Horse Racing Articles By Greg Melikov

Greg Melikov’s Horses to Watch

ARKINGTON PARK

Sadler’s Trick: Taken up at break, raced seventh early, trailed 6 ½ lengths behind after a half-mile, ranged up six wide for drive, moved from eighth to fifth in stretch and rallied late to third beaten a nose and a neck at a mile on May 5.

BELMONT

Sweet Ransom: Rank in the gate, raced 9 ½ lengths behind in third after a half-mile, rallied wide to challenge leader at six furlong marker, bumped with winner in upper stretch and lost by three-quarters of a length at a mile on the turf May 4.

Against the Grain: Raced third early, dropped back to fourth more than three lengths behind after a half-mile, rallied three wide approaching stretch, bumped with winner in upper stretch, gained lead briefly by a head, steadied when that rival came out near wire and lost by a length at a mile on a good surface April 13 at Aqueduct. (Contested pace right from the start between rivals in second a half-length behind after a half-mile, responded when roused to take lead on far turn and drew clear by 5 ¾ lengths at a mile on May 3.)

CALDER

Lady Tropicana: Trailed by 13 lengths after a half-mile, swung out in 10th for the drive, rallied to sixth in stretch, made up 4 ¾ lengths and finished full of run to grab second by a head at a mile on the grass May 6; ran final quarter in 23 1/5.

Queen of the Turf: Raced sixth early, fell back to eighth more than 3 ½ lengths behind after a half-mile, checked in tight quarters on far turn, dropped to ninth four wide for the drive, angled in advancing to fifth in stretch, rallied to make up more than three lengths and finished second beaten a neck at 1 1/16 miles on the turf April 27.

Swift Mercedes: Pinched back at break, trailed by more than 10 lengths after a half-mile, closed well from seventh in stretch to make up more than 4 ½ lengths and finished third beaten a half-length and three-quarters of a length at a mile on the turf April 25.

CHURCHILL DOWNS

Whatsthescript: Encountered trouble racing fifth along backstretch, advanced to fourth 2 ½ lengths behind after a half-mile, steadied on far turn, dropped to sixth, worked way out five wide for drive, blocked briefly in stretch, closed from fourth to make up 3 ½ lengths and lost by a half-length at 1 1/16 miles on a yielding turf course May 9.

Tell It All: Raced fourth more than two lengths behind after a half-mile, steadied when faded rival lost rider, carried extremely wide around turn losing ground to last, recovered advancing to fourth in stretch, rallied to make up more than 2 ¼ lengths and finished second beaten three-quarters of a length at a mile on May 1.

HOLLYWOOD PARK

Mimosa Mist: Raced eighth off rail seven lengths behind after a half-mile, angled in on turn, came out four wide in stretch in seventh, closed gamely between rivals late to make up three lengths and lost by a neck and a half-length at six furlongs on May 6.

Vaunt: A bit slow to begin, trailed inside by three lengths after a half-mile, came out entering stretch, closed willingly from fourth to make up more than 2 ¾ lengths and finished second beaten a neck at six furlongs on the turf April 27.

Red Opal: Raced seventh early, dropped to eighth more than 7 ½ lengths after a half-mile, came three deep into stretch, drifted in a bit, rallied to make up more than 4 ½ lengths and finished second beaten a neck at six furlongs on the turf April 25; ran final quarter in 22 4/5.

PHILADELPHIA PARK

Topping: Pressed pace wide a half-length off lead after a half-mile, steadied on far turn, dropped to fourth for drive, came again in stretch and finished third beaten a neck and a length at a mile and 70 yards on April 21.

Kawaaser: Raced fifth early, dropped to sixth more than 4 ½ lengths behind after a half-mile, rallied between rivals in stretch and gained second by a neck at 5 ½ furlongs on April 14. (Trailed by more than
Two lengths after a half-mile, came off rail to take third in stretch, but couldn’t catch winner and gained second by three lengths at six furlongs on May 1.)

Precisely Sue: Tracked pace more than 2 ½ lengths behind in fifth after a half-mile, shuffled back between rivals midway around turn, closed in final furlong to make up nearly 2 ½ lengths in stretch and lost by a head at six furlongs on March 27.

Top of the Town: Trailed by more than 5 ½ lengths after a half-mile, moved up from eighth wide on far turn, rallied from fourth to second in stretch, made up more than two lengths and lost by a half-length at a mile and 70 yards on March 13. (Raced more than 1 ½ lengths behind in fifth after a half-mile and rallied from fourth in stretch to gain second by a nose at a mile on April 17.)

Cabo Rojo: Raced seventh more than five lengths behind after a half-mile, moved up inside to fifth in stretch, made up more 2 ½ lengths and lost by a half-length at six furlongs on Feb. 17.

PIMLICO

Red Da Riotact: Fractious in gate, raced eighth more than 6 ½ lengths behind after three-eighths of a mile, checked in traffic near quarter pole, rallied outside from sixth to make up 5 ¼ lengths in stretch and finished third beaten 1 ¼ lengths and a neck at five furlongs on the turf May 6.

Could Be You: Unprepared for break, trailed by seven lengths after a half-mile, angled out six wide for drive, closed well to third in stretch, made up by 4 ½ lengths and finished second beaten a length at six furlongs on a wet fast surface on April 27; ran final quarter in 24 3/5.



by Greg Melikov