Horse Racing Articles By Greg Melikov

Greg Melikov’s Horses to Watch

ARLINGTON PARK

Littlebrownroad: Raced eighth more than eight lengths back after a half-mile, rallied up rail to fourth in stretch, looked for room, altered course late, made up two lengths and finished second a neck behind at 6 ½ furlongs on Sept. 8; ran final 2 ½ furlongs in 19 flat.

Pegged in the Red: Raced 4 ½ lengths behind in fourth after a half-mile, responded when asked in stretch, made up nearly 3 ½ lengths closing from third and finished second beaten a neck at 1 1/16 miles on a good turf course Aug. 31; ran final 2 ½ furlongs in 30 2/5.

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; ran final quarter in 24 4/5.

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.

Bluesbdancing: Stumbled at start, exchanged bumps with rival, raced sixth more than 1 ½ lengths behind after three-eighths of a mile, in tight through the turn into stretch, closed well late to make up more than 1 ½ lengths and finished second beaten a head at 5 ½ furlongs on a good turf course Aug. 11.

BELMONT PARK

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 finishedthirdbeaten two necks at 1 1/8 miles on the inner turf on Sept. 8.

CALDER

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.

Activator: Bumped with rival at break, rushed inside to lead early, steadied in tight along backstretch, raced second a half-length behind after a half-mile, dropped to fourth after six furlongs, angled out for drive, made up two lengths in stretch and finished second beaten a neck at a mile on Aug. 11. (Pressed pace a length behind in second after a half-mile, weakened in stretch and finished third at a mile and 70 yards on Aug. 26.)

Trey: Tracked pace in third more than two lengths behind in third after a half-mile, couldn’t close gap in stretch and held position by a head at six furlongs on a sealed sloppy surface Aug. 23. (Chased pace 1 ½ lengths back in second after three-eighths of a mile, drifted out leaving turn and finished third at 5 ½ furlongs on Aug. 31.)

DELAWARE PARK

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

Maribel’s Princess: Raced sixth more than two lengths behind after three-eighths of a mile, bobbled on heels of rival at top of the stretch and rallied gamely to finish second by 1 ¾ lengths at 5 ½ furlongs on July 28.

DEL MAR

Artist’s Tale: Raced fourth more than six lengths behind after a half-mile, came out in stretch under left handed urging, bumped with rival at sixteenth pole, split horses to make up 2 ¼ lengths and finished second beaten three-quarters of a length at 1 1/16 miles on the turf Aug. 11; disqualified and placed fourth for interference in deep stretch. (Tracked pace more than 1 ½ lengths back in third after a half-mile, advanced to second after six furlongs, raced four wide into stretch and weakened to finish third at a mile on the turf Sept. 1; returned $7 to show.)

So Long Sonoma: Broke from outside post, raced eighth early, moved up to seventh more than seven lengths behind after a half-mile, split horses entering stretch, rallied from fourth to make up nearly 5 ½ lengths and was nosed out six furlongs on Aug. 1 (Raced four lengths behind in fourth after a half-mile, advanced to third in stretch and finished second beaten a half-length at 6 ½ furlongs on Aug. 23.)

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. (Tracked pace in fifth more than 3 ½ lengths behind after a half-mile, came three deep into the stretch in second, gained lead in mid-stretch and inched away to win by a neck at six furlongs on Aug. 20; returned $10.60 on front end.)

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. (Raced fifth more than 4 ½ lengths behind after three-eights of a mile, worked way outside for the drive and was hard ridden to win by three-quarters of a length at 5 ½ furlongs on the turf Aug. 19; returned $19.40 on the front end.)

LAUREL PARK

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: Raced fourth more than 1 ½ lengths after a half-mile, dropped to fifth in tight along rail in upper stretch, angled out for room, closed willingly to make up nearly 2 ¼ lengths and finished third beaten three-quarters of a length and a neck at about a mile on the turf Aug. 2. (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.)

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 raining conditions on a sloppy surface at a mile and 70 yards on Sept. 2.)

PHILADELPHIA PARK

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.

Grazie Signore: Broke slowly, raced seventh more than three lengths behind after a half-mile, rallied outside from sixth in stretch, made up more than 2 ¾ lengths and finished third beaten three-quarters of a length and a head at six furlongs on Sept. 5.

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.

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. (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.)

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

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.

SARATOGA

Dancing Tin Man: Checked at start, raced ninth more than eight lengths behind after a half-mile, rallied inside on turn, angled out in upper stretch in sixth, closed belatedly to make up more than 1 ¾ lengths and finished third beaten a neck and 1 ¼ lengths at 1 1/16 miles on the turf July 30; ran final 2 ½ furlongs in 29 2/5. (Raced more than 5 ½ lengths behind in fifth after a half-mile, rallied four wide to second in stretch and was nosed out at a mile on the inner turf Aug. 20.)

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 at Monmouth. (Tracked pace 1 ½ lengths behind in second after a half-mile, made run inside furlong marker and was nosed out for second at 1 1/16 miles on inner turf on Aug. 11; returned $5.60 to show.)

TURFWAY PARK

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.


by Greg Melikov