(Plus Que Parfait before the KY Derby / 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 3YO Cairo Price colt trained by Jimmy Jerkens, worked this morning at Belmont Park.  Bred by the Lyster family of Wayne, Gray and Bryan, this colt sold as a KEE September Yearling for $320,000 to Centennial Farms. Since joining the racing ranks, he has gone 2-0-1 in just 4 starts, and looked to be making progress towards the Triple Crown prep races with an impressive win in the Mucho Macho Man Stakes this January. After running 5th in the G2 Holy Bull on Feb. 2, though, he has been on the shelf. Worked 6 furlongs (take note of the distance) in 1:13.80 — in company with an older barn mate. That was the bullet move of the two. Getting closer to the return.
  2. Gray Magician, a 3YO Graydar colt who ran second in the UAE Derby this Spring, and then was 19th in the KY Derby for trainer Peter Miller, was back on the track at Churchill Downs this morning. He got his third published work since the Derby, going a half mile in :49 flat. That was the 8th best time out of 28 to go the distance. Perhaps a little ambitious trying to get this one to go the Derby 11/4-miles, but this one does have some credentials to return and be a very productive runner.  Looking forward to the return soon.
  3. Plus Que Parfait, a 3YO son of Point of Entry and the horse to beat Gray Magician in the UAE Derby, worked this morning at Churchill Downs, as well. Went 5 furlongs in 1:00.80 — which was there bullet move out of the first 2 to clock that distance. It was his 4th published work since the KY Derby, when he finished 8th. Has not run since then, but looks about ready for a return soon. In 8 lifetime starts, he does have a nice 2-1-2 record and has earned over $1.590 million in purses. Not bad, folks. Not bad, at all.