Greg Melikov’s Horses to Watch
Monday, January 22nd, 2006 (Greg Melikov)

Horses worth watching compiled by handicapper/racing writer Greg Melikov won three races and finished second four times since Dec. 17.

AQUEDUCT

Ghost Mountain: Tracked pace in third more than two lengths behind after a half-mile, rallied inside for the drive, steadied in upper stretch, altered course to outside, finished gamely to make up more than 2 ½ lengths and lost by a half-length at six furlongs on Jan. 12.

Magic Momentum: Raced 2 ½ lengths behind in fourth after a half-mile, steadied and shuffled back in traffic to seventh on far turn, rallied in stretch from fifth to make up nearly 5 ½ lengths and lost by a neck at a mile and 70 yards on Jan. 7.

Mariano: Raced seventh more than 6 ½ lengths behind after a half-mile, advanced on turn, rallied from fifth making up four lengths in stretch and finished third a length behind at six furlongs on Dec. 16. (Raced more than seven lengths behind in seventh after a half-mile, angled out in stretch, rallied from fifth to make up more than a length and gained second by a length at six furlongs on Jan. 10.)

Tommasi: Raced fifth early, dropped to sixth more than 9 ½ lengths behind after a half-mile, rallied four wide for drive, made up two lengths in stretch and lost by a neck at a mile and 70 yards on Dec. 2.

Unconcerned: Raced fifth more than 3 ½ lengths behind after a half-mile, rallied to third in stretch and gained second by a neck at six furlongs on Nov. 30. (Steadied after start, trailed by more than 4 ½ lengths after a half-mile, angled out in stretch and closed gamely from sixth beaten three-quarters of a length by stablemate at six furlongs on Dec. 30; entry paid $14 on the front end and $11 to place.)

FAIR GROUNDS

Thunder Mission: Lunged at break, spotted field five lengths early, trailed by 10 lengths after a half-mile, advanced on turn, steered out from fifth in stretch, closed fast to make up seven lengths and lost by 1 ½ lengths at six furlongs on Jan. 13; ran final quarter in 24.

For Glory: Broke alertly, taken back to sixth early, inched up four wide to fourth four lengths behind after a half-mile, closed gamely in stretch to make up nearly four lengths and was nosed out at six furlongs on a sealed sloppy surface Jan. 7; ran final quarter in 23 4/5.

M Ray: Broke last, trailed early, moved up to sixth more than 3 ½ lengths behind after a half-mile, advanced around rivals on far turn to fourth in stretch, closed late to make up nearly four lengths and lost by a neck at 1 1/16 miles on the turf Dec. 31.

Corwyn’s Shark: Raced seventh early, dropped to eighth more than 10 ½ lengths behind after a half-mile, rallied outside to fourth in stretch, made up 2 ¾ lengths and lost by 1 ¼ lengths at 7 ½ furlongs on the turf Dec. 10.

He’s a Dixie Boy: Raced seventh more than 8 ½ lengths behind after three-eighths of a mile, eased out on turn, advanced to fifth in stretch, made up 4 ½ lengths and lost by a neck at 5 ½ furlongs on Dec. 3.

Nickel Candy: Trailed by 7 ½ lengths after a half-mile, awaited room in stretch, split rivals in fifth at sixteenth pole and closed fast to gain second by 1 ¼ lengths at 1 1/16 miles on Nov. 12 at Churchill Downs. (Raced seventh more than 8 ½ lengths behind after a half-mile, split foes for drive, rallied to fourth in stretch, forced out, recovered and gained second by a nose at about a mile on the turf Dec. 17.)

Chatham: Pressed pace a Hhead behind after a half-mile, gained lead by a head in stretch, weakened, but held second by 2 ½ lengths at six furlongs on Dec. 3. (Raced third early, dropped back to fourth three lengths behind after three-eighths of a mile, eased out for drive and rallied determinedly from second in stretch to win by three-quarters of a length at 5 ½ furlongs on a sealed sloppy surface Dec. 30.)

GULFSTREAM PARK

Wild Holly: Broke last from post 10, raced seventh early, steadied on first turn, dropped to eighth more than three lengths behind after a half-mile, angled out for drive losing ground from fifth to sixth, closed well to make up more than 3 ¾ lengths in stretch and lost by three-quarters of a length and a nose at 1 1/16 miles on the turf Jan. 14; ran final 2 ½ furlongs in 29 4/5.

Big Bold Pace: Raced more than 2 ½ lengths behind in sixth after a half-mile, forced to look for room in stretch, rallied outside, made up more than 1 ½ lengths and was nosed out at 1 1/8 miles on the turf Jan. 7.

Sinkwich: Steadied along rail to avoid clipping heels in backstretch, checked when trapped in second behind that foe around turn, eased out losing ground in fourth entering stretch, bumped trying to split rivals and finished a length behind in third at 6 ½ furlongs on Jan. 6.

