Greg Melikov’s Horses to Watch
Tuesday, October 17th, 2006 (Greg Melikov)

Horses worth watching compiled by handicapper/racing writer Greg Melikov won seven races and finished second three times since Sept. 28.

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 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, raced sixth more than 3 ½ lengths behind after a half-mile, lost ground while steadied in traffic through stretch, closed fast when clear to make up 4 ½ lengths and lost by a half-length at a mile on a good turf course Sept. 9.

CALDER

Rapturous: Raced 4 ½ lengths behind in fourth after a half-mile, advanced three wide on far turn into stretch to third, made up 3 ¾ lengths and lost by 1 ¼ lengths at 1 1/16 miles on a good turf course Oct. 15.

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 along backstretch, dropped back to fifth more than two lengths behind after a half-mile, angled out in fourth for drive, made up two lengths in stretch 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.

DELAWARE PARK

Extra Push: Raced third early, fell to fifth six lengths behind after a half-mile, angled out five wide for drive, closed fast to make up more than 5 ¼ lengths in stretch and was nosed out at six furlongs on Oct. 10.

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. (Raced fifth more than five lengths behind after a half-mile and rallied outside in stretch from third to win going away by 7 ¾ lengths at six furlongs on Oct. 14; returned $10.40 on front end.)

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, advanced 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. (Trailed by more than seven lengths after a half-mile, angled out for drive and rallied from third in stretch to win by 1 ¼ lengths at 6 ½ furlongs on Oct. 12.)

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

LAUREL

Enjoyable: Raced seven more than six lengths behind after three-eighths of a mile, steadied in tight quarters entering turn, advanced between rivals to fourth in stretch, made up three lengths and lost by a half-lengths at five furlongs on the turf Oct. 13.

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 in stretch and lost by a neck at six furlongs on Sept. 17 at Monmouth. (Raced sixth more than 4 1/2 lengths behind after a half-mile, rallied five wide leaving turn and 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, came 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 drive inside, made up six lengths in stretch 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

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 turf course Sept. 8 at Belmont.

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

Nosmalifeat: Trailed by more then eight lengths after a half-mile, angled out in stretch, rallied from fourth to make up 3 ½ lengths and lost by a length at seven furlongs on Oct. 14; ran final three furlongs in 38 3/5.

Devious Rock: Trailed early, advanced to fifth more than nine lengths behind 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.

RETAMA PARK

Force of Power: Trailed by more than 7 ½ lengths after three-eighths of a mile, advanced on turn from ninth to fifth in stretch, rallied six wide to make up 4 ½ lengths and lost by a half-length at 5 ½ furlongs on Oct. 13.

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 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 margin to 3 ¾ lengths at six furlongs on Oct. 4.)

Bullet Crane: Raced second early, dropped back to third after a half-mile, lost ground to fourth after six furlongs, shifted out near 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 for opening 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 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 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

Host Actor: Raced eighth more than 7 ½ lengths at 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 on Oct. 7.

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

WOODBINE 

Silver Gun: Trailed by more than five lengths after a half-mile, saved ground advancing to sixth in upper stretch, blocked in mid-stretch, altered course, closed fast late to make up more than 3 ¼ lengths and gained second by a nose at six furlongs on Oct. 11.

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 ½ lengths behind after a half-mile, closed four wide on turn from fifth, made up more than 4 ¼ lengths in stretch and lost by a nose and a head at a mile and 70 yards on Sept. 24.

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