(Roland winning at Churchill Downs / Coady Photography & Photo Courtesy of Churchill Downs)

3-23-2019 By My Standards, with Gabriel Saez aboard, pulls to the lead ahead of Spinoff in the 106th running of the Grade II $1,000,000 Louisiana Derby at the Fair Grounds in New Orleans. Hodges Photography / Amanda Hodges Weir

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. Distant Shore, a 3YO Algorithms colt trained by Tom Amoss for the Churchill Downs Racing Club, worked this morning under the Twin Spires. He went a nice 5 furlongs in :59.40, which was the 2nd fastest time out of 21 to go that far. In 5 lifetime tries so far, this one has a win, 2 seconds, a third and a fourth. Ran second in the Arlington-Wasingto Futurity last September. Ran second on March 22 in allowance at the Fair Grounds. May be ready next time out. Good one getting better.
  2. Lone Sailor, a 4YO son of Majestic Warrior and trained by Amoss, worked this morning at Churchill Downs, as well. This guy — who has won just 2 of 17 lifetime starts, but has won nearly $1 million in purses to date — went 5 furlongs in 1:00 flat. That was 6th best of the 21. Ran third in the G2 New Orleans Handicap last time out. Rounding into shape. Should be firing on the third start off a layup.
  3. Roiland, a contender for the Triple Crown Trail earlier this year and a 3YO son of Successful Appeal, was on the track at Churchill Downs this morning for Team Amoss. He fired a brisk :59.60 for 5 furlongs, which was the 3rd fastest time out of the 21. This guy was 6th in the LA Derby last time out, after being 3rd in the G2 Risen Star. Still like this one. If he can figure out the gate and the start, the guy knows how to finish.
  4. Seek N Justice, who was claimed off me the last time out by Amoss, worked a nice half mile at Churchill Downs this morning, too. He went a half in :47.40, which was the bullet time out of 19 to go that far. I’m rooting like crazy for this 3YO son of Caleb’s Posse. After all, I still own two half-sisters. Go Seek.
  5. Spinoff, runner-up in the G2 LA Derby last time out and now headed to the KY Derby for trainer Todd Pletcher, worked a half mile in :48.85 this morning. That was a bullet move out of 6 to go that far. This 3YO son of Hard Spun has a 2-1-1 record in just 4 career starts, but he seems to be improving mightily at the right time.