Derby tab: Stronghold, Coach Prime are among 3-year-old workers

Stronghold and Coach Prime, both of whom were entered for Saturday’s Grade 3 Robert B. Lewis Stakes at Santa Anita, had morning workouts and were subsequently scratched from the afternoon running of the Kentucky Derby 2024 points prep.

Stronghold, who was 6-1 on the morning line for the Bob Lewis, will be aimed instead for another points prep Feb. 18.

Head to Head handicapping of Robert B. Lewis Stakes.

“We are going to run in the Sunland Derby (G3),” trainer Phil D’Amato said in a text message to Horse Racing Nation. “That was always our plan A. Entered in the Lewis just to take a look.”

Stronghold went a half-mile Saturday morning in 48.4 seconds on the fast main track at Santa Anita. The Ghostzapper colt was 100-1 this week in Las Vegas futures for the Derby.

Coach Prime, one of trainer Bob Baffert’s three Bob Lewis entrants, went his half-mile in 48.0 seconds, the second-fastest of 174 works at the distance. Baffert said he was “waiting for different spot to be determined.” The Quality Road colt had been assigned program odds of 5-1 for Saturday’s race.

Stronghold was one of the 26 Kentucky Derby futures choices in Las Vegas who appeared on the Saturday work tab. So, too, were Coach Prime and three other horses who had been in the Derby market but were taken down when Baffert and his client owners decided not to make transfers to trainers who would have been eligible for the Derby.

Sierra Leone, the 20-1 fourth choice to win the run for the roses May 4, and Track Phantom, the 25-1 sixth choice, also had Saturday breezes.

These were the works for Kentucky Derby contenders and the Baffert horses who may yet line up in the Preakness or Belmont Stakes:

Stronghold (Ghostzapper) worked four furlongs in 48.4 seconds at Santa Anita on Saturday morning. It was the 21st fastest of 174 works at the distance. His previous work was six days ago going five furlongs at Santa Anita. In his last start he placed second in the Los Alamitos Futurity (G2) going 1 1/16 miles on the main track at Los Alamitos on Dec. 16 for trainer Phil D’Amato.

Sierra Leone (Gun Runner) worked four furlongs in 48.8 seconds at Payson Park. It was the seventh fastest of 67 works at the distance. His previous work was seven days ago going four furlongs at Payson Park. In his last start he placed second in the Remsen (G2) going 1 1/8 miles on the main track at Aqueduct on Dec. 2 for trainer Chad Brown.

Track Phantom (Quality Road), a Grade 3 winner (2024 Lecomte), worked five furlongs in 1:01.0 at Fair Grounds. It was the fifth fastest of 34 works at the distance. This was his first work since his last race. In his last start he won the Lecomte (G3) going 1 1/16 miles on the main track at Fair Grounds on Jan. 20 for trainer Steve Asmussen.

Bentornato (Valiant Minister) worked five furlongs in 1:01.3 at Palm Meadows. It was the fourth fastest of 13 works at the distance. His previous work was seven days ago going four furlongs at Palm Meadows. In his last start he placed third in the Florida Sire In Reality going 1 1/16 miles on the main track at Gulfstream Park on Dec. 2 for trainer José D’Angelo.

Catching Freedom (Constitution) worked five furlongs in 1:01.4 at Fair Grounds. It was the 11th fastest of 34 works at the distance. His previous work was six days ago going four furlongs at Fair Grounds. In his last start he won the Smarty Jones going 1 1/16 miles on the main track at Oaklawn on Jan. 1 for trainer Brad Cox.

Change of Command (Into Mischief) worked four furlongs in 48.6 seconds at Payson Park. It was the fifth fastest of 67 works at the distance. His previous work was seven days ago going four furlongs at Payson Park. In his last start he won an allowance race going 1 1/16 miles on the main track at Gulfstream Park on Jan. 5 for trainer Shug McGaughey.

