Racing News

Horses worth watching, a list of runners compiled by handicapper/turf writer Greg Melikov that should improve significantly or do well next time out, won nine times, ran second five times and finished third twice times since Jan. 7. These thoroughbreds are worth considering when developing your betting strategy.

AQUEDUCT

Western Deed: Bumped at break, stumbled, repeatedly exchanged bumps with rival to first turn, raced 7 ½ lengths behind in seventh after a half-mile, dropped to eighth and last after six furlongs, rode rail into stretch, closed from sixth to make up 2 ½ lengths on second place foe and gained place by a neck at a mile and 70 yards on Feb. 4.

Bible Belt: Fractious at start, leapt out of gate spotting field five lengths, raced eight lengths behind in sixth while saving ground after a half-mile, rallied belatedly in stretch to make up three lengths and gained third by a length at six furlongs on Jan. 24.

Chaysen’ Alex: Broke slowly seventh and last, raced five lengths behind in fourth after a half-mile, advanced three wide to third in stretch, closed willingly to make up three lengths and finished second beaten a length at six furlongs on the inner track Jan. 7; ran final quarter in 44 2/5.

Fortyninegeorgest: Raced sixth early, dropped to seventh more than nine lengths behind after a half-mile, split rivals in upper stretch, finished strongly to make up nearly 6 ½ lengths and ran second nosed out at six furlongs on the sealed fast inner track Dec. 26. (Raced more than four lengths behind in fifth after a half-mile, rallied three wide enter stretch and won going away by three-quarters of a length at six furlongs on Jan. 10.)

Quiet Mover: Tracked pace saving ground two lengths behind in fourth after a half-mile, but could not close gap and finished third beaten a head for place at a mile and 70 yards on Feb. 5. (Raced three lengths behind in fourth after a half-mile, swung three wide into stretch, closed relentlessly to gain lead and drew in off to win by 2 ½ lengths at a mile on Feb. 14; returned $16.60 on front end.)

Upper Gulch: Raced 14 ½ lengths behind in sixth after a half-mile, swung four wide for drive, rallied belatedly to make up more than 2 ½ lengths and finished third beaten a nose and a length at 1 1/16 miles on a good turf course Nov. 29.

Kissa Melissa: Tracked pace in third a head and a length back after a half-mile, swung three wide on turn, threatened in stretch, but could close gap and finished in that position beaten a neck for second at six furlongs on a sealed sloppy surface Dec. 13. (Stumbled at start, raced 3 ½ lengths behind in fourth after a half-mile, rallied three wide in stretch and finished second beaten 1 ½ lengths at six furlongs on Jan. 7.)

DELTA DOWNS

Blondie’s Meadow: Raced more than 12 ½ lengths behind in ninth after a half-mile, advanced to fifth in stretch, closed fast to make up more than 3 ½ lengths and finished second beaten a neck at 6 ½ furlongs on a sealed muddy surface Feb. 3.

Mitch My Boy: Broke from outside 10th post, raced sixth more than seven lengths behind after three-eighths of a mile, altered course to inside in stretch, made up more than 3 ½ lengths and gained second by a half-length at five furlongs on Jan. 28.

Superior Thief: Prompted pace a half-length behind in second after a half-mile, weakened in stretch and finished third at 1 1/16 miles on Jan. 30 at Sam Houston race Park. Tracked pace outside a length and a neck behind in third after a half-mile, dueled through stretch with leader and won by a half-length at seven furlongs on a sealed muddy surface Feb. 5.)

Haggis: Trailed early, raced eighth more than seven lengths behind after three-eighths of a mile, closed fast from sixth in stretch to make up 4 ½ lengths and finished second beaten a length at five furlongs on Jan. 6.

Anna’s Glory: Raced more than 7 ½ lengths behind in seventh after a half-mile, steadily advanced to fourth in stretch and finished third by three-quarters of a length at a mile on a sealed muddy surface Feb. 5. (Raced 10th and last more than 11 lengths behind after a half-mile, circled rivals entering far turn, grabbed lead in stretch, dueled with runner-up to wire and won by a neck at a mile on Feb. 13; returned $17.40 on front end.)

FAIR GROUNDS

Senorita Margarita: Raced more than 11 ½ lengths behind in 11th after a half-mile, launched rally from ninth in stretch, blocked inside behind rivals nearing mid-stretch, steered out for room, then inside, closed fast to make up 7 ½ lengths on second place foe and gained second by three-quarters of a length at 5 ½ furlongs on Feb. 5.

Shape: Raced inside more than 9 ½ lengths behind in sixth after a half-mile, angled out for the drive, split rivals in stretch, rallied late to make up nearly 3 ½ lengths and finished second nosed out at a mile and 40 yards on Jan. 25.

