Wednesday workouts: Played Hard leads 12 graded winners
Played Hard, whose win in the La Troienne gave trainer Philip Bauer his first Grade 1, drilled five furlongs in 1:01.7 Wednesday at Saratoga.
The 5-year-old daughter of Into Mischief followed her La Troienne score with a third-place finish in the Ogden Phipps (G1), won by Clairiere. Bauer told Horse Racing Nation last week that her next start could come in the Personal Ensign (G1) at Saratoga or the Locust Grove (G3) at Churchill Downs.
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Played Hard was one of 12 graded-stakes winners with published works in the U.S. on Wednesday.
Doppelganger (Into Mischief), a Grade 1 winner (2023 Carter Handicap), worked four furlongs in 50.0 at Laurel Park on Wednesday morning. It was the 14th fastest of 28 works at the distance. His previous work was 11 days ago going four furlongs at Laurel Park. In his last start he won the Battery Park going 1 1/16 miles on the main track at Delaware Park on July 8 for trainer Brittany Russell.
Played Hard (Into Mischief), a Grade 1 winner (2023 La Troienne), worked five furlongs in 1:01.7 at Saratoga on Wednesday morning. It was the fourth fastest of 8 works at the distance. Her previous work was 18 days ago going four furlongs at Saratoga. In her last start she placed third in the Ogden Phipps (G1) going 1 1/16 miles on the main track at Belmont Park on June 10 for trainer Philip Bauer.
Leave No Trace (Outwork), a Grade 1 winner (2022 Spinaway), worked five furlongs in 1:02.2 at Saratoga on Wednesday morning. It was the seventh fastest of 8 works at the distance. Her previous work was seven days ago going five furlongs at Saratoga. In her last start she placed eighth in the Davona Dale (G2) going one mile on the main track at Gulfstream Park on March 4 for trainer Philip Serpe.
City Man (Mucho Macho Man), a Grade 2 winner (2022 Fort Lauderdale), worked five furlongs in 1:02.4 at Belmont Park on Wednesday morning. It was the second fastest of 9 works at the distance. His previous work was seven days ago going four furlongs at Belmont Park. In his last start he placed 1st in the Kingston going 1 1/16 miles on the turf at Belmont Park on May 29 for trainer Christophe Clement.
Law Professor (Constitution), a Grade 2 winner (2021 Santa Anita Mathis Mile), worked three furlongs in 37.8 at Belmont Park on Wednesday morning. It was the third fastest of 8 works at the distance. This is his first work since his last race. In his last start he placed sixth in the Pimlico Special Presented by Bulleit Bourbon (G3) going 1 3/16 miles on the main track at Pimlico on May 19 for trainer Rob Atras.
Speak of the Devil (Wootton Bassett ), a Grade 2 winner (2022 Distaff Turf Mile), worked four furlongs in 50.4 at Belmont Park on Wednesday morning. It was the 18th fastest of 31 works at the distance. Her previous work was three days ago going four furlongs at Saratoga. In her last start she placed fifth in the Just a Game (G1) going one mile on the turf at Belmont Park on June 9 for trainer Chad Brown.
Gerrymander (Into Mischief), a Grade 2 winner (2022 Mother Goose), worked four furlongs in 49.2 at Saratoga on Wednesday morning. It was the seventh fastest of 15 works at the distance. This is her first work since her last race. In her last start she placed third in an allowance race going one mile on the main track at Saratoga on July 19 for Brown.
Battle Bling (Vancouver), a Grade 3 winner (2022 Turnback the Alarm Handicap), worked four furlongs in 51.9 at Belmont Park on Wednesday morning. It was the 27th fastest of 31 works at the distance. Her previous work was seven days ago going four furlongs at Belmont Park. In her last start she placed sixth in the Delaware Handicap (G2) going 1 3/16 miles on the main track at Delaware Park on July 8 for trainer Rob Atras.
Background (Khozan), a Grade 3 winner (2021 Longacres Mile Handicap), worked four furlongs in 49.4 at Churchill Downs on Wednesday morning. It was the 21st fastest of 63 works at the distance. This is his first work since his last race. In his last start he won an allowance race going 1 1/8 miles on the main track at Ellis Park on July 15 for trainer Michael Puhich.
Chaos Theory (Curlin), a Grade 3 winner (2020 Green Flash Handicap), worked three furlongs in 36.0 at Presque Isle Downs on Wednesday morning. It was the fastest of 2 works at the distance. This is his first work since his last race. In his last start he placed third in a claiming race going 6 1/2 furlongs on the turf at Santa Anita Park on May 27 for trainer Mike Puype.
Happy Farm (Ghostzapper), a Grade 3 winner (2019 Fall Highweight), worked three furlongs in 36.6 at Saratoga on Wednesday morning. It was the second fastest of 12 works at the distance. This is his first work since his last race. In his last start he placed third in a claiming race going six furlongs on the main track at Saratoga on July 14 for trainer Antonio Arriaga.
Nostalgic (Medaglia d'Oro), a Grade 3 winner (2022 Gazelle), worked four furlongs in 49.7 at Saratoga on Wednesday morning. It was the 14th fastest of 26 works at the distance. This is her first work since her last race. In her last start she placed second in an allowance race going one mile on the main track at Saratoga on July 19 for trainer Bill Mott.