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Horses worth watching, a list of runners compiled by handicapper/turf writer Greg Melikov that should do well or improve significantly next time out, won seven times, ran second six times and finished third once since Oct. 26. These thoroughbreds are worth considering when charting your betting strategy.
Chocolate Pop: Steadied in traffic along inside on first turn, raced seventh more than 6 1/2 lengths behind after a half-mile, swung five wide into stretch and rallied from fifth to gain second by a half-length at a mile and 70 yards on Jan. 10.
More Than a Reason: Broke fourth, steadied along inside on first turn, raced sixth more than 6 1/2 lengths behind after a half-mile, saved ground for six furlongs, steadied in traffic on far turn losing ground, rallied to second in stretch, made up 4 1/2 lengths and was beaten a half-length at 1 1/16 miles on the inner track Jan. 1. (Raced four lengths behind in fifth after a half-mile, split rivals entering stretch and finished willingly to gain third by four lengths at six furlongs on Jan. 10.)
Heir to the Stone: Stumbled at start, bumped, raced fourth early, advanced to third two lengths behind after a half-mile, rallied turning for home, made up nearly two lengths in stretch and finished second beaten a head at six furlongs on Dec. 14.
The Shaughraun: Broke next to last from the outside 10th post, raced 11 1/2 lengths behind after a half-mile, turned for home five wide in fifth, finished willingly to make up 2 1/2 lengths and ran second by a neck at a mile on the inner track Dec. 7.
South Line: Broke ninth and last, advanced to raced fifth 8 1/2 lengths behind after three-eighths of a mile, swung out wide turning for home, rallied determinedly from fourth in stretch, made up more than 6 1/4 lengths and finished second beaten a head at 5 1/2 furlongs on Jan. 1; ran final half-furlong in five seconds.
Fifty Five: Broke ninth and last, raced more than 10 1/2 lengths behind in eighth after a half-mile, came inside on far turn, angled out for drive, went inside in stretch rallying from seventh to second, made up five lengths and gained second by a nose at 1 1/16 miles on the turf Dec. 6.
Museeb: Prompted pace along rail a half-length behind in second after a half-mile, dropped back on far turn, steadied, angled outside a wall of rivals at sixteenth pole and finished dead-heated for fourth beaten less than three-quarters of a length at 1 1/16 miles on the turf Jan. 10.
Red Hot Bullet: Steadied early after breaking third, raced more than four lengths behind in seventh after a half-mile, angled out for stretch run, rallied from fifth to make up more than two lengths and finished second beaten a head 1 1/16 miles on the turf Jan. 3; ran final 2 1/2 furlongs in 30 seconds.
Notonthesamepage: Broke seventh from inside post, rushed up to the front, led by 1 1/2 lengths after a half-mile and drew off to win by 8 1/4 lengths ridden out at six furlongs on Jan. 3; ran final quarter in 23 4/5.
Lincoln’s Bullet: Pressed pace a half-length back in second after a half-mile, moved up to engage winner in stretch, dueled, gained lead by and head and was out gamed to the wire finishing second beaten a half-length at seven furlongs on Dec. 28 at Calder. (Raced 10th and last early, advanced to seventh more than 4 1/2 lengths behind after a half-mile, moved five wide to fifth in stretch, rallied to make up more than 3 1/2 lengths and won by a nose at six furlongs on Jan. 11.)
Songanddancelady: Chased pace early in seventh, dropped to eighth more than 5 1/2 lengths behind after a half-mile, swung six wide into stretch, rallied to second, made up 3 1/2 lengths and lost by three-quarters of a length at six furlongs on Jan. 9.
Bow Tie Pasta: Broke sideways ninth and last, moved to fifth 2 1/2 lengths behind after a half-mile, steadied repeatedly along backstretch losing a couple of lengths, dropped to seventh after six furlongs, made up a length in stretch and finished a game fourth at 1 1/16 miles on Dec. 6.
Golden Vision: raced more than 11 lengths behind in eighth after a half-mile, came wide turning for home, closed fast from fourth in stretch to make up more than 5 1/4 lengths and finished second beaten a head at six furlongs on Jan. 10; ran final quarter in 23 4/5.
Dr Stick: Shuffled back near three-eighths pole, raced more than two lengths behind in fourth after a half-mile, swung wide in upper stretch, rallied to make up more than two lengths and finished second beaten a nose at seven furlongs on Jan. 3.
