Greg Melikov’s Horses to Watch

Monday, June 5th, 2006 (Greg Melikov)

Veteran handicapper/turf writer Greg Melikov compiles this list of horses worth watching.

ARLINGTON PARK 

Devil’s Diary: Raced fifth early, dropped back to ninth more than 9 ½ lengths behind after a half-mile, came five wide into stretch, rallied from fourth to make up 3 ½ lengths and lost by a head at 1 1/16 miles on the turf June 4.

Unreal Rocket: Bumped with winner at break, raced more than 10 ½ lengths behind after a half-mile, came five wide into stretch, rallied from fifth to make up more than 6 ¼ lengths and lost by a neck at six furlongs on May 27.

BELMONT

Preacher’s Take; Raced third early, dropped back to sixth more than 6 ½ lengths behind after a half-mile, came three wide into stretch, rallied from fifth. Made up four lengths and lost by a next at six furlongs June 4.

Peg’s Player: Raced eighth early, dropped back to ninth more than five lengths behind after a half-mile, came wide for drive, rallied from fifth to make up seven lengths and lost by a half-length at 1 1/8 miles on the turf May 24.

Sterwins: Chased pace four wide 9 ½ lengths behind in sixth after a half-mile, dropped back on turn, came again in stretch, made up 6 ¾ lengths and lost by hree-quarters of length at six furlongs on May 20; ran final quarter in 24 4/5.\

Pennyrile: Raced fourth more than 8 ½ lengths behind after a half-mile, rallied in stretch to third making up more than 4 ¼ lengths and was nosed out at six furlongs on May 11; ran final quarter in 24 1/5.

CALDER

Sweet Smiley: Raced fifth early, dropped back to sixth more than 3 ½ lengths behind after a half-mile, steadied leaving backstretch, steadied again on turn, angled out for drive, gained more than 1 ¾ lengths in stretch and finished willingly second by three-quarters of a length at seven furlongs on June 3.

Staria: Steadied at start, checked early, raced more than 5 ½ lengths behind after a half-mile, rallied four wide in stretch, made up more than four lengths and lost by a head at a mile on the turf April 30.

CHURCHILL DOWNS

Dynamist: Raced 6 ½ lengths behind in sixth after a half-mile, inched up inside on far turn, lacked room at quarter pole, straightened after going very wide into the lane, made up more than 2 ¼ lengths in stretch and lost by three-quarters of a length at 1 1/16 miles on the turf June 4.

Lord Lovat: Broke sluggishly, bumped rival, raced eighth more than eight lengths behind after a half-mile, advanced along rail on turn, eased out between foes four wide for drive, rallied from fourth to make up 4 ¼ lengths in stretch and gained second by a neck at six furlongs on May 21.

Handlewoman: Broke in air, landed badly to trail early, raced ninth more than 8 ½ lengths behind after three-sixteenths of a mile, raced near hedge around turn, angled out eight wide into lane, bumped late by winner, made up more than two lengths and lost by a length at five furlongs on the turf May 13.

FINGER LAKES

Sosella: Raced 12 ½ lengths behind in fifth after a half-mile, angled to rail in upper stretch, made up more than 4 ¼ lengths and lost by a neck at 1 1/16 miles on April 29 at Tampa Bay Downs.

HOLLYWOOD PARK

La Chola: Squeezed back at break, trailed early, inched up to seventh more than eight lengths behind after a half-mile, rallied from fifth to make up more than three lengths and lost by a neck at six furlongs on June 2.

Purple Royale: raced seventh more than 16 lengths behind after a half-mile, moved up on turn, came out in stretch to rally from fifth closing willingly, made up more than six lengths and lost by a neck at 7 ½ furlongs on May 27.

New Joysey Jeff: Stalked pace in second from onset a bit off rail, put a head in front three deep in mid-stretch, rider lost whip past sixteenth pole and was beaten by three-quarters of a length at a mile on the turf May 21.

INDIANA DOWNS

Buster Bailey: Raced fourth after a half-mile, saved ground into the lane, angled out in stretch, caught leader inside sixteenth pole and drew clear by two lengths at 1 1/16 miles on the turf May 8. (Raced fifth early, dropped back sixth inside six lengths behind after a half-mile, angled to mid-track for drive, finished second full of run making up 3 ½ lengths in stretch and lost by a neck at 1 1/16 miles on the turf May 20.)

LOUISANNA DOWNS

Ski Race: Off a bit slow, trailed early, advanced to seventh more than eight lengths behind after a half-mile, rallied three wide from sixth into stretch, made up more than 4 ½ lengths and lost by three-quarters of a length at six furlongs on June 4.

Shezacommander: Trailed early, inched up to eighth more than 8 ½ lengths behind after a half-mile, slipped through along rail in stretch, angled out late to make up more than 5 ¼ lengths and gained second by a half-length at seven furlongs on May 14.

MEADOWLANDS

Unreal General: Broke from outside, raced sixth early, dropped back to seventh two lengths behind after a half-mile, slipped through along rail leaving furlong marker, closed fast from sixth to make up more than five lengths in stretch and lost by a head at a mile on the turf April 15 at Tampa Bay Downs.

MONMOUTH

Slews Enough: Pinched back, bumped at break, trailed early, inched up to seventh more than seven lengths behind after a half-mile, came three wide into stretch rallying from fourth to make up more than 2 ½ lengths and gained second by 3 ½ lengths at six furlongs on May 13. 

PHILADELPHIA PARK

Letrado: Raced fifth early, dropped back to sixth more than 6 ½ lengths behind after a half-mile, advanced wide on far turn, rallied from third to make up 2 ½ lengths in stretch and lost by a half-length at a mile and 70 yards on May 13.

Sans Win: Raced fourth more than 5 ½ lengths behind after a half-mile, rallied in stretch to make up five lengths and gained second by 5 ½ lengths at 6 ½ furlongs on April 23. (Raced third early, dropped back to fourth more than five lengths behind after a half-mile, rallied in stretch to make up 2 ¼ lengths and gained second by 1 ¼ lengths at 5 ½ furlongs on May 15.)

Sign Post: Didn’t break alertly, raced sixth early, advanced to fifth more than six lengths behind after a half-mile, rallied inside into stretch, closed gamely from fourth to second making up two lengths and lost by a length at 5 ½ furlongs on April 11. (Pressed pace early, led by a half-length after a half-mile, took command in stretch and won by three lengths at six furlongs on May 6.)

Imachadancer: Raced sixth more than 3 ½ lengths behind after a half-mile, rallied to fourth in stretch, closed well to make up 5 ½ lengths and lost by a length at six furlongs on a sloppy surface April 8.

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