Greg Melikov’s Horses to Watch
Horses worth watching, a list of runners compiled by handicapper/turf writer Greg Melikov that should improve significantly or do well next time out, won six times times, ran second four times and finished third seven times since March 7. These thoroughbreds are worth considering when developing your betting strategy.
Aqueduct
Gaffney’s Grits: Raced sixth early hugging rail, dropped to eighth more than eight lengths behind after three-eighths of a mile, advanced to fourth in stretch, rallied to make up 5 3/4 lengths and finished second beaten three-quarters of a length at 5 1/2 furlongs on a good turf course April 1 at Laurel Park. (Raced more than 2 1/2 lengths in fourth behind rivals after a half-mile, split horses entering stretch, took command by a length in mid-stretch and drew off under pressure to win by five lengths at a mile taken off the turf April 16.)
Half Metal Jacket: Pressed pace in second a head behind after a half-mile, took command on far turn, led in stretch by three lengths and drew off under mild urging to win by four lengths at a mile on April 1. (Raced 11 1/2 lengths behind in seventh after a half-mile, taken outside in stretch and closed fast to win by 2 3/4 lengths at seven furlongs on April 18; returned $15.20 on front end.)
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. (Sprinted to lead along rail early, ahead by a length after a half-mile, came out a bit in mid-stretch and won by 11/4 lengths under right-handed encouragement at six furlongs on March 7.)
Don’t Forget Gil: Tracked pace in third more than two lengths behind after a half-mile, rallied outside to take lead in stretch, repulsed two challengers and drew off handily to win by four lengths at 1 1/16 miles on March 14 at Tampa Bay Downs. (Raced 2 1/2 lengths behind in third after a half-mile, saved ground on turn, advanced to second in stretch and saved the place by a half-length at 1 1/16 miles on a sloppy surface on April 11.)
Beulah Park
Dash Rendar: Raced second early, dropped to third three lengths behind after a half-mile, lost ground entering stretch, closed well late to make up five lengths and finished second beaten a half-length at six furlongs on March 20 at Turfway Park. (Steadied while fifth and last along backstretch, trailed by more than six lengths after a half-mile, advanced to fourth in stretch and gained third by a nose at six furlongs on April 4.)
Calder Race Course
Texas Billy Boy: Bumped, steadied early, raced fifth more than 5 1/2 lengths behind after a half-mile, bumped with another rival on the turn, rallied three wide into stretch, closed well to second making up nearly 3 1/2 lengths and lost by a head at six furlongs on April 25.
Starship Valor: Bumped hard with rival at break, raced fifth early, dropped to sixth more than three lengths behind after a half-mile, lost a couple of lengths entering stretch, rallied from fifth to make up more than 3 3/4 lengths and finished second by 2 1/2 lengths at six furlongs on April 24.
Charles Town
Farleyshelonwheels: Raced more than seven lengths behind in fifth after a half-mile, swung wide in upper stretch, rallied from fourth to make up nearly 4 1/2 lengths and finished second beaten a neck at seven furlongs on March 18 at Laurel Park; ran final three furlongs in 36 1/5. (Raced more than 3 1/2 lengths behind in seventh after a half-mile, advanced very wide to sixth in stretch and finished strongly to gain third by three-quarters of a length at seven furlongs on April 5.)
Churchill Downs
Success Success: Raced more than seven lengths behind in sixth after a half-mile, angled out for drive, closed well in stretch to make up nearly two lengths and finished third beaten a nose and a neck at seven furlongs on April 26; ran final three furlongs in 36 4/5.
Bell Got Even: Broke seventh and last, trailed by more than 5 1/2 lengths after a half-mile, steadied off heels of rival leaving turn, split horses in stretch, made up 3 1/4 lengths and finished third by two lengths at six furlongs on April 25.
Evangeline Downs
Nine Free: Raced four lengths behind in fifth after three-eighths of a mile, steadied leaving the turn, recovered to rally from fourth making up nearly four lengths and finished second beaten a neck at five furlongs on April 24.
Miss Acapulco: Raced 5 1/2 lengths behind in fifth after a half-mile, went outside for the drive, rallied to second in stretch, rider dropped whip nearing mid-stretch, but still increased margin to 6 1/4 lengths for place at six furlongs on March 20 at Fair Grounds; ran final quarter in 24 3/5. (Raced fifth more than 2 1/2 lengths behind after a half-mile, split foes after entering stretch to gain lead by a length, weakened and hung on for second by a half-length at six furlongs on April 8.)
Hollywood Park
Reality Uptown: Dueled with winner from the start and finished second beaten a head at 4 1/2 furlongs on April 22.
J P Jammer: Raced more than 2 1/2 lengths behind in fourth after a half-mile, dropped to fifth after six furlongs, awaited room entering the lane, blocked by rivals in upper stretch, shifted out dropping to sixth, rallied past eighth pole to make up 1 3/4 lengths and finished second beaten 1 1/4 lengths at 1 1/16 miles on March 19 at Santa Anita. (Raced more than three lengths behind in sixth after a half-mile, came out in stretch and finished third at 1 1/8 miles on April 25.)
Indiana Downs
Ask Sidney: Raced 7 1/2 lengths behind in fifth after three-eighths of a mile, angled out late on turn, dropped to sixth and last in upper stretch, rallied willingly late to make up more than three lengths and finished second by a length at five furlongs on March 6 at Turfway Park.
Laurel Park
Jane’s Kid: Raced sixth more than 5 1/2 lengths behind after a half-mile, swung six wide entering the lane, rallied gamely to make up more than three lengths in stretch and finished second beaten a nose at about 1 1/16 miles on March 6. (Raced 6 1/2 lengths behind in fourth after a half-mile, advanced three wide behind rivals entering stretch, rallied to second and weakened finishing third at 1 1/16 miles on a sloppy surface April 11.)
