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Abstract
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 four races, finished second six times and ran third three times since June 13.
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 four
races, finished second six times and
ran third three times since June 13.
ARLINGTON PARK
I Like Ike: Raced eighth more than six
lengths behind after a half-mile, angled
out for drive, rallied from fifth to
make up more than 6 ¾ lengths
in stretch and finished second beaten
three-quarters of a length at 1 1/16
miles on a yielding turf course July
21.
Dubuque: Raced sixth early, dropped
to seventh 3 ½ lengths behind
after a half-mile, angled out for drive,
rallied from fifth in stretch to make
up more than 3 ¼ lengths and lost
by a nose and 1 ¼ lengths at 1
1/16 miles on the turf July 13.
Lacer: Raced eighth more than 4 ½ lengths
behind after a half-mile, encountered
traffic, dropped to 11th more than 7 ½ lengths
behind after six furlongs, rallied from
seventh through traffic, made up 4 ¾ lengths
and finished second beaten three-quarters
of a length at about 1 1/16 furlongs
on the turf July 6.
Wild Slide: Raced more than two lengths
behind after three-eighths of a mile,
lost ground to sixth in stretch, rallied
making up more than 6 ½ lengths
and gained second by a half-length at
five furlongs on June 30.
Act Like a Lion: Broke slowly, trailed
by more than 16 ½ lengths after
a half-mile, angled out for the drive,
rallied from seventh to make up more
than 5 ¼ lengths in stretch and
finished second beat a length at seven
furlongs on June 23; ran final three
furlongs in 35 4/5.
Dr. Feelgood: Broke 10th, raced more
than 18 lengths behind in 11th after
a half-mile, advanced to fifth in stretch,
made up 6 ¼ lengths and finished
second beaten three-quarters of a length
at 1 1/16 miles on June 14. (Raced fifth
early, dropped to last more than 7 ½ lengths
behind after a half-mile, advanced from
seventh to fourth in stretch and gained
second by a neck at 1 1/16 miles on July
8.)
BELMONT
Redefined: Raced seventh early, advanced
to fourth nine lengths behind after a
half-mile, angled out in stretch to make
up 7 ½ lengths and finished a
game second beaten a half-length at six
furlongs on June 30. (Raced with pace
into stretch, advanced to second and
lost by 1 ½ lengths at six furlongs
on inner turf course July 22.)
Victory Assured: Raced fourth early,
fell to sixth more than 3 ½ lengths
behind after a half-mile, steadied in
traffic on far turn, steadied again in
stretch racing fourth and finished second
beaten a length at 1 1/8 miles on a good
inner turf course June 13. (Raced seventh
more than 2 ½ lengths behind after
a half-mile, rallied to fourth in stretch
and finished third by 1 ¾ lengths
at 1 1/8 miles on a good inner turf course
July 7.)
Exton: Broke eighth, crowded at start,
raced three wide in sixth more than 3 ½ lengths
behind after a half-mile, advanced to
third in stretch, closed well to make
up 3 ¼ lengths and finished second
beaten 1 ¼ lengths at 1 1/16 miles
on the turf May 24. (Led by a head from
the start, pressed by three different
rivals, dug in gamely in stretch and
prevailed by a nose at 1 1/16 miles at
Belmont on June 13.)
CALDER
Dynhocracy: Raced fifth early, advanced
to third in stretch, bumped by rival,
steadied and finished second beaten a
length at 4 ½ furlongs on July
21.
Trey: Raced 7 ½ lengths behind
in fifth after a quarter-mile, saved
ground around turn, rallied from fourth
in stretch to make up 5 ½ lengths
and finished full of run to gain second
by three lengths at 4 ½ furlongs
on July 13.
Tinted Moon: Broke slowly, trailed by
more than eight lengths after three-eighths
of a mile, angled outside in stretch,
closed well from sixth to make up more
than 2 ¾ lengths and finished
second beaten three-quarters of length
at 5 ½ furlongs on July 5.