LAUREL

Cole’s Player: Raced fifth early, shuffled back nearing three-eighths pole, dropped to sixth more than sixth lengths behind after a half-mile, rallied in two path in stretch, steadied when blocked late, made up five lengths and finished fourth beaten less than 1 ¼ lengths at seven furlongs on Jan. 14.

C V Slew: Bore in leaving gate, trailed by more than 13 ½ lengths after three-eighths of mile, steadied leaving backstretch, rallied seven wide in stretch from seventh, made up more than seven lengths and gained second by a half-length at 5 ½ furlongs on Jan. 4.

Icy Lady: Trailed early, advanced to eighth 19 lengths behind after a half-mile, advanced in the four path between rivals from fifth in stretch, closed fast to make up nearly 4 ½ lengths and was nosed out at a mile on Dec. 29. (Trailed by more than seven lengths in seventh after a half-mile, circled field on far turn, rallied from fifth to second in stretch and lost by a half-length at 1 1/8 miles on Jan. 13.)

Slew City Light; Broke from outside post, raced 12th more than 25 lengths behind after a half-mile, swung six wide entering stretch, rallied from sixth to make up eight lengths and lost by 1 ½ lengths at seven furlongs on Dec. 15.

PENN NATIONAL

Really Reilly: Bobbled at break, trailed early, advanced to seventh more than six lengths behind after a half-mile, blocked at sixteenth pole in fourth, continued willingly to make up a length and lost by a length at seven furlongs on Nov. 28 at Philadelphia Park. (Raced fourth early, pressed pace on second turn, rallied late and lost by a half-length at six furlongs on a good surface Jan. 2.)

PHILADELPHIA PARK

Lucky Memento: Raced fifth early just off rail, lost ground to sixth more than 5 ½ lengths behind after a half-mile, closed strongly from fourth in stretch to make up 3 ½ lengths in stretch and lost by a half-length at a mile on Dec. 17; ran final quarter in 24 2/5.

Jacob’s Arch: Broke from outside post, raced more than six lengths behind after a half-mile, rallied wide from fifth in stretch, made up 3 ¾ lengths and gained second by a neck at 6 ½ furlongs on Dec. 10.

Gameboye: Tracked pace close up in fourth after a half-mile, advanced outside to third in stretch, finished willingly and lost by a half-length at six furlongs on Dec. 11. (Tracked pace in third more than 1 ½ lengths behind after a half-mile, eased out for drive, took lead in deep stretch and prevailed by a half-length at six furlongs on Jan. 14.)

SANTA ANITA

Firebird Sweet: Broke last, trailed by more than 11 ½ lengths after six furlongs, rallied five wide from 12th to seventh into stretch, closed gamely to make up more than 4 ½ lengths and lost by a head at 1 ¼ miles on the turf Jan. 13.

Blues Street: Broke next to last, raced ninth more than 8 ½ lengths behind after a half-mile, swung six wide into stretch, closed willingly to make up more than five lengths and was nosed out at a mile on the turf Jan. 7; ran final quarter in 23 3/5.

Hendrix: Raced three lengths behind in fourth after a half-mile, lost ground to fifth after six furlongs, boxed in along rail from mid-stretch to sixteenth pole, came out late to close gamely, made up more than two lengths and finished third beaten 1 ½ lengths at 1 1/8 miles on the turf Dec. 31.

Big Jon: Raced eighth more than four lengths behind after a half-mile, came out entering stretch, rallied from fifth to make up nearly four lengths and lost by a head and a half-length at a mile on the turf Dec. 30.

Host Actor: Raced eighth more than 7 ½ lengths behind after a half-mile, dropped back to last after six furlongs, rallied from eighth four wide into stretch, made up more than 2 ¼ lengths and gained second by a nose at a mile on the turf Oct. 14.

Irish Place: Raced sixth more than 6 ½ lengths behind after a half-mile, came out in stretch to finish well making up more than 4 ¼ lengths and lost by three-quarters of a length at six furlongs Oct. 7.

TURFWAY PARK

Hum That Tune: Raced more than 10 ½ lengths behind in seventh after a half-mile, rallied four wide on far turn to fifth entering stretch, finished fast late to make up nearly four lengths and lost by a neck at a mile on Jan. 12.

Lucky Cutie: Raced four lengths behind in fifth after a half-mile, advanced four wide to fourth on turn, rallied willingly late in stretch to make up four lengths and lost by a length at 6 ½ furlongs on Jan. 4

Matty Junior: Trailed early, moved up to 11th more than 8 ½ lengths behind after a half-mile, angled out for drive, rallied to seventh in upper stretch, steadied in deep stretch to avoid fallen horse, made up more than 2 ¼ lengths and lost by a length at 6 ½ furlongs on Dec. 30; ran final 2 ½ furlongs in 19 3/5.


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