Anjunothat: Stalked contested pace in third more than two lengths behind after a half-mile, eased out midway on turn, took command in upper stretch and drew off under confident handling to win by nine lengths at six furlongs on Dec. 6; ran final quarter in 24 2/5. (Raced eight lengths behind in fourth after a half-mile, angled out four wide approaching quarter pole, closed sharply under steady hand pressure to collar leader nearing sixteenth pole and drew clear to win by 1 1/2 lengths at six furlongs on Jan. 9.)
Penn National
Bruno’s a Biter: Broke alertly from post 12, raced 1 1/2 lengths behind in third after a half-mile, lost ground circling rivals on far turn, rallied in stretch to make up nearly three lengths and finished second beaten a neck at a mile on Dec. 18 at Laurel.
Philadelphia Park
True Values: Raced fourth early, dropped to fifth more than 1 1/2 lengths behind after a half-mile, boxed in leaving turn to upper stretch, responded in final furlong and gained second by a neck at 6 1/2 furlongs on Jan. 2.
Smitten Citi: Clipped heels of rivals while racing fifth, near five-sixteenth and quarter poles, closed from fourth in stretch to make up more than 3 1/2 lengths and finished second by a nose at 5 1/2 furlongs on Dec. 16.
Novation: Sprinted to front, led by five lengths after a half-mile, steadily increased margin in stretch and cruised to easy win by 14 3/4 lengths at six furlongs on a sealed muddy surface Dec. 2.
Take a Leap: Raced more than 4 1/2 lengths behind in fifth after a half-mile, split rivals entering stretch, finished fast to make up 4 1/2 lengths and gained second by three lengths at six furlongs on Nov. 4 at Philadelphia Park. (Broke a step slow seventh and last, raced eight lengths behind in fourth after a half-mile, carried wide around turn, rallied to second in stretch, made up 5 1/2 lengths and finished full of run beaten a half-length at six furlongs on a good surface Dec. 2 at Penn National.)
Lemon Spray: Broke a step slow eighth and last, steadied and bumped along backstretch, rallied to lead by 1 1/2 lengths off rail approaching far turn, bore out leaving quarter pole, drifted further outward in stretch, wavered lanes and finished second by a length at a mile on Nov. 11. (Raced four lengths behind in sixth after a half-mile, took lead nearing stretch, led by two lengths with a furlong to go, weakened and finished second by 1 3/4 lengths at a mile and 70 years on Dec. 30.)
Retama Park
Hadi K: Raced six lengths behind in fourth after three-eights of a mile, rallied inside on turn while saving ground, made up more than four lengths in stretch and finished second beaten a half-length at 5 1/2 furlongs on Jan. 3.
Justwill: Raced more than five lengths behind in fifth after a half-mile, rallied four wide on turn to third in stretch, made up 2 1/2 lengths and finished second beaten a length at six furlongs on Dec. 27; ran final quarter in 24 4/5.
Aille’s Heartflush: Unruly in gate, vied for lead early, raced a half-length ahead after three-eighths of a mile, dueled with winner in stretch and ran second defeated a neck at 5 1/2 furlongs on Dec. 18. (Tracked pace in third more than a length behind after a half-mile, rallied on far turn moved to second, but couldn’t close gap in stretch and finished 1 1/4 lengths ahead of the third-place finisher at a mile on Jan. 2.)
Cowgirl Cool: Fractious in gate, original rider hurt and replaced, stalked pace 2 1/2 lengths behind in second, dropped to third after six furlongs, rallied in stretch and gained second by 2 3/4 lengths at a mile on Nov. 21. (Raced more than two lengths behind in fourth after a half-mile, rallied on turn to take second, but couldn’t catch winner while securing the place by a dozen lengths at a mile on Dec. 5.)
Fiesta Margarita: Broke from the outside 10th post, raced 10th and last early, advanced to ninth more than 7 1/2 lengths behind after a half-mile, rallied four wide to fourth in stretch, closed fast to make up 4 1/2 lengths and finished second nosed out at 5 1/2 furlongs on Oct. 11. (Raced more than 3 1/2 lengths behind in sixth after three-eighths of a mile, swung out four wide in upper stretch, rallied from second and won by a length on Nov. 20.)
White Lace Jimmy: Raced 2 1/2 lengths behind in third after a half-mile, dropped to fifth in stretch, surged after coming off rail, gained more than two lengths and finished second beaten a half-length at 6 1/2 furlongs on Jan. 8.