Waywardwillie: Hit gate at break, raced
sixth early, advanced to fourth more
than four lengths behind after three-eighths
of a mile, rallied from third in stretch
to make up 2 ¼ lengths and gained
second by a length at five furlongs on
June 29.
No More Masters: Hit gate, trailed by
more than 10 ½ lengths after three-eighths
of a mile, swung wide for the drive and
closed well from eighth to gain second
by 1 ½ lengths at five furlongs
on June 23. (Tracked pace in third 2 ½ lengths
behind after three-eighths of a mile
and finished second by a length at 5 ½ furlongs
on July 9.)
Angel Made: Pressed pace into stretch,
but couldn’t catch winner and finished
second beaten 1 ¼ lengths at five
furlongs on June 29. (Raced third early,
lost ground to fourth in stretch and
rallied to finish second by 2 ½ lengths
at 4 ½ furlongs on July 12).
Angel Wings: Flew out of the gate on
rail to the front, led by three lengths
after a half-mile, drew off through the
stretch to win by 12 ¾ lengths
in a hand ride at six furlongs on May
14. (Rushed to the lead, raced two lengths
ahead after a half-mile and drew clear
under a vigorous hand ride to win by
3 ¼ lengths at six furlongs on
a sealed sloppy surface June 21.)
Lady Tropicana: Raced 4 ½ lengths
behind in sixth after a half-mile, angled
three wide on far turn, grabbed lead
by five lengths and won by 12 ½ lengths
ridden out at 1 1/16 miles on May 27.
(Tracked pace three lengths behind in
third after a half-mile, slipped through
along rail to second in stretch and edged
away to win by two lengths at 1 1/16
miles on July 8; returned $14.80 on the
front end.)
DEL MAR
Victory Joe: Bumped between rivals at
break, squeezed back, raced fifth more
than 4 ½ lengths behind after
a half-mile, came out in mid-stretch,
rallied to second making up 2 ½ lengths
and lost by a head at six furlongs on
July 22.
Queen Holly: Broke slowly, trailed by
more than 9 ½ lengths after three-eighths
of a mile, rallied from sixth along rail
in stretch, made up more than 2 ½ lengths
and was beaten a head for second at five
furlongs on July 2 at Hollywood Park.
Big Bad Leroybrown: Raced sixth more
than eight lengths behind after a half-mile,
came four wide into stretch, made up
nearly 3 ½ lengths and was nosed
out at 1 1/16 miles on June 29. (Chased
pace more than seven lengths in seventh
after a half-mile, rallied from fifth
to take lead by a half-length in stretch,
weakened and finished second by a length
at 1 1/16 miles on July 22.)
ELLIS PARK
Raedonald: Trailed by more than six
lengths after three-eighths of a mile,
advanced six wide to fifth into the lane,
carried out very wide in stretch by fading
leader, made up nearly five lengths and
was nosed out at 5 ½ furlongs
on the turf July 22.
Daring Julie: Trailed by more than 3 ½ lengths
after three-eighths of a mile, maneuvered
six wide for drive, rallied from sixth
to make up more than 2 ½ lengths
and lost by a half-length at 5 ½ furlongs
on the turf July 15.
La Bala: Broke from outside post, raced
eighth more than 7 ½ lengths behind
after half-mile, moved five wide leaving
turn, advanced to fourth in stretch,
angled inside winner to make up 3 ¾ lengths
and lost by three-quarters of a length
at 6 ½ furlongs on July 14.
Three Cities: Broke sluggishly, squeezed
back, trailed early, moved to fifth more
than 4 ½ lengths behind after
three-eighths of a mile, split rivals
six wide with a burst of speed in the
final furlong, made up more than 2 ½ lengths
in stretch and finished second beaten
a half-length at 5 ½ lengths on
the turf July 7.
LOUISIANA DOWNS
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.
Absent Friend: Broke last, trailed by
more than 25 ½ lengths after a
half-mile, rallied down middle of stretch
from sixth to make up 5 ½ lengths
and finished second beaten a half-length
at 1 1/16 miles on July 1. (Broke in,
raced 3 ½ lengths behind after
a half-mile, roused for drive and gained
third by a nose at 1 1/16 miles on July
15.)
