Archive for the 'Handicapping' Category
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By GREG MELIKOV
The 2007 Belmont Stakes should read a welcome to horse racing’s Fear Factor. “Fear Factor”, the television series that ran from 2001 through last year captured the attention of many TV viewers in America.
Horse racing’s version goes back many decades. I’m talking years and years. But the measure of success depends on your point of view. Let me count the ways.
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Horses worth watching, a list of runners compiled by handicapper/turf writer Greg Melikov that should improve in their next outing, won three races, ran second once and finished third once since April 17.
ARLINGTON PARK
Altercation: Bumped at break, trailed by more than six lengths after a half-mile, rallied from 10th to fourth in stretch, made up 2 ½ lengths and lost by a neck and 1 ¼ lengths at six furlongs on May 13; ran final quarter in 24 flat.
Sadler’s Trick: Taken up at break, raced seventh early, trailed 6 ½ lengths behind after a half-mile, ranged up six wide for drive, moved from eighth to fifth in stretch and rallied late to third beaten a nose and a neck at a mile on May 5.
More Horses To Watch
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By GREG MELIKOV
All eyes will be on Street Sense vs. Hard Spun rivalry at the 2007 Preakness Stakes. Rivalries have added thrills galore to racing throughout the years, especially during the Triple Crown season.
Affirmed and Alydar battling in the 1978 Triple Crown season was especially electrifying as Affirmed edged Alydar in all three races to become the 11th and last TC champion.
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By GREG MELIKOV
I like to concentrate on the can dos instead of the can nots when handicapping the Kentucky Derby. So I’m going to accentuate the positive, reminiscent of the hit song in 1944.
Since a good foundation is most helpful, look for horses that ran at least once as a 2-year-old and had good speed figures, plus those that won at a mile or longer.
The top contenders, in alphabetical order, fit all three horseshoes: Any Given Saturday, Domincan, Nobiz Like Shobiz, Scat Daddy, Stormello and Street Sense.
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By GREG MELIKOV
Only five horses going back 51 years ended up winning the Kentucky Derby after failing to hit the board in their final prep. And four ran in just two of the six current major preps.
Five horses that took the San Anita Derby since Swaps in ’55 scored at Churchill Downs, but the last colt to turn the trick was Sunday Silence in ’89. The last two unplaced horses at Santa Anita to triumph at Churchill Downs were Gato Del Sol in ’82 and Giacomo two years ago.
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Horses worth watching compiled by handicapper/turf writer Greg Melikov won three races and finished second three times since April 8.
AQUEDUCT RACE TRACK
He’s Tough: Broke slowly, raced seventh early, moved to sixth more than 8 ½ lengths behind after a half-mile, advanced inside for the drive, angled out in third to make up six lengths in stretch and gained second by 1 ¼ lengths at six furlongs on April 19.
More Horses To Watch
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Horses worth watching, a list of runners that should improve next time out, is compiled by handicapper/turf writer Greg Melikov.
AQUEDUCT RACE TRACK
Against the Grain: Raced third early, dropped back to fourth more than three lengths behind after a half-mile, rallied three wide approaching stretch, bumped with winner in upper stretch, gained brief lead by a head, steadied when that rival came out near wire and lost by a length at a mile on a good surface April 13.
More Horses To Watch
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By GREG MELIKOV
What do Apollo, Regret, Exterminator and Sunny’s Halo have in common? Yes, all these horses are Kentucky Derby winners.
But the quartet shares another common thread – the start or perpetuation of jinxes that have held true for decades.
The oldest Curse of Churchill Downs dates back to 1882 when Apollo roared down the stretch to capture the eighth Derby. He was the last winner that didn’t run as a 2-year-old.
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By GREG MELIKOV
The final major preps for the Kentucky Derby will go a long way toward deciding which 3-year-olds enter the starting gate on the first Saturday in May.
Running well in the $750,000 Blue Grass Stakes or the $1 million Arkansas Derby, both at 1 1/8 miles, won’t automatically qualify for a shot at a healthy chunk of the guaranteed $2 million purse at Churchill Downs.
That’s because the number of starters on May 5 is limited to 20, based on graded stakes earnings, like last year when Barbaro banked more than $1,450,000. And only twice in 21 years has the field at Louisville fallen below 15.
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By GREG MELIKOV
It’s not whether you win or lose that counts in two significant Kentucky Derby prep races on April 7, but whether you ran fairly well and at least hit the board. The Wood Memorial at Aqueduct and the Santa Anita Derby at Santa Anita Park
For example, only two of the 10 Wood […]
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