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 times and finished third three times since Nov. 14. These thoroughbreds are worth considering when developing your betting strategy.
Aqueduct
Check It Twice: Raced eighth more than five lengths behind after a half-mile, angled out in upper stretch, rallied belatedly from sixth to make up more than 3 1/4 lengths and gained third by a half-length at six furlongs on the good inner track Dec. 3; ran final quarter in 23 4/5.
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.)
Calder Race Course
Let Peace Rule: Broke alertly from the outside 9 post, taken back to sixth more than eight lengths behind after a half-mile, swung out the widest for stretch run, made up more than five lengths and gained second by a length at 5 1/2 furlongs on Dec. 3.
Blazen: 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.
Delta Downs
Superior Thief: Raced more than three lengths behind in fifth after a half-mile, dropped to sixth after six furlongs, closed fast late to make up nearly three lengths and finished second beaten a neck at a mile on Dec. 3.
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
Sunny Lights: Raced more than 2 1/2 lengths behind in fifth after a half-mile, lost ground steered to outside in mid-stretch, made up more than 2 3/4 lengths and finished third by 2 1/4 lengths at six furlongs on Nov. 29.
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
Zavill: Raced eight lengths behind in eighth after a half-mile, swung five wide into stretch, made up 3 1/2 lengths and gained second by 1 1/2 lengths at six furlongs on a sealed good surface Nov. 29.
Seguro: 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
Lady Alex: Raced four lengths behind in fourth after a half-mile, came out off heels of rival in upper stretch, closed willingly to make up three lengths and finished second beaten a half-length at six furlongs on Dec. 2; ran final quarter in 24 2/5.
Afleet Magic: Raced more than 3 1/2 lengths behind in seventh after a half-mile, swung three wide into stretch, rallied from sixth to make up more than two lengths and finished second beaten a half-length at 6 1/2 furlongs on Nov. 28.
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: 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. (Chased pace five lengths behind in second after a half-mile, grabbed lead shortly after mid-stretch and won by 1 1/2 lengths at a mile on the turf Dec. 6.)
Laurel Park
Sleep Out: Stalked pace a length behind in third after a half-mile, lost ground circling rivals into stretch, made up nearly 2 1/2 lengths and finished second beaten a neck at six furlongs on a good surface Dec. 3.
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.
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. (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
G’day Mate: Steadied at start, raced more than 1 1/2 lengths behind in fourth after a half-mile, lost a couple of lengths entering stretch, closed willingly to make up nearly 2 1/2 lengths and finished third beaten a head and a length at 6 1/2 furlongs on Dec. 1.
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: 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. (Tracked pace more than two lengths behind in second after a half-mile, advanced to second drifting out in mid-stretch and closed fast nearing wire to win by a neck at six furlongs on a sealed sloppy surface on Dec. 5.)
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
Excesstrouble: Broke ninth and last, trailed by more than 7 1/2 lengths after a half-mile, moved out for the drive, closed well in stretch to make up 4 1/2 lengths and gained second by 1 1/4 lengths at 6 1/2 furlongs on Dec. 1; ran final 2 1/2 furlongs in 30 3/5.
Global Empress: 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.
"Greg Melikov’s Horses to Watch" was posted on 8 December 2009 10:54 PM under Horse Racing News, Horses, Race Tracks, Racing Picks & Betting Tips
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