Elite Racehorses Showcase Their Prowess in Recent Workouts
A collective of ten celebrated graded stakes winners recently engaged in intensive training sessions, with Booth, a three-time Grade 3 champion, leading the impressive cohort. These strategic workouts, conducted at various racing venues, served as crucial indicators of the horses' current physical condition and competitive readiness. The exercises varied in distance and intensity, reflecting tailored preparations for their prospective race entries.
Booth's Performance and Recent Achievements
Booth, a celebrated three-time Grade 3 winner, recently completed a swift four-furlong breeze at Ellis Park, recording the fastest time among seven participants at that distance. This workout, occurring just eight days after his last training session, underscores his consistent preparation. The five-year-old son of Mitole, under the guidance of trainer Steve Asmussen, continues to impress with his dedication to training, maintaining peak physical condition for competitive racing.
The esteemed racehorse Booth, a five-year-old bay horse by Mitole, trained by Steve Asmussen, showcased his exceptional speed during a recent four-furlong workout at Ellis Park, clocking an impressive 48.2 seconds. This mark not only positioned him as the fastest among the seven contenders at that specific distance but also highlighted his consistent performance trajectory. His last race, the Iowa Sprint Stakes, saw him victorious over six furlongs at Prairie Meadows on July 11. Prior to this win, he secured a fourth-place finish in the Count Fleet Sprint Handicap (G3) at Oaklawn on April 11. The year 2025 was particularly successful for Booth, as he dominated three Grade 3 sprints: the Whitmore (G3) on March 15, the Count Fleet Sprint Handicap (G3) on April 12, both held at Oaklawn, and the Maryland Sprint (G3) at Pimlico on May 17. With a career record of 8 wins, 3 seconds, and 1 third from 19 starts, Booth has accumulated earnings exceeding $1 million for his owners, William and Corinne Heiligbrodt, Jackpot Farm, and Whispering Oaks Farm. His consistent high-level performances make him a significant presence in the racing circuit.
Notable Graded Stakes Winners in Training
Beyond Booth, several other distinguished graded stakes winners also participated in demanding training sessions, demonstrating their form and ambition. Among them, Nakatomi, a Grade 1 victor, completed a four-furlong workout at Keeneland, while Phileas Fogg, a two-time Grade 2 champion, engaged in a brisk five-furlong drill at Saratoga. These horses, along with others like Coal Battle, Movin' On Up, Grammy Girl, Nu What's New, Dean Delivers, Harrodsburg, and Willy D's, exhibited varied performances during their respective workouts, signaling their readiness for upcoming challenges on the track.
The recent training records underscore the competitive landscape of thoroughbred racing, with several prominent graded stakes winners fine-tuning their skills. Nakatomi, a Grade 1 winner of the 2024 Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap, posted a four-furlong time of 49.0 seconds at Keeneland, marking the fifth-fastest time among thirteen works at that distance. Trainer Wesley Ward prepares him following a fifth-place finish in a six-furlong race at Meydan on March 28. Phileas Fogg, a two-time Grade 2 winner (2026 Suburban Life, 2025 Suburban), was the fastest over five furlongs at Saratoga, completing the distance in 1:00.9. Trained by Gustavo Rodriguez, he recently won the Suburban Life (G2) on July 4. Coal Battle, a Grade 2 winner of the 2025 Rebel, performed a four-furlong workout in 52.2 seconds at Ellis Park under Lonnie Briley’s guidance, his first work since a third-place finish on August 9. Movin' On Up, a Grade 2 winner of the 2026 Caress, was the fastest over three furlongs at Saratoga, clocking 36.0 seconds for Saffie Joseph Jr. Grammy Girl, a two-time Grade 3 winner (2026 Vagrancy, 2026 Distaff), recorded the fastest four-furlong time at Saratoga in 47.6 seconds, also trained by Saffie Joseph Jr. Nu What's New, a two-time Grade 3 winner (2026 Hanshin, 2026 Oaklawn Mile), completed five furlongs in 1:01.4 at Churchill Training for James DiVito. Dean Delivers, a 2023 Smile Sprint (G3) winner, was the faster of two at Laurel Park over five furlongs in 1:01.4. Harrodsburg, a Grade 3 winner of the 2026 Bango, worked four furlongs in 49.6 seconds at Churchill Downs for Michael Tomlinson. Lastly, Willy D's, a 2026 Kentucky Cup Classic (G3) winner, clocked 1:01.6 over five furlongs at Churchill Downs for Mike Maker. These workouts collectively highlight the rigorous preparation these elite athletes undergo in pursuit of further racing glory.