Greg Melikov’s Horses to Watch
By GREG MELIKOV
Horses worth watching, a list of runners compiled by handicapper/turf writer Greg Melikov that should do well next time out or improve considerably, won three races, ran second three times and finished third three times since April 6.
Arlington Park
Boots Are Walking: Raced fourth early, dropped to fifth more than 2 1/2 lengths behind after three-eighths of a mile, angled out in stretch, rallied to make up 2 1/2 lengths and finished second beaten a neck at five furlongs on May 4; ran final quarter in 12 seconds.
Belmont Park
Can’t Refuse: Raced eighth more than 7 1/2 lengths behind after a half-mile, angled out top of the stretch and closed fast from seventh to finish second by a neck at six furlongs on a good turf course May 3; ran final quarter in 23 1/5.
J Z Warrior: Pressed pace in third within a length after a half-mile, lost ground four wide into stretch, made up 1 1/2 lengths in stretch and finished second beaten a neck at six furlongs on April 5; ran final quarter in 24 4/5 at Hawthorne. (Stalked leaders in third more than 2 1/2 lengths behind after a half-mile, came four wide into stretch and failed to threaten finishing third at seven furlongs on May 3.
Final Story: Raced second 3 1/2 lengths behind after a half-mile, saved ground into stretch, angled out and finished third beaten a nose and a neck at 6 1/2 furlongs on April 17 at Aqueduct. (Pressed pace more than 1 1/2 lengths behind in third after a half-mile, lost ground entering stretch and finished third at six furlongs on May 2.)
Calder Race Course
Lemon Drop Girl: Raced eighth more than five lengths behind after three-eighths of a mile, rallied three wide from seventh in stretch to make up five lengths and finished third beaten a length at five furlongs on the turf May.3
Churchill Downs
Le Dauphin: Raced fourth more than five lengths behind after a half-mile, advanced three wide on far turn into stretch, made up 1 1/4 lengths and gained second by a neck at 1 1/8 miles on the turf May 1.
Crypto Warrior: Sluggish at start, raced 11th more than 10 lengths back after a half-mile, advanced inside to fifth in stretch and closed willingly to make up nearly 3 1/2 lengths and finished third beaten a half-length and a neck at seven furlongs on April 30.
Delaware Park
One More Trick: Broke on top, went to the front, led by five lengths after a half-mile and was ridden out to draw way off by 21 lengths on April 28; ran six furlongs in 1:11 1/5.
Hollywood Park
Catastaire: Raced 10th more than five lengths behind after a half-mile, split rivals on far turn, came out a bit into stretch, in tight quarters mid-stretch, split horses again from fifth and rallied to make up more than three lengths and finished second beaten a nose at 1 1/16 miles on the turf May 3.
Lone Star Park
La Estrellita: Raced sixth more than 11 1/2 lengths behind after a half-mile, rallied from fifth five wide into stretch, closed fast to make up 4 3/4 lengths and finished second beaten a neck at a mile and 70 yards on March 28 at Sam Houston Race Track. (Raced seven early, dropped back to 10th more than nine lengths behind after a half-mile, rallied six wide entering stretch and gained second at 1 1/16 miles on the turf May 3.)
Philadelphia Park
Oh So Suave: Raced more than four lengths behind in sixth after a half-mile, lost ground entering stretch, split rivals from fifth, closed fast to make up nearly 4 1/2 lengths and finished second beaten a neck at six furlongs on May 3.
Spirit of Gulch: Raced fifth early, advanced to third pressing pace two heads back after a half-mile, moved boldly three wide on turn, gained lead in stretch and drew off to win by 2 1/4 lengths at six furlongs on April 17. (Tracked pace 3 1/2 lengths behind in third after a half-mile, rallied in mid-stretch to grab lead and drew off to win by 5 1/2 lengths under mild urging at 6 1/2 furlongs on May 4.)
De Fearless One: Raced more than 6 1/2 lengths behind in seventh after three-eighths of a mile, rallied extremely wide from fourth in stretch, made up more than 3 3/4 lengths and closed with good energy to finished second beaten three-quarters of a length at 5 1/2 furlongs on March 25. (Broke fifth and last, advanced to third more than 1 1/2 lengths behind after a half-mile, rallied to second on stretch, but couldn’t catch winner and held place at six furlongs on April 13.)
Pimlico
Don’ttrythisathome: Set a pressured pace along the rail, led by a half-length after a half-mile, drew away through the lane and was ridden out to the wire winning by 7 3/4 lengths on May 3; ran the six furlongs in 1:09 1/5.
River Kwai: Raced seventh more than 6 1/2 lengths behind after a half-mile, swung wide entering stretch and rallied in stretch to make up three lengths and lost by a length at a mile on a good turf course.
Prairie Meadows
Caliandra: Raced fifth more than two lengths behind after a half-mile, lost ground swinging five wide into stretch and closed fast to make up nearly three lengths and finished second beaten a nose at six furlongs on May 3.
Splash of Bold: Tracked pace more than four lengths behind in fourth after a half-mile, rallied four wide on turn to second in stretch and won by a half-length at six furlongs on March 26 at Oaklawn Park. (Broke sharply, set pace by a half-length after a half-mile, shook clear by three lengths in mid-stretch and won by a half-length at six furlongs on April 6 at Oaklawn; returned $12.60 on front end.)
Lord’s View: Raced fifth more than three lengths behind after a half-mile, lost ground rallying six wide to third, made up two lengths finishing second by 1 1/4 lengths at six furlongs on a sealed sloppy surface April 18. (Raced fourth early, dropped to fifth more than two lengths behind after a half-mile, angled off rail in stretch and finished second by a half-length at six furlongs on May 2.)
Sole of the City: (Pressed pace a half-length behind in second after three-eighths of a mile, seized command in stretch and drew off by 1 3/4 lengths under firm handling at 5 1/2 furlongs on a sealed sloppy surface on March 22 at Hawthorne.) Raced second early, led by 1 1/2 lengths after a half-mile, increased margin to five lengths in stretch and prevailed by 3 1/2 lengths under solid hand urging at six furlongs on May 3.)
Santa Anita Park
Excessive Fun: Broke slowly, raced ninth more than eight lengths behind after a half-mile, moved up off rail around rival to fourth in stretch, steadied slightly at sixteenth pole and rallied late to make up three lengths and finished second beaten a half-length at 6 1/2 furlongs on April 7. (Raced fifth more than 3 1/2 lengths behind after a half-mile, came four wide into street and finished third at 6 1/2 furlongs on April 20.)
Turf Paradise
Tenatious: Raced eighth more than three lengths behind after a half-mile, quickly looped rivals nearing quarter pole, scampered to the lead in stretch and drew off through the lane to win by 9 1/2 lengths ridden out at a mile on the turf April 28. (Racing 8 1/2 lengths behind in seventh after a half-mile, advanced into contention on far turn, rallied from third in stretch, made up 2 1/2 lengths and prevailed by a neck at a mile on the turf May 3.)
"Greg Melikov’s Horses to Watch" was posted on 5 May 2008 9:35 PM under Horse Racing News, Horses, Racing Picks & Betting Tips, Special Features
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