(Signalman may go next in the Preakness Stakes / Photo by Holly M. Smith)

(Dunbar Road before the KY Oaks, which she didn’t get in / 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.  We will keep a keen eye and stopwatch to see who may be working well:

  1. Mihos, a talented 3YO colt by Cairo Price and trained by James Jerkens, has not run since finishing 5th in the G2 Holy Bull Stakes at Gulfstream Park on Feb. 2. Going into that one, he had won 2 in a row — including the Mucho Macho Man Stakes at GP. He got his first published work since the last race today, going 3 furlongs at Belmont Park in :38.89. That was 25th of 41 to go that distance. Keep an eye on his return. It could be fun to see him back.
  2. Dunbar Road, a 3YO Quality Road filly trained by Chad Brown, was on the Also Eligible List for the KY Oaks, but didn’t get into the race. She has raced only twice to date, running second to Champagne Anyone in the GP Oaks in her last outing on March 30. She trained today at Belmont Park, going a half mile in :48.56. That was the 7th best time out of the 27 to go the distance. Shall be interesting to see where this one shows up next. Word has it that the trainer was geared up to run in the KY Oaks.
  3. Orra Moor, a 3YO Orb filly trained by Todd Pletcher, ran 4th in the G3 Fantasy Stakes last time out at Oaklawn Park. That wasn’t good enough to get her into the KY Oaks, either. She has 2 wins and a third in 4 career starts, to date. Worked today at Belmont Park, going 4 furlongs over the inner turf course. She was timed in :48.55. That was the 3rd fastest of 15 to try the sod and the distance. May be gearing up for a grass event next?
  4. So Alive, a 3YO Super Saver colt trained by Pletcher, is coming off a 6th place finish in the G2 Toyota Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland. Before that, though, he ran 3rd in the G3 Sam F. Davis Stakes at Tampa. Worked today at Belmont Park. Went 4 furlongs over the inner turf, as well, in a time of :50.39. That was 11th best of the 15. Interesting.
  5. Catholic Boy, a 4YO More Than Ready colt trained by Jonathan Thomas, worked 5 furlongs at Belmont Park today. The winner of the 2018 Travers Stakes has not been out since finishing a disappointing 13th in the G1 Breeders’ Cup Classic. Got his 6th published work since March 22 today, going 5 furlongs in 1:02.19. That was the bullet move out of 5 to clock the distance. Should be getting close to the 2019 debut soon.
  6. Fighting Mad, an undefeated 3YO son of New Year’s Day and trained by Bob Baffert, was impressive in work mode today at Churchill Downs. The colt — who is a perfect 2-for-2 after winning under the Twin Spires on March 30 — went a half mile in :47.20. That was the 3rd best time out of 49 to make the distance. Don’t be surprised if this one tries Stakes company soon.
  7. Signalman, a 3YO son of General Quarters and third-place finisher in the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes in his last outing, did not get into the KY Derby for trainer Ken McPeek. But he is now being primed for next Saturday’s Preakness Stakes at Pimlico. Buffed up for that tilt this morning with a work at Churchill Downs. Went a half mile in a brisk :47.60 — which was 5th best of the 49. Looks ready to fire. Has a 2-2-2 record in 7 career starts. Figures next week.
  8. Warrior’s Charge, a 3YO son of Munnings and trained by Brad Cox, may be a new shooter in the Preakness Stakes, as well. The colt — who has won two in a row at Oaklawn Park and ran off to a near 7-length win in his last outing — went 5 furlongs at Churchill Downs today. Covered the distance in a nice 1:00.80. That was 9th best of 31 to go that  far. Be interesting to see if Cox takes a shot next Saturday. Doing good right now. Is he ready to step it up?