(Bella Ballerina / Photos by Holly M. Smith)

We are bringing back an “oldie,” but a damn “goodie” with a look each day at some of the best works at racetracks around the country. Some are getting their games and acts together for some major Stakes events leading up to the 152nd Kentucky Derby, on that legendary first Saturday in May. Others may be worthing watching as they gear up for the races, in their early stages of development.

Take a gander. May be worth it come handicapping time:

  1. Kinetic: This 5YO son of Street Sense is still owned by the breeder, Godolphin, LLC., and trained by the highly-successful conditioner, Brad Cox. Has 4 wins and a 2nd in 8 career starts. Coming off a 4th place finish in the Queens County Stakes at Aqueduct on Dec. 27. That was first start in nearly 9 months. Blew out this morning, going 4 furlongs in :49.51 at Belmont Park. Is now entered in an allowance event at Aqueduct on Jan. 28, if the weather permits. Keep an eye on this one. This was the third work since that first race back. Looks to be honing in on a good one.
  2. Ottinho: This is a 3YO Quality Road colt who is a homebred for Three Chimneys Farm, near Midway, KY, and is trained by Chad Brown. This is the newest entrant to The Pressbox Watch Team. This guy broke his maiden in just the 2nd career start and did it nicely on the dirt going 11/8th miles at Aqueduct. That was on New Year’s Eve. Held on to win by a head, with Flavien Prat in the irons, but was up by nearly 3 in the stretch. This guy tuned up for the next outing with a half-mile breeze at Belmont Park today. Went the distance in a snappy :48.77. That was the 16th best time out of 182 to go that distance. Take note.
  3. Hey Bertie: A just-turned 4YO filly by Kantharos and trained by the highly-talented Cherrie DeVaux for owner Klein Racing. This one has raced just 4 times so far, but has 2 wins and a 2nd. Last time out, she ran a very troubled 5th in the Soaring Softly Stakes at Saratoga back in June of ’25. That race was taken off the turf and this gal stumbled badly at the beginning. So badly, in fact, that jockey Javier Castellano nearly lost his perch. Got her 7th work since being returned to serious training in New Orleans in mid-December. She went a nice half-mile today in :47.80. That was the 4th best time out of 107 to go the distance. Take note. She is ready.
  4. Liberty National: This 3YO son of the great Gun Runner just ran 2nd in the, guess what? Yep. The Gun Runner Stakes at the Fair Grounds. Was beaten by Chip Honcho by less than a length and this guy was “come running” at the wire. It was Liberty National’s first race since breaking the MSW at Churchill Downs on Nov. 29. That race was a two-turn dirt event, as well. He won that day in Louisville by over 4 lengths. Wow performance. This morning, Liberty National went back to work, going 4 furlongs in :49 flat. That was the 25th best outing of the bunch. Looks to be improving at the right time of the year. KY Derby contender for trainer Ken McPeek? Stay tuned.
  5. Spitfire: This 3YO McKinzie filly sold for only $60,000 as a weanling at the KEE November Breeding Stock Sale in 2024. Since then, her stock has been rising. She broke the MSW in the 2nd career start at Saratoga in July and then was 2nd in the Sorority Stakes at Monmouth Park last August. Finished up the ’25 campaign with a disappointing 8th in the Selima Stakes at Laurel Park. But she had a horrendous trip that day with Christopher Elliott in the irons. Awful trip. OMG. Go watch the video. Just a terrible trip. Now, she’s on the comeback trail and bears watching. She breezed a half mile in a sizzling :47.60 this morning at the Fair Grounds. That was the 3rd best time out of the 107 to go that distance today. Hmmm.
  6. Universe: This 3YO son of Global Campaign doesn’t have a shiny pedigree, but the back-to-back 2nds in the G3 Street Sense and the G2 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes last Fall at Churchill Downs certainly caught some eyes. Started this year with a disappointing 7th in the Smarty Jones Stakes over at Oaklawn Park on Jan. 3. But this guy was last out of the gate that day and never materialized a worthwhile effort after that. Puzzling. Was back on the work tab at the Fair Grounds this morning for the first time since that baffling effort. Went a half-mile in :49 flat. That was 25th best out of the 107 to go. I think the last effort is a complete toss, and you give this guy another shot. After all, hue ran 3rd to Napoleon Solo in the G1 Champagne; a hard-fought 2nd to the ultra impressive Further Ado in the Kentucky Jockey Club; and a tough 2nd to Incredibolt in the Street Sense. Has game. Can he now find it again?
  7. Bella Ballerina: This undefeated 3YO heads into the ’26 Spring Season as one of the leading contenders for this year’s KY Oaks. In the first two starts of the career, she won a MSW event at Keeneland by over 4 lengths and came right back to win the G2 Golden Rod Stakes the next out by a 1/2-length over a stellar field of rivals. Been off since last Fall, but got her 4th published work since being returned to serious training here in New Orleans on Jan. 3. Went 5 furlongs today in 1:01. Flat. That was the 4th best time out of 21 to challenge the panels.  Like this one. A lot. Eyes and binoculars are squarely focused right here.