(My Miss Lilly, at Churchill Downs last Spring / 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. Bourbon War, a 3YO son of Tapit and trained by the talented Mark Hennig, worked this morning at Belmont Park in preparation for the Preakness Stakes — which will be held at historic Pimlico Park a week from this coming Saturday. Bourbon War — who didn’t have the necessary points to make the Kentucky Derby field after running 2nd in the Fountain of Youth and then 4th in the Florida Derby — has been sitting on go for awhile, and should be ready for a huge effort. We will be chatting with Mark Hennig later this afternoon. Look for his interview on “The Pressbox” later today. This morning, Bourbon War breezed 5 furlongs over the main dirt track in 1:01.67. That was the 3rd fastest time out of 16 to clock the distance. Make no mistake. I have been bullish on this colt since his allowance win at Gulfstream Park back in January. If he had made the Derby field, I think he would have been a serious contender, and, perhaps, a winner. Look for more from this one. Just now getting it all figured out. Future bright.
  2. My Miss Lilly, a 4YO Tapit filly trained by Hennig, also worked at Belmont Park this morning. This beautiful gal went 4 furlongs in :49.67 — which was the 22nd fastest time out of the 38 to make the distance. She is coming off two straight 3rd place finishes in an allowance at Gulfstream Park and the Top Flight Invitational at Aqueduct to start the 2019 campaign. In 8 starts now, she has 2 wins and 5 thirds. The only time she was off the board was in the 2018 KY Oaks. Better things ahead for this beauty.
  3. Strike Power, a 4YO son of Speightstown and trained by Hennig, worked at Belmont Park this morning, as well. He went an easy half mile in :49.09 — which was the 14th best time out of the 39. This guy returned to the races for the first time since last September on April 25 at Gulfstream Park, and overpowered an allowance field. Won by 5 easy lengths. First win since capturing the 2018 Swale Stakes in impressive fashion. Good things ahead for this one.
  4. Always Shopping, a 3YO Awesome Again filly trained by Todd Pletcher for the owner Mike Repole, worked this morning at Belmont Park. She went a half mile over the dirt training track in :49.75. That was 19th best of 71 to work over this strip. In two starts this year, Always Shopping has two wins — including a win in the G2 Gazelle Stakes at Aqueduct on April 6. In 5 lifetime starts now, she has 2 wins and 2 seconds. The only time off the board was in the career debut at Saratoga last July. On the improve. Bears watching.