3-23-2019 By My Standards, with Gabriel Saez aboard, pulls to the lead in the 106th running of the Grade II $1,000,000 Louisiana Derby at the Fair Grounds in New Orleans. Hodges Photography / Amanda Hodges Weir

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. By My Standards, a 3YO Goldencents colt trained by W. Bret Calhoun, is coming off a huge win in the Louisiana Derby. In 5 career starts now, he has a 2-2-1 record and now is being pointed to the 145th Kentucky Derby on the First Saturday in May. Got his first published workout since the big win, going a nice half mile in :48.40 at Churchill Downs this morning. That was 7th best of 28 to go that far early on. Improving type.
  2. Qurbaan, a 6YO son of Speightstown trained by Kiaran McLaughlin, won the G2 Bernard Baruch Handicap last September at Saratoga and has not missed the board since then. Last ran a nice third in the G3 Tampa Bay Stakes on Feb. 9. Worked this morning at the Palm Meadows Training Center in South Florida. The horse, owned by Shadwell, went a half mile in :49 flat. That was the 2nd fastest time out of 12 to go that far. Looks ready and primed.
  3. Moonlight Romance, a 3YO Liaison filly trained by Wesley Ward, trained this morning at Keeneland. The filly went 5 furlongs in 1:01.20 over the dirt track and that was the 11th fastest time out of 30 to go that far. This one has not been out since running a disappointing 12th in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint. Before that, though, she won the KY Downs Juvenile Turf Sprint in September. Looks about ready to fire again soon.
  4. Noble Commander, a 4YO Forestry colt trained by Mark Casse, worked at Keeneland this morning, as well. This one — who won the Woodchopper Stakes at the Fair Grounds in his last outing on Dec. 29 — went 5 furlongs in a brisk 1:00.20. That was the 2nd fastest time out of 30 to go the distance. It was his 8th published work since the last race. Ready. Aim.
  5. Jehozacat, a 4YO Tapit filly trained by Arnaud Delacour for Roy and Gretchen Jackson, worked this morning at Tampa Bay Downs. The talented filly — who has built a 3-1-0 record in 9 career starts and won her return to the races on March 13 at Tampa — went 5 furlongs over the dirt track in 1:02.40. That was 8th best of 13. This one is not Stakes placed yet, but they are hunting for some black type soon. This filly is out of he Catienus mare Precious Kitten — who was a multiple Graded Stakes winner. She won the G1 Gamely Stakes; the G1 Matriarch Stakes; the G2 Palomar Stakes and the G1 John C. Mabee — among many. She ended her race career with nearly $2 million in earnings. Watch out here.
  6. Anothertwistafate, a 3YO colt who ran a huge second in the Sunland Derby, validated his newest form this morning. The colt breezed a half mile in :46.80 over a fast dirt track in the desert, and showed off his style, yet again. This one is fast improving and should move up your sliding scale on the “Road to the KY Derby.”