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 three races, ran second once and finished third four times since Oct. 13.

AQUEDUCT

No Parole: Raced more than seven lengths behind in seventh after a half-mile, rallied four wide into stretch, finished well outside from fifth, made up 5 ¼ lengths and ran second beaten 1 ¼ lengths at six furlongs on a good surface Nov. 10; covered final quarter in 23 flat.

Kick Up Your Heels: Raced seventh more than seven lengths behind after a half-mile, advanced inside to third in the stretch, finished well to make up 3 ½ lengths and ran second beaten a half-length at a mile on the turf Nov. 2.

Bethpage Black: Raced more than 17 ½ lengths behind in 10th after a half-mile, checked inside on far turn, dropped to 11th after six furlongs, rallied along rail to fifth in stretch, made up more than five lengths and finished third beaten a length at 1 1/16 miles on a yielding turf course Oct. 26.

CALDER

Alex’s Notebook: Stumbled at start, raced sixth early, dropped to seventh more than five lengths behind after a half-mile, moved to fifth in stretch and closed fast to gain second by a neck at six furlongs on Nov. 4.

King Anthony: Raced more than 1 ½ lengths behind in fifth after three-eighths of a mile, advanced four wide on the turn, rallied in stretch to make up nearly two lengths and finished second beaten a neck at 5 ½ furlongs on a sealed sloppy surface on Oct. 26.

Cozzi Capital: 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. (Dueled for lead along inside a head behind after a half-mile, outmoved into far turn, angled out for drive, dropped to fourth in stretch, came again and regained second by 1 ¼ lengths at 1 1/16 miles on the turf Nov. 11)

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.

CHURCHILL DOWNS

World Emissary: Raced 11th more than 7 ½ lengths behind after a half-mile, circled horses 12 wide into the lane, rallied from sixth to make up six lengths and finished second beaten a neck at six furlongs on Nov. 10; ran final quarter in 23 3/5.

Storming Marine: Raced more than five lengths behind in sixth after a half-mile, clipped heels with runner-up, made up nearly two lengths in stretch and finished third beaten a nose and a head at 1 1/8 miles on the turf Nov. 2.

Dixie Decision: Raced more than 9 ½ lengths behind in seventh after a half-mile, advanced between horses more than three wide to fifth in stretch and rallied to gain second by a nose at 1 1/16 miles on a good turf course on Oct. 28.

Court Vision: 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 at Keeneland. (Settled two wide in hand more than 4 ½ lengths behind in eighth after a half-mile, fanned more than six wide for the drive, closed determinedly in stretch from fifth to make up 4 ½ lengths and won by a half-length on Oct. 27.)

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. (Raced fourth more than 4 ½ links behind after a half-mile, launched rally inside leaving far turn, checked on heels of rival in upper stretch, ran down leader in final sixteenth of a mile and won by a neck at a mile on Oct. 17.)

HAWTHORNE

Winter Trail: Broke last from outside post, moved from 11th to ninth more than five lengths behind after a half-mile, closed with a rush from fourth in stretch to make up nearly 3 ½ lengths and finished second beaten a neck at six furlongs on Nov. 4.

Don Nico: Trailed early, moved to ninth more than 10 ½ lengths behind after a half-mile, advanced six wide to sixth in stretch, rallied to make up more than five lengths and finished second by 2 ¼ lengths at six furlongs on Oct. 28; ran final quarter in 24 3/5. (Raced two lengths behind in third after a half-mile, pressed pace into stretch, but failed to sustain bid and finished third beaten three-quarters of a length for second at a mile and 70 yards on Nov. 8.)

Jazzy Gallop: 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 finished second nosed out at 1 1/8 miles on the turf Oct. 8. (Raced 10 ½ lengths behind in seventh after a half-mile, saved ground into stretch and finished third at 1 1/8 miles on Oct. 26.)

HOLLYWOOD PARK

Dirty Dish Mitch: Squeezed at start, raced ninth more than nine lengths behind after a half-mile, moved up four wide to third in stretch, drifted in but made up two lengths and finished second beaten a length at seven furlongs on Nov. 10.

LAUREL PARK

Brokerage House: Raced fifth early, dropped to sixth more than 4 ½ lengths behind after a half-mile, eased out in mid-stretch and closed with a rush to make up nearly 3 ½ lengths and finished second beaten a nose at 1 1/16 miles on the turf Nov. 3.

Baseball Diamond: Broke next to last from outside, moved to ninth more than seven lengths behind after a half-mile, advanced seven wide to seventh in stretch, rallied to make up 3 ¾ lengths and gained second by a nose at six furlongs on a sealed sloppy surface Oct. 24.

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 Oct. 13.)

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 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. (Raced more than 4 ½ lengths behind in sixth after a half-mile, rallied between horses from fourth in stretch and won by a length at about 6 ½ furlongs on the turf Nov. 4.)

PHILADELPHIA PARK

Do My Thing: Raced ninth early, dropped to 10th more than eight lengths behind after a half-mile, angled out leaving turn, advanced to seventh in stretch, closed well to make up 5 ¼ lengths and gained second by a head at six furlongs on Oct. 22.

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.

RETAMA PARK

Silver Lord: Raced sixth early, blocked along backstretch, dropped to seventh 7 ½ lengths behind after a half-mile, steadied off heels of rival in middle of turn, swung out four wide in upper stretch, closed fast from fifth to make up two lengths and gained second by 1 ¾ lengths at six furlongs on Oct. 27.

Go Leroy Go: Broke in air, trailed, 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. (Raced sixth more than 5 ½ lengths behind after three-eighths of a mile, rallied in stretch to make up 1 ¾ lengths and finished third beaten three-quarters of a length for second at 5 ½ furlongs on Oct. 19.)


by Greg Melikov