Wednesday, September 26, 2007

Horse Race Betting Preview: Horses to Watch


Horses worth watching, a list of runners compiled by handicapper/turf writer Greg Melikov that should do well next time out or improve considerably, won three races, finished second two times and ran third twice since Sept. 2.

BELMONT PARK

Trouble Maker: Raced fourth early, dropped to fifth more than 3 ½ lengths behind after a half-mile, lost ground to sixth entering stretch, caught in traffic, rallied when clear making up 1 ½ lengths and finished well in fourth beaten a head, a half-length and a neck at six furlongs on the inner turf course Sept. 20; ran final quarter in 22 1/5.

Spurred: Broke next to last, raced sixth more than 12 ½ lengths behind after a half-mile, dropped to seventh after six furlongs, came wide for the drive, worked his way through traffic in stretch from fifth, struck by rival jockey's whip, made up four lengths and finished third beaten a nose and a head at 1 1/8 miles on the inner turf course Sept. 16; ran final three furlongs in 35 2/5.

Keen Irish: Raced 10th more than 5 ½ lengths behind after a half-mile, dropped to last after six furlongs, advanced to sixth in stretch, altered course, finished well outside making up 4 ½ lengths and finished third beaten two necks at 1 1/8 miles on the inner turf on Sept. 8.

CALDER

Kiki's Honor: Bumped hard with rival at break, raced ninth more than five lengths behind after a half-mile, angled out for drive, closed well from fifth in stretch to make up more than 2 ½ lengths and finished second by a neck at 1 1/16 miles on a good turf courses Sept. 22.

Mr Guska: Bumped and checked between rivals at break, trailed by more than six lengths after three-eights of a mile, closed well from sixth in stretch to make up more than 2 ½ lengths and finished third beaten a length and a neck at five furlongs on the turf Sept. 16.

Ed the Boxer: Trailed by 18 ½ lengths after a half-mile, advanced from eighth to sixth in stretch, closed well to make up more than 3 ½ lengths and gained second by a half-length at a mile on Sept. 1.

On Lake: Checked at start, trailed early, raced 4 ½ lengths behind after a half-mile, advanced from fifth to fourth in stretch, closed well to make up more than three lengths and finished third beaten a nose and a half-length at 1 1/16 miles on the turf Aug. 25.

DELAWARE PARK

Saint Bonaventure: Broke last, race third early, dropped to fifth 2 ½ lengths behind after a half-mile, rallied outside from fourth in stretch, made up nearly four lengths and finished second beaten a neck at a mile on a wet fast surface Sept. 22.

Whoyouknow: Raced fourth more than a length behind after three-eighths of a mile, boxed inside through the turn, angled to middle of track in upper stretch losing ground, gained slowly on winner making up 1 ½ lengths and finished second beaten a length at 5 ½ furlongs on Sept. 16.

Brae Prospect: Raced fourth early, dropped to fifth inside 2 ½ lengths behind after a half-mile, advanced steadily to third in stretch while losing ground, angled out four wide, closed late making up three lengths and finished second beaten a half-length at 1 1/16 miles on Sept. 8.

Taven's First Book: Pinched back to sixth after start, bobbled on heels of rival, raced four lengths behind in fifth after a half-mile, closed well outside from fourth, made up more than 1 ½ lengths and finished second beaten a half-length at six furlongs on Aug. 29 (Raced more than 3 ½ lengths behind in fifth after three-eighths of a mile, rallied to second in stretch and lost by a head at 5 ½ furlongs a wet fast surface Sept. 11.)

Tootsnmoneybags: Raced wide 4 ½ lengths behind in fifth after three-eighths of mile, closed well from third to second making up nearly 4 ½ lengths and came up a nose short at five furlongs on July 30 at Philadelphia. (Raced sixth early, dropped to seventh more than two lengths behind after a half-mile, eased out wide rallying into stretch a half-length back in second and drew off by 2 ½ lengths at seven furlongs on Sept. 2 at Philadelphia Park.)

HAWTHORNE

Jazzy Gallop: Broke next to last, raced eighth more than 6 ½ lengths behind after a half-mile, swung out on turn, advanced to sixth in stretch, made up more than 3 ½ lengths and finished second beaten 1 ½ lengths at 1 1/16 miles on the turf Sept. 22.

Class Ack: Raced eighth more than 7 ½ lengths behind after a half-mile, dropped to ninth after six furlongs, circled field seven wide to fifth in stretch, made up more than 1 ½ lengths and finished second beaten a neck at 1 1/16 miles on the turf Sept. 21.

Appeal With Zeal: Raced fourth early, dropped to fifth more than four lengths behind after a half-mile, steadied in upper stretch, rallied through traffic from fifth to second, made up more than four lengths and finished second beaten a nose at six furlongs on Aug. 29 at Arlington Park; ran final quarter in 24 4/5. (Raced third early, dropped to sixth more than two lengths back, wore down rivals entering stretch and drew off by 1 ½ lengths at six furlongs on Sept. 21.)

LAUREL PARK

Gussie's Secret: Broke awkwardly, trailed by 13 lengths after a half-mile, came wide into stretch, closed well from fifth to make up seven lengths and finished third beaten a half-length and a neck at seven furlongs on Sept. 13.

Hands On: Raced fifth more than five lengths behind after three-eighths of a mile, rallied in stretch between horses from third, made up nearly three lengths and finished second a nose back at 5 ½ furlongs on the turf Sept. 8.