Conquest Warrior (City of Light) worked four furlongs in 48.4 seconds at Payson Park. It was the fastest of 67 works at the distance. His previous work was seven days ago going four furlongs at Payson Park. In his last start he won a maiden race going one mile on the main track at Gulfstream Park on Jan. 13 for McGaughey.

Deterministic (Liam’s Map) worked five furlongs in 1:01.6 at Payson Park. It was the fastest of 16 works at the distance. His previous work was eight days ago going five furlongs at Payson Park. In his last start he won a maiden race going seven furlongs on the main track at Saratoga on Aug. 12 for trainer Christophe Clément.

E J Won the Cup (Omaha Beach) worked five furlongs in 1:02.4 at Santa Anita. It was the 80th fastest of 108 works at the distance. His previous work was six days ago going five furlongs at Santa Anita. In his last start he placed fourth in a maiden race going six furlongs on the turf at Santa Anita on Jan. 6 for trainer Doug O’Neill.

Eliminate (Curlin) worked four furlongs in 50.2 seconds at Belmont Park. It was the 51st fastest of 85 works at the distance. His previous work was 20 days ago going four furlongs at Belmont Park. In his last start he placed fourth in a maiden race going 1 1/8 miles on the main track at Aqueduct on Dec. 8 for trainer Todd Pletcher.

Endlessly (Oscar Performance), a two-time Grade 3 winner (2023 Zuma Beach, 2023 Del Mar Juvenile Turf), worked five furlongs in 1:01.8 at Santa Anita. It was the 62nd fastest of 108 works at the distance. His previous work was eight days ago going five furlongs at Santa Anita. In his last start he placed eighth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf going one mile on the turf at Santa Anita on Nov. 3 for trainer Michael McCarthy.

Googol Joke (Practical Joke) worked four furlongs in 48.8 seconds at Oaklawn. It was the 12th fastest of 63 works at the distance. His previous work was five days ago going four furlongs at Oaklawn. In his last start he placed third in the Renaissance going six furlongs on the main track at Oaklawn on Dec. 31 for trainer Robbie Medina.

Hall of Fame (Gun Runner) worked five furlongs in 1:01.0 at Fair Grounds. It was the fifth fastest of 34 works at the distance. This was his first work since his last race. In his last start he won a maiden race going 1 1/16 miles on the main track at Fair Grounds on Jan. 20 for Asmussen.

Heart Headed (Oscar Performance) worked five furlongs in 1:01.4 at Santa Anita. It was the 44th fastest of 108 works at the distance. His previous work was seven days ago going four furlongs at Santa Anita. In his last start he won a starter allowance race going 6 1/2 furlongs on the main track at Santa Anita on Jan. 15 for trainer John Sadler.

Move to Gold (Twirling Candy) worked four furlongs in 49.8 seconds at Payson Park. It was the 34th fastest of 67 works at the distance. His previous work was seven days ago going four furlongs at Payson Park. In his last start he won the Awad going 1 1/16 miles on the turf at Belmont at the Big A on Oct. 28 for Brown.

No More Time (Not This Time) worked five furlongs in 1:00.0 at Palm Meadows. It was the fastest of 13 works at the distance. His previous work was seven days ago going four furlongs at Palm Meadows. In his last start he placed fifth in the Mucho Macho Man going one mile on the main track at Gulfstream Park on Jan. 1 for D’Angelo.

Pandagate (Arrogate) worked five furlongs in 1:01.6 at Payson Park. It was the fastest of 16 works at the distance. His previous work was seven days ago going four furlongs at Payson Park. In his last start he placed third in an allowance race going 1 1/16 miles on the main track at Laurel Park on Dec. 9 for Clément.

Private Thoughts (Neolithic) worked four furlongs in 49.2 seconds at Gulfstream Park. It was the 21st fastest of 97 works at the distance. His previous work was eight days ago going five furlongs at Gulfstream Park. In his last start he placed seventh in an allowance race going five furlongs on the turf at Gulfstream Park on Dec. 21 for trainer Ronald Spatz.

