(Built / Hodges Photography & Courtesy of the Fair Grounds)

(Muhimma / Photo by Holly M. Smith)

Here’s a look at today’s work crew:

  1. Muhimma: This 3YO filly may be headed to the Kentucky Oaks on the first Friday in May. After winning the first 3 starts of the career, including two at Churchill Downs and the G2 Demoiselle Stakes, this daughter of Munnings started the ’25 season with a 3rd in the G3 Honeybee Stakes at Oaklawn Park. Was floated wide in that affair and never able to get up to the Ortiz brothers on Quietside and Five G. But this gal was the odds-on favorite and not a bad effort off the layoff. Returned to the track today and breezed a half-mile in :49.20 for trainer Brad Cox at the Fair Grounds. That was the 48th best time out of 111 to go the distance. Keep an eye on e this one.
  2. Built: This 3YO son of Hard Spun has a couple of very respectable showings so far at the current Fair Grounds meet. Ran 2nd in the G3 Lecomte and returned to be 3rd in the G2 Risen Star Stakes. Looks pointed to the G2 Louisiana Derby now for trainer Wayne Catalano. Breezed an easy half-mile today in :49.20 in New Orleans. That was the 20th best time out of 54. Has to get better to make the grade in the 151st Kentucky Derby. But has another shot to prove it.
  3. Vassimo: This 3YO son of Nyquist is trained by HOFer Todd Pletcher and the colt is coming off a 4th place finish in the G2 Risen Star and just behind Built. That was the first defeat for this February foal. Worked today at the Palm Beach Downs training center in South Florida. Went an easy half-mile in :50.33. That was the 9th best time out of 12 to go the distance. The question now is where does this one go next? Does Pletcher keep this one on the Derby Trail? If so, does he return to the Fair Grounds or maybe show up in either Lexington or Hot Springs. Choices to be made.
  4. Gaming: Trainer Bob Baffert had this 3YO son of Game Winner on the track early this morning at Santa Anita. Went 6 furlongs in 1:12.60, which was the bullet move out of the first 2 to cover the distance on the dirt track. It will be interesting to see where this one shows up next. Ran poorly to be 8th in the G3 Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn Park on Jan. 25. But this one has credentials. Lots of them. Was 3rd in the Los Alamitos Futurity behind Journalism, and we know how that one did last weekend. Was 2nd to Citizen Bull in the Beeders’ Cup Juvenile, too. And, this one won the Del Mar Futurity last September. So? Does he return to the Santa Anita Derby? Choics to be made.