(Track Phantom / Photos by Holly M. Smith)

Here’s a glance at today’s work tab around the country, and who caught our eye — though the binoculars:

  1. Magnitude: This 3YO son of Not This Time worked this morning at the Fair Grounds in New Orleans in final preparation for this Saturday’s upcoming Lecomte Stakes. Went a half-mile in an easy :50.20, which was the bullet move out of 5 to go that distance. This one, who has two wins and a runner-up in 5 career starts, is coming in off a solid 2nd in the Gun Runner Stakes here on Dec. 21. Before that, he won an allowance at Churchill Downs. Look for more out of this one. Coming on.
  2. Track Phantom: This 4YO son of Quality Road worked this morning in New Orleans, as well. Went 4 furlongs in :50.60. That was the 3rd best time out of the 5 to negotiate the distance. This one has raced 10 times and has sparked a record of 3-3-1, so far. He is entered in the G3 Louisiana Stakes this coming Saturday for trainer Steve Asmussen. Coming off a 4th place finish in the Tenacious Stakes over the same track on Dec. 21.
  3. Atone: The “old man” is now an 8YO gelding by Into Mischief for trainer Mike Maker. He has made 36 career starts with a record of 7-5-6, and has won over $1.456 million in the career. Lat time out, he was 6th in a handicap affair at Kentucky Downs last September. Last win came in 2023 when he won the G1 Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes at Gulfstream. Will he make that race again? Worked this morn at Gulfstream Park. Went  5 furlongs over the main dirt track in 1:03.31. That was the 4th best out of 4 to go the distance.
  4. Rolando: This is a 3YO son of Vekoma, and he bears watching in the string of Kentucky Derby prep races scheduled for South Florida and Gulfstream Park this year. The homebred for St. George Stable has run three times so far. Has a 1-1-1 record. Coming off a 2nd to Cool Intentions on Dec. 7 going 7 furlongs on the dirt. Made all the speed in that race and the fractions simply caught up with him. Worked brilliantly against this morning, but distance still may be an issue. Worked 4 furlongs in :47.45 over the dirt. That was the bullet time out of 7 to go that far. Will be interesting to see where trainer Fausto Gutierrez will point this one next.
  5. Emergence: This is a 3YO son of Uncle Mo, and this one bears watching for the first career start — which should be coming soon. Watch Alert. Got his 9th work this morning at Payson Park Training Center in South Florida. Went 5 furlongs in 1:02.60, while breezing from the gate. This is the only one to go the distance. Qatar Racing purchased this guy at the 2023 Keeneland September Yearling Sale from Lane’s End for $475,000. Has proceeded cautiously with this one, but looks about ready. Keep an eye here.
  6. Heavenly Sunset: This 3YO daughter of Constitution is another that fits on the Watch Alert list. Purchased by Fergus Galvin for a whopping $850,000 at the 2023 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. Starting serious works at Payson Park in early December. Got her 5th straight work this morning and produced a nice :49 flat for 4 furlongs, while popping out of the gate. That was the 3rd best time out of 12 to go that far. Keep an eye on this on. Mother was a Graded Stakes winner for St. George Stables. Earned nearly $300,000 in the career.
  7. Getaway Car: This is a 2YO son of Curlin, and his trained by Bob Baffert. Just ran 2nd in the G2 Los Alamitos Futurity to Journalism. Lost by 31/2 lengths in that one, when Getaway’s stablemate — Gaming — was smoked by another 3 lengths. In 6 lifetime starts so far, this one has a 2-2-0 mark. Went 4 furlongs this morning in :48.40. That was the 15th best time out of 114 to go the distance. Still worth tracking this one.
  8. Mellencamp: A 3YO son of Constitution and another one trained by Baffert, is coming off a 5th place finish in the Los Alamitos Futurity. This one is still a maiden and may find his way back into the non-winners company soon. Connections paid a whopping $775,000 for this one. Worked 5 furlongs in 1:00 flat today. That was 8th best of 60.