(Tight Ten winning at Churchill Downs / Photo Courtesy of Churchill Downs)

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. Tight Ten, a 2YO son of Tapit and trained by Steve Asmussen for the Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC, worked this a.m. at Churchill Downs. The highly-talented and touted colt — who has a win and two seconds in the first three career starts — went 5 furlongs over a wet track in 1:01.40. That was the bullet move out of 11 to work the distance. This one broke the maiden on debut at Churchill Downs on June 28, and has since run second in the G2 Saratoga Special and the G3 Iroquois Stakes under the Twin Spires. Certainly, this one figures to be a prime contender for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile over his home track. Stay tuned.
  2. Distorted Jimmy, a 2YO son of Jimmy Creed and trained by Norm Casse, worked this morning over at the Churchill Downs Training Center. The colt breezed a half mile in :48 flat, which was the third best time out of 9 to go the distance. This one broke his maiden going gate-to-wire at Churchill Downs on Sept. 15 at some nice odds. Figures to fire back real soon. Watch for this one.
  3. Vasilika, a 4YO Skipshot filly who has won 7 in a row and 9 of her last 10 races for trainer Jerry Hollendorfer, worked at Santa Anita this a.m. Coming off an impressive win in the G1 Rodeo Drive Stakes at Santa Anita on Sept. 29, the filly went an impressive half mile in :48 flat. That was the 6th best time of 24 to go that far. Is there a better story in the country than this filly? Back in February, she was running in claiming events and was swept up by Hollendorfer. She is now a G1 winner. Wow.
  4. Ax Man, a 3YO son of Misremembered and trained by Bob Baffert, worked this morning at “The Great Race Place,” as well. Since winning a Stakes over a muddy track on Preakness Day, this one has a third in the G3 Matt Winn at Churchill Downs and another third in the G3 Los Alamitos Derby in his last out. Went 5 furlongs today in 1:02.20. That was the 15th best time out of 24 to make the distance. In 6 lifetime starts to date, he has 3 wins and 2 thirds.
  5. Battle of Midway, winner of the 2017 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile, worked this morning at Santa Anita, as well, for trainer Jerry Hollendorfer. The 4YO Smart Strike colt — who has run second in the G2 Pat O’Brien and 5th in the G2 Kelso Stakes since returning to action after a stunt at stud duty — went 5 furlongs in :59.80. that was the bullet move out of 24 to go the distance this a.m. Wonder what is next for this one?
  6. Gunmetal Gray, a 2YO son of Exchange Rate and one of many nice juveniles in the Hollendorfer barn, worked this morning, too. This one finished second in the G1 American Pharoah Stakes at Santa Anita in his last out, losing by 41/2 lengths to Game Winner. He went 5 furlongs in 1:00.20. That was the third fastest time out of the 24. Certainly, this one appears headed to the BC Juvenile.
  7. Dabster, a Stakes-winning son of Curlin and trained by Team Baffert, worked this morning. This one, coming off two straight Stakes victories, went 6 furlongs in 1:12.80, which was the bullet move out of 4 to make the distance. This one has developed into a nice miler, but can he up his game enough to challenge the great Catalina Cruiser in that spot? Time will tell.