New Elite: Raced sixth more than 5 ½ lengths behind after a half-mile, closed gamely in stretch to make up two lengths and gained second by two lengths at a mile and 40 yards on a sealed good surface Dec. 17.

Sunny Lights: Raced more than 2 ½ lengths behind in fifth after a half-mile, lost ground steered to outside in mid-stretch, made up more than 2 ¾ lengths and finished third by 2 ¼ lengths at six furlongs on Nov. 29.

GULFSTREAM

Distinctively: Raced more than six lengths behind in seventh after a half-mile, lost ground going four wide into stretch, rallied to make up more than three lengths and finished second beaten a length at a mile on Feb. 6.

Shehashighhopes: Raced 5 ½ lengths behind in fifth along rail after a half-mile, lacked room behind leaders entering stretch, angled out and gained second by two lengths at 1 1/16 miles on the turf Jan. 29.

Alluring Power: Raced fifth early, dropped to seventh more than 2 ½ lengths behind after a half-mile, lost ground on turn, rallied in stretch to make up more than 2 ¾ lengths and gained second by 4 ¼ lengths at a mile on Jan. 3. (Stalked pace a length behind in second after a half-mile, eased back around far turn dropping to fourth, angled out in stretch, rallied to make up three lengths and finished second beaten a head at a mile on the turf Jan. 24; returned $10 for place.)

Ms. N. Tarsia: Raced 12th and last early, advanced to eighth more than seven lengths behind after a half mile, eased for stretch run and finished second beaten a neck at a mile on a good turf course on Jan. 18; returned $14.40 for place. (Bumped at break, raced more than 5 ½ lengths behind in 10th after a half-mile, angled out for stretch run, closed well from fifth to make up more than four lengths and finished second beaten a half-length at a mile on a good turf course Feb. 5.)

HAWTHORNE

Wild Expectations: Broke inward bumping rival, raced eighth early, advanced to seventh more than 8 ½ lengths behind after a half-mile, swung six wide for the drive, rallied from sixth to make up three lengths in stretch and finished second beaten a neck at six furlongs on Feb. 13; ran final quarter in 23 seconds.

LAUREL PARK

G’s Backinaction: Raced seventh more than 7 ½ lengths behind after a half-mile, eased off rail midway around turn, advanced between rivals into the lane, rallied from fourth to make up three lengths in stretch and gained second by three-quarters of a length at seven furlongs on Jan. 27.

Lookin’ Foxy: Raced eighth and last more than 10 lengths behind after a half-mile, came seven wide into stretch, closed fast to make up 8 ½ lengths and finished second beaten a neck at seven furlongs on Jan. 23; ran final three furlongs in 37 2/5.

Stellar Ambition: Raced more than two lengths behind in third after a half-mile, eased out for the drive losing much ground to fourth, closed steadily to make up more than 3 ¼ lengths in stretch and finished third beaten a neck and a nose at a mile on Jan. 9.

G’day Mate: Raced sixth early, moved to the front by the half-mile pole, led in stretch by 1 ½ lengths and prevailed by the same margin at seven furlongs on Jan. 24 at Philadelphia Park. (Staked pace two lengths behind in second after a half-mile, came in the two path into stretch, steadied at eighth pole and finished third at seven furlongs on Feb. 1.)

OAKLAWN PARK

High Brow Honey: Raced fifth early a bit rank, advanced to fourth two heads and 1 ½ lengths behind after a half-mile, lost ground coming four wide into the stretch, rallied to make up more than 2 ¾ lengths and finished third beaten two necks at six furlongs on Jan. 28.

Dabossman: Raced eighth and last more than 12 lengths behind after a half-mile, split rivals coming into stretch, angled out a bit, made up 4 ¼ lengths and finished second beaten three-quarters of a length at 1 1/16 miles on Jan. 28.

PHILADELPHIA PARK

Rule of Motion: Pressed pace a head back in second after a half-mile, lost much ground to fifth coming into stretch and rallied to gain third by a head at 6 ½ furlongs on Jan. 31.

Check It Twice: Raced fifth more than 1 ½ lengths behind after a half-mile, awaited room on turn, closed strongly in stretch and won going away by 2 ½ lengths at a mile on the inner track Jan. 10 at Aqueduct. (Raced more than 3 ½ lengths behind in fifth after a half-mile, closed throughput stretch to finish fourth beaten less than three-quarters of a length at 6 ½ furlongs on Jan. 31 at Philadelphia Park; moved up to third because of interference by runner-up.)

