Greg Melikov’s Horses to Watch

Monday, May 1st, 2006 (Greg Melikov)

Handicapper/turf writer Greg Melikov compiles horses worth watching.

AQUEDUCT

Bold Man: Raced eighth early, advanced to fifth more than 5 ½ lengths behind after a half-mile, rallied three wide into stretch, made up 5 ½ lengths and lost by a neck at six furlongs on March 30. (Tracked pace two lengths behind in third after a half-mile, rallied three wide on turn losing ground. made up nearly 2 ½ lengths in stretch and was nosed out at six furlongs on April 26.)

CALDER

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.

Fortunate Code: Bumped at break, raced 10th early, advanced to fifth eight lengths behind after a half-mile, swung out for stretch run, rallied from fourth to make up more than 5 ¼ lengths and lost by a head at six furlongs on April 25.

CHURCHILL DOWNS

Tipperone: Sluggish at start, steadied, trailed by eight lengths at a half-mile, came off rail very wide for drive and rallied from sixth to gain second by 2 ½ lengths at six furlongs in the slop on April 30.

HAWTHORNE

Gold Hornet: Broke last, trailed by more than 12 ½ lengths at a half-mile, came fuve wide into stretch, rallied from fourth to make up more than 2 ¾ lengths and lost by three-quarters of a length at 1 1/16 miles on April 30.

Buster Bailey: Broke from outside post, raced seventh more than 10 lengths behind after a half-mile, came five wide into stretch, made up nearly 2 ½ lengths and was nosed out at 1 1/16 miles on April 22.

Chicago Style: Raced on rail 11 lengths behind in sixth after a half-mile, rallied from fifth in stretch to make up nine lengths and lost by a half-length at six furlongs on April 9.

Key Storm: Raced fourth early, shuffled back to fifth on turn, steadied behind rivals awaiting racing room along rail leaving fifth-sixteenths marker, angled out in mid-stretch, closed fast to make up more than 2 ½ lengths and lost by a length at six furlongs on March 4.

HOLLYWOOD PARK

Lucky Stab: Trailed early, raced 6 ½ lengths behind in sixth after a half-mile, came out wide into stretch , rallied from fourth to make up 3 ½ lengths and lost by a head at 6 ½ furlongs on April 28.

Midnighter: Chased paced more than five lengths behind in eighth after a half-mile, split rivals twice on turn, came out wide bumping with winner in mid-stretch, made up 2 ½ lengths and lost by a head at seven furlongs on April 2 at Santa Anita. (Broke slowly, trailed inside by more than five lengths after a half-mile, advanced four wide off turn, drifted in a bit in stretch and gained second by 4 ½ lengths at seven furlongs on April 27.)

PHILADELPHIA PARK

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.

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.

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.

PIMLICO

Grand Lucenci: Broke last, raced 10th more than 15 ½ lengths behind after a half-mile, shifted out eight wide in lane, closed willingly from ninth to make up nine lengths in stretch and gained place by a neck running the final quarter of six furlongs in 23 seconds on April 30.

Tam I Am: Appeared washy before post time, raced 7 ½ lengths behind in third after a half-mile, dropped back to fourth after six furlongs, angled out very wide in the lane, closed steadily to make up six lengths and lost by a neck at 1 1/16 miles on April 23.

PRAIRIE MEADOWS

Load’im Up: Pressed pace 1 ½ lengths back in fourth after a half-mile, lost ground on turn, angled to mid-track in stretch, made up 2 ½ lengths and lost by a neck at 1 1/16 miles on March 31 at Tampa Bay Downs. (Raced third early along rail, dropped back to fourth after a half-mile, lost ground to fifth awaiting an opening leaving far turn and rallied to gain second by a head at a mile and 70 yards on April 27.)

RETAMA PARK

Cinnamon Celebrity: Bumped in stretch racing fourth and lost by a head at 330 yards on April 30.

Man With Money: Finished strongly from outside post in fourth to gain second by a head at 330 yards on April 29.

TAMPA BAY DOWNS

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.

Cimarrona: Raced five lengths behind after a half-mile, came six wide into stretch, made up nearly 3 ½ lengths and lost by a neck at six furlongs on April 23.

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.

Dynamic Contour: Raced 6 ½ lengths behind in eighth after a half-mile, blocked through far turn, angled out for clear racing room in upper stretch, swung back inside to make up more than two lengths and lost by a half-length at 1 1/16 miles on the turf April 7.

Mr. Hogan: Broke through gate before start, raced within two lengths of leader after a half-mile, rallied down middle of track to gain lead in stretch, caught late and lost by a length at six furlongs on March 19. (Chased winner throughout, couldn’t close gap, but held place by a head at six furlongs on April 3.)

El Soprano: Raced 3 ½ lengths behind in fifth after a half-mile, dropped back from sixth to seventh looking for room in upper stretch, closed fast when clear making up four lengths and lost by a neck at 1 1/16 miles on the turf March 7. (Broke sharply to gain early lead, drew off by 3 ½ lengths in stretch and won by three-quarters of a length at 1 1/16 miles on the grass April 11.)

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