(Authentic / Photo Courtesy of Santa Anita)

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. Shoplifted, a 3YO son of Into Mischief and trained by Steve Asmussen, worked at Belmont Park this morning. The colt — who has not won since finishing first in the Remington Springboard Mile last December — went 3 furlongs over the dirt training track in :38.75. That was the 25th best time out of 31 to go that distance. In the last three starts, Shoplifted — once a KY Derby contender — has finished 3rd in the Smarty Jones; 4th in the G3 Southwest Stakes; and 5th in the Oaklawn Stakes. Next?
  2. Major Fed, a 3YO son of Ghostzapper and trained by Greg Foley, worked at Churchill Downs this morning. This highly touted colt has faced some racing adversity in each of the last two races — which contributed mightily to his 4th place finish in the G2 Louisiana Derby and a rough 10th in the G3 Matt Winn. Jockey Joel Rosario has been the widest of the wides in both of those last two outings. Tough to swallow. The colt breezed a half mile in :49 flat this morning. That was the 5th best time out of 23 to go that far. It was his first published work in a month and the first since the last race debacle. World of talent here. Just needs a clean trip. Just once.
  3. Pneumatic, a talented 3YO son of Uncle Mo and also trained by Asmussen, worked at Churchill Downs this morning, too. This one — who has raced only 3 times so far in the career and has 2 wins and a third on the resume — breezed 4 furlongs in :51.60 in a pure, little leg-stretcher. Last time out, this one stepped up into Stakes company for the first time and ran a nice third in the G3 Matt Winn to Maxfield. If he takes another leap forward next outing? Could be KY Derby bound for the connections of the Winchell Thoroughbreds group.
  4. Basin, another KY Derby contender in the barn of Asmussen, worked this morning at Churchill Downs, too. Went 5 furlongs in 1:01.80. That was the 14th best time out of 21 to negotiate the distance. Last time out, this one ran 2nd to Charlatan in a division of the G1 Arkansas Derby. In 6 lifetime starts now, he has a 2-2-1 record. Only time off the board was a 4th in the Oaklawn Stakes. May be sitting on a big one next time out. It will be the 4th start since winning the G1 Hopeful Stakes at Saratoga last September.
  5. Rowdy Yates, a 3YO son of Morning Line and another trained by Asmussen, worked at Churchill Downs today. The Oklahoma-bred — who has won 5 races out of 9 starts — worked in tandem with Basin. Last time out, this one was 4th in the Samba Saudi Derby Cup. Before that, though, won the Riley Allison Derby at Sunland Park. If you can remember back this far, Rowdy Yates won the Ellis Park Juvenile Stakes last summer. Maybe, just maybe, he bounces out of the Ellis Park Derby this year — which is now a prep for the 2020 Kentucky Derby. That wold be fun.
  6. Midnight Bisou, the highly-accomplished 5YO mare by Midnight Lute and now being pointed to a showdown with old rival and nemesis Monomoy Girl, worked this morning under the Twin Spires for Team Asmussen. Went 6 furlongs in 1:12 flat. That was the bullet time out of just 2 to work the distance. In only start his year, the lady ran 2nd to Maximum Security in the Saudi Cup. More to come here. Stay tuned.
  7. Authentic, a 3YO son of Into Mischief and trained by Team Baffert, got his first published work since running second to Honor A.P. in the G1 Santa Anita Derby this morning at Santa Anita. The big horse in the Baffert barn now — what with the defection of Nadal and Charlatan (at least for now) — went 4 furlongs in :48.80. That was the 11th best time out of 28 to clock the distance. In 4 career starts to date, Authentic has 3 wins and a second. I look for a huge effort next time out. Needed the race in the SA Derby. Badly.