(Monomoy Girl winning the G2 Rachel Alexandra at the Fair Grounds / Photo Courtesy of the Fair Grounds)

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. Monomoy Girl, winner of the G2 Rachel Alexandra in her last start and now being pointed to the G1 Ashland Stakes and the G1 Kentucky Oaks, tuned up this morning at the Fair Grounds. She went 5 furlongs for trainer Brad Cox is a brisk :59.60 — which was the 2nd best time out of 19 to go that distance. This one looks like she is as sharp as she can be, and will be a handful once she treks to Kentucky.
  2. Tap Daddy, who was a disappointing 4th when converting back to the grass in the Black Gold Stakes here in the last effort for trainer Steve Asmussen, worked this morning at the Fair Grounds. He breezed 5 furlongs in 1:02.80, which was 14th of the 19. It will be interesting to see where this guy shows up next. He was a promising third in the Smarty Jones behind the ill-fated Mourinho, and had won an allowance at Churchill Downs before that. His second in the G3 Dixiana Bourbon Stakes was an indication that this son of Scat Daddy would love the sod. Next?
  3. J Boys Echo, who ran 15th in the Kentucky Derby a year ago, and looked to be on the comeback trail when running second in an allowance at Gulfstream Park back in December before he stumbled home 11th in the Razorback Handicap at Oaklawn Park in February, was back in training at Gulfstream Park this morning for trainer Dale Romans. He went an easy half mile in :5047, which was the 44th best time out of 58 to go the distance. Next?
  4. Patch, who ran 14th in the Derby and just ahead of J Boys Echo, was back in training at Palm Beach  Training facility in South Florida for conditioner Todd Pletcher this morning. The son of Union Rags, who has not been seen in the afternoon since his 4th in the West Virginia Derby last August, breezed 3 furlongs in 38.45, which was the bullet work of the day. It was just his second breeze back and he is probably a month to six weeks away.
  5. World Approval, the 2017 Champion Turf male, worked this morning at Palm Meadows Training Facility in South Florida for conditioner Mark Casse. It was his first move since running a disappointing 5th in the Frank Kilroe Stakes at Santa Anita earlier this month. Today, he breezed a half mile over the grass course in :49.25, which was 12th best of the 25 to go that far. World Approval started the year in fine fashion when he won the G3 Tampa Bay Stakes on Feb. 10. Look for this one to show up at Keeneland in April.
  6. Flameaway, now a top contender for this year’s Kentucky Derby after winning the Sam F. Davis Stakes and running a game second to Quip in the G2 Tampa Bay Derby, worked this morning at Palm Meadows for Mark Casse. He went a half-mile in :48.95, which was the bullet work out of 36 to go that distance. This son of Scat Daddy has really turned it on this spring after switching over to the dirt track. To date, he has 5 wins and a second in 8 lifetime starts and appears to be getting better and better.
  7. Mississippi, another possible Derby contender in the barn of Casse, worked this morning, as well. This guy, who has two seconds in a row this year in allowance company at Gulfstream Park, went a half mile in :49.45, which was the 4th best time out of the 36. He ran second — by just a neck — to Storm Runner on Feb. 4, and was second to Noble Indy — by less than a length — on Jan. 11. Not bad company. Watch out for this son of Pioneerof the Nile. He is bred to run all day long, and may love the Derby distance.
  8. Kanthaka, third place finisher behind Bolt d’Oro and McKinzie in the San Felipe Stakes, worked this morning at Santa Anita for trainer Jerry Hollendorfer. He breezed 5 furlongs in a brisk 1:00.20, which was the bullet work out of 47 to go that distance. This guy is a late closer, and may fare better on a deeper track like the ones offered in Kentucky. Still in the hunt.
  9. Instilled Regard, who won the LeComte Stakes at the Fair Grounds before returning to run a dull fourth to Bravazo and Snapper Sinclair in the Risen Star Stakes, worked at Santa Anita this morning, as well. The Arch colt toured 6 furlongs on the dirt in 1:25.80, which was 15th out of 15 to go that far. This one has talent, as evidenced by his second place run in the troubled Los Alamitos Cash Call Futurity, when he was squeezed by both Solomini and McKinzie. He may show up in the Santa Anita Derby next.
  10. Midnight Bisou, winner of the G3 Santa Ysabel Stakes and the G2 Santa Ynez Stakes in her last two and now the prohibitive favorite going into the Santa Anita Oaks for trainer Bill Spawr, worked this morning at Santa Anita. She went 6 furlongs in 1:17.60, which was 14th of the 15 to go. This daughter of Midnight Lute is certain to be a favorite for this year’s Kentucky Oaks, barring any unforeseen circumstances.