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 five times, ran second four and finished third once since Oct. 11. These thoroughbreds are worth considering when developing your betting strategy.
AQUEDUCT
Chestoria: Raced sixth more than 13 lengths behind after a half-mile, launched three wide bid entering stretch, closed fast from fifth to make up 6 1/2 lengths and finished second beaten a half-length at 1 1/16 miles on the turf Nov. 12; ran final 2 1/2 furlongs in 29 4/5.
Kissa Melissa: Bloke slowly, raced seventh and last 6 1/2 lengths behind after a half-mile, split rivals at the quarter pole, rallied belatedly from third in stretch to make up 4 3/4 lengths and finished second beaten three-quarters of a length at six furlongs on a sealed muddy surface Oct. 29; ran final quarter in 24 seconds.
Saginaw: Sprinted clear on rail, led by two lengths after a half-mile, steadily increased margin to six lengths in stretch and cruised in hand to win by 11 1/2 lengths at a mile on a sealed sloppy surface Oct. 28. (Sprinted clear soon after the start, led by three lengths after a half-mile, drew off in stretch and won by 6 1/4 lengths in hand at a mile on a sealed sloppy surface Nov. 14.)
Fortissi More: Raced more than five lengths behind in sixth after a half-mile, entered stretch three wide, exchanged bumps with winner and finished second beaten a nose at a mile and 70 yards on a good surface Oct. 12 at Philadelphia Park.
Ranger James: Broke 10th and last, raced ninth more than 6 1/2 lengths behind after a half-mile, swung out from eighth pole losing ground on far turn, advanced to fifth in stretch, rallied to make up more than three lengths and gained second by a nose at 1 1/8 miles on the turf Sept. 20. (Raced 12th and last more than 12 1/2 lengths behind after a half-mile, rallied four wide on final turn to gain lead in upper stretch and won by a length under steady urging at 1 1/4 miles on the turf Oct. 11.)
CALDER
Can’t Stop the Lite: Broke alertly from the outside 12 post, raced more than five lengths behind in sixth after a half-mile, closed well from fourth three wide in stretch to make up 4 3/4 lengths and gained second by a head at seven furlongs on Nov. 13.
Ms. N. Tarsia: Broke poorly, raced 12th and last early, advanced to 11th more than seven lengths behind after a half-mile, rallied between rivals from fourth to make up more than three lengths and finished second beaten a half-length at 5 1/2 furlongs on Oct. 25. (Broke awkwardly 10th and last, raced sixth more than six lengths behind after three-eighths of a mile, saved ground on turn, angled out in stretch, rallied from four to take command inside the eighth pole and drew off to win by 4 3/4 lengths at 5 1/2 furlongs on Nov. 15.)
Catreign: Bumped with third-place finisher at start, raced 6 1/2 lengths behind in fifth after three-eighths of a mile, rallied along rail in stretch to make up more than 2 1/4 lengths and ran second beaten three-quarters of a length at five furlongs on Oct. 1.
Paizano: Sprinted to a clear lead of five lengths after the first quarter mile, increased margin to seven lengths in stretch and drew off to win under wraps by 11 1/4 lengths at six furlongs in 1:11 3/5 on Sept. 17.
Whatta Light: Raced more than four lengths behind in fifth after three-eighths of a mile, swung out for the drive losing ground, rallied in stretch to make up more than 3 3/4 lengths and finished second beaten 1 1/4 lengths at five furlongs on Sept. 3.
CHURCHILL DOWNS
Jimanator: Squeezed at start, raced 10th more than 11 1/2 lengths behind after a half-mile, advanced five wide from seventh into stretch, closed well to make up 2 1/2 lengths and finished third beaten a length at a mile on Nov. 5; ran final quarter in 23 1/5.
Apple Charlotte: Raced more than 7 1/2 lengths behind in ninth after a half-mile, blocked and steadied in upper stretch, dropped to 11th, recovered quickly, closed like a rocket to make up more than 10 1/4 lengths and gained second by a nose at a mile on a good turf course Nov. 1.
FAIR GROUNDS
Belfast: Broke eighth and last, trailed by more than 8 1/2 lengths after a half-mile, came five wide into stretch, brushed with rival late and finished second beaten a head at about a mile on the turf Nov. 6
HAWTHORNE
Songanddancelady: Broke slowly from the outside 9 post, raced seven lengths behind in seventh after a half-mile, swung six wide into stretch, rallied late from sixth to make up more than 2 3/4 lengths and finished second beaten three-quarters of a length at six furlongs on a sealed sloppy surface Oct. 30.
Country Zip: Raced more than 12 1/2 lengths behind in seventh after a half-mile, angled in for stretch run, made up nearly three lengths and finished third beaten a neck and a length at 1 1/16 miles on Oct. 22.
Jimmy Got Even: Broke slowly eighth and last, trailed by more than 5 1/2 lengths after a half-mile, rallied five wide from fifth in stretch, made up 3 3/4 lengths and gained second by three-quarters of a length at six furlongs on Oct. 11; ran final quarter in 24 1/5. (Raced sixth and last early, moved to fifth more than 6 1/2 lengths behind after a half-mile, finished well making up nearly 3 1/2 lengths and ran second beaten a neck at six furlongs on Oct. 24.)
HOLLYWOOD PARK
Cadillac: Broke slowly ninth and last, raced seventh more than 7 1/2 lengths behind after a half-mile, angled out for drive, closed fast to make up more than 5 3/4 lengths in stretch and finished second beaten three-quarters of a length at six furlongs on the turf; ran final quarter in 22 2/5.
Living Our Dream: Raced fifth more than 10 lengths behind after a half-mile, rallied wide to fourth entering stretch, closed fast outside to make up about a half-dozen lengths and finished second beaten a half-length at a mile on the turf Oct. 8 at Santa Anita. (Set pace, led by 1 1/2 lengths after a half-mile, drifted out a bit in stretch in deep stretch and finished second beaten a neck at 1 1/16 miles on Nov. 13.)
LAUREL PARK
Harvest Lisa: Broke alertly from inside post, taken back to fifth more than 5 1/2 lengths behind after three-eighths of a mile, closed steadily in stretch and finished second beaten three-quarters of a length at 5 1/2 furlongs on Oct. 30.
Wohali: Raced fourth early, steadied in traffic, dropped to fifth more than 2 1/2 lengths behind after three-eighths of a mile, swung wide in mid-stretch after losing ground, steadied in fourth on heels of winner, rallied to make up more than 3 1/2 lengths and finished second beaten a length at 5 1/2 furlongs on the turf Oct. 14. (Raced third more than two lengths behind after three-eights of a mile, rallied wide into stretch and finished second by a half-length at 5 1/2 furlongs on Nov. 14.)
High Hill: Raced seventh more than eight lengths behind after three-eighths of a mile, angled five wide for the drive, closed willingly in stretch from fifth to make up 6 1/2 lengths and finished second beaten a length at 5 1/2 furlongs on a good surface Sept. 30.
MEADOWLANDS
Hello Andrew: Raced fifth early, dropped to seventh and last more than two lengths behind after a half-mile, came five wide into stretch and finished third beaten a nose and a neck at six furlongs on Nov. 3; ran final quarter in 24 seconds.
Sweettalkinjerome: Raced fifth early, dropped to sixth and last eight lengths behind after a half-mile, lost ground after six furlongs, rallied three wide into stretch, made up nearly five lengths and finished second beaten a neck at a mile on Oct. 13; ran final four furlongs in 48 2/5. (Bumped at break, tracked pace in fourth more than two lengths behind after a half-mile, made a three wide move into stretch and rallied to finish second beaten a half-length at a mile and 70 yards on Oct. 29.)
PHILADELPHIA PARK
Kudu: Raced seventh and last more than seven lengths behind after a half-mile, angled out very wide for the drive and rallied from fifth in stretch to gain second by a nose at a mile and 70 yards on Nov. 6.
Cuvee Rouge: Raced fourth early, dropped to fifth more than 3 1/2 lengths behind after three-eighths of a mile, lost several lengths entering stretch, closed willingly to make up 5 1/2 lengths and finished second beaten a length at 5 1/2 furlongs on Aug. 11. (Broke alertly, gained lead by a half-length after a half-mile, shook loose in stretch and won by 4 3/4 lengths at six furlongs on a good surface Oct. 31.)
RETAMA PARK
Ladybug Too: Raced more than three lengths behind in sixth after a half-mile, moved out in upper stretch and gained third by a length at six furlongs on Oct. 24. (Raced more than three lengths behind in fifth after a half-mile, swung five wide in upper stretch and rallied from fourth to win by a head at six furlongs on Nov. 5.)
Jeff Kentucky: Raced more than 8 1/2 lengths behind in ninth after a half-mile, eased out to pass rival approaching quarter pole, moved inside of third-place finisher in upper stretch, rallied from third to make up more than 3 1/2 lengths and caught leader at wire to win by a head at a mile on Sept. 17. (Raced more then four lengths behind in fifth after a half-mile, angled out in mid-stretch and finished third beaten a length for second at a mile on Oct. 16.)
SANTA ANITA
Lookin At Lucky: Broke sixth from outside post 13, carried wide on first turn, checked after being bumped repeatedly, dropped from seventh to 10th more than eight lengths behind after a half-mile, circled five wide into stretch from ninth to fifth, brushed with winner, made up 2 1/2 lengths and finished second beaten a head at 1 1/16 miles on Nov. 7.
TURF PARADISE
Frenchie’s Fast: Tracked pace five lengths behind in third after a half-mile, rallied late in stretch to make up more than 3 3/4 lengths and finished second beaten a neck at six furlongs on Nov.1.
Stressless: Raced seventh and last early, moved to sixth more than 4 1/2 lengths behind after three-eighths of a mile, rallied outside to make up more than 2 1/2 lengths in the stretch and finished second beaten a nose at five furlongs on Oct. 25.
WOODBINE
Lomaki: Raced 4 1/2 lengths behind in sixth after a half-mile, hustled to third in stretch, rallied between rivals to make up 3 1/2 lengths and finished second beaten a half-length at a mile on a soft turf course Oct. 31.
"Greg Melikov’s Horses to Watch" was posted on 17 November 2009 2:34 PM under Horse Racing News, Horses, Race Tracks, Racing Picks & Betting Tips
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