Thursday works: Straight No Chaser returns, leads 12 on tab

Straight No Chaser, winner of the 2024 Breeders' Cup Sprint, worked Thursday for the first time since an eighth-place finish in the Group 1 Dubai Golden Shaheen in April.

The 6-year-old son of Speightster worked three furlongs in 36.8 seconds at Santa Anita, fourth fastest of eight at the distance.

Trained by Dan Blacker, Straight No Chaser was on a three-race winning streak ahead of the Golden Shaheen. He won the Santa Anita Sprint Championship (G1) in September and made his 2025 debut with a win in the Riyadh Dirt Sprint (G2).

In the Golden Shaheen, he bumped with another rider, and jockey John Velazquez said he never traveled well, as reported by Paulick Report. After the race, he was found to be "mildly lame in the left foreleg," according to the Emirates Racing Authority stewards’ report.

Straight No Chaser was one of 12 graded-stakes winners with published works Thursday.

Speed Boat Beach (Bayern), a Grade 1 winner (2023 Malibu), worked five furlongs in 1:02.0 at Santa Anita on Thursday morning. It was the 28th fastest of 39 works at the distance. This was his first work since his last race. In his last start he placed 10th in the St. Matthews Overnight going six furlongs on the main track at Churchill Downs on May 1 for trainer Bob Baffert.

Straight No Chaser (Speightster), a Grade 1 winner (2024 Breeders' Cup Sprint), worked three furlongs in 36.8 seconds at Santa Anita on Thursday morning. It was the fourth fastest of eight works at the distance. This was his first work since his last race. In his last start he placed eighth in Dubai Golden Shaheen (G1) going about six furlongs on the dirt at Meydan on April 5 for trainer Dan Blacker.

Master Piece (Mastercraftsman), a three-time Grade 2 winner (2024 Fort Marcy, 2023 Red Smith, 2022 Eddie Read), worked four furlongs in 47.6 seconds at Belmont Park on Thursday morning. It was the third fastest of 26 works at the distance. His previous work was six days ago going four furlongs at Belmont Park. In his last start he placed fifth in an allowance race going 1 1/16 miles on the turf at Belmont at the Big A on June 19 for trainer Rick Dutrow.

Atitlan (The Factor), a two-time Grade 2 winner (2025 Charles Whittingham, 2024 Twilight Derby), worked five furlongs in 59.8 seconds at Santa Anita on Thursday morning. It was the third fastest of 39 works at the distance. His previous work was eight days ago going five furlongs at Santa Anita. In his last start he placed fifth in the Shoemaker Mile (G1) going one mile on the turf at Santa Anita on May 26 for trainer John Shirreffs.

Simply in Front (Summer Front), a two-time Grade 2 winner (2025 Churchill Distaff Turf Mile, 2024 Music City), worked four furlongs in 50.2 seconds at Churchill Downs on Thursday morning. It was the 39th fastest of 58 works at the distance. Her previous work was nine days ago going four furlongs at Churchill Downs. In her last start she placed fifth in the Just a Game (G1) going one mile on the turf at Saratoga on June 6 for trainer Eddie Kenneally.

Dicey Mo Chara (Adaay), a Grade 2 winner (2022 San Gabriel), worked four furlongs in 48.4 seconds at Santa Anita on Thursday morning. It was the third fastest of 10 works at the distance. His previous work was seven days ago going four furlongs at Santa Anita. In his last start he placed sixth in an allowance race going 1 1/8 miles on the turf at Santa Anita on June 8 for trainer Leonard Powell.

Imagination (Into Mischief), a Grade 2 winner (2024 San Felipe), worked three furlongs in 36.2 seconds at Los Alamitos on Thursday morning. It was the fastest of six works at the distance. His previous work was seven days ago going three furlongs at Los Alamitos. In his last start he placed fourth in the San Pasqual (G2) going 1 1/8 miles on the main track at Santa Anita on Jan. 25 for trainer Bob Baffert.

Banishing (Ghostzapper), a Grade 3 winner (2025 Oaklawn Mile), worked three furlongs in 38.0 seconds at Churchill Training on Thursday morning. It was the only work at the distance. This was his first work since his last race. In his last start he placed second in the Hanshin going one mile on the main track at Churchill Downs on June 29 for trainer David Jacobson.

Dancing Buck (War Dancer), a Grade 3 winner (2022 Belmont Turf Sprint), worked four furlongs in 50.6 seconds at Belmont Park on Thursday morning. It was the 14th fastest of 26 works at the distance. His previous work was seven days ago going four furlongs at Belmont Park. In his last start he placed sixth in the Jaipur (G1) going 5 1/2 furlongs on the turf at Saratoga on June 8 for trainer Michelle Nevin.

Danse Macabre (Army Mule), a Grade 3 winner (2023 Herecomesthebride), worked four furlongs in 51.2 seconds at Saratoga on Thursday morning. It was the 13th fastest of 14 works at the distance. Her previous work was 10 days ago going four furlongs at Saratoga. In her last start she placed sixth in the Intercontinental (G2) going 5 1/2 furlongs on the turf at Saratoga on June 5 for trainer Miguel Clement.

Ice Chocolat (Goldikovic), a Grade 3 winner (2024 Poker), worked four furlongs in 49.0 seconds at Woodbine on Thursday morning. It was the 16th fastest of 27 works at the distance. His previous work was eight days ago going three furlongs at Woodbine. In his last start he placed eighth in the Appleton going one mile on the turf at Gulfstream Park on March 29 for trainer Mark Casse.

Waskesiu (American Pharoah), a Grade 3 winner (2024 Florida Oaks), worked three furlongs in 37.3 seconds at Saratoga on Thursday morning. It was the fastest of nine works at the distance. Her previous work was seven days ago going three furlongs at Saratoga. In her last start she won the Florida Oaks (G3) going 1 1/16 miles on the turf at Tampa Bay Downs on March 9 for trainer Bill Mott.