Greg Melikov’s Horses to Watch
Tuesday, October 10th, 2006 (Greg Melikov)

Horses worth watching compiled by handicapper/racing writer Greg Melikov won five races and finished second six times since Sept. 13.

BELMONT PARK

Polo Grounds: Steadied after start, trailed by 19 ½ lengths after a half-mile, inched up to ninth after six furlongs, rallied wide into stretch and lost by three-quarters of a length and a half-length at 1 1/8 miles on the turf Sept. 30.

Bronxdale: Stumbled at start, bumped, dropped back to last, raced seventh more than 6 ½ lengths behind after a half-mile, came wide into stretch, made up more than 2 ½ lengths and lost by a head on Sept. 23.

Dandy Mandy: Chased pace in third more than 2 ½ lengths behind in third after a half-mile, angled out in stretch, made up 2 ¾ lengths and lost by three-quarters of a length at a mile on the turf Sept. 13.

Pulpiteer: Broke next to last from outside post, raced eighth early, moved up to sixth more than 3 ½ lengths behind after a half-mile, lost ground while steadied in traffic through stretch, closed fast to make up 4 ½ lengths when clear and lost by a half-length at a mile on a good turf course Sept. 9.

Verkhotina: Raced ninth early, advanced between rivals to sixth more than 4 ½ lengths behind after a half-mile, rallied to fourth inside entering stretch, altered course in deep stretch, made up nearly two lengths and was nosed out a six furlongs on a good inner turf course Sept. 8.

CALDER

Prize Maker: Stumbled at start, saved ground while racing fifth more than 2 ½ lengths behind after a half-mile, angled out leaving far turn and rallied between rivals to gain second by a neck at 1 1/16 miles on the turf Oct. 8.

Valid Cashmere: Raced fourth early, caught in tight down backstretch, dropped back to fifth more than two lengths behind after a half-mile, tracked leaders into stretch, angled out in fourth, made up two lengths and lost by a neck at six furlongs on Oct. 1.

Pitch a Penny Broke on top, raced fourth early, dropped back steadily to last on far turn more than 4 ½ lengths behind after six furlongs, angled out six wide for drive, rallied from sixth in stretch to make up more than 2 ¼ lengths and lost by three-quarters of a length at 1 1/16 miles on a good turf course Sept. 22.

Causeway to Heaven: Raced ninth more than 4 ½ lengths behind after a half-mile, steadied in heavy traffic on far turn, angled out for drive, rallied from fifth to make up more than two lengths in stretch and lost by a half-length at 1 1/16 miles on a good turf course July 16.

DELAWARE PARK

Whispering Echo: Raced sixth more than 5 ½ lengths behind after a half-mile, blocked through far turn into stretch, found room inside to make up four lengths and lost by a half-length at a mile on Oct. 8.

Turbulent Reprized: Trailed early, advanced to sixth six lengths behind after a half-mile, moved up to fourth after angling out four wide in upper stretch, closed fast to make up 4 ¼ lengths and gained second by 2 ¼ lengths at six furlongs on Sept. 17.

All Night Show: raced third early, dropped back to fourth more than 1 ½ lengths behind after a half-mile, stuck between horses in traffic on turn, rallied gamely in stretch to make up nearly 2 ½ lengths and lost by a head at six furlongs on Aug. 23. (Prompted pace to stretch, but was no match for winner while holding second by three lengths at six furlongs on Sept. 13.)

Durajazz: Raced 6 ½ lengths behind in fifth after a half-mile, rallied in stretch from fourth to make up 3 ½ lengths and lost by a length at six furlongs on a sealed good track July 15. (Raced sixth more than five length behind after a half-mile, launched middle move on turn, rallied from fourth to second in stretch, but couldn’t catch winner at six furlongs on Sept. 25.)

HAWTHORNE

Bigboybdancing: Broke last, trailed by more than nine lengths after a half-mile, angled out for drive, made up four lengths in stretch and gained second by three lengths at six furlongs on Sept. 29.

