Monday works: Baeza, Nysos lead 16 graded winners

Baeza, winner of the Grade 1 Pennsylvania Derby and third in the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes in 2025, worked Monday morning at Payson Park. He drilled a sharp four furlongs in 49.0 seconds on the dirt, third fastest of 25 over the course and distance. Now trained by Bill Mott, Baeza may make his 4-year-old debut in the Alysheba (G2), according to a Thoroughbred Daily News report.

Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile winner Nysos also put in serious work Monday morning. The Bob Baffert trainee worked four furlongs in 48.6 seconds over the dirt at Santa Anita.

The drill was the second for Nysos since he finished second behind Forever Young in the Saudi Cup (G1) on Feb. 14. Nysos was one of three Grade 1 winners on the Monday tab for Baffert, who also sent out Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint winner Splendora and Del Mar Debutante (G1) winner Bottle of Rouge.

These 16 graded-stakes winners worked across the country Monday:

Splendora (Audible), a two-time Grade 1 winner (2026 Beholder Mile, 2025 Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint), worked five furlongs in 1:00.2 at Santa Anita on Monday morning. It was the seventh fastest of 37 works at the distance. Her previous work was 10 days ago going three furlongs at Santa Anita. In her last start, she won the Beholder Mile (G1) going one mile on the main track at Santa Anita on March 7 for trainer Bob Baffert.

Baeza (McKinzie), a Grade 1 winner (2025 Pennsylvania Derby), worked four furlongs in 49.0 seconds at Payson Park on Monday morning. It was the third fastest of 25 works at the distance. His previous work was eight days ago going four furlongs at Payson Park. In his last start, he placed sixth in the Breeders' Cup Classic going 1 1/4 miles on the main track at Del Mar on Nov. 1 for trainer John Shirreffs.

Bottle of Rouge (Vino Rosso), a Grade 1 winner (2025 Del Mar Debutante), worked four furlongs in 48.0 seconds at Santa Anita on Monday morning. It was the 11th fastest of 54 works at the distance. This was her first work since her last race. In her last start, she won the Virginia Oaks going 1 1/16 miles on the main track at Colonial Downs on March 14 for trainer Bob Baffert. 

Nysos (Nyquist), a Grade 1 winner (2025 Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile), worked four furlongs in 48.6 seconds at Santa Anita on Monday morning. It was the 24th fastest of 54 works at the distance. His previous work was seven days ago going four furlongs at Santa Anita. In his last start, he placed second in the Saudi Cup (G1) going 1 1/8 miles on the dirt at King Abdulaziz Racecourse on Feb. 14 for trainer Bob Baffert.

Stronghold (Ghostzapper), a Grade 1 winner (2024 Santa Anita Derby), worked five furlongs in 59.4 seconds at Santa Anita on Monday morning. It was the fastest of 37 works at the distance. His previous work was eight days ago going five furlongs at Santa Anita. In his last start, he placed second in the Pat O'Brien (G2) going seven furlongs on the main track at Del Mar on Aug. 23 for trainer Phil D'Amato.

Imagination (Into Mischief), a two-time Grade 2 winner (2025 Santa Anita Sprint Championship, 2024 San Felipe), worked four furlongs in 49.2 seconds at Santa Anita on Monday morning. It was the 39th fastest of 54 works at the distance. His previous work was eight days ago going four furlongs at Santa Anita. In his last start, he won the Riyadh Dirt Sprint (G2) going about six furlongs on the dirt at King Abdulaziz Racecourse on Feb. 14 for trainer Bob Baffert.

First Peace (Funtastic), a Grade 2 winner (2024 Eddie D), worked three furlongs in 37.8 seconds at Santa Anita on Monday morning. It was the 17th fastest of 20 works at the distance. His previous work was 16 days ago going three furlongs at Santa Anita. In his last start, he placed seventh in the Eddie D (G2) going 6 1/2 furlongs on the turf at Santa Anita on Sept. 27 for trainer Mark Glatt.

Scythian (Tiz the Law), a Grade 2 winner (2024 Miss Grillo), worked four furlongs in 49.0 seconds at Payson Park on Monday morning. It was the third fastest of 25 works at the distance. Her previous work was 10 days ago going four furlongs at Payson Park. In her last start, she placed sixth in the Hillsborough (G2) going 1 1/8 miles on the turf at Tampa Bay Downs on March 7 for trainer Bill Mott.

Tiztastic (Tiz the Law), a Grade 2 winner (2025 Louisiana Derby), worked five furlongs in 1:01.8 at Churchill Downs on Monday morning. It was the fastest of four works at the distance. His previous work was 10 days ago going five furlongs at Fair Grounds. In his last start, he placed 10th in the Nashville Derby Invitational (G3) going 1 5/16 miles on the turf at Kentucky Downs on Aug. 30 for trainer Steve Asmussen.

Knightsbridge (Nyquist), a three-time Grade 3 winner (2026 Gulfstream Park Mile presented by Fierceness, 2026 Fred W. Hooper, 2025 Mr. Prospector), worked four furlongs in 50.8 seconds at Payson Park on Monday morning. It was the 22nd fastest of 25 works at the distance. His previous work was nine days ago going four furlongs at Payson Park. In his last start, he won the Gulfstream Park Mile presented by Fierceness (G3) going one mile on the main track at Gulfstream Park on Feb. 28 for trainer Bill Mott.

Queen Maxima (Bucchero), a three-time Grade 3 winner (2026 Las Cienegas, 2025 Unbridled Sidney, 2025 Monrovia), worked four furlongs in 50.2 seconds at Santa Anita on Monday morning. It was the 18th fastest of 21 works at the distance. Her previous work was seven days ago going five furlongs at Santa Anita. In her last start, she won the Las Cienegas (G3) going 6 1/2 furlongs on the turf at Santa Anita on Jan. 11 for trainer Jeff Mullins.

Durante (Distorted Humor), a two-time Grade 3 winner (2025 Aristides, 2023 Bold Ruler), worked three furlongs in 38.4 seconds at Churchill Training on Monday morning. It was the second fastest of four works at the distance. This was his first work since his last race. In his last start, he placed fourth in an allowance race going six furlongs on the main track at Oaklawn on March 1 for trainer David Jacobson.

Artislas (Catalina Cruiser), a Grade 3 winner (2024 Del Mar Juvenile Turf), worked four furlongs in 49.4 seconds at Santa Anita on Monday morning. It was the 44th fastest of 54 works at the distance. His previous work was seven days ago going four furlongs at Santa Anita. In his last start, he placed third in the La Jolla Handicap going 1 1/16 miles on the turf at Del Mar on Aug. 3 for trainer Jeff Mullins.

Nafisa (Quality Road), a Grade 3 winner (2026 La Canada), worked five furlongs in 1:00.2 at Santa Anita on Monday morning. It was the seventh fastest of 37 works at the distance. Her previous work was seven days ago going four furlongs at Santa Anita. In her last start, she placed fifth in the Beholder Mile (G1) going one mile on the main track at Santa Anita on March 7 for trainer Bob Baffert.

Red Flag (Tamarkuz), a Grade 3 winner (2020 Bob Hope), worked five furlongs in 1:02.6 at Santa Anita on Monday morning. It was the 29th fastest of 37 works at the distance. His previous work was seven days ago going four furlongs at Santa Anita. In his last start, he placed third in an allowance race going six furlongs on the main track at Santa Anita on March 7 for trainer Jeff Mullins.

Watchtower (Demarchelier), a Grade 3 winner (2024 Autumn Miss), worked five furlongs in 1:00.0 at Santa Anita on Monday morning. It was the third fastest of five works at the distance. Her previous work was eight days ago going five furlongs at Santa Anita. In her last start, she placed sixth in the Buena Vista (G2) going one mile on the turf at Santa Anita on Feb. 28 for trainer Richard Baltas.