Works report: Taiba, Under the Stars fire bullets at Santa Anita

A week before an expected start in the Grade 1 Malibu, Taiba worked a bullet five furlongs over the dirt at Santa Anita. Going in company with two-time Grade 2 winner Under the Stars, Taiba covered the five-eighths of a mile in 59.6 seconds. The pair recorded the fastest times of 42 workers Monday morning at the distance.

Monday's work was Taiba's fourth since he finished third in the Breeders' Cup Classic on Nov. 5. Workmate Under the Stars last raced Oct. 2 in the Chillingworth (G3), where she finished second to the older mare Ce Ce. Under the Stars, who like Taiba is trained by Bob Baffert, is expected to race next Monday in the La Brea (G1).

These 19 graded-stakes winners worked out at tracks across North America on Monday. For more information on where these horses may race next, visit the Horse Racing Nation Stakes Schedule.

Taiba (Gun Runner), a two-time Grade 1 winner (2022 Pennsylvania Derby, 2022 Santa Anita Derby), worked five furlongs in 59.6 seconds at Santa Anita on Monday morning. It was the fastest of 42 works at the distance. His previous work was nine days ago going six furlongs at Santa Anita. In his last start he placed third in the Breeders' Cup Classic going 1 1/4 miles on the main track at Keeneland on Nov. 5 for trainer Bob Baffert.

Two Emmys (English Channel), a Grade 1 winner (2021 Mr. D.), worked four furlongs in 50.4 seconds at Fair Grounds on Monday morning. It was the 31st fastest of 54 works at the distance. His previous work was 11 days ago going four furlongs at Fair Grounds. In his last start he won the Outbound Ike going 1 1/16 miles on the turf at Hawthorne on June 25 for trainer Hugh Robertson.

Under the Stars (Pioneerof the Nile), a two-time Grade 2 winner (2022 Summertime Oaks, 2022 Santa Ynez), worked five furlongs in 59.6 seconds at Santa Anita on Monday morning. It was the fastest of 42 works at the distance. Her previous work was nine days ago going six furlongs at Santa Anita. In her last start she placed second in the Chillingworth (G3) going 6 1/2 furlongs on the main track at Santa Anita on Oct. 2 for trainer Bob Baffert.

Ain't Easy (Into Mischief), a Grade 2 winner (2021 Chandelier), worked six furlongs in 1:12.4 at Santa Anita on Monday morning. It was the third fastest of nine works at the distance. Her previous work was nine days ago going five furlongs at Santa Anita. In her last start she placed third in an allowance race going five furlongs on the turf at Del Mar on Nov. 19 for trainer Philip D'Amato.

Leggs Galore (Bayern), a Grade 2 winner (2022 Buena Vista), worked five furlongs in 1:03.2 at Santa Anita on Monday morning. It was the 19th fastest of 20 works at the distance. Her previous work was five days ago going three furlongs at Santa Anita. In her last start she placed second in the California Distaff Handicap going 6 1/2 furlongs on the turf at Santa Anita on Oct. 15 for trainer Philip D'Amato.

Midcourt (Midnight Lute), a Grade 2 winner (2020 San Pasqual), worked four furlongs in 50.8 seconds at Santa Anita on Monday morning. It was the 40th fastest of 45 works at the distance. His previous work was 21 days ago going four furlongs at Del Mar. In his last start he placed eighth in the Mineshaft (G3) going 1 1/16 miles on the main track at Fair Grounds on Feb. 19 for trainer John Shirreffs.

Midnight Memories (Mastery), a Grade 2 winner (2022 Zenyatta), worked five furlongs in 1:00.8 at Santa Anita on Monday morning. It was the 12th fastest of 42 works at the distance. Her previous work was five days ago going six furlongs at Santa Anita. In her last start she won the Zenyatta (G2) going 1 1/16 miles on the main track at Santa Anita on Oct. 2 for trainer Bob Baffert.

Stolen Base (Bodemeister), a Grade 2 winner (2022 American Turf), worked five furlongs in 1:01.0 at Palm Meadows on Monday morning. It was the seventh fastest of 16 works at the distance. His previous work was seven days ago going four furlongs at Palm Meadows. In his last start he placed second in the Commonwealth Turf going 1 1/16 miles on the main track at Churchill Downs on Nov. 27 for trainer Mike Maker.

