(Bravazo works at Churchill Downs / Photo Courtesy of Churchill Downs)

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.

  1. In the Deep, a 3YO son of Pioneerof the Nile, may be one of the most interesting stories that show up on the work schedule today. This colt sold as a weanling in November of 2017 for a whopping $425,000 to Baccari Bloodstock. Just nine months after that, Baccari sold the colt at the Fast-Tipton August Sale at Saratoga for an impressive $650,000 to agent Steven Young. Just two months ago, after just one race where he finished 5th and beaten approximately 8 lengths at Churchill Downs in September, In the Deep was sold for a mere $20,000 to trainer Danny R. Caldwell. Wow. This morning, the colt got his 3rd published work out since the last sale. He breezed 3 furlongs at Oaklawn Park in :39 flat. That was the 6th best time out of 9 to score a time. I don’t know what this one will do, but I’m rooting like heck. Be fun to see this one return to his expected glory. Right?
  2. Bravazo, who just recently returned to the racing wars after a 10th month layup for trainer D. Wayne Lukas, worked this morning in Hot Springs, AR., as well. The 5YO son of Awesome Again — who ran 8th in the G1 Clark Stakes at Churchill Downs in late November after having run 4th in last year’s Pegasus World Cup — breezed 5 furlongs in 1:00.40. That was the 5th best time out of 40 to go the distance. It was the colt’s 3rd published work since the Clark. Appears now that the connections will skip this year’s Pegasus and aim for a more modest return effort at Oaklawn Park. Couldn’t agree more. Horse loves the track. Last time he raced over it was January 2018. Won an allowance that day, beating the likes of Ezmosh. Went on to win the G2 Risen Star Stakes immediately after that and embarked on a wonderful campaign that year — when he was 2nd in the Preakness Stakes; 2nd in the Haskell Invitational; 3rd in the Travers Stakes; 3rd in the Breeders’ Cup Mile; and 2nd in the G1 Clark. Here’s hoping a return to those Glory Days.
  3. Eclair, a 3YO daughter of Bernardini and trained by Bob Baffert, worked at Santa Anita on Monday. The filly — who cost $420,000 at a 2YO sale a year ago — worked 4 furlongs in a snappy :47.40. That was the 4th best time out of 37 to clock the distance. In her last outing, the filly jumped into the Stakes company for the first time and won the Golden Gate Debutante on Nov. 29. Came from off the pace to win that one by a neck over No Cover Charge. Don’t be overly shocked if this one were to end up at Turfway Park for the Bourbonette Stakes near the end of March. Showed a fondness for the all-weather already.
  4. Thousand Words, an undefeated 3YO son of Pioneerof the Nile and winner of the Los Alamitos Futurity in the last outing, worked at Santa Anita on Monday, as well. This one is owned in part by the Albaugh Family Stables and Spendthrift Farm — who joined forces to purchase this one at the KEE September Yearling Sale for a cool $1 million from the Brookdale Sales consignment. If things turn out this year, that may be a bargain price. Worked on Monday at Santa Anita. Went a half mile in an impressive :47.40. That was 4th best of 37 to clock the distance. Would it not be grand to see Dennis’ Moment and this one in a head-bobbing finish of this year’s KY Derby? As long as Dennis’ comes out on top, mind you. Both Thousand Words and Dennis’ Moment are at the top of our “Pressbox KY DERBY Rankings.” Both may be there for awhile, too. Stay tuned.