(Knicks Go after winning the G1 Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity at Keeneland last October / 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. Durkin’s Call, a 3YO Jump Start colt trained by Bill Mott and now a contender for the upcoming G2 Toyota Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland, worked at Belmont Park this morning. The gelding — who is a May 1 foal, by the way — went 4 furlongs on the dirt training track in :49.05. That was the 3rd fastest time out of 29 at the distance.  In 9 lifetime starts, this one has a 3-1-1 record and is coming off a win in the Gander Stakes at Aqueduct on March 17. Will be interesting if Mott ships him South for the Blue Grass. We will keep you posted.
  2. Standard Deviation, who has been in South Florida all winter long for trainer Chad Brown, posted a work over the track at Belmont Park this morning. The 3YO son of Curlin, who has not been out since he was 2nd in an allowance event at Gulfstream Park on Feb. 9, went 4 furlongs over the dirt training track in :50.55. That was the 21st best time out of 29. Last week, the colt worked at Palm Meadows Training Center, going a half mile in :50.10. That was 54th of 105. Horse has a 1-1-1 record in 4 career starts to date, but a third in the Breeders’ Futurity at Keeneland last October. But his works have been very deliberate this year. Wonder if he will now be pointed towards the Wood Memorial?
  3. Funny Duck, a 4YO Distorted Humor colt owned by Calumet Farm, worked at the farm’s training track this morning. The upset winner of the G3 Pat Day Mile last year on KY Derby Day went 5 furlongs over the Calumet surface in 1:01.20 That was the bullet move out of 3 to go the distance. It was the horse’s 4th published work at the farm track since Feb. 14. May be getting ready for a race soon.
  4. Aquadini, a very talented 3YO son of Bernardini and trained by Dallas Stewart, worked this morning at Churchill Downs. The colt — who cost $150,000 to nab at the 2018 OBS April 2YO Sale — went a half mile in :48.20, which was 3rd best of 10 to clock the distance. Keep an eye on this talented sucker. He broke his maiden two starts back at the FG, and returned to run second in his first try against winners. Would not be shocked to see him try Stakes company soon. Very soon.
  5. Chess Chief, a 3YO colt by Into Mischief and a contender for this year’s Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland, worked at Churchill Downs this morning for Stewart, as well. He blistered a half mile in :47 flat, which was the bullet move out of 10 to go the distance. This guy broke his maiden last time out at the Fair Grounds on March 2, and his stock and his speed seem to be on the rise. Watch out for this one, which comes from a barn that knows how to shock the odds.
  6. Frolic More, a 3YO More Than Ready colt and also trained by Stewart, worked at Churchill Downs this a.m., too. This one — who was 14th in the G2 Risen Star Stakes in his last outing — went the same half mile in the same time as the one above. Look for this guy — who has a 1-2-1 record in 6 lifetime starts — to find the grass soon. Should adopt very well. Very well.
  7. Mo Gayle, a very talented 3YO filly by Uncle Mo and trained by Stewart, is coming off a 3rd place finish at the Fair Grounds on Feb. 23 in her first try against winners. Before that, she broke the maiden on debut in New Orleans on Jan. 19. Worked a half mile at Churchill Downs this morning in a very busy day for the Stewart barn, and went the distance in :49.20. That was 8th of 10. She is capable. Very capable.
  8. Knicks Go, winner of the G1 Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity at Keeneland last October and a top contender for the Triple Crown series when the year began, was back on the track at Keeneland this morning for trainer Ben Colebrook. Both horse and trainer are trying to figure out why/how this year has gone so horribly wrong the track, so far. The Paynter colt worked 5 furlongs in 1:01.60, which was the 11th best time out of 21 to go that far. Since winning the Breeders’ Futurity and running second in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile to Game Winner, this guy has run 11th in the G2 Kentucky Jockey Club at Churchill Downs last November, and run a disappointing 5th in the G3 Sam F. Davis at Tampa Bay and a 7th in the G3 Gotham Stakes at Aqueduct. Bewilderment. Question marks abound.
  9. Bulletin, a 3YO City Zip colt trained by Todd Pletcher, worked at the Palm Beach Downs this morning in South Florida. The colt — who has won the Hollywood Beach Stakes and the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Spring in his only two starts in the career to date — went 5 furlongs in 1:01.90. That was the 3rd fastest time out of the the 3 to go the distance, and it was the colt’s 8th published work since Jan. 31. Should be about ready to test the 2019 waters soon. Like? Real soon.
  10. Concrete Rose, a 3YO Twirling Candy filly who has stockpiled 3 wins in only 4 career starts for trainer Rusty Arnold, worked at the Palm Meadows Training Center in South Florida this morning. The multiple Graded Stakes winner — who captured the Jessamine Stakes at Keeneland last Fall and won the G3 Florida Oaks to start the 2019 campaign — went a half mile over the track’s turf surface in :49.40. That was the 7th best time out of 13 to go the distance, and it was her first published worked since the victory at Tampa Bay.
  11. Dessman, a 3YO Union Rags colt trained by Team Baffert, is coming off a nice second at Oaklawn Park on March 16 — the same date that a couple of his more notable teammates ran in the Rebel Stakes. In 3 career starts now, this one has a win and 2 seconds and is still being considered as a possible KY Derby contender. Worked this morning at Santa Anita, and went 3 furlongs in :37 flat. That was the 2nd fastest time out of 10 to make the distance. Curious to see where this one lands next. Could be a tell-tell sign as prep races and “points” come harder to find.