Heywoods Beach (Speightstown), a two-time Grade 3 winner (2022 Tokyo City Cup, 2022 Cougar II), worked five furlongs in 1:01.2 at Santa Anita on Monday morning. It was the 19th fastest of 42 works at the distance. His previous work was six days ago going five furlongs at Santa Anita. In his last start he placed second in the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (G2) going 1 5/8 miles on the main track at Keeneland on Nov. 4 for trainer John Sadler.

Mr. Wireless (Dialed In), a two-time Grade 3 winner (2021 West Virginia Derby, 2021 Indiana Derby), worked four furlongs in 51.6 seconds at Fair Grounds on Monday morning. It was the 43rd fastest of 54 works at the distance. His previous work was six days ago going four furlongs at Fair Grounds. In his last start he won an allowance race going one mile on the main track at Churchill Downs on Nov. 11 for trainer Bret Calhoun.

Newgrange (Violence), a two-time Grade 3 winner (2022 Southwest, 2022 Sham), worked six furlongs in 1:12.4 at Santa Anita on Monday morning. It was the third fastest of nine works at the distance. His previous work was nine days ago going four furlongs at Santa Anita. In his last start he placed third in the Native Diver (G3) going 1 1/8 miles on the main track at Del Mar on Nov. 27 for trainer Philip D'Amato.

Balnikhov (Adaay), a Grade 3 winner (2022 Bryan Station), worked five furlongs in 59.8 seconds at Santa Anita on Monday morning. It was the second fastest of 20 works at the distance. His previous work was nine days ago going four furlongs at Santa Anita. In his last start he won the Bryan Station (G3) going one mile on the turf at Keeneland on Oct. 29 for trainer Philip D'Amato.

Burgoo Alley (Footstepsinthesand), a Grade 3 winner (2021 Autumn Miss), worked five furlongs in 1:01.4 at Santa Anita on Monday morning. It was the 11th fastest of 20 works at the distance. Her previous work was nine days ago going four furlongs at Santa Anita. In her last start she placed fifth in the Kathryn Crosby going one mile on the turf at Del Mar on Nov. 12 for trainer Philip D'Amato.

Chaos Theory (Curlin), a Grade 3 winner (2020 Green Flash Handicap), worked five furlongs in 1:01.4 at Santa Anita on Monday morning. It was the 23rd fastest of 42 works at the distance. This was his first work since his last race. In his last start he won a claiming race going five furlongs on the turf at Del Mar on Nov. 26 for trainer Mike Puype.

Classier (Empire Maker), a Grade 3 winner (2021 Los Alamitos Derby), worked five furlongs in 1:00.4 at Santa Anita on Monday morning. It was the seventh fastest of 42 works at the distance. His previous work was 10 days ago going five furlongs at Santa Anita. In his last start he placed fifth in an allowance race going one mile on the main track at Santa Anita on Jan. 14 for trainer Bob Baffert.

Island of Love (Kodiac), a Grade 3 winner (2022 Senorita), worked five furlongs in 1:01.2 at Santa Anita on Monday morning. It was the eighth fastest of 20 works at the distance. Her previous work was nine days ago going five furlongs at Santa Anita. In her last start she placed fifth in the Unzip Me going 6 1/2 furlongs on the turf at Santa Anita on Oct. 1 for trainer Philip D'Amato.

Jaxon Traveler (Munnings), a Grade 3 winner (2022 Maryland Sprint), worked four furlongs in 50.6 seconds at Belmont Park on Monday morning. It was the 24th fastest of 55 works at the distance. His previous work was seven days ago going five furlongs at Belmont Park. In his last start he placed fourth in the Fall Highweight Handicap (G3) going six furlongs on the main track at Aqueduct on Nov. 26 for trainer Steve Asmussen.

King Cause (Creative Cause), a Grade 3 winner (2022 Knickerbocker), worked five furlongs in 1:02.4 at Palm Meadows on Monday morning. It was the 15th fastest of 16 works at the distance. His previous work was seven days ago going four furlongs at Palm Meadows. In his last start he won the Knickerbocker (G3) going 1 1/8 miles on the turf at Belmont At The Big A on Oct. 9 for trainer Mike Maker.

Rhea Moon (Starspangledbanner), a Grade 3 winner (2022 Autumn Miss), worked five furlongs in 1:01.4 at Santa Anita on Monday morning. It was the 11th fastest of 20 works at the distance. Her previous work was nine days ago going five furlongs at Santa Anita. In her last start she won the Autumn Miss (G3) going one mile on the turf at Santa Anita on Oct. 29 for trainer Philip D'Amato.