(Dream Maker cruised to an easy victory at the Fair Grounds earlier this year / Hodges Photography & Courtesy of the Fair Grounds)

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. Improbable, a 3YO City Zip colt who ran 2nd in a division of the Rebel Stakes to begin the 2019 season, worked this morning at Santa Anita. He colt went 6 furlongs in 1:12.80, which was the bullet move out of 12 to make that distance. It will be interesting to see how much improvement he can make when he returns to the Hot Springs for the Arkansas Derby. Coming off his first beat, as in ever.
  2. Sparky Ville, 3YO colt by Candy Ride and winner of the San Vicente Stakes in the last out, has not been out in the afternoon since the race back on Feb. 10. Got this 6th published work since that win today, going a half mile at Santa Anita in :49.80. That was 5th best out of the 10. Trainer Jeff Bonde has to find a race for him soon to stick to the Triple Crown Road, and the question will be whether that is at home, in the Santa Anita Derby, or another one the last major preps. Interesting to see which one he will pick.
  3. Mr. Ankeny, a possible contender for the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes on the opening weekend of Keeneland, worked this morning at Gulfstream Park. This 3YO son of Into Mischief — who is coming off two straight 6th place finishes — went 5 furlongs in 1:03.48 over the fast dirt surface. That was the 43rd best time out of 59 to go that far. It will be interesting to see when trainer Dale Romans switches him North.
  4. Signalman, runner-up in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and the Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity, now figures to be one of the major contenders for the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes for trainer Ken McPeek. He worked at Gulfstream Park this morning in his last major prep, going 5 furlongs in :59.84. That was the bullet move out of the 59. Despite the 7th in the Fountain of Youth to start the year, this son of General Quarters looks razor sharp now. Look for improvement next week.
  5. Bizwhacks, another name being tossed about as a possible for the G1 Ashland Stakes, worked at Keeneland this morning. The 3YO daughter of Fed Biz, and third place finisher in the Honeybee Stakes at Oaklawn Park in her last out, went 6 furlongs in 1:13 flat this morning. That was the bullet move out of 2 to work the distance. Looks ready.
  6. Dream Maker, a contender for the Blue Grass at Keeneland, worked this morning in Lexington, as well. The 3YO son of Tapit, trained by Mark Casse, breezed a half mile in a sparkling :46 flat. Wow time. It was the bullet move out of 48 to go the distance. This guy is a whirlwind some days. And, other days? Had a spectacular win at the Fair Grounds, and then disappointed in the Tampa Bay, finishing a well-beaten 10th. I look for more at Keeneland. Talent is there. Race is in there somewhere.
  7. Admire, another trained by Dale Romans and another that may be pointed to the Blue Grass, worked at Gulfstream Park this morning. Went 5 furlongs in 1:01.13 — which was the 13th best time out of the 59 to go the distance. Needs to improve dramatically off the 7th in the Tampa Bay Derby and the 5th in the Withers Stakes, but has the connections to move up. Need to see.
  8. Restless Rider, a 3YO filly trained by Ken McPeek and a prime contender for the Ashland Stakes, got her last prep at Gulfstream Park this morning. She went 5 furlongs in :59.84 — which was the bullet move out of 59 to go that far. This filly is brilliant. Won the G1 Alcibiades Stakes at Keeneland last Fall before running second in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies to Jaywalk. Do not be surprised by this one. Talent.
  9. Our Braintrust, a 3YO Freud colt and trained by Mark Casse, was no factor in the Rebel Stakes in the last out. But, before that, he was a nice third in the Withers Stakes at Aqueduct. Now, he will get another shot in the Blue Grass Stakes next weekend. He prepped for that one with a work at Keeneland today, going a half mile in :48 flat. That was 3rd best of 31. Looks ready for his best. Is his best good enough? We shall see.
  10. Hoffa’s Union, a 3YO Union Rags gelding and another possible starter in what promises to be a full field for the Toyota Blue Grass, is coming off an impressive MSW win at Laurel in late February. Will have to move up in class — like a lot — for the G2 event. Trained this morning at Keeneland, going a half mile in :48.60. that was the 6th best time of 26 to go that far at the time. This one is trained by Gary Capuano, and cost just $11,000 to purchase.
  11. Sir Winston, another talented runner from the barn of Mark Casse, worked this morning at Keeneland, as well. Went a half mile in :49 flat. That was 12th best out of the first 26 to go the distance. This one was 5th in the Tampa Bay Derby and 4th in the Withers Stakes in the last two. Now, he is being pointed to the Toyota Blue Grass. This 3YO son of Awesome Again is capable. Won a Stakes event at Woodbine after running a nice 3rd in the G3 Grey Stakes over that track’s synthetic surface before that. He could be in the mix with the right trip.