(Dale Romans trains Seven Trumpets)

Every day, we scour the work tabs at racetracks and training facilities all over North America in search of those Thoroughbreds that are prepping for their next race and appear to be ready for a prime performance. Some of the horses that we track, you will recognize immediately and know their names. Others, though, you may not know — yet. Here is a closer look at some of today’s morning glories:

  1. Diversify, the highly accomplished NY-bred son of Bellamy Road trained by Richard Violette Jr., was back on the training track at Belmont Park this morning. The talented 5YO gelding went an easy half mile in :49.38, which was the third best time out of 9 to go that distance. This guy had three straight wins late last year, including a victory in the G1 Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont in October. He ran fourth to Seeking the Soul, Good Samaritan and Hoppertunity in the G1 Clark Handicap at Churchill Downs to end the year, but was beaten only about 3 lengths. Diversify started the 2018 campaign with a disappointing 7th and last in the G2 Charles Town Classic at the Hollywood Casino at Charles Town on April 21. He set the pace and faded badly in that one. Here’s hoping that he gets back on his game soon.
  2. Triple Chelsea, winner of the Giant’s Causeway Stakes at Keeneland in April and the Nelson J. Menard Memorial Overnight Stakes at the Fair Grounds in March, has won three un-Graded Stakes in the last four races. The 5YO daughter of Hat Trick, trained by Joe Sharp, worked over the grass at Churchill Downs this morning. She went a half mile — with the dogs up — in 48.60, which was the bullet out of 2 to go the distance on the surface. Watch this one. On the improve. The race at Keeneland was against some heady competition.
  3. C Z Rocket, who has not raced since running 6th in the G1 Malibu Stakes at Santa Anita on Dec. 26 for his only loss in four career starts to date, worked this morning at Churchill Downs for trainer Al Stall, Jr. It was his fourth published work since April 11, and he went a half mile in :48.60, which was the 13th best time out of 40 to go that distance. Keep an eye on this son of City Zip. Super talented.
  4. Zanesville, a well-bred son of Tiznow trained by Tom Amoss, is coming off a 6th place finish in the Lexington Stakes behind My Boy Jack and a 4th in the Jeff Ruby Steaks at Turfway Park. He worked this morning at Churchill Downs, as well, and went 5 furlongs on the turf course with the dogs up in 1:02.40. That was the second best time out of 2 to go the distance.
  5. Seven Trumpets, who had his best moment in running second in the Jerome Stakes at Aqueduct back in January, worked for trainer Dale Romans at Churchill Downs this morning. The son of Morning Line — who has run 7th in the G3 Southwest Stakes; 4th in the G3 Sunland Derby; and 5th in the G2 Lexington since the Jerome — went 5 furlongs in a brisk 1:00.60, which was 5th best out of 19 to go that far. Look for a 7-furlong race up to a mile for this one next — maybe?
  6. New Money Honey, a multiple Graded Stakes winner and winner of the 2016 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf, was back on the track up at Saratoga this morning for trainer Chad Brown. The Medaglia d’Oro filly, now 4YO, breezed 3 furlongs in an easy :39.93. It was her third published work since April 13, but the first two were at the Stonesteet Farm Training Center. A world class runner here.