Kentucky Derby works: East Coast hopefuls lead Monday tab

Five horses in Kentucky Derby futures worked across the country Monday morning including a pair of horses familiar from stakes races in New York.

Balboa worked four furlongs in 50.6 seconds at Laurel Park. He started his career on the West Coast and has been productive since moving east and joining the barn of Brittany Russell. He won the James F. Lewis at Laurel in November and since has placed in a pair of stakes races at Aqueduct. He finished third to Paladin in the Remsen (G2) in December then followed up with a runner-up finish behind My World in the Jerome.

Talkin returned to the work tab Monday for the first time since the Remsen. Though he finished ninth in that race, the Danny Gargan trainee previously was second in the Champagne (G1) in October at Aqueduct. He went three furlongs in 37.4 seconds at Palm Meadows, fastest of three over the course and distance.

These five horses in Kentucky Derby futures worked across the country Monday morning:

Balboa (Not This Time) worked four furlongs in 50.6 seconds at Laurel Park on Monday morning. It was the 10th fastest of 15 works at the distance. This was his first work since his last race. In his last start he placed second in the Jerome going one mile on the main track at Aqueduct on Jan. 3 for trainer Brittany Russell.

Knick the Quick (Knicks Go) worked four furlongs in 49.4 seconds at Oaklawn on Monday morning. It was the 11th fastest of 22 works at the distance. His previous work was eight days ago going four furlongs at Oaklawn. In his last start he placed seventh in a starter allowance race going one mile on the main track at Oaklawn on Dec. 27 for trainer Christopher Davis.

Later Than Planned (Cotai Glory) worked five furlongs in 1:00.4 at Santa Anita on Monday morning. It was the third fastest of 11 works at the distance. His previous work was seven days ago going five furlongs at Santa Anita. In his last start he placed sixth in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint going five furlongs on the turf at Del Mar on Oct. 31 for trainer Phil D'Amato.

Plutarch (Into Mischief) worked four furlongs in 49.2 seconds at Santa Anita on Monday morning. It was the 24th fastest of 38 works at the distance. His previous work was eight days ago going four furlongs at Santa Anita. In his last start he won a maiden race going 1 1/8 miles on the turf at Del Mar on Nov. 30 for trainer Bob Baffert.

Talkin (Good Magic) worked three furlongs in 37.4 seconds at Palm Meadows on Monday morning. It was the fastest of three works at the distance. This was his first work since his last race. In his last start he placed ninth in the Remsen (G2) going 1 1/8 miles on the main track at Aqueduct on Dec. 6 for trainer Danny Gargan.