(Trainer Bob Baffert / 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. Philosophy, a 3YO son of Speightstown and trained by Mark Casse, has raced only one time since winning 2 out of 3 this winter at the Fair Grounds in New Orleans. After a 5-month break, the colt returned to run 5th in an allowance at Indy Grand on July 2. Got his 4th published work since that last race this morning at Churchill Downs, going a half mile in :49.40. That was the 12th best time out of 32 to work the distance. This one has been best on the turf. Look for more when he returns to the sod soon.
  2. Flameaway, winner of the Sam F. Davis Stakes and runner-up in the subsequent Tampa Bay Derby in 2018 for trainer Mark Casse, worked at Churchill Downs this morning, as well. The 4YO Scat Daddy colt went 5 furlongs in 1:01.20. That was the 4th best time out of 18 to go that far. in 18 career starts now, Flameaway has a record of 6-3-1 and has earned nearly $1 million in earnings. This year, he has only 1 win in 5 starts and has not been close in three starts since winning at Tampa Bay in March. Look for this one to return to the races soon. May be best spotted in a confidence-builder, if the connections can find one.
  3. Paradise Woods, a 4YO mare by Union Rags and trained by John Sheriffs now, was a huge disappointment in the G1 Clement L. Hirsch Stakes last out on July 28. Ran 4th, but was never, ever, ever a threat and looked to be very lackluster in performance. The connections didn’t take long to put her right back to work, with a breeze this morning at Del Mar. Went a half mile in a rather pedestrian :50.20. That was 341st out of 45 to go the distance. This one has a 4-3-3 mark in 16 lifetime starts, and has earned over $1 million in purses. But…
  4. Flor de La Mar, a 3YO filly trained by Team Baffert, worked this morning at Del Mar, as well. The daughter of Tiznow — who has a win and a second in 5 career starts — went 5 furlongs in 1:02.40. That was the 36th best time out of 47 to work the distance. The work before, though, she went a half mile in :46.80 — which was the bullet move out of 41. Looks ready. Time?
  5. Mucho Gusto, a 3YO son of Mucho Macho Man and once considered a challenger on the Road to the Triple Crown, worked this morning at Del Mar for trainer Bob Baffert. Went 5 furlongs in 1:00.80 — which was the 10th best time out of 47 to work over the San Diego dirt track. Last time out, Mucho Gusto ran 2nd in the G1 Haskell Invitational to Maximum Security. That was the first race in a month and since he won the G3 Affirmed Stakes at Santa Anita in mid-June. In 8 career starts, this one has a 5-2-1 mark and has won over $630,000. Talent there. Looks ready for another big effort.