Raging Torrent (Maximus Mischief) worked four furlongs in 48.0 seconds at Santa Anita. It was the second fastest of 174 works at the distance. This was his first work since his last race. In his last start he placed sixth in the Remington Springboard Mile going one mile on the main track at Remington Park on Dec. 15 for O’Neill.

Refocus (Pavel) worked five furlongs in 1:01.6 at Santa Anita. It was the 53rd fastest of 108 works at the distance. His previous work was six days ago going five furlongs at Santa Anita. In his last start he placed fourth in the Graduation going 5 1/2 furlongs on the main track at Del Mar on Aug. 11 for O’Neill.

Secret Chat (Union Rags) worked three furlongs in 37.9 seconds at Palm Meadows. It was the 24th fastest of 49 works at the distance. This was his first work since his last race. In his last start he placed second in the Aventura going one mile on the main track at Gulfstream Park on Oct. 1 for trainer Roderick Rodríguez.

Stay Hot (Summer Front), a Grade 3 winner (2023 Cecil B. DeMille), worked four furlongs in 50.0 seconds at Santa Anita. It was the 132nd fastest of 174 works at the distance. His previous work was eight days ago going four furlongs at Santa Anita. In his last start he won the Cecil B. DeMille (G3) going one mile on the turf at Del Mar on Dec. 3 for trainer Peter Eurton.

Tennessee (Justify) worked four furlongs in 49.2 seconds at Turfway Park. It was the 31st fastest of 102 works at the distance. His previous work was seven days ago going four furlongs at Turfway Park. In his last start he won a maiden race going one mile on the synthetic at Turfway Park on Jan. 12 for Cox.

Timberlake (Into Mischief), a Grade 1 winner (2023 Champagne), worked four furlongs in 48.6 seconds at Fair Grounds. It was the 10th fastest of 92 works at the distance. His previous work was six days ago going four furlongs at Fair Grounds. In his last start he placed fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile going 1 1/16 miles on the main track at Santa Anita on Nov. 3 for Cox.

Time for Truth (Omaha Beach) worked four furlongs in 49.2 seconds at Oaklawn. It was the 20th fastest of 63 works at the distance. His previous work was five days ago going four furlongs at Oaklawn. In his last start he won a maiden race going six furlongs on the main track at Oaklawn on Dec. 31 for trainer Ron Moquett.

Who Dey (Liam’s Map) worked three furlongs in 37.2 seconds at Turfway Park. It was the second fastest of 25 works at the distance. This was his first work since his last race. In his last start he won an allowance race going one mile on the main track at Churchill Downs on Nov. 25 for trainer Tommy Drury.

Baffert horses

Coach Prime (Quality Road) worked four furlongs in 48.0 seconds at Santa Anita on Saturday morning. It was the second fastest of 174 works at the distance. His previous work was five days ago going five furlongs at Santa Anita. In his last start he placed third in the Los Alamitos Futurity (G2) going 1 1/16 miles on the main track at Los Alamitos on Dec. 16 for trainer Bob Baffert.

Imagination (Into Mischief) worked five furlongs in 1:01.4 at Santa Anita. It was the 44th fastest of 108 works at the distance. His previous work was seven days ago going five furlongs at Santa Anita. In his last start he won a maiden race going one mile on the main track at Santa Anita on Jan. 1 for Baffert.

Maymun (Frosted) worked five furlongs in 1:01.2 at Santa Anita. It was the 38th fastest of 108 works at the distance. His previous work was four days ago going five furlongs at Santa Anita. In his last start he won a maiden race going 6 1/2 furlongs on the main track at Santa Anita on Jan. 20 for Baffert.

Pilot Commander (Justify) worked five furlongs in 1:01.4 at Santa Anita. It was the 44th fastest of 108 works at the distance. His previous work was seven days ago going five furlongs at Santa Anita. In his last start he placed second in the San Vicente (G2) going seven furlongs on the main track at Santa Anita on Jan. 6 for Baffert.