Melikov’s Horses to Watch, Apr 2012 – Part 2

by Greg Melikov

posted on April 19, 2012 in Free Picks and Tips, Handicapping, Horse Racing, WinningPonies.com | 1 Comment >>

Eye ChartHorses worth watching, a list of runners compiled by handicapper/turf writer Greg Melikov that should do well next time out. These thoroughbreds won six times, finished second once, and ran third five times since Feb. 21. They’re worth considering when developing your wagering strategy for online betting or at your favorite track.

AQUEDUCT

Aptphilly: Raced four lengths behind in third after a half-mile, rallied three wide in stretch to make up nearly 2 ½ lengths and finished second, beaten a neck at 1 1/16 miles on the turf April 6.

Recharged: Brushed with rival at break, raced eight lengths behind in eighth after a half-mile, rallied in stretch late to make up more than 2 ¾ lengths and finished third, beaten a head and three-quarters of a length at 1 1/16 miles on the turf March 28.

Reserved Quality: Broke sixth and last, raced six lengths behind in fourth after a half-mile and rallied in stretch to gain second by 3 ¼ lengths at six furlongs on Jan. 16.

Law Enforcement: Broke seventh and last, trailed by more than 4 ½ lengths after a half-mile, closed fast from fourth in stretch to make up three lengths and gained second by three-quarters of a length at six furlongs on the inner track Dec. 4. (Loped along more than four lengths behind in sixth after a half-mile, angled out four wide for stretch run and rallied from fifth to win by 1 ¼ lengths at six furlongs on Feb. 21 at Gulfstream.)

CALDER

Madness n’ Mayhem: Raced 9 ½ lengths behind in sixth after a half-mile, angled out for drive, rallied to make up more than 4 ½ lengths in stretch and finished second, beaten a neck at a mile on April 9.

GOLDEN GATE

Hard Spun Secrets: Raced third early, dropped to fourth more than three lengths behind after a half-mile, closed gamely inside to make up two lengths in stretch and finished second, beaten a neck at six furlongs on April 8.

Premium Quality: Broke fifth and last, moved to fourth more than 1 ½ lengths behind after a half-mile, trapped behind leaders at three-sixteenths pole, raced in check until eighth pole, shifted out, made up nearly 1 ½ lengths and finished third, beaten two necks at six furlongs on March 25.

Denim and Diamonds: Broke slowly, raced 9 ½ lengths behind in third after a half-mile, gained command in stretch by three lengths and drew off to win by six lengths at a mile on March 25. (Chased pace five lengths behind in second after a half-mile, rallied in stretch to lead by three lengths and held on to win by a neck at a mile on April 15.)

GULFSTREAM PARK

M’Dearest: Raced 2 ½ lengths behind in fifth after a half-mile, rallied four wide to challenge inside eighth pole and finished third beaten a head and a nose at 1 1/8 miles on the turf Jan. 22. (Raced five lengths behind in sixth after a half-mile, swung out for drive and rallied in stretch to win by 1 ¾ lengths at 1 1/8 miles on Feb. 21.)

HAWTHORNE

Prairie Breeze: Held up between rivals early, raced more than 4 ½ lengths behind in eighth after a half-mile, shifted out five wide for drive, carried out late by winner in stretch and finished second, beaten a neck at a mile on the turf April 7.

Telma: Broke seventh and last, trailed by 11 ½ lengths after a half-mile, angled six wide in upper stretch, rallied to make up more than 4 ¾ lengths and gained second by 2 ¾ lengths at six furlongs on March 24.

Rare Action: Raced more than six lengths behind in fourth after a half-mile, angled four wide for drive, rallied in stretch to make up more than 3 ¾ lengths and finished second, beaten three-quarters of a length at six furlongs on March 11. (Chased pace more than seven lengths behind in fourth after a half-mile, rallied very wide to make up 3 ¼ lengths in stretch and finished third by 4 ½ lengths at six furlongs on April 1.)

KEENELAND

Center Divider: Raced two lengths behind in third after a half-mile, bottled up losing ground on far turn and rallied from sixth in stretch to gain third by a half-length at 1 1/8 miles on April 7.

PARX (PHILADELPHIA PARK)

Coffee Bar: Tracked pace two lengths behind in third after a half-mile, took lead in early stretch and drew off with speed to spare winning by four lengths at seven furlongs on April 9.

Island Bound: Raced more than 4 ½ lengths behind in fifth after a half-mile, rallied wide from third to make up 3 ½ lengths in stretch and finished second, beaten a half-length at 6 ½ furlongs on March 27.

Empire Diva: Raced 10 lengths behind in sixth after three-eighths of a mile, rallied in stretch to make up eight lengths and gained second by three-quarters of a length at 5 ½ furlongs on March 12.

Rock Ptarmigan: Raced more than 11 ½ lengths behind 10th and last after a half-mile, closed fast to second, carried out in stretch by winner and was beaten by three-quarters of a length at a mile and 70 yards on a good surface Jan. 28; his jockey’s claim of foul not allowed. (Raced more than 3 ½ lengths behind in fourth after a half-mile, rallied a bit in stretch and finished third by 3 ¼ lengths at a mile and 70 yards on April 2.)

Mi Preciosa: Raced seven lengths behind seventh and last after a half-mile, rallied in stretch and finished third beaten a nose for second at a mile and 70 yards on Feb. 4. (Pressed pace two heads behind in third after a half-mile, rallied outside in stretch to gain lead by a half-length, but was outgamed and finished second, beaten a neck at six furlongs on March 5.)

Chief Thundercloud: Tracked pace more than a length behind in sixth after a half-mile, checked in traffic on turn and rallied gamely in stretch to gain third by a neck, beaten a head for place at 6 ½ furlongs on Jan. 7.

PIMLICO

Danger Angel: Raced more than 10 lengths behind after a half-mile, angled out for stretch run, rallied to make up seven lengths and finished third beaten a length and a neck at six furlongs on April 7.

No Easy Answer: Raced more than seven lengths behind in fifth after a half-mile, swung wide for the drive, closed fast from fourth in stretch to make up more than 5 ¼ lengths and finished second, beaten three-quarters of a length at six furlongs on March 30; ran final quarter in 24 4/5.

SANTA ANITA 

Confucius Junior: Broke outward, raced 4 ½ lengths behind in fifth after a half-mile, came out entering stretch, rallied between rivals to make up 2 ½