(War of Will winning the G2 Risen Star Stakes at the Fair Grounds earlier this year / Photo by Holly M. Smith)

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. Liora, a 3YO Candy Ride filly trained by Wayne Catalano, is coming off two straight seconds in the G2 FG Oaks and the G2 Rachel Alexandra. Instead of opting for the G1 Ashland on Saturday, the barn went for a training exercise at Churchill Downs this morning. Went a half mile in :50.40. That was the 21st fastest time out of 35 to make the distance. This filly has a 2-2-1 record in 7 career starts and has earnings in excess of $302,000. Not bad for a filly that sold for $175,000 at the 2017 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. Don’t be surprised if this one tackles the “big time” next out.
  2. She’s a Julie, a 4YO Elusive Quality mare trained by Steve Asmussen, is coming off an impressive win in the G3 Bayakoa Stakes at Oaklawn Park on Feb. 18. She was back in training at Churchill Downs this morning, going 5 furlongs in 1:01.60. That was the 6th best time out of 8 to go that far. In 12 lifetime starts to date, the mare has a record of 5-2-1 and earnings over $580,000. Ran second in the G2 Alabama Stakes at Saratoga last summer. Some kick in this one.
  3. Concrete Rose, a 3YO Twirling Candy filly trained by Rusty Arnold, worked a half mile over the dirt track at Keeneland this morning. She went the distance in :50.60 — which was 46th best out of 63 to go that far. But it was a purse maintenance move. Last time out, on March 9, she won the tough-as-nails G3 Florida Oaks in her 2019 debut. In 4 career starts, she has 3 wins. The only miss was an 8th in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf. Toss race. Watch for this one next out. Looks primed.
  4. Funny Duck, upset winner of the G3 Pat Day Mile last Derby Day, was back on the track this morning at Keeneland for the barn of Rusty Arnold. He went a half mile in :48.80 — which was the 16th best time out of 63. This one has not hit the board since that mud-bath win last year on Derby Day, but is looking to make a comeback in 2019. Today’s work was the 5th published exercise since Feb. 14. Should be getting close to the ’19 debut soon.
  5. Rushing Fall, the 4YO More Than Ready filly who has 6 wins and 1 second in 7 career starts and was last seen winning the G1 Queen Elizabeth Challenge Cup at Keeneland last October, worked in Lexington on Saturday. She got her 9th published work for trainer Chad Brown since Feb. 10, going a half mile over the dirt track in :49.60. That was 67th best out of the 109 to go that far. But this grass expert looks ready. Primed. Alert.
  6. War of Will, the 3YO son of War Front and a definite KY Derby contender until his misstep in the LA Derby last out, worked at Keeneland on Saturday, too. The colt, who was 3-for-3 on dirt until the LA Derby, went a half mile in :48.80. That was 34th best of 109 to go. Appears that he may be back and ready to take on the others in the “Run for the Roses.” We will get to Lexington to ask more on Tuesday. Fingers crossed. Good one here. Great? Maybe.
  7. Rowayton, a 3YO son of Into Mischief and trained by Jerry Hollendorfer, worked at Los Alamitos this morning. This one — who ran 2nd in the Del Mar Futurity to Game Winner and was 3rd in the G1 American Pharoah to Game Winner and the ill-fated Gunmetal Gray — went a brisk 5 furlongs in :58.20. That was the bullet move out of 11 to go the distance. Don’t know yet where this one may show up next, but do NOT forget about him. Talented.
  8. Galilean, third in a division of the G2 Rebel Stakes last time out and a whirlwind Cal-bred trained by Hollendorfer, also worked over at Los Alamitos this morning in preparation for the Arkansas Derby this week. Went 6 furlongs in 1:14.60 — which was the third fastest time out of 3 to go that far. This son of Uncle Mo ran very well when facing open company for the first time in the Rebel. Has to step up his game to earn a spot in Louisville. But capable.