Lone Star Park
Belfast: Broke slowly 10th and last, trailed by more than 13 1/2 lengths after a half-mile, swung five wide into the stretch, rallied from fourth to make up more than two lengths and finished second beaten a length at 1 1/16 miles on the turf April 23.
Oaklawn Park
Bar Babe: Raced three lengths behind in fifth after a half-mile, came four wide into stretch, made up 2 1/2 lengths and finished second beaten a neck at six furlongs on March 15. (Raced six lengths behind in third after a half-mile, rallied to second in stretch, but couldn’t catch winner while proving second best by 4 3/4 lengths at six furlongs on April 3.)
Justa Streak: Pressed pace in third more than a length behind after a half-mile, grabbed lead by 3 1/2 lengths in stretch and cruised to a 6 3/4-length victory ridden out at six furlongs on March 5; ran final quarter in 24 4/5. (Raced more than 4 1/2 lengths behind in seventh after a half-mile, came three wide into stretch and rallied from sixth to gain third by 1 3/4 lengths at six furlongs on March 19.)
Seventh Street: Reared at break, rider lost iron briefly, raced seventh and last more than 11 lengths behind after a half-mile, rallied from fourth to make up 4 1/4 lengths in stretch and gained second by 1 3/4 lengths at seven furlongs on Feb. 14 at Laurel Park; ran final three furlongs in 35 1/5. (Went right to the lead, led by a length after a half-mile, turned back challenge in stretch and drew clear to win by 5 3/4 lengths at 1 1/16 miles on April 4.)
Philadelphia Park
Stones Throw: Pressed pace a head back in second after a half-mile, gained lead by a head after six furlongs, dueled gamely rest of way, bumped with winner in mid-stretch and finished second beaten a head at a mile and 70 yards on a sealed muddy surface on April 20.
True Values: Raced 1 1/2 lengths behind in third after a half-mile, moved to second in stretch and held that position by 2 1/4 lengths at six furlongs on March 10. (Tracked pace in third early, slipped through inside of turn to gain lead entering stretch, increased margin to three lengths and prevailed by three-quarters of a length at six furlongs on April 7.
Conquer the Fear: Steadied near half-mile marker, raced more than two lengths behind in fifth after four furlongs, steadied again near end of backstretch losing a couple of lengths, went outside to find room for the drive, closed fast to make up nearly four lengths in stretch and finished second beaten a head at 6 1/2 furlongs on March 31.
Stay Safe: Went right to the lead just off rail, led by two lengths after a half-mile, increased margin to five lengths in stretch and drew off in handy fashion to win by eight lengths going 1:10 3/5 for six furlongs on Feb. 7. (Raced 1 1/2 lengths behind on third after a half-mile, grabbed lead in mid-stretch and drew off to win by 2 1/4 lengths ridden out at a mile and 70 yards on March 16.)
Pimlico
Our Sue: Bumped, steadied and shuffled back to eighth shortly after start, raced seventh more than 9 1/2 lengths behind after a half-mile, bumped with second-placed finisher in mid-stretch and lost the place by a neck at six furlongs on April 24.
Santa Anita Park
Reba Is Tops: Broke a bit slowly from the eighth and outside post, raced more than seven lengths behind in seventh after a half-mile, came out four wide into stretch, made up more than five lengths and gained second by three-quarters of a length at about six furlongs on the turf March 6; ran the final 2 1/2 furlongs in 26 seconds. (Pressed pace in second a half-length behind after a half-mile, battled gamely through the stretch, put a head in front late between rivals and was nipped by a nose at 6 1/2 furlongs on the turf April 12; returned $10 to place.)
Tampa Bay Downs
Opportune Moment: Raced three lengths behind in sixth after a half-mile, bumped with rival while in tight on turn, angled out three wide for room entering stretch, made up nearly 1 1/2 lengths from third and finished second beaten a neck at about a mile on the turf April 21.
Perf: Stalked pace in fourth two heads and 1 1/2 lengths behind after a half-mile, bumped and pushed out into rival dropping to sixth after six furlongs, pushed out two more times by same rival in stretch, rallied from fifth to make up nearly two lengths and finished third by a head at a mile on the turf April 1; advanced to second when runner-up was disqualified to third for interference in stretch. (Raced 5 1/2 lengths behind in eighth after a half-mile, lost ground going wide into stretch and rallied from sixth to finish third at 1 1/16 miles on the turf April 25.)
Privy Seal: Raced more than three lengths behind in sixth after a half-mile, boxed and blocked from far turn to mid-stretch, altered course to find racing room outside and closed fast late to finish second beaten a neck at a mile on the turf Feb. 6.
Turf Paradise
Ma Barker: Raced more than 2 1/2 lengths behind in fifth after a half-mile, advanced four wide in stretch to fourth, made up more than 1 3/4 lengths and finished second beaten three-quarters of a length at six furlongs on April 20.
Mike’s Trippin: Chased pace in second four lengths behind after a half-mile, couldn’t catch winner, but held position by a length at six furlongs on March 31. (Pressed pace between rivals in second a head behind after a half-mile, dueled through most of the stretch and weakened a bit to finish third beaten a nose and three-quarters of a length at 6 1/2 furlongs on April 21.)
Savvier: Raced 3 1/2 lengths behind in third after three-eighths of a mile, closed four wide into the lane making up 2 1/2 lengths in stretch and finished second beaten a neck at 5 1/2 furlongs on Feb. 16.
"Greg Melikov’s Horses to Watch" was posted on 28 April 2009 10:36 PM under Horse Racing News, Horses, Race Tracks, Racing Picks & Betting Tips
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