Here are some notable notes from the world of workouts and the entry boxes around the country:

  1. Cheekaboo, a Graded Stakes winner who ran fifth in the Fran’s Valentine Stakes at Santa Anita on May 21, was entered and now has been subsequently scratched from an Allowance-Optional Claimer at Del Mar on July 19.  She worked 3Fs on Sunday in a slow :39.80, which was the slowest of 11 to go that distance.  Previously, she had recorded five works in June and July with an impressive 5F move on July 5 at Santa Anita, covering the distance in 1:00.60.  it will be interesting to watch and see where trainer Peter Eurton points the California-bred filly by Unusual Heat next, for the connections of Joe Ciaglia and partners.
  2. Bound for Nowhere, who ran fourth in the Group 1 Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot on June 23 for owner/trainer Wesley Ward, was back on the track this morning, working over the grass course at Keeneland.  The 3YO son of The Factor, who won his first two career starts earlier this year over the synthetic at Turfway Park and then by 41/4 lengths going just 51/2Fs at Keeneland in April, covered 4F today in :52 flat in his first public work since the trip across the pond.  Bound for Nowhere was bred by Wayne Lyster and his two sons, Gray and Bryan, at Ashview Farm.  They sold him as a yearling to Cromwell Bloodstock for a healthy $310,000 at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale in 2015.  Bound for Nowhere is out of the Alydeed mare Fancy Deed, whom the Lysters purchased in the Keeneland November Bloodstock Sale for a mere $15,000, while in foal to Afleet Alex. Good purchase.
  3. Camino de Estrella, a homebred son of Mineshaft who was bred and still owned by George Krikorian, had a solid work at Del Mar this morning, going 4F in :49.80 for trainer Tim Yakteen.  Just six days before, the colt worked a brilliant 5F from the gate in 1:00 flat at Santa Anita.  Although this one has not raced since Jan. 16, this maiden looks to be getting razor sharp for a possible start at Del Mar very soon.  Camino de Estrella is winless in five starts to date, but he has recorded a second, two thirds and a fourth.  The only time he wasn’t close at the finish was his only try on the grass at Del Mar last November when he was defeated by Colonel Samsen (owned in part by KY Downs owner Corey Johnsen and Bill Casner).  In three of his other races he was beaten by the likes of Term of Art, Sonneteer, and the ill-fated, but fantastic Gormley.  In the race in January, Camino de Estrella was nipped by a horse that some considered a superstar in the making — Dabster, trained by Bob Baffert.  Watch out for the imminent return to the races of Camino de Estrella.