(Helium / Photos by Holly M. Smith)

We are back looking at the daily workout schedule from around the country. Every day (Some days?), 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 are back…Take a look:

  1. Wit, a 3YO son of Practical Joke and trained by Todd Pletcher, is still a possible late entry into the “Road to the Kentucky Derby” campaign. Has not started since running 3rd to Jack Christopher in the G1 Champagne Stakes at Belmont Park last October. But in 4 career starts so far, he has 2 wins; a 2nd; and the 3rd. One of the wins came in the G1 Sanford Stakes at Saratoga. Got his 5th published work since being returned to serious training at the Stonestreet Training Center in early February. This move came today at the Palm Beach Downs training track in South Florida. Went 4 furlongs in :49.11. That was the bullet move out of just 2 to negotiate the distance today. Still has not worked past a half-mile yet. Time is clicking. Can he make it? Getting close.
  2. Varatti, another colt on the rebound trail for trainer Todd Pletcher, worked in company with Wit today. They both clocked out at the same time. This one is not to be dismissed quietly, either. Has only one career start under the girth, so far. That came back in September. But he broke the maiden on first asking by nearly 5 lengths. Running 3rd that day was roommate Mo Donegal — who has elevated his game to our #1 spot in “The Pressbox’s Kentucky Derby Rankings.” This was Varatti’s 6th published work since returning to the track in mid-January. None of them past 1/2-mile, either.
  3. Philly Eagles, a 3YO Irish-bred filly trained by Mark Casse for owner Tracy Farmer, worked this morning at the Palm Meadows Training Center in South Florida. She went 4 furlongs over the main dirt track there in :49.05. That was the 3rd best time out of 17 to go the distance. Nice. In three career starts so far, this filly has a win at Doncaster before being shipped to NA. Since being here, she ran 4th in the G2 Miss Grillo Stakes and 7th in the Chelsey Flower Stakes at Belmont Park last Fall. Was returned to the work tab in mid-January. Looks about ready to pop soon.
  4. Helium, a 4YO son of Ironicus and trained by Casse, worked at the Casse Farm training track this morning near Ocala. The bay gelding — who won the G2 Tampa Bay Derby a year ago and went on to run 8th in the 2021 KY Derby behind the winner Mandaloun — worked 4 furlongs in :48.20. That was the 2nd best time out of 13 to negotiate the distance today. It was the 3rd published work for this Graded Stakes winner since being returned to serious training on Jan. 28. In 7 career starts, Helium has a record of 3-0-3 and has earned over $332,000. Last time out was last August, when he was 3rd in the Robert Hilton Memorial Stakes at Charles Town. More to come.
  5. Diabolic, a 3YO son of Dark Angel and another Irish-bred in the barn of Casse, worked at the trainer’s headquarters in Ocala, as well. This guy — who has won 3 of 4 career starts, including the Catch a Glimpse Stakes at Woodbine last August — went 4 furlongs in :49.60. That was the 8th best time out of the 13. It was only the 2nd work since coming back on March 2. Last time out, this guy was 5th in the G1 Natalma Stakes at Woodbine. Still aways away, it appears.
  6. Touch Code, a 3YO son of Honor Code and trained by HOFer Bill Mott, has had some bad luck at the entry box. Has raced three times, so far. Has lost to Emmanuel, a highly-touted colt who ran in last Saturday’s G2 Fountain of Youth Stakes; and run behind the highly-regarded Charge It in the last two outings. Worked today at Gulfstream Park. Went 5 furlongs in 1:02.24. That was the 3rd best time out of the 4 to go the distance. This one — who has two 3rds and a 2nd on the resume — may be worth the lookout. Should break that MSW soon.