(Basin winning the G1 Hopeful Stakes / Photo Courtesy of NYRA)

(Trainer Brad Cox conditions Wells Bayou / Photo by Holly M. Smith)

(Morticia wins at Keeneland / 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.

  1. Basin, a 3YO son of Liam’s Map and trained by Steve Asmussen, worked this morning at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, ARK. This one returned from a 6-month layup and a win in the G1 Hopeful Stakes last September at Saratoga to recently run 3rd in a highly-competitive field in the G2 Rebel Stakes. A nice performance considering that he had been away so long and was facing the likes of Nadal. Worked this morning. Went 4 furlongs in a leisurely :50.40. That was the 23rd best time out of 37. Gearing back up for the Arkansas Derby the first Saturday in May. Watch out here.
  2. Comical, a 3YO daughter of Into Mischief and another in the barn of Team Asmussen, worked at Oaklawn Park this morning, as well. This one — who won the G3 Schuylerville Stakes at Saratoga last summer and was 2nd in the G1 Chandelier Stakes at Santa Anita last September — went an easier half mile. She covered the 4 furlongs in :52.60 — which was the 37th best time. Last time out was on March 28. She ran 2nd in an allowance event at Oaklawn. Look for this one to be ready next time out. It will be the 3rd try off the layoff.
  3. Gold Street, a 3YO son of Street Boss and a monster on sloppy going, worked at Oaklawn Park for Team Asmussen this morning, too. The colt — who won the Smarty Jones Stakes here on opening day over a sloppy track for his 3rd win in a row before finishing a disappointing 9th in the G3 Southwest Stakes last time out — went 4 furlongs in :49.60. That was the 16th best time out of the 37. This speedster is perfect over an “off track” and now has a 3-2-0 record in the first 7 starts.
  4. Shoplifted, a 3YO son of Into Mischief and yet another from the Asmussen barn, worked 4 furlongs in a maintenance move mode, too. Went the distance in :50.60. That was 27th best. Since winning the Remington Springboard Mile last December, he has returned to run 3rd in the Smarty Jones and 4th in the G3 Southwest Stakes. Not sure he can hang with the echelon, but he is capable of running close. Be interesting to see if he goes in the Arkansas Derby. And, if so, how he does. Could be a play underneath.
  5. Wells Bayou, a 3YO son of Lookin at Lucky and trained by Brad Cox, now resides at Oaklawn Park, too. The Louisiana Derby winner worked a half mile this morning, going the distance in a time of :49.80 over the main dirt track. That was the 19th best time out of the group. In 5 career starts now, he has 3 wins and a second. Before the LA Derby, he ran 2nd in the Southwest Stakes here to Silver Prospector (another Asmussen contender). Look for this one to be in the Arkansas Derby. Look for this one to be a serious threat.
  6. Morticia, a 6YO daughter of Twirling Candy and now a millionaire earner for trainer Rusty Arnold, was scheduled to go to the breeding shed after another successful 2019 season. In her last two starts, she won the Ladies Sprint Stakes at KY Downs and ran 2nd in the Franklin County Stakes at Keeneland. But guess what? She showed up today on the work tab at Palm Meadows Training Center in South Florida. It was her 8th published work since Feb. 10. Wow. She went 4 furlongs over the turf course in a time of :49.40. That was the 7th best time out of 27 to cover the ground. Be fun to see this gal back in competition. She is game as the day is long. Love her.

On Sunday, April 5:

  1. Bellafina, a 4YO daughter of Quality Road and a multiple Graded Stakes winner for trainer Simon Callaghan, worked at Santa Anita. She has not run since finishing 2nd in both the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint and in the G1 La Brea Stakes last November and December. But she got her 5th published work since being returned to serious training in February. Went 4 furlongs on Sunday in :48.40. That was 15th best out of 69 to clock the distance. Be fun to see this classy lady back in the afternoons.
  2. Honor A.P., a 3YO son of Honor Code and perhaps one of the best colts of this generation, worked at Santa Anita on Sunday for trainer John Shirreffs. Went 4 furlongs in :49 flat. That was the 26th best time. Last time out, this one came off a 5-month layup to run 2nd to Authentic in the G2 San Felipe Stakes. Was beaten only 21/4 lengths, too, while rallying from near the back. Talent. Take notice.
  3. Charlatan, an undefeated 3YO son of Speightstown and one of the “Baffert Bunch” this year, worked on Sunday, as well. The ultra-talented speed merchant went 6 furlongs in 1:12.60. That was the 2nd best time out of 8 to clock the distance. Look for more out of this one soon. If they don’t return to live racing at Santa Anita, look for he and others to ship in for the Arkansas Derby. Sitting on go.
  4. Nadal, another undefeated 3YO for the “Baffert Bunch” and a son of Blame, worked 6 furlongs, too, on Sunday. The winner of the Rebel Stakes last time out clocked his work in a time of 1:11.60. That was the bullet move of the day. This one has already made the trip to Arkansas successfully. Could do it again. We shall see.