Legs Diamond: Squeezed back to last at break, rushed up to 10th 11 ½ lengths behind after a half-mile, rallied from sixth in stretch to make up more than 3 ¼ lengths and gained second by a length at six furlongs on Sept. 22; ran final quarter in 24 4/5.

Regent’s Hope: Raced fifth more than nine lengths after a half-mile, angled out for drive, rallied to second making up more than 3 ½ lengths and lost by a neck at six furlongs on Sept. 17.

LAUREL

I’ve Got Honor: Bobbled at break, trailed early, advanced to fourth more than two lengths behind after a half-mile, angled out on turn, rallied three wide to make up two lengths and lost by a neck at six furlongs on Sept. 17 at Monmouth. (Raced sixth more than 4 ½ lengths behind after a half-mile, rallied five wide leaving turn, gained second in stretch, but couldn’t close gap at seven furlongs on Oct. 4.)

Parado: Raced seventh more than 4 ½ lengths behind after a half-mile, raced wide entering stretch, rallied from sixth to third drifting in near sixteenth pole and gained second by two lengths at a mile on Sept. 7.  (Stalked pace three wide early, dropped back to fourth more than 2 ½ lengths behind after a half-mile, advanced between rivals to take command in upper stretch and won by 1 ¾ lengths at seven furlongs on Sept. 28.) 

Ode d’Punch: Tracked pace in third more than 3 ½ lengths behind after a half-mile, rallied to second in stretch, ran erratically drifting in between the eighth and sixteenth poles, flattened out and couldn’t close gap on winner at a mile on Sept. 9. (Raced fourth early, dropped back to fifth more than 3 ½ lengths behind after a half-mile, came wide around the turn to close fast in stretch and drew off by two lengths at seven furlongs on Sept. 30.)

LOUISIANA DOWNS

Roll On Roll On: Steadied at start, fell behind to last, advanced to fifth 9 ½ lengths behind after a half-mile, rallied late along rail to make up more than three lengths in stretch and lost by a length at six furlongs on Oct. 7; ran final quarter in 23 2/5.

Isle of Silver: Raced fifth early, dropped back to sixth more than 4 ½ lengths behind after a half-mile, roused for drive after losing ground, closed fast between rivals to make up 5 ½ lengths and lost by a length at six furlongs on Oct. 1.

Third N Home: Raced eighth more than 11 ½ lengths behind after a half-mile, rallied along rail from fifth to make up nearly five lengths in stretch and lost by a nose and a half-length at a mile and 70 yards on a good surface Sept. 24.

Red At the Helm: Raced eighth more than 16 lengths behind after a half-mile, roused for the drive inside, finished well from fourth to make up six lengths and lost by a half-length at seven furlongs on Sept. 9; ran final three furlongs in 34 4/5. (Raced fifth more than 5 ½ lengths behind after a half-mile, advanced late on turn saving ground, rallied in third between rivals in stretch and won going away by two lengths at six furlongs on Sept. 29; returned $15.20 on front end.)

MEADOWLANDS

Waltz Brightly: Raced 10th more than nine lengths behind after a half-mile, advanced in the three path into the lane, finished well to make up 3 ¾ lengths in stretch and lost by three-quarters of a length at a mile and 70 yards on Sept. 7 at Monmouth.

Keta: Raced fifth more than 2 ½ lengths behind after a half-mile launched drive in three path on far turn, rallied from fourth to make up nearly four lengths in stretch and lost by a head a mile and 70 yards on Aug. 26 at Monmouth. (Trailed by more than four lengths after a half-mile, rallied four wide on far turn and finished gamely beaten a neck at a mile on Sept. 29.)

PHILADELPHIA PARK

Devious Rock:  Trailed early, advanced to fifth more than nine lengths after a half-mile, eased out through stretch and finished full of run to make up more than 5 ½ lengths and lost by a half-length at six furlongs on Sept. 25.

