(Instagrand winning the Best Pal Stakes at Del Mar last August / Photo Courtesy of Del Mar)

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.  We will keep a keen eye and stopwatch to see who may be working well:

  1. Gun It, a highly-touted 3YO son of Tapit trained by Steve Asmussen for the ownership team of Whisper Hill Farm and Three Chimneys Farm, worked this morning at the Fair Grounds in New Orleans. The colt breezed a half-mile in :51.80, which was the 49th best time out of 53 to go the distance. In 4 career starts, this one has a win and a third. But he only beat two in the G2 Risen Star Stakes here on Feb. 16. Flashed speed in the early going, but spit the bit  when the real running started. Be interesting to see where the connections spot him next. After all, the connections spent a hefty $2.6 million to purchase him at the 2017 Keeneland September Sale.
  2. Limonite, a 3YO son of Lemon Drop Kid and also trained by Asmussen, worked this morning in Cajun Country, as well. He went an easy half, too, going the distance in :52.40. That was 51st out of the 53. In 5 career starts, he has a 1-1-2 record, and the only time he was off the board was in the last out — when he was 5th in the G2 Risen Star. This guy ran much, much better than his stablemate, though. Closed from near last to be 5th, and was steadied at the 3/16th mark. Will want the extra distance that is sure to come, and I would not count this one out of any fray just yet. Louisiana Derby?
  3. Nitrous, another talented 3YO in the barn of Asmussen, worked this morning at the Fair Grounds. He went a half in :50.40. That was 40th best. This son of Tapit has not been out since he won the Riley Allison Derby at Sunland Park on Jan. 27. In 6 lifetime tries, he now as a 2-1-1 record, and looks like one that may be pointed to the Mine That Bird and the Sunland Derby for the barn. Today was his third published work since the win. What’s next?
  4. Winter Sunset, a brilliant 3YO turf specialist by Tapit, worked this morning at the Fair Grounds. In two lifetime starts to date, this beautiful thing trained by Wayne Catalano has dashed to the line first each time. Impressively. Strongly. Today, she went 5 furlongs in 1:00 flat. That was the bullet move out of 18 to go that far. Watch for her next run. She is dazzling.
  5. Newspaperofrecord, the undefeated 3YO filly by Lope De Vega and trained by Chad Brown, worked this morning at the Palm Meadows Training Center in South Florida. The filly — who has won the G2 Miss Grillo Stakes and the G1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf — went 3 furlongs in :36 flat. That was the 2nd best time out of 3 to go, and it was her first published work since the impressive win in the Breeders’ Cup. More to come.
  6. Dunph, the Temple City colt who ran 11th in the G2 Risen Star Stakes in his 2019 debut for trainer Mike Maker, was back in action this morning at Palm Meadows. This 3YO gelding went 4 furlongs over the turf in :48.20. That was the 7th best time out of 13 to go the distance. Notice the surface change this a.m. Interesting development. Pedigree suggests.
  7. Avie’s Flatter, a 3YO Flatter colt trained by Josie Carroll, may be one to watch. This guy has 3 wins in 4 lifetime starts, with a 4th in the G1 Summer Stakes at Woodbine. Is proven over the all-weather surface, for sure, but now may try the dirt while in Florida. Worked 5 furlongs in 1:00.80 this morning, which was the 2nd fastest of 8 at the Palm Meadows Training Center. That was over the dirt track. Be interesting to see where he shows up, right?
  8. Dessman, a 3YO son of Union Rags and trained by Bob Baffert, got in a much-needed work this morning at Santa Anita. He is entered in an allowance event here on March 1, and is coming off a nice second in the G2 San Vicente Stakes here on Feb. 10. Went a half mile today in :48.80, which was 13th of 37 to make the distance. Victor Espinoza gets the mount. Hoping for the best for both of them in here.
  9. Galilean, a 3YO son of Uncle Mo and a talent on the quick rise, worked this morning at Santa Anita, as well. This guy — who has 3 wins and a second in 4 career starts — went the half in a blistering :47.40. That was 3rd best time out of the group. He is coming off a huge, impressive, catapulting win in the California Cup here on Feb. 18. Interesting to see where he comes back. Has faced only Cal-bred so far. Competition is about to step it up.
  10. Qahira, a 3YO Cairo Prince filly trained by Team Baffert, worked this morning at “The Great Race Place,” too. She went a half-mile in :49.20. That was 26th best. Looking to improve on her 5th place finish here last time out, when facing allowance company and winners for the first time. Look for her to improve.
  11. Rowayton, a 3YO Into Mischief colt trained by Jerry Hollendorfer, has not missed the board in any of the first 3 career starts. Won on debut. Ran second in the G1 Del Mar Futurity. Ran third in the G1 American Pharoah. All last year. Got his 4th published work since Jan. 27 today. Went 5 furlongs in :59.40. That was the bullet move. This one may have gotten lost in the shuffle. But I am going to put on my radar — starting right now.
  12. Improbable, the undefeated son of City Zip and trained by Baffert, got in a hugely important work at Santa Anita this morning. In what may have been his most important effort towards the G2 San Felipe Stakes, the colt went 6 furlongs in 1:12 flat. That was the bullet move out of 9 to go the distance. This one looks to be peaking at just the right time to launch his 2019 campaign. Don’t have to remind you. These connections mean business when it comes to the KY Derby.
  13. Game Winner, the 2YO Champ and also undefeated winner of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, went 6 furlongs from the gate. He clocked the time in 1:13.60 — which was the 3rd best time of the day. Barn is absolutely loaded for this year’s run at the Triple Crown. This one is the first in the chamber. Has to be. At least for now. At least until someone beats him.
  14. Instagrand, the 3YO colt by Into Mischief and trained by Hollendorfer, worked 7 furlongs on Monday. This one was the talk of the 2YO crop when he launched a perfect 2-for-2 run to start the career. He was put on the shelf after that to “save” him for this year’s run for the Triple Crown. He got his 9th published work since Dec. 30 today, going 7 furlongs in 1:26.60. That was the second best time of the day out of 2 to go that far. He looks ready. He will need to be. The San Felipe is shaping up as one heckuva race.