Infatuated: Raced sixth more than 8 ½ lengths behind after a half-mile, advanced very wide to third in stretch, closed willingly to make up nearly four lengths and finished second beaten a head at six furlongs on Sept. 8. LOUISIANA DOWNS

Thunderstone: Broke slowly, raced 10th early, dropped to 11th more than 21 lengths behind after a half-mile, advanced to seventh in stretch, closed well to make up 7 ¼ lengths and finished third beaten 2 ¼ lengths at six furlongs on Aug. 26; ran final quarter in 24 2/5.

Rowdy Money: Raced seven lengths behind in seventh after a half-mile, angled out a bit for drive, closed well to make up 4 ¾ lengths in stretch and gained second by a half-length at six furlongs on Aug. 26.

Feisty Commander: Raced eighth more than 11 ½ lengths behind after a half-mile, advanced five wide to fourth in stretch, closed well to make up more than 4 ½ lengths and finished second beaten a head at 7 ½ furlongs on the turf Aug. 24.

Eccentric Girl: Led by a half-length after a quarter-mile, increased margin to 3 ½ lengths in stretch and hung on by a head at 6 ½ furlongs on Aug. 23. (Broke well, set pace along rail, led by a length after a half-mile, steadily drew clear in stretch and won by 3 ¾ lengths ridden out at seven furlongs off the turf Sept. 13.)

Invading Deputy: Tracked pace in third 1 ½ lengths behind after a half-mile, lost ground to fifth after six furlongs, came three wide for drive, made up 2 ½ lengths in stretch and finished second beaten a half-length at 1 1/16 miles on July 22. (Raced five wide into first turn, fog clouds view and finished second beaten 1 ¼ lengths in rainy conditions on a sloppy surface at a mile and 70 yards on Sept. 2.)

Sammy Van Ammy: Raced five lengths behind in fifth after a half-mile, dropped to eighth after six furlongs, blocked along inside in upper stretch, angled out, closed fast to make up more than two lengths and gained second by a nose at a mile on a good turf course Aug. 19; ran final quarter in 23 4/5 at Monmouth. (Pressed pace early, was in front by a length after a half-mile, led by 1 ½ lengths after six furlongs, weakened in stretch and finished third at 1 1/16 miles on Sept. 22.)

PHILADELPHIA PARK

Thermostatic: Broke next to last, trailed by more than six lengths after a half-mile, split foes rallying to fourth in stretch, closed well to make up 2 ¼ lengths and finished second beaten three-quarters a length at about a mile and 70 yards on the turf Sept. 16.

Rymar: Trailed early, advanced to sixth more than 5 ½ lengths behind after a half-mile, rallied on turn, closed well in stretch to make up more than 3 ¼ lengths and gain second by a length at 6 ½ furlongs on Sept. 8.

Cool Days: Raced third early, dropped to fourth 3 ½ lengths behind after a half-mile, fell back on turn, came again in stretch to make up 1 ½ lengths and finished second beaten a half-length at six furlongs on Sept. 2.

Box the Fox: Broke last, trailed early, advanced to seventh more than five lengths behind after three-eighths of a mile, closed gamely from sixth to make up more than two lengths in stretch and finished second beaten a head at 5 ½ furlongs on Aug. 25 at Delaware Park. (Raced seventh early, steadily improved position to fourth in stretch and finished third at 6 ½ furlongs on Sept. 8.

RETAMA PARK

Go Leroy Go: Broke in air last, raced seventh more than 6 ½ lengths behind after a half-mile, advanced on turn to fourth in stretch and rallied inside to gain second by a head at six furlongs on Sept. 21.

Cat Bryde: Raced third early inside, dropped to fifth more than three lengths behind after a half-mile, launched bid on turn, rallied in late stretch to make up 1 ½ lengths and finished second beaten a half-length at 7 ½ lengths on the turf Sept. 21.

Nukeladen: Broke last, raced eighth more than nine lengths behind after three-eighths of a mile, swung five wide in middle of turn, rallied from seventh in stretch to make up 3 ¼ lengths and finished third beaten three-quarters of a length and a length at five furlongs on Sept. 15.

Lola Lola Lola: Broke last, bumped with rival after start, advanced to sixth more than 10 lengths behind after a half-mile, closed three wide from fourth in stretch, made up three lengths and finished second by three lengths at a mile on Sept. 7.

TURFWAY PARK

Bold Star: Raced six lengths behind in fifth after a half-mile, angled outside rival in upper stretch, rallied from fourth to make up more than 5 ¼ lengths and finished second beaten a neck at 1 1/16 miles on Sept. 21.

Chugwater: Trailed by more than 19 lengths after a half-mile, advanced to fifth in stretch, closed fast inside to make up 3 ¼ lengths and finished third beaten a half-length and 1 ¼ lengths at a mile on Sept. 16.

Candeed: Broke last, raced seventh early, move to fourth more than four lengths behind after a half-mile, bumped by rival entering turn, angled out for drive, closed well to make up nearly four lengths and finished second beaten a neck at 6 ½ furlongs on Sept. 7.

Court Vision: Sluggish at start, trailed early, moved to sixth more than 5 ½ lengths after a half-mile, closed from fourth on outside making up more than five lengths in stretch and finished second beaten a half-length at six furlongs on Sept. 7; ran final quarter in 24 2/5.

Wriggle: Broke alertly from outside post, raced 3 ½ lengths behind in fourth after a half-mile, dropped to fifth in stretch, closed late to make up two lengths and finished third beaten two necks at six furlongs on Aug. 24 at Arlington Park.


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