(Trainer Steve Asmussen conditions both Reride and Snapper Sinclair / Photo Courtesy of Keeneland)

Every day, we scour the work tabs at racetracks all over the country.  We are looking for workouts that may be of interest and helpful to you — as both race fans and handicappers.  Some of the horses we will be tracking, you will know.  Some of them, you may not know — as of yet.  We will keep a keen eye and stopwatch to see who may be working well:

  1. Drinking Dixie, a 2YO Quality Road filly trained by Tom Amoss, may be worth watching and trekking. This one won her last time out at Churchill Downs on Nov. 10. She went a mile on the dirt and drew off in impressive fashion, after two straight 6th place finishes to start the career. This one cost $150,000 as a Keeneland September Yearling a year ago, and now looks like she is pointed in the right direction. Worked at the Fair Grounds this a.m., going a half-mile in :48.40. That was the 9th best of the 75 to go the distance.
  2. Cathedral Reader, a talented 3YO filly by Shackleford, worked 5 furlongs this morning in New Orleans. Went the distance in 1:01.60 — which was the 15th best of 55 to go that far. In 6 races this year, she has put up a nice resume of 3-1-1 and earnings over $154,000. Has won 2 allowances in a row for trainer Dallas Stewart, and may be ready for Stakes company soon.
  3. Reride, a 3YO colt by Candy Ride and a prime contender on the Triple Crown trail earlier this year before a debacle of a trip to and from Dubai for the UAE Derby, looked to have righted the ship a bit when second in an allowance at Keeneland in October and a subsequent fourth in the G3 Commonwealth Turf Stakes at Churchill Downs in November. Got his third published work since that last effort today, when he went 5 furlongs for the barn of Steve Asmussen at the Fair Grounds. Covered the distance in 1:02.20. That was 27th of 55 to go that far. Love this one. Hope he regains form and has a really nice 4YO campaign.
  4. Snapper Sinclair, winless this year in 5 starts for the barn of Asmussen, worked this morning at the Fair Grounds, as well. Went 5 furlongs in 1:01.20, which was 8th best. This one performed very nicely in New Orleans earlier this year. Was third behind Instilled Regard in the G3 Lecomte Stakes and then was second to Bravazo in the G2 Risen Star. Has not been the same since running 5th in the Louisiana Derby, but the last race second in allowance company was a positive sign that he may be returning to form. I hope so. Great competitor.
  5. Roadster, one of many highly acclaimed juveniles in the barn of Team Baffert, worked this morning at Santa Anita. The son of Quality Road went a half-mile in :49.40, which was the 38th best time out of 72 to make the distance. It was his third published work since his return to serious training in late November. This one was impressive in winning the debut at Del Mar this summer, and then ran third to Game Winner in the G1 Del Mar Futurity. Was given some time after that race on Sept. 3. Looking forward to seeing him back soon.
  6. McKinzie, a no-show in the Breeders’ Cup Classic for Team Baffert, worked this morning at Santa Anita. And, he was very impressive. Went 5 furlongs in :59.20, which was the 2nd best time out of 49. If he goes in the G1 Malibu, the day after Christmas, that could be one of the best races of the year. Seriously.