(War of Will before the 2019 KY Derby / Photo by Holly M. Smith)

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. Combatant, a 5YO ridgling and now in the barn of all-star trainer John Sadler, worked this morning at Santa Anita. The son of Scat Daddy — coming off a win in the G1 Santa Anita Handicap — went 6 furlongs in 1:14.20. That was the bullet move out of 2 to go the distance. Just think how good a purchase this one was back in November of 2019. When offered at the KEE Breeding Stock Sale, the new owners — led by agent David Ingordo — brought this one for $220,000. Since then, he ran 3rd in the G2 San Pasqual Stakes and won the G1 SA ‘Cap. Now, that’s a buy.
  2. Ollie’s Candy, a 5YO daughter of Candy Ride and a multiple Graded Stakes winner for the barn of Sadler, worked at Santa Anita this morning, as well. She went 5 furlongs in a brisk 1:00.60 — which was the 4th best time out of 21 to go the distance. In the 2020 debut, Ollie’s Candy ran 3rd in the G1 Beholder Mile at Santa Anita on March 14. In 11 career starts now, she has a 4-3-2 record and has won over $624,000 in purses. Last Graded Stakes win was the G1 Clement L. Hirsch Stakes at Del Mar last July. Classy gal here.
  3. Fore Left, a 3YO son of Twirling Candy and a 4-time winner for trainer Doug O’Neill, has returned from his win in the UAE Two Thousand Guineas on Feb. 6 and is back in training at Santa Anita. Got his first published move this morning since the return. Went 5 furlongs in 1:02.60. That was the 16th best time out of the 21. Be interesting to see where this one goes next. Still aways away.
  4. Bellafina, a 4YO daughter of Quality Raod and trained by Simon Callaghan, worked this morning at “The Great Race Place,” as well. The multiple Graded Stakes winner went a very nice half mile in :48 flat. That was the 9th best time out of 61 to negotiate that distance. It was the 6th published work this year, after she was returned to serious training. Last raced in the G1 La Brea Stakes on Dec. 28. Ran 2nd that day after a 2nd in the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint the race before.
  5. Dunbar Road, a 4YO daughter of Quality Road and trained by Chad Brown, got her 7th published work of the 2020 season this morning at the Palm Meadows Training Center. Went a half mile over the main dirt track in :49.45. That was the bullet move — catch that — out of 26 to go the distance. Has not raced since finishing 5th in the G1 Breeders’ Cup Distaff last time out. In 7 career starts, she has a record of 4-1-1 and has won nearly $700,000. More to come.
  6. War of Will, winner of the 2019 Preakness Stakes for trainer Mark Casse, worked this morning at the Palm Meadows Training Center this morning, too. The 4YO son of War Front went 5 furlongs over the turf course in a spectacular time of :57.65. That was the bullet move out of 6 to go the distance. Wow time. Be interesting to see if the barn puts this one back on the sod this year. Today’s move was the 6th published move since he started back on Feb. 25. Should be ready.
  7. Mr Freeze, a 5YO son of To Honor and Serve and trained by Dale Romans, worked at Gulfstream Park this morning. The horse — who may just be one of the best in training right now and winner of the G2 Gulfstream Park Mile Stakes last time out — went 5 furlongs in a maintenance move time of 1:02.28. That was 6th best of 9 to travel over the main dirt track. More in the tank here. Next?