(Bob Baffert)

Every day, we scour the work tabs at racetracks and training facilities all over North America. We are searching for those horses that appear to be peaking at just the right time and may be sitting on a top performance in the afternoons. Some of the horses that we watch and track, you will know. Others, though, you may not recognize — yet. Here is a closer look at some of today’s morning glories:

  1. Dabster, who was my Winter Book pick for the KY Derby a year ago but didn’t make the race for trainer Bob Baffert, is turning out (maybe?) to be a real good one. To date, he has raced 5 times. He has 3 wins to show for it, including an impressive victory at Santa Anita on Feb. 16 in an Allowance-Optional Claimer. He failed in the G1 Malibu Stakes in his only race against that kind, but the son of Curlin appears to be getting better and better. He worked a bullet at Santa Anita this morning, going a half mile in :48.40, which was the fastest of 24 to go that distance over the dirt track. Keep an eye on this one. He could still turn out to be OK.
  2. Nero, the 3YO son of Pioneerof the Nile who has been on the Derby trail early this year, worked the same time at the same distance today for Baffert at “The Great Race Place.” In three career starts to date, he has never run worse than second, although he was well-beaten by Kanthaka in the G2 San Vicente Stakes in his last try. He should get better with the farther they go, though, and it is still way too soon to discount this one from the First Saturday in May. Worth watching.
  3. Bendable, who was scratched out of her last race down the hill course at Santa Antia, was back on the track this morning for trainer Richard Mandella. The 5YO mare, owned by Claiborne Farm, worked 5-furlongsi n 1:00.20, which was the 3rd fastest time out of 27 to go that distance. She looks super sharp right now, especially considering that she ran a super nice second in the G3 Las Cienegas Stakes at SA in her first try over the sod on Jan. 20. Look for her return soon, and she may have nice career now on the grass.
  4. Kelly’s Humor, a 3YO daughter of Midnight Lute who ran second in the G2 Pocahontas Stakes at Churchill Downs last fall and was a highly touted 2YO at the time, is training forwardly for her 2018 debut for trainer Brad Cox. She worked this morning at the Fair Grounds, going 3-furlongs in :36 flat. That was the 2nd best time out of 20 to go that distance. It was just the second published work for her this year, and still is still aways to go before running. But she did run 5th in the Alcibiades at Keeneland and has talent.
  5. Chaos Theory, a super talented cot by Curlin and winner on debut at the Fair Grounds going 51/2 furlongs on the grass Feb. 18, was scratched out of an allowance race on Friday and left that try to his stablemate Telekinesis, who ran third against older colts. Chaos Theory, instead, worked a half mile in :48.20 this morning, which was the 8th best time out of 104 to go that far. This son of Curlin is worth watching. He could pop up soon.
  6. Copper Bullet, who was one of my favorites for this year’s Kentucky Derby before being pulled off the Triple Crown trail by trainer Steve Asmussen, worked this morning at the Fair Grounds. He went a half mile in a leisurely :59 flat. That was 73rd best of 104. The trainer decided to back off the Saratoga Special winner and give him a bit more time to develop before pushing the conditioning button. Still, all in all, this is one classy colt.