Works report: Baeza earns a bullet, leading 17 graded winners

Baeza, third in both the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes in 2025, worked a bullet five furlongs Monday morning at Payson Park. His time of 1:01.4 was fastest of 10 drills over the course and distance on the day. It was his fourth work at Payson Park after moving east to join the barn of Bill Mott after his previous trainer John Shirreffs died in February.

A pair of Kentucky Oaks prospects also hit the work tab Monday morning for trainer Bob Baffert. Explora and Bottle of Rouge both posted four-furlong drills over the dirt at Santa Anita. Honeybee (G2) winner Explora, with 95 points, has earned her way into the main field already. Last-out Virginia Oaks winner Bottle of Rouge, with 57.5 points, needs two defections in front of her to get into the field.

These 17 graded-stakes winners worked across the country Monday morning:

Program Trading (Lope de Vega), a three-time Grade 1 winner (2024 Turf Classic, 2023 Hollywood Derby, 2023 Saratoga Derby Invitational), worked four furlongs in 49.6 seconds at Payson Park on Monday morning. It was the 12th fastest of 34 works at the distance. This was his first work since his last race. In his last start, he placed third in the Muniz Memorial Classic (G2) going 1 1/8 miles on the turf at Fair Grounds on March 21 for trainer Chad Brown.

Baeza (McKinzie), a Grade 1 winner (2025 Pennsylvania Derby), worked five furlongs in 1:01.4 at Payson Park on Monday morning. It was the fastest of 10 works at the distance. His previous work was seven 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 48.2 seconds at Santa Anita on Monday morning. It was the 19th fastest of 65 works at the distance. Her previous work was seven days ago going four furlongs at Santa Anita. 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.

Salamis (Speightstown), a Grade 1 winner (2025 Hollywood Derby), worked three furlongs in 38.4 seconds at Payson Park on Monday morning. It was the third fastest of six works at the distance. His previous work was 39 days ago going three furlongs at Payson Park. In his last start, he won the Hollywood Derby (G1) going 1 1/8 miles on the turf at Del Mar on Nov. 29 for trainer Chad Brown.

Seismic Beauty (Uncle Mo), a Grade 1 winner (2025 Clement L. Hirsch), worked five furlongs in 1:00.0 at Santa Anita on Monday morning. It was the fifth fastest of 31 works at the distance. Her previous work was 18 days ago going three furlongs at Santa Anita. In her last start, she placed 11th in the Breeders' Cup Distaff going 1 1/8 miles on the main track at Del Mar on Nov. 1 for trainer Bob Baffert.

Stronghold (Ghostzapper), a Grade 1 winner (2024 Santa Anita Derby), worked five furlongs in 1:00.6 at Santa Anita on Monday morning. It was the ninth fastest of 31 works at the distance. His previous work was seven 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.

World Beater (Oscar Performance), a Grade 1 winner (2025 Saratoga Derby Invitational), worked three furlongs in 39.0 seconds at Keeneland on Monday morning. It was the slowest of 19 works at the distance. This was his first work since his last race. In his last start, he won the Old Dominion Derby (G3) going 1 1/8 miles on the turf at Colonial Downs on Sept. 6 for trainer Riley Mott.

Bottas (Vekoma), a Grade 2 winner (2025 Pilgrim), worked three furlongs in 40.0 seconds at Payson Park on Monday morning. It was the fifth fastest of six works at the distance. This was his first work since his last race. In his last start, he placed ninth in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf going one mile on the turf at Del Mar on Oct. 31 for trainer Miguel Clement.

Explora (Blame), a Grade 2 winner (2025 Oak Leaf), worked four furlongs in 48.0 seconds at Santa Anita on Monday morning. It was the 13th fastest of 65 works at the distance. Her previous work was 17 days ago going five furlongs at Santa Anita. In her last start, she won the Honeybee (G3) going 1 1/16 miles on the main track at Oaklawn on March 1 for trainer Bob Baffert.

Final Boss (American Pharoah), a Grade 2 winner (2026 Frank E. Kilroe Mile), worked three furlongs in 36.0 seconds at Santa Anita on Monday morning. It was the second fastest of six works at the distance. This was his first work since his last race. In his last start, he won the Frank E. Kilroe Mile (G2) going one mile on the turf at Santa Anita on March 7 for trainer John Sadler.

Balnikhov (Adaay), a three-time Grade 3 winner (2024 Dinner Party, 2023 San Francisco Mile, 2022 Bryan Station), worked four furlongs in 47.6 seconds at Santa Anita on Monday morning. It was the fifth fastest of 15 works at the distance. This was his first work since his last race. In his last start, he placed fifth in the San Luis Rey (G3) going 1 1/2 miles on the turf at Santa Anita on March 21 for trainer Phil D'Amato.

Artislas (Catalina Cruiser), a Grade 3 winner (2024 Del Mar Juvenile Turf), worked five furlongs in 1:04.8 at Santa Anita on Monday morning. It was the slowest of 31 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.

Fast Market (Volatile), a Grade 3 winner (2025 Pebbles), worked four furlongs in 50.6 seconds at Belmont Park on Monday morning. It was the 24th fastest of 32 works at the distance. Her previous work was six days ago going five furlongs at Belmont Park. In her last start, she won the Pebbles (G3) going 1 1/16 miles on the turf at Aqueduct on Nov. 23 for trainer John Terranova.

Intricate Spirit (Complexity), a Grade 3 winner (2025 Futurity), worked five furlongs in 1:02.4 at Payson Park on Monday morning. It was the third fastest of 10 works at the distance. This was his first work since his last race. In his last start, he placed third in the Texas Glitter going five furlongs on the synthetic at Gulfstream Park on March 21 for trainer Miguel Clement.

Public Assembly (More Than Ready), a Grade 3 winner (2025 Royal Heroine), worked four furlongs in 48.8 seconds at Santa Anita on Monday morning. It was the 35th fastest of 65 works at the distance. This was her first work since her last race. In her last start, she placed fourth in the Santa Ana (G3) going 1 1/4 miles on the turf at Santa Anita on March 15 for trainer Phil D'Amato.

Red Flag (Tamarkuz), a Grade 3 winner (2020 Bob Hope), worked five furlongs in 1:00.2 at Santa Anita on Monday morning. It was the sixth fastest of 31 works at the distance. His previous work was seven days ago going five 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.

Sumter (War Front), a Grade 3 winner (2026 San Simeon), worked five furlongs in 1:01.6 at Santa Anita on Monday morning. It was the 13th fastest of 31 works at the distance. His previous work was eight days ago going four furlongs at Santa Anita. In his last start, he won the San Simeon (G3) going 6 1/2 furlongs on the turf at Santa Anita on March 14 for trainer Richard Mandella.