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 six races, finished second twice and ran third three times since Sept. 21.
AQUEDUCT
Bethpage Black: Raced more than 17 ½ lengths behind in 10th after a half-mile, checked inside on far turn, dropped to 11th after six furlongs, rallied along rail to fifth in stretch, made up more than five lengths and finished third beaten a length at 1 1/16 miles on a yielding turf course Oct. 26.
BELMONT PARK
Rewrite: Broke alertly, taken back to fifth, raced 3 ½ lengths behind after a half-mile, blocked in upper stretch, steadied in traffic during drive and finished a game second by a neck at a mile on the turf Sept. 29; ran final half in 46 2/5. (Raced eighth more than six lengths behind after a half-mile, advanced four wide approaching stretch and prevailed after long drive by a neck at 1 1/8 miles on the turf Oct. 20.)
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. (Broke last, trailed by more than 4 ½ lengths after a half-mile, advanced inside to third in stretch, altered course outside and finished second by 1 ¾ lengths at six furlongs on the turf Oct. 14.)
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 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. (Raced seventh more than three lengths behind after a half-mile, rallied four wide on far turn and finished second beaten a neck at 1 1/8 miles on the inner turf Oct. 20.)
CALDER
King Anthony: Raced more than 1 ½ lengths behind in fifth after three-eighths of a mile, advanced four wide on the turn, rallied in stretch to make up nearly two lengths and finished second beaten a neck at 5 ½ furlongs on a sealed sloppy surface on Oct. 26.
All Hail Stormy: Broke last awkwardly, raced six lengths behind in fifth after three-eighths of a mile, angled wide for stretch run, rallied to make up more than three lengths and finished second by 1 ½ lengths at five furlongs on a sealed sloppy surfaces Oct. 13.
Cozzi Capital: Broke 11th from post 9, taken up after bumping with rival on first turn causing jockey to briefly lose left iron, raced more than 2 ½ lengths behind after a half-mile, saved ground entering far turn, steadied, swung out for stretch run and rallied from fifth to gain third by two lengths at 7 ½ furlongs on a good turf course on Sept. 29. (Raced more than 3 ½ lengths behind in fifth after a half-mile, rallied outside leaders for the drive, gained the lead in deep stretch and won by a half-length at 1 1/8 miles on a yielding turf course on Oct. 13.)
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.
CHURCHILL DOWNS
Dixie Decision: Raced more than 9 ½ lengths behind in seventh after a half-mile, advanced between horses more than three wide to fifth in stretch and rallied to gain second by a nose at 1 1/16 miles on a good turf course on Oct. 28.
Court Vision: Raced three lengths back in fourth after a half-mile, advanced when asked to third in stretch and drew clear by 1 ¾ lengths at 1 1/16 miles on Oct. 6 at Keeneland. (Settled two wide in hand more than 4 ½ lengths behind in eighth after a half-mile, fanned more than six wide for the drive, closed determinedly in stretch from fifth to make up 4 ½ lengths and won by a half-length on Oct. 27.)
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. (Raced fourth more than 4 ½ links behind after a half-mile, launched rally inside leaving far turn, checked on heels of rival in upper stretch, ran down leader in final sixteenth of a mile and won by a neck at a mile on Oct. 17.)
HAWTHORNE
Don Nico: Trailed early, moved to ninth more than 10 ½ lengths behind after a half-mile, advanced six wide to sixth in stretch, rallied to make up more than five lengths and finished second by 2 ¼ lengths at six furlongs on Oct. 28; ran final quarter in 24 3/5.Jazzy Gallop: Raced more than 10 ½ lengths behind in eighth after a half-mile, dropped to ninth after six furlongs, rallied five wide to third in stretch, made up nearly 3 ½ lengths and finished second nosed out at 1 1/8 miles on the turf Oct. 8. (Raced 10 ½ lengths behind in seventh after a half-mile, saved ground into stretch and finished third at 1 1/8 miles on Oct. 26.)
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
Baseball Diamond: Broke next to last from outside, moved to ninth more than seven lengths behind after a half-mile, advanced seven wide to seventh in stretch, rallied to make up 3 ¾ lengths and gained second by a nose at six furlongs on a sealed sloppy surface Oct. 24.
Carl's Start: Raced 3 ½ lengths behind in fifth after three-eighths of a mile, rallied inside rivals in stretch, made up five lengths and finished second beaten a half-length at 5 ½ furlongs on Sept. 29.
Shankara: Broke last from the outside No. 13 post, raced 11th more than 10 ½ lengths behind after a half-mile, advanced to eighth extremely wide in stretch, made up more than 6 ½ lengths and finished third beaten a nose and 1 ½ lengths at 1 1/16 miles on the turf Sept. 29.
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. (Broke 12th and last, trailed by more than 16 ½ lengths after a half-mile, advanced to 10th in stretch and gained third by a neck at a mile on Oct. 13.)
LOUISIANA DOWNS
Invading Deputy: Raced five wide into first turn as 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. (Raced sixth more than 3 ½ lengths behind in sixth after a half-mile, advanced three wide turning for home and drew clear by 4 ½ lengths at a mile and 70 yards on Sept. 29.)
OAK TREE AT SANTA ANITA
Designer Breed: Trailed by more than a dozen lengths after a half-mile, came out mid-stretch in 10th, closed well to make up more than six lengths and finished second beaten a length at 6 ½ furlongs on Oct. 27.
Indian Sun: Broke slowly 11th and last, moved to 10th more than 10 lengths behind after a half-mile, came out four wide into the stretch in eighth, closed willingly to make up more than 4 ¾ lengths and finished second beaten three-quarters of a length at about 6 ½ furlongs on the turf Oct. 13.
Tent: Broke last, raced 10th more than 5 ½ lengths behind after a half-mile, swung six wide to seventh in stretch, finished well to make up more than three lengths and ran third beaten a neck and a nose at a mile on the turf Sept. 29; ran final quarter in 23 2/5.
PHILADELPHIA PARK
Do My Thing: Raced ninth early, dropped to 10th more than eight lengths behind after a half-mile, angled out leaving turn, advanced to seventh in stretch, closed well to make up 5 ¼ lengths and gained second by a head at six furlongs on Oct. 22.
White Russian: Raced more than five lengths behind in fifth after a half-mile, launched drive leaving turn from fourth, made up more than 2 ¾ lengths in stretch and finished second beaten three-quarter of a length at six furlongs on Oct. 9.
Dolphin Star: Raced 4 ½ lengths behind in sixth after a half-mile, dropped to ninth after six furlongs, closed fast to make up more than five lengths in stretch and finished second beaten a nose at 1 1/8 miles on the turf Sept. 25.
RETAMA PARK
Silver Lord: Raced sixth early, blocked along backstretch, dropped to seventh 7 ½ lengths behind after a half-mile, steadied off heels of rival in middle of turn, swung out four wide in upper stretch, closed fast from fifth to make up two lengths and gained second by 1 ¾ lengths at six furlongs on Oct. 27.
Go Leroy Go: Broke in air, trailed, 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. (Raced sixth more than 5 ½ lengths behind after three-eighths of a mile, rallied in stretch to make up 1 ¾ lengths and finished third beaten three-quarters of a length for second at 5 ½ furlongs on Oct. 19.)
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