Liger: Raced seventh and last early, moved to sixth more than six lengths behind after a half-mile, rallied widest from fifth in stretch, made up more than 2 ¾ lengths and finished third beaten a head and three-quarters of a length at six furlongs on Dec. 7. (Went straight to the front, led by a head after a half-mile, gave way grudgingly in stretch and held second by 1 ¾ lengths at 6 ½ furlongs on Jan. 12.)

SANTA ANITA PARK

Palladio: Raced eighth more than 7 ½ lengths behind after a half-mile, came out four wide into stretch, closed fast to make up four lengths and finished second beaten a neck at 1 1/8 miles on Jan. 30.

Remus: Broke slowly 10th and last, raced more than nine lengths behind in sixth after a half-mile, rallied outside from fifth in stretch to make up more than 6 ¼ lengths at about 6 ½ furlongs on the turf Jan. 10; ran final 1 ½ furlongs in 27 4/5.

Alphie’s Bet: Broke 10th and last, trailed by more than 10 ½ lengths after a half-mile, rallied wide from fifth in stretch, made up more than 1 ¼ lengths and gained second by a half-length at 1 1/16 miles on Dec. 26. (Squeezed after breaking slowly, raced eighth and last more than six lengths behind after a half-mile, came four wide into stretch, closed fast to make up more than 3 ½ lengths in stretch and drew clear under strong handling to win by 1 ¼ lengths at a mile on the turf Jan. 15.)

Lady Alex: Pressed pace a length back in second after a half-mile, grabbed lead by a half-length in early stretch and inched away to win by a length at a mile on the turf Jan. 13. (Tracked pace 10 lengths behind in second after a half-mile,
steadily whittled down gap, powered past pacesetter in stretch by a length and drew off to win by five lengths at a mile on Feb. 5.)

TAMPA BAY DOWNS

Debbie’s Fast: Raced more than 6 ½ lengths behind in ninth after a half-mile, blocked in far turn dropping to 10th and last, swung outside for the drive, rallied from eighth to make up more than 3 ½ lengths in stretch and gained third by a half-length at 1 1/16 miles on a good turf course Jan. 30.

Claxton: Raced seventh and last early, moved to sixth more than 4 ½ lengths behind after a half-mile, slipped through along rail into stretch, made up three lengths and finished second beaten a half-length at 6 ½ furlongs on Jan. 24.

TURF PARADISE

Danzip: Went right to the front, led by a length after a half-mile, drew off in stretch by 5 ½ lengths and cruised to 13 ½-length victory under mild hand urging at six furlongs on Jan. 31; covered distance in 1:08 2/5.

Zahari: Broke slowly, raced eighth and last more than 12 lengths behind after a half-mile, closed fast from sixth through traffic in stretch, made up more than 7 ½ lengths and gained second by a nose at a mile on a good surface Jan. 24. (Tracked pace more than two lengths behind after a half-mile, went six wide into stretch, wore down rivals and inched away to win by a length at a mile on Feb. 8.)

Coach Pete: Broke seventh and last, raced fifth more than 4 ½ lengths behind after a half-mile, lost ground moving further out for the drive and finished a game third making up more than 5 ¼ lengths in stretch beaten a head and 1 ¾ lengths at 6 ½ furlongs on Jan. 8.

Panamanian Playboy: Tracked pace more than two lengths behind after a half-mile, advanced steadily in stretch and gained third beaten three-quarters of a length and a neck at 6 ½ furlongs on a good surface Jan. 24. (Dueled for lead right from the start, put a head in front entering stretch, weakened and finished second by 1 ¾ lengths at 6 ½ furlongs on Feb. 9)

TURFWAY PARK

Devastador: Bothered at break, raced seventh more than 5 ½ lengths behind after a half-mile, came five wide into stretch, rallied to make up more than 4 ¾ lengths and finished third beaten a neck and a head at 1 1/16 miles on Jan. 29.

Deputy Darling: Raced 10th early, dropped to 11th and last more than 9 ½ lengths behind after a half-mile, closed fast from seventh in stretch to make up seven lengths and finished third beaten a neck and a head at a mile on Jan. 23; ran final quarter in 24 3/5. (Raced more than four lengths behind in seventh after a half-mile, advanced five wide midway on far turn, moved quickly in stretch to challenge two leaders and zipped past them to win by 2 ¼ lengths at a mile on Feb. 12.)

Footlongkorn: Tracked pace two lengths behind in second after a half-mile, lost ground dropping to fourth in stretch, rallied willingly to make up more than 1 ¾ lengths and finished second beaten three-quarters of a length at 1 1/16 miles on Dec. 28. (Broke poorly 11th and last from outside 11th post, advanced to seventh seven lengths behind after a half-mile, came eight wide into stretch and drew off to win by three lengths at a mile on Feb. 14; returned $10.40 on front end.)