Every day, we scour the work tabs at racetracks all over the country to see who may be preparing for their next race.  Some of the horses that we track will be familiar to you.  Some of them, though, you may not know — but should.  We will note their current morning prep and make other comments about their backgrounds and pedigrees.  If you have a horse that you would like to add to our list, please let us know.  Here is a closer look at today’s list:

  1. Oxford Lane is a 3YO colt by Into Mischief who was last seen on the racetrack in the afternoon back in March when he ran 8th in the Sunland Derby.  Since then, he was given some time off by trainer Ken McPeek, but on Sept. 8 (last Friday) had his fourth regular work since he started breezing again on Aug. 19.  The colt went 4Fs at Keeneland in :49.00, which was fourth best out of 16.  In his first four races, the colt had a win, 2 seconds and a third — before he took on the likes of Hence, Conquest Mo Money and Irap in the Sunland Derby.  Watch for this one’s return to the races in the afternoon.  He has talent.
  2. Basha, who was another 3YO that jumped into the Triple Crown fever fray earlier this spring only to get slapped around a bit, was back on the track at Monmouth Park this morning (Sept. 11) for trainer Gilberto Serpa.  This son of Uncle Mo won his first two starts as a 2YO and then ran 2nd and 3rd in two straight stakes races before trying the Tampa Bay Derby.  After pressing the early pace in that Stakes — which featured Tapwrit, Wild Shot and No Dozing —  Basha faded to sixth and was beaten about 10 lengths.  He was given time off after that one, too, but ran a disappointing 7th in a Stakes at Gulfstream Park on July 4.  He wasn’t seen again until he had a published work on Aug. 4.  Today was his sixth regular work in a row and he breezed 5Fs in a brisk :59.00 at Monmouth Park — which was the best time out of 9 this morn.  Watch out for this one’s return.
  3. Teletap, another 3YO colt we have watched throughout the year, was back on the track this morning at Churchill Downs.  He went 5Fs in 1:01.20 breezing, which was the 5th best time out of 25 to go that far. This one is a homebred colt by Tapit, who is owned by the Winchell Thoroughbreds and trained by Steve Asmussen.  He is still a maiden after 7 career starts — with 2 seconds and 4 fourths.  He is likely to break through soon, though, and his race at Ellis Park on Aug. 20 may have been the primer he needed. I will take another stab on him when he returns.
  4. Tap of War, a War Front filly owned by the Albaugh Family Stable, breezed impressively at Churchill Downs this morning — going 5Fs in 1:00.60 breezing.  That was the bullet work out of 25 to go that far.  Trained by Kelly Von Hemel, Tap of War hasn’t been seen since she ran disappointedly in her first grass test at Keeneland in April.  But this one has talent.  She broke her maiden in her career debut, and then, after a third in an allowance race, she was thrown into the G3 Honeybee Stakes at Oaklawn — which was won by It Tiz Now. Tap of War has now had five published works in a row and appears to be gearing back up for a nice performance.  Keep an eye out for this one.