(Unique Bella worked this morning at Santa Anita)

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

  1. Copper Bullet, the highly acclaimed son of More Than Ready who won the G2 Saratoga Special in his last start back in August of 2017, worked this morning at the Fair Grounds in New Orleans for trainer Steve Asmussen. This guy went an easy half mile in :50.60, which was the 37th best time out of 56 to go the distance this morn. Many experts thought this guy was the best 2YO in the country a year ago, as he had 2 wins and 2 seconds in just 4 starts. He is just now starting to gear back up for the Winchell Thoroughbreds and Willis Horton Racing stables. But this one just may be the real deal when we get down to the short rows of deciding who will contest for this year’s Kentucky Derby.
  2. Navistar, who was entered to run in today’s Smarty Jones Stakes over at Oaklawn Park, will not be able to make that start. Instead, he breezed this morning at Palm Beach Downs for trainer Todd Pletcher, going 5Fs in a time of 1:02.07 — which was the best time out of 2 to go that distance. This son of Union Rags ran second on debut at Belmont Park back in October. He came back to win on Dec. 16 at Gulfstream Park, running off to an easy 11/2-length victory as the odds-on favorite at a mile on the dirt. Keep an eye on this guy. He looks to be primed and ready to fire right back.
  3. Gotta Go, who won the Street Sense Stakes at Churchill Downs last fall before disappointing in the Kentucky Jockey Club in November, was back on the track at the Palm Meadows Training Center in Southern Florida for trainer Ian Wilkes. He breezed 5Fs in 1:02 flat, which was the 8th best time out of 10. This was the fourth work for the son of Shanghai Bobby after the last race, and he should be about ready to embark on this 3YO campaign soon. We will reach out today to catch the Wilkes’ family for a comment.
  4. Shivermetimbers, another son of Shanghai Bobby who ran 4th to McKinzie in the G3 Sham Stakes in his last start, worked at Santa Anita this morning for trainer Jerry Hollendorfer. He went a half mile in :48.20, which was the 11th best time out of 56 to go that far today. This guy jumped up to run in the Sham after breaking his maiden. He was beaten about 7 lengths in that affair. Look for him to try to get back on track the first part of February.
  5. Choo Choo, who ran third in the Eddie Logan Stakes at Santa Anita going a mile on the turf on Dec. 29, worked this morning at Santa Anita for Hollendorfer, as well. This son of English Channel was beaten less than 2 lengths in that Stakes event, and should be getting ready for a return to the track in the afternoon soon. He went 5Fs today over the dirt track in 1:01.20, which was 13th best of 39. Watch for this guy. He looks to be getting better all the time.
  6. Unique Bella, who righted the ship with a nice win in the G1 La Brea Stakes at Santa Anita on Dec. 26, was back on the track at Santa Anita this morning, too. This daughter of Tapit breezed 5Fs in :59 flat, which was the best time out of 39 to go the distance. In her career, Unique Bella has 6 wins and 1 second in 8 career starts. The only time she was off the board? In the 2017 Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint over at Del Mar.