(Maximum Security before this year’s KY Derby / 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. Hog Creek Hustle, a 3YO son of Overanalyze and trained by Vickie Foley, has not made the starting gate since his upset victory in the G1 Woody Stephens Stakes at Belmont Park on June 8. Got his 3rd published work since July 7 today, though, and went 5 furlongs in 1:01 flat. That was the 2nd best time out of 9 to work the distance. This one should be able to return to the races soon.
  2. Straight Shot, a 3YO son of Trappe Shot and trained by Ian Wilkes, is coming off a nice 2nd place finish in an allowance event at Ellis Park on July 5. In 4 lifetime starts now, he has a win, a second, and a third. Homebred of Whitham Thoroughbreds worked this morning at Churchill Downs, going 5 furlongs in 1:00.40. That was the bullet move out of 9 to go the distance. Looks to be developing nicely.
  3. Maximum Security, the troubled 3YO son of New Year’s Day and trained by Jason Servis, worked this morning at his summer home — Monmouth Park. Went an easy half mile in the interesting time of :54 flat. This work was similar to the half-mile he turned in on July 15, when he went a half mile in :53.40. Today’s work was 13th fastest of 13. As everyone knows by now, Maximum Security was DQ’d from the Kentucky Derby, and I would argue that he should have been DQ’d from the win in the G1 Haskell Stakes last time out, too. Be interesting to see if he shows up at the G1 Travers Stakes to face Gary and Mary West’s “other” 3YO star — Game Winner. Let’s go. Maybe you can offer the $4 million challenge to yourself!
  4. Combative, a 3YO son of Violence and trained by Mark Casse for owner John Oxley, has raced only twice in the career so far — but has not been out since October of 2018. Working his way back to you now, though, and got his 5th published work since June 15 this morning at Woodbine. Went a nice 5 furlongs in 1:01.20. That was 4th best of 13. Look for this one to show up soon — and be ready to go.