Driftwood Lodge: Raced seventh more
than nine lengths behind after a half-mile,
began a steady gain to fourth in stretch,
made up nearly four lengths and finished
second beaten a neck at 1 1/16 miles
on a good surface June 29.
MONMOUTH
Open Sleigh: Raced four lengths behind
in sixth after a half-mile, saved ground
on far turn, angled out for drive, rallied
from fourth to second in stretch, made
up more than 3 ½ lengths and lost
by a half-length at 1 1/16 miles on the
turf July 22.
Tease: Trailed early, advanced to seventh
more than nine lengths behind after a
half-mile, rallied from sixth to fourth
in stretch, made up nearly five lengths
and finished third beaten a neck and
a nose at a mile on July 15.
Lockup: Trailed by more than seven lengths
after a half-mile, advanced to fifth
in stretch, closed well outside to make
up more than five lengths and lost by
a half-length at six furlongs on July
15; ran final quarter in 24 4/5.
Capital Crime: Pressed pace early, gained
lead by a head after a half-mile, led
by three lengths in stretch and cruised
to 10-length victory ridden out at six
furlongs on July 6; ran final quarter
in 24 4/5.
West Abe: Pinched back at start, raced
fifth early, dropped to sixth more than
five lengths behind after a half-mile,
rallied on rail from third to make up
nearly 3 ½ lengths in stretch
and was nosed out at a mile on June 30.
PHILADELPHIA PARK
Chastise: Raced more than 5 ½ lengths
behind in sixth after three-eighths of
a mile, lacked room leaving quarter pole,
rallied from fourth when clear in stretch,
finished gamely to make up five lengths
and lost by a neck at about five furlongs
on the turf July 21.
Misty Pearl: Chased pace in sixth more
than 5 ½ lengths behind after
three-eighths of a mile, saved ground
through turn, rallied from fifth to make
up more than two lengths in stretch and
was nosed out at 5 ½ furlongs
on July 8.
Peggys Run: Raced fifth more than four
lengths behind after a half-mile, dropped
to seventh after six furlongs, lost ground
advancing to fifth in stretch, split
rivals, finished well making up more
than 3 ½ lengths and finished
second beaten a half-length at 1 1/8
miles on the turf July 2.
Yo Cuz: Raced 2 ½ lengths behind
in fourth after a half-mile, lost ground
to fifth going widest entering stretch,
rallied to make up more than 1 ½ lengths
and finished second by a nose beaten
a half-length at 5 ½ furlongs
on June 17.
Storm a Brewing: Raced more than 3 ½ lengths
behind in fifth after a half-mile, split
rivals at quarter pole and won by 3 ¼ lengths
at six furlongs on June 9. (Raced three
lengths behind in fourth after a half-mile,
carried out leaving quarter pole, drifted
in while closing and won second by a
neck at 6 ½ furlongs on July 14.)
RIVER DOWNS
One-Eyed Jackie: Raced four lengths
behind in fourth after three-eighths
of a mile, fanned six wide into stretch,
made up 3 ¾ lengths and dead-heated
for second beaten three-quarters of a
length at 5 ½ furlongs on July
7 at Ellis Park. (Trailed early, advanced
to sixth more than 6 ½ lengths
behind after a half-mile and rallied
from fifth in stretch to gain third by
a length at six furlongs on July 21.)
SUFFOLK DOWNS
Awesome Idea: Trailed by more than 9 ½ lengths
after three-eighths of a mile, closed
willingly in stretch to make up four
lengths and finished second beaten a
head at 5 ½ furlongs on June 23.
(Raced fifth more than 5 ½ lengths
behind after a half-mile, eased out three
wide into upper stretch, surged to front
late and won by a head at six furlongs
on July 7.)
by Greg Melikov
Greg Melikov weighs in weekly with his
online horse race handicapping events,
news, betting tips and expert analysis
of the racebook industry and horse racing
in general.
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