(Bob Baffert trains Solomini)

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. Cloud Computing, winner of the 2017 Preakness Stakes over KY Derby winner Always Dreaming and others, worked at Belmont Park this morning for trainer Chad Brown. The colt breezed an easy half mile in :49.75, which was the 5th best time out of 39 to go that far. The son of Maclean’s Music, who has not raced since finishing 8th to West Coast in the Travers Stakes last August at Saratoga, has now had 8 published works since Feb. 18, and should be ready for a return to the afternoon racing soon.
  2. Gleason, a talented 3YO colt in the barn of Todd Pletcher, breezed at Belmont Park today, as well. He went a half mile in :50.07, which was the 7th best time out of the 39 to go that far. This one broke his maiden in style at Tampa Bay Downs earlier this Spring, and looked to have a shot to join the Pletcher Team on the Triple Crown trail. But his afternoons were spoiled by some bad weather and cancellations, and he missed some time in-between starts. Came back to run a game second last time out and should be ready to roll again soon. Worth watching this one.
  3. Mia Mischief, a very talented 3YO filly by Into Mischief and trained by Steve Asmussen, worked at Churchill Downs this morning. She went a half mile in :51.80, which was the 17th best time out of the 20 to go that far. This one is plenty fit enough, having just won the Purple Martin Stakes at Oaklawn Park on March 24. She had run second in the Dixie Bell in Hot Springs, AR before that. In 6 lifetime starts, she has 3 wins and 3 seconds. She has a win and two seconds at Churchill Downs, but her last win came at 6 furlongs. Don’t know where she may turn up next, yet, but she is a salty sprinter.
  4. Snapper Sinclair, who looked to be on the “Road to the Kentucky Derby” when he was a game second to Bravazo in the Risen Star Stakes at the Fair Grounds earlier this year, worked a half mile at Churchill Downs today, as well. He went the distance in an easy :51.80, which was the same time as the filly above. This son of City Zip ran 5th in the Louisiana Derby in the last out, and now the question arises will he have the points to get in the “Big Race” on the first Saturday in May if the owners wish to give it a shot. Maybe the Lexington Stakes?
  5. Ride a Comet, a disappointing 8th in the Jeff Ruby Steaks for trainer Mark Casse in the last out, worked at Churchill Downs this morning, too. This son of Candy Ride went 5 furlongs in a snappy :59.60, which was the second best time out of the 7 to go that far. This one could be a contender to run in the Lexington Stakes at Keeneland later this month, as well.
  6. Girvin, winner of the G1 Haskell Invitational last summer at Monmouth Park, worked this morning at Keeneland for trainer Joe Sharp. The colt breezed 5 furlongs in 1:01.80, which was the 4th best time out of 9 to go that far. This son of Tale of Ekati now has five published works since March 10 and should be about a month away from his 2018 debut. Or sooner.
  7. Hence, a son of Street Boss who ran 11th in the 2017 KY Derby before winning the G3 Iowa Derby for trainer Steve Asmussen, worked this morning at Oaklawn Park. He went 5 furlongs in 1:02.40, which was the 3rd best time out of 12 to go that distance. He started for the first time since last September, when 6th in the G3 Smarty Jones Stakes at Park on March 23. He ran 4th in an allowance event. Should be sharper next time out.
  8. Moonshine Memories, a 3YO daughter of Malibu Moon who won 3 of 4 starts as a 2YO with the only loss coming in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies, is working back toward her 2018 debut for trainer Simon Callaghan. She went a half mile at Santa Anita today in :50 flat, which was the 41st best time out of 63 to go that far. It was only her fourth published work this year, and since March 10. She has a ways to go to be ready yet.
  9. Unique Bella, who may be the fastest horse in training today, worked this morning for trainer Jerry Hollendorfer at the “Great Race Place.” The filly went a half mile in a brisk :46.80, which was the bullet out of the 63. This is one really brilliant mare.
  10. Solomini, another talented 3YO runner for Team Baffert and expected to make his final tune-up for the 2018 Kentucky Derby in the Arkansas Derby this coming Saturday, worked at Santa Anita today. He went 6 furlongs in 1:13.60, which was the bullet work of 7 to go that distance. This one got a bad, inside trip in the Rebel Stakes, and should be tougher this time around at Oaklawn Park.