Horse Racing Betting - 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, ran second three times and finished third once since Feb. 22.

AQUEDUCT

Final Story: Broke seventh and last, trailed by more than 8 ½ lengths after a half-mile, swung wide into stretch, rallied from sixth to make up more than four lengths and finished a game second beaten a neck at six furlongs on April 10; ran final quarter in 23 4/5.

Roxanne’s Dancer: Broke sixth and last, trailed by more than nine lengths after a half-mile, spilt rivals on turn, rallied three wide from fourth in stretch, made up nearly 3 ½ lengths and finished second beaten a head at seven furlongs on April 10.

Millennium Jet: Steadied early, dropped back to ninth 22 lengths behind after a half-mile, rallied inside on far turn from a dozen lengths back, angled out in stretch from fourth, made up 4 ½ lengths and finished a game second beaten a neck at 1 1/16 miles on a good turf course April 7.

GULFSTREAM PARK

Sweet Love: Raced more than three lengths behind in eighth after a half-mile, rallied four wide into stretch, closed well to make up more than 2 ¾ lengths and finished second beaten three-quarters of a length 7 ½ furlongs on the turf April 10.

HAWTHORNE

Ricigliano: Shuffled back at break, raced six lengths behind in fifth after a half-mile, lugged out in stretch, recovered to make up more than three lengths and finished second beaten a half-length at six furlongs on April 11.J C Warrior: Pressed pace in third within a length after a half-mile, lost ground four wide into stretch, made up 1 ½ lengths in stretch and finished second beaten a neck at six furlongs on April 5; ran final quarter in 24 4/5.

KEENELAND

Sandstorm Cat: Raced sixth early, checked sharply in traffic along backstretch, dropped to 10th and last more than seven lengths behind after a half-mile, came out wide from sixth in stretch, rallied impressively to make up more than 3 ¾ lengths and finished best of all in second beaten 1 ¼ lengths at seven furlongs on April 12; ran final three furlongs in 35 2/5.

Gypsy Baby: Raced eighth more than 5 ½ lengths behind after a half-mile, advanced boldly seven wide to sixth in stretch, rallied to make up more than 3 ½ lengths and finished second beaten a neck at 1 1/16 miles on the turf April 9.

PHILADELPHIA PARK

Spirit of Gulch: Broke from 10th and outside post, raced more than three lengths behind in fourth after a half-mile, spilt foes in stretch and made up nearly 2 ½ lengths and finished second beaten a nose at six furlongs on April 7.


SANTA ANITA

Excessive Fun: Broke slowly, raced ninth more than eight lengths behind after a half-mile, moved up off rail around rival to fourth in stretch, steadied slightly at sixteenth pole and rallied late to make up three lengths and finished second beaten a half-length at 6 ½ furlongs on April 7.

TURF PARADISE

Tenatious: Raced in close at start, tracked pace in fifth more than two lengths behind after a half-mile, lost about two lengths on turn, made up 2 ¾ lengths in stretch and finished a game second beaten three-quarters of a length at about a mile on the turf April 11.