5. Roiland, a 3YO son of Successful Appeal and 3rd place finisher in the G2 Risen Star behind War of Will, worked this morning at the Fair Grounds for trainer Tom Amoss. The homebred colt owned by Jim and Mary Durlacher worked 6 furlongs in 1:15.20. He was the only horse to go that far early in the a.m. But it certainly appears that it was a useful move as he gets ready for the G2 Louisiana Derby next on March 24. This guy is a deep closer, for sure. But if he can figure how to get out of the starting gate just a tad quicker, he may be a longshot worth watching and betting. Seems to be improving with every stride right now.
  6. Parade Field, a 3YO son of Quality Road and trained by Neil Howard, is our newest addition to our “Horses to Watch” list. This one is not only by one of the top stallions in the world right now, but the dam, Special Guest, is by Smart Strike and was a Stakes-placed winner of $114,736. He was consigned to the 2017 Keeneland September Sale by Lane’s End Farm, but didn’t reach his reserve price at $90,000 and was retained by William Stamps Farish and Lazy F Ranch. The colt has run 5 times total, to date, and has not hit the board yet. But…He was a deep-closing fourth at the Fair Grounds on Feb. 16.  before that, he came from near last again to be fourth on Jan. 19. This morning, he worked 5 furlongs in 1:01 flat. That was the 2nd best time out of 9 to go the distance. Could it be that this one may want the turf? Stay tuned.
  7. Liora, a nice 3YO filly by Candy Ride and trained by Wayne Catalano, worked this morning at the Fair Grounds. She went 5 furlongs in 1:00.80 — which was the bullet move of the day. In her last out, she ran second to the super-fast Serengeti Empress in the G2 Rachel Alexandra Stakes in New Orleans. Before that, she was 4th in the Silverbulletday. Before that, though, she won the G2 Golden Rod Stakes at Churchill Downs. She is gearing up for the FG Oaks on March 24. Rematch with the Empress. Watch out.
  8. Manny Wah, a 3YO Will Take Charge colt trained by Catalano, ran 6th in the G2 Risen Star Stakes last time out and against War of Will. Before that, he was 3rd in the G3 LeComte Stakes in New Orleans. In 9 career starts, he has a 2-2-2 record. He worked this morning in the “Big Easy,” going a half mile in :49.60. That was 5th of 8 to go the distance. Don’t know yet if he will try War of Will again in the LA Derby, but that looks like a plausible plan.