Thelma Rose: Raced more than 6 1/2 lengths behind in ninth after a half-mile, came out four wide into stretch, rallied from sixth to make up more than 4 1/2 lengths and finished second beaten a length at six furlongs on Jan. 1; ran final quarter in 24 1/5.
Sprung: Raced seventh early, dropped to eighth more than 6 1/2 lengths behind after a half-mile, split rivals in mid-stretch and closed from fifth outside foes to make up more than 1 3/4 lengths and finished second beaten three-quarters of a length at a mile on the turf Jan. 1; ran final quarter in 23 2/5,
Unbridled Behavior: Raced 10 lengths behind in sixth after three-eighths of a mile, swung out very wide in mid-stretch, closed sharply from fourth under strong handling and won by three-quarters of a length at 5 1/2 furlongs on Nov. 21 at Laurel. (Stalked pace a length behind in second after a half-mile, rallied three wide into stretch, duel with leader and edged clear under strong handling to win by 1 1/4 lengths at 6 1/2 furlongs on Dec. 26.)
Miguel H: Chased pace early 3 1/2 lengths behind in second after a quarter-mile, took command by two lengths after three-eighths of a mile, increased margin to 8 1/2 lengths in stretch and won by 11 3/4 lengths ridden out at 5 1/2 furlongs on Jan. 10; ran final 1 1/2 furlongs in 17 3/5.
Moon Over Hemet: Moved to rail shortly after breaking from outside seventh post, raced more than 5 1/2 lengths behind in sixth after a half-mile, saved ground into stretch, eased out, made up more than three lengths down the lane and finished well beaten a half-length at 6 1/2 furlongs on Dec. 29.
Derry: Bumped at break, raced 4 1/2 lengths behind in fourth after three-eighths of a mile, dropped to fifth in stretch, closed steadily to make up more than 1 1/2 lengths and finished second beaten a nose at 5 1/2 furlongs on Dec. 20. (Raced 1 1/2 lengths behind in third after three-eighths of a mile, fell back leaving turn and gained second by three-quarters of a length at five furlongs on a sealed muddy surface Jan. 6.)
His Way: Raced third early, dropped to fifth more than 1 1/2 lengths behind after a half-mile, rallied to second in upper stretch, threw his head inside the furlong marker and finished third beaten two necks at a mile on the turf Dec. 8. (Pressed pace in third more than a length behind after a half-mile, rallied to a narrow advantage between rivals nearing the lane, but couldn’t catch winner and finished second by 6 1/2 lengths 1 1/16 miles on a sealed muddy surface on Dec. 23.)
Hills of Roses: Broke from the outside ninth post, raced fourth more than 4 1/2 lengths behind after three-eighths of a mile, angled in during stretch run, rallied to make up more than 2 1/2 lengths and finished second beaten a half-length at five furlongs on Oct. 10. (Chased pace five lengths behind in second after three-eighths of a mile and rallied in stretch to win by a half-length at 5 1/2 furlongs on Oct. 26.)
Lady Troie: Raced seven wide more than three lengths behind in fourth after a half-mile, lost ground to fifth in upper stretch, came again to make up 3 1/2 lengths and finished second beaten a head at six furlongs on Jan. 9.
Star’s Classic Cat: Broke 10th and last from inside post, raced more than 3 1/2 lengths behind in seventh after a half-mile, lost ground swinging six wide leaving turn, rallied from fifth to make up more than three lengths in stretch and finished second beaten a length at six furlongs on Jan. 1. (Broke alertly from outside post, moved up to grab lead by a half-length after a half-mile and drew clear under steady urging to win by three lengths at six furlongs on Jan. 9.)
Southern Squire: Broke in the air, raced seventh early, moved to sixth more than 6 1/2 lengths behind after a half-mile, split horses for the drive, gained second in stretch, made up 3 1/2 lengths and lost by a half-length at 6 1/2 furlongs on Dec. 5.
Silver Bayer: Raced 4 1/2 lengths behind in fourth after a half-mile, rallied inside to gain second and was beaten by two lengths at 5 1/2 furlongs on Oct. 18 at Calder. (Raced fourth more than three lengths behind after a half-mile, assumed command entering stretch and drew clear to win by 7 3/4 lengths at six furlongs on Dec. 7.)
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