Thursday tab: Joey Freshwater is back at work for Rice

Joey Freshwater, winner of the Grade 3 Bay Shore in April but 0-for-6 since, is back at work for trainer Linda Rice after taking a break.

The last start for the 3-year-old son of Jimmy Creed was in August, when he finished seventh in the Salvatore M. DeBunda Sprint at Parx. He resumed working Dec. 7, and on Thursday he went five furlongs at Belmont Park in 1:02.11.

Rice told Thoroughbred Daily News this month that she didn't have a target in mind for him but that he could return to racing in January.

Joey Freshwater was one of five graded-stakes winners with timed works in the U.S. on Thursday.

Alva Starr (Lord Nelson), a Grade 2 winner (2023 Prioress), worked three furlongs in 38.2 seconds at Fair Grounds on Thursday morning. It was the third fastest of four works at the distance. Her previous work was seven days ago going four furlongs at Fair Grounds. In her last start she placed second in the Raven Run (G2) going seven furlongs on the main track at Keeneland on Oct. 21 for trainer Brett Brinkman.

Classier (Empire Maker), a Grade 3 winner (2021 Los Alamitos Derby), worked four furlongs in 47.3 seconds at Pimlico on Thursday morning. It was the fastest of eight works at the distance. His previous work was nine days ago going three furlongs at Pimlico. In his last start he placed third in an allowance race going six furlongs on the main track at Laurel Park on Nov. 18 for trainer Kieron Magee.

Joey Freshwater (Jimmy Creed), a Grade 3 winner (2023 Bay Shore), worked five furlongs in 1:02.1 at Belmont Park on Thursday morning. It was the fourth fastest of 11 works at the distance. His previous work was seven days ago going four furlongs at Belmont Park. In his last start he placed seventh in the Salvatore M. DeBunda Sprint going 6 1/2 furlongs on the main track at Parx Racing on Aug. 22 for trainer Linda Rice.

Masqueparade (Upstart), a Grade 3 winner (2021 Ohio Derby), worked four furlongs in 47.4 seconds at Louisiana Downs on Thursday morning. It was the second fastest of 28 works at the distance. His previous work was 14 days ago going five furlongs at Louisiana Downs. In his last start he placed sixth in an allowance race going 1 1/16 miles on the main track at Churchill Downs on Sept. 21 for trainer Al Stall Jr.

Surprisingly (Mastery), a Grade 3 winner (2023 Endeavour), worked four furlongs in 49.0 seconds at Palm Beach Downs on Thursday morning. It was the third fastest of 19 works at the distance. Her previous work was nine days ago going three furlongs at Palm Beach Downs. In her last start she placed seventh in the Ballston Spa (G2) going 1 1/16 miles on the turf at Saratoga on Aug. 24 for trainer Shug McGaughey.