Monday works: Last-out graded winners Durante, Lane Way drill

Durante, who won the Grade 3 Bold Ruler at Aqueduct on Oct. 27, returned to the work tab for the first time since that victory. The David Jacobson trainee worked three furlongs in 38.22 seconds over the dirt training track at Belmont, the fourth-fastest of seven such drills on the day.

Now a 4-year-old, Durante had not raced in graded-stakes company in almost two years before the Bold Ruler. In his only previous graded try, he finished fourth behind Slow Down Andy in the Los Alamitos Futurity (G2) in 2021. The Distorted Humor gelding has found his best with age. He has a 23: 7-5-1 career record, but five of those wins have come in his last six starts as he has ascended from starter-allowance ranks through the allowance levels into graded victory last out.

Lane Way, a popular turf sprinter who won the Eddie D (G2) in his last start, worked for the first time since not drawing in from the also-eligible list for the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint. The 6-year-old gelding, a Richard Mandella trainee owned by the MyRacehorse syndicate, went four furlongs at Del Mar in 47.4 seconds on Monday.

These six graded-stakes winners worked across North America on Monday morning:

Forbidden Kingdom (American Pharoah), a two-time Grade 2 winner (2022 San Felipe, 2022 San Vicente), worked three furlongs in 36.0 seconds at Santa Anita on Monday morning. It was the third fastest of 10 works at the distance. His previous work was seven days ago going three furlongs at Santa Anita. In his last start he placed fourth in the Triple Bend (G2) going seven furlongs on the main track at Santa Anita on May 27 for trainer Richard Mandella.

Lane Way (Into Mischief), a Grade 2 winner (2023 Eddie D), worked four furlongs in 47.4 seconds at Del Mar on Monday morning. It was the fourth fastest of 20 works at the distance. His previous work was 18 days ago going four furlongs at Santa Anita. In his last start he won the Eddie D (G2) going 6 1/2 furlongs on the turf at Santa Anita on Sept. 30 for trainer Richard Mandella.

Packs a Wahlop (Creative Cause), a two-time Grade 3 winner (2022 Zuma Beach, 2022 Del Mar Juvenile Turf), worked four furlongs in 50.4 seconds at Santa Anita on Monday morning. It was the 48th fastest of 51 works at the distance. This was his first work since his last race. In his last start he placed 10th in the Twilight Derby (G2) going 1 1/8 miles on the turf at Santa Anita on Nov. 4 for trainer Jeff Mullins.

Champions Dream (Justify), a Grade 3 winner (2022 Nashua), worked three furlongs in 37.2 seconds at Belmont Park on Monday morning. It was the second fastest of seven works at the distance. This was his first work since his last race. In his last start he placed sixth in an allowance race going six furlongs on the main track at Saratoga on Aug. 26 for trainer Danny Gargan.

Durante (Distorted Humor), a Grade 3 winner (2023 Bold Ruler), worked three furlongs in 38.2 seconds at Belmont Park on Monday morning. It was the fourth fastest of seven works at the distance. This was his first work since his last race. In his last start he won the Bold Ruler (G3) going six furlongs on the main track at Belmont at the Big A on Oct. 27 for trainer David Jacobson.

Lady T (Into Mischief), a Grade 3 winner (2022 Las Flores), worked four furlongs in 52.2 seconds at Del Mar on Monday morning. It was the slowest of 20 works at the distance. Her previous work was 23 days ago going four furlongs at Santa Anita. In her last start she placed sixth in the Chillingworth (G3) going 6 1/2 furlongs on the main track at Santa Anita on Sept. 29 for trainer John Shirreffs.