Horse Racing Articles By Greg Melikov

Greg Melikov’s 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 five races, finished second four times and ran third four times since Sept. 13.

BELMONT PARK

Winaway: Broke last, moved up to third more than 1 ½ lengths behind after a half-mile, rallied four wide into stretch, bumped repeatedly and was nosed out for place at six furlongs on Oct. 13; ran final quarter in 23 2/5.

Rewrite: Broke alertly, taken back to fifth, raced 3 ½ lengths behind after a half-mile, blocked in upper stretch, steadied in traffic during the drive and finished gamely once clear second by a neck at a mile on the turf Sept. 29; ran final half in 46 2/5.

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 his 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.

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 finished third beaten two necks at 1 1/8 miles on the inner turf on Sept. 8.

CALDER

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.

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.

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.

Brae Prospect: Tracked pace 3 ½ lengths behind if fourth after a half-mile, fanned four wide on far turn, advanced to third in stretch and surged to win by a head in final strides at 1 1/16 miles on Sept. 26. (Raced fifth early, dropped to sixth and last after a half-mile, advanced to fifth in stretch and finished third at a mile and 70 yards on Oct. 7.)

Taven’s First Book: Raced more than 3 ½ lengths behind in fifth after three-eighths of a mile, rallied to second in stretch and lost by a head at 5 ½ furlongs a wet fast surface Sept. 11. (Raced three lengths behind in fourth after a half-mile, slipped through along rail to gain a short lead inside the final furlong and was edged in the final strides by a head at six furlongs on Sept. 26.)

Tootsnmoneybags: 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. (Broke last, trailed early, raced 3 ½ lengths behind in sixth after a half-mile, fanned five wide in upper stretch to fifth and finished willingly to gain second by a nose at six furlongs on Oct. 2.)

HAWTHORNE

Dangerous Summer: Off slowly, trailed in ninth more than 15 lengths behind after a half-mile, advanced five wide to fifth in stretch, closed fast to make up four lengths and finished second beaten a head at a mile on the turf Oct. 13; ran final quarter in 23 3/5.

Smilin’ Del: Trailer early, advanced to seventh more than 8 ½ lengths behind after a half-mile, carried out on turn, rallied from sixth to make up four lengths in stretch and finished third at six furlongs on Sept. 29; ran final half at 24 2/5.

Jazzy Gallop: Broke next to last, raced eighth more than 6 ½ lengths behind after a half-mile, swung out on turn, advanced to sixth in stretch, made up more than 3 ½ lengths and ran second beaten 1 ½ lengths at 1 1/16 miles on the turf Sept. 22. (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 was nosed out at 1 1/8 miles on the turf Oct. 8.)

Class Ack: Raced eighth more than 7 ½ lengths behind after a half-mile, dropped to ninth after six furlongs, circled field seven wide to fifth in stretch, made up more than 1 ½ lengths and finished second beaten a neck at 1 1/16 miles on the turf Sept. 21. (Broke last, trailed after six furlongs, advanced from ninth to fourth in stretch, closed willingly four wide to make up four lengths and finished a half-length behind the runner-up at 1 1/16 miles on Oct. 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 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.)

KEENELAND

Les Grands Trois: Steadied at start, bumped around in tight quarters, raced sixth more than four lengths after a half-mile, circled rivals seven wide into the lane, made up more than two lengths in stretch and finished second beaten a half-length at about seven furlongs on Oct. 13.

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 at Turfway Park; ran final quarter in 24 2/5. (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.)

LAUREL PARK

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 a mile.)

LOUISIANA DOWNS

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: 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. (Broke well, set pace along rail, led by a length after a half-mile, steadily drew clear in stretch and won by 3 ¾ lengths ridden out at seven furlongs off the turf Sept. 13.)

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.)

Sammy Van Ammy: Raced five lengths behind in fifth after a half-mile, dropped to eighth after six furlongs, blocked along inside in upper stretch, angled out, closed fast to make up more than two lengths and gained second by a nose at a mile on a good turf course Aug. 19; ran final quarter in 23 4/5 at Monmouth. (Pressed pace early, was in front by a length after a half-mile, led by 1 ½ lengths after six furlongs, weakened in stretch and finished third at 1 1/16 miles on Sept. 22.)

OAK TREE AT SANTA ANITA

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

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

Go Leroy Go: Broke in air last, 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.


by Greg Melikov