Love Comes First: Broke alertly, led early, taken back to second two lengths behind after a half-mile, dropped back to fourth on far turn, came again outside in stretch, made up nearly three lengths and lost by a neck at 7 ½ furlongs on the turf Sept. 23.

Red Magic: Chased paced four lengths behind in sixth after a half-mile, blocked repeatedly on far turn, angled wide for drive, made up nearly two lengths in stretch and gained third be a head beaten only 1 ¾ lengths at a mile and 70 yards on a good turf course July 8.

RETAMA PARK

Kemper: Raced seventh more than three lengths behind after three-eighths of a mile, swung out four wide in stretch and closed fast to make up three lengths and lost by a length at five furlongs on the turf Oct. 5.

Bay Hero: Broke a bit awkwardly, moved up inside, steadied, blocked from seven-sixteenths pole to three-sixteenths marker, angled in and lost by a neck and 1 ¼ lengths at seven furlongs on Sept. 20. (Pressed pace early, gained lead by a head after a half-mile and steadily increased the margin to 3 ¾ lengths at six furlongs on Oct. 4)

Night Ryde: Raced sixth more than 5 ½ lengths behind after a half-mile, rallied in upper stretch from 5th to make up more than 4 ¼ lengths and gained second by 3 ¼ lengths at six furlongs on Aug. 31.

Molly’s Gem: Broke last, jostled after start, blocked repeatedly looking for opening along backstretch, raced seventh more than three lengths behind after a half-mile, raced three wide on turn losing ground, weaved out and in looking for room in stretch, angled in near furlong marker, slipped through along rail finishing fast from fourth to make up 3 ¾ lengths and lost by three-quarters of a length at six furlongs on Aug. 19. (Tracked pace in fourth early, advanced to second 2 ½ lengths behind after a half-mile, lost ground to third in stretch and rallied to gain second by a length at six furlongs on Sept. 13.)

Bullet Crane: Raced second early, dropped back to third after a half-mile, lost ground to fourth after six furlongs, shifted out near the furlong marker and closed fast to win by a half-length at a mile on the grass Sept. 13. (Raced sixth more than three lengths behind after a half-mile, rallied four wide to gain lead near final furlong and powered clear by 5 ½ lengths under strong handling at 7 ½ furlongs on the turf Sept. 30.)

Prospector Mattie: Leaned out at start, brushed with rival, raced third early, dropped back to fourth after a half-mile, waited while saving ground on turn, rallied from third near the eighth pole, closed willingly and lost by a neck at 6 ½ furlongs on Aug. 17.

Expectant Diva: Trailed by more than 6 ½ lengths after a half-mile, swung out at top of the stretch, rallied from fourth to make up more than 2 ¾ lengths and gained second by a neck at six furlongs on Aug. 12; ran the final quarter in 24 2/5. (Raced fifth more than 5 ½ lengths behind after a half-mile, rallied on turn swinging five wide for drive, and finished three-quarters of a length back in second at six furlongs on Sept. 28.)   

SANTA ANITA

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 on Oct. 7.

Whitefish: Broke a bit solely, settled off rail in fifth 5 ½ lengths behind after a half-mile, came out in stretch, made up more than 2 ¼ lengths and lost by three-quarters of a length at six furlongs on Oct. 1.

WOODBINE 

Marchfield: Raced seventh more than 4 ½ lengths behind after a half-mile, roused three wide late on turn, rallied from fifth to make up more than four lengths in stretch and was nosed out at six furlongs on Oct. 8.

Wild Pistola: Trailed early, inched up to sixth more than six lengths behind after a half-mile, rallied five wide late, made up more than 2 ½ lengths and was nosed out at six furlongs on Oct. 1.

Poachers Moon: Raced ninth more than 4 1/2 lengths behind after a half-mile, closed four wide on the turn from fifth, made up more than 4 1/4 lengths in stretch and lost by a nose and a head at a mile and 70 yards on Sept. 24. 

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