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 four times, ran second six times and finished third three times since Oct. 11. These thoroughbreds are worth considering when developing your betting strategy.

Aqueduct

Upper Gulch: Raced 14 1/2 lengths behind in sixth after a half-mile, swung four wide for drive, rallied belatedly to make up more than 2 1/2 lengths and finished third beaten a nose and a length at 1 1/16 miles on a good turf course Nov. 29.

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. (Raced 6 1/2 lengths behind in fifth after a half-mile, angled out in mid-stretch and finished third at six furlongs on Nov. 25.)

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 the turf Oct. 12 at Philadelphia Park. (Raced more than 5 1/2 lengths behind in seventh after a half-mile, rallied three wide on far turn and gained second by a half-length at 1 1/16 miles on the turf Nov. 28.)

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 Race Course

Biazen: Pinched back after breaking 10th and last, moved to eighth more than 9 1/2 lengths behind after a half-mile, dropped to ninth after six furlongs, swung out for stretch run, rallied to make up more than three lengths and finished second beaten a length at a mile on a yielding turf course Nov. 28; ran final quarter in 23 3/5.

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 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. (Broke slowly, raced more than 12 lengths behind in ninth after a half-mile, closed fast from fourth in stretch and won by a nose at six furlongs on Nov. 28.)

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.

Delta Downs

Anna’s Glory: Raced more than 4 1/2 lengths behind in fifth after a half-mile, rallied five wide on far turn, grabbed lead in stretch by a head and won by three-quarters of a length at a mile and 70 yards on Sept. 27 at Louisiana Downs. (Raced seven lengths behind in eighth after a half-mile, advanced four wide from seventh on far turn, rallied from third in stretch, made up three lengths and drew clear to win by 2 3/4 lengths at 1 1/16 miles on Nov. 21.)

Fair Grounds

Eat N Run: Raced ninth and last more than nine lengths behind after a half-mile, switched to outside in stretch, rallied from seventh to make up more than 2 1/4 lengths and finished second by a half-length at a mile on the turf Nov. 27.

Hawthorne

Sequero: Hit gate at start, broke 11th and last, raced more than 5 1/2 lengths behind in eighth after a half-mile, swung five wide into stretch, made up more than four lengths and finished second beaten a length at six furlongs on Nov. 28; ran final quarter in 24 4/5.

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. (Raced 11 lengths behind in seventh after a half-mile, rallied four wide into stretch and rallied from fourth to finish second beaten a half-length at 1 1/16 miles on Nov. 28.)

Jimmy Got Even: 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. (Raced fifth more than four lengths behind in traffic fifth after half-mile and rallied in stretch to finish third at six furlongs on Nov. 27.)

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 Nov. 13; 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

Swing Music: Raced 8 1/2 lengths behind in sixth after a half-mile, steadied near the 4 1/2-furlong marker, came five wide for the drive, made up 3 1/2 lengths in stretch and gained second by three-quarters of a length at six furlongs on a sealed muddy surface Nov. 26; ran final quarter in 23 4/5.

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

Herculon: Steadied early, raced more than 9 1/2 lengths behind in ninth after a half-mile, angled out for the drive, closed fast in stretch to make up more than 6 1/2 lengths and finished second by a head at six furlongs on Nov. 27; ran final quarter in 23 1/5.

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. (Raced sixth and last more than seven lengths behind after a half-mile and rallied in stretch to gain third by a head at six furlongs on Nov. 27.)

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

Bikini: Raced sixth more than three lengths behind after a half-mile, rallied outside in stretch to make up more than 2 1/2 lengths and finished second beaten a head at six furlongs on Nov. 23.

Cuvee Rouge: 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. (Pressed fast pace in third two heads behind after a half-mile, moved to second in stretch, but couldn’t catch winner and held position 3 1/4 lengths at six furlongs on Nov. 16.)

Santa Anita Park

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

Global Express: Rank breaking slowly eighth and last, raced more than 4 1/2 lengths behind in fifth after a half-mile, eased out for the drive, made up more than 2 1/2 lengths in stretch and finished third beaten a head and a neck at six furlongs on Nov. 27.

Turfway Park

Lion’s Den: Hopped at start, raced more than 6 1/2 lengths behind in sixth after a half-mile, angled out entering stretch, made up 2 1/2 lengths and finished second beaten a half-length at six furlongs on Nov. 29.

Woodbine

Selina Moon: Raced fourth early, dropped to fifth 1 1/2 lengths behind after a half-mile, lost ground going four wide into stretch, rallied to make up more than three lengths and finished second beaten a half-length at six furlongs on Nov. 28; ran final quarter in 23 3/5.

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.

About The Author

Greg Melikov: Horse Racing Handicapper/Turf Writer Greg Melikov has been handicapping and writing about horses for decades. His articles and columns appear in print and on the Internet around the world. Greg is a retired newspaperman who became a horse racing fan at 13 when he saw 1948 Triple Crown winner Citation, his favorite horse, whip 20 older horses at old Arlington Park.

"Greg Melikov’s Horses to Watch" was posted on 1 December 2009 8:09 AM under Horse Racing News, Horses, Race Tracks, Racing Picks & Betting Tips

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Greg Melikov’s Horses to Watch

Aqueduct