Two grade 1-winning turf horses topped the work tab on Monday morning. King of Gosford and Troubleshooting, both successful in top-level races last year, returned to training with solid drills. Their efforts highlighted a group of graded-stakes winners across various tracks.
On Monday, several prominent horses in the racing circuit completed workouts, with a focus on turf specialists who have secured grade 1 victories. King of Gosford, a 5-year-old son of Zoustar trained by Phil D'Amato, began his year with a three-furlong breeze in 36.8 seconds at Santa Anita. This marked his first drill since finishing sixth in the Del Mar Mile (G2) on August 30 at Del Mar. Earlier, he had claimed the Shoemaker Mile (G1) in May.
Troubleshooting, a 3-year-old by Not This Time under trainer Greg Foley, covered four furlongs in 49.2 seconds at Fair Grounds. This was his fourth workout of the year, following a previous session 10 days earlier at the same track. His grade 1 success came in the Franklin-Simpson Mile at Kentucky Downs, after which he won the Bryan Station (G3) at Keeneland but placed ninth in the Commonwealth Turf (G3) at Churchill Downs on November 22.
Other notable graded-stakes winners also trained. Queen Maxima, a multiple grade 3 victor trained by Jeff Mullins, worked four furlongs in 49.4 seconds at Santa Anita, seven days after her last breeze. She recently won the Las Cienegas (G3) on January 11 at the same venue. Durante, prepared by David Jacobson, breezed three furlongs in 36.6 seconds at Oaklawn, 11 days after his prior work. His last race was a sixth-place finish in the Ring The Bell on December 13. West Hollywood, trained by Brad Cox, completed four furlongs in 50.6 seconds at Payson Park, building on a session from 11 days ago at Fair Grounds. He ended fourth in the Saranac (G3) last year and was fifth in an allowance on April 29 at Churchill Downs.
These sessions signal ongoing preparations for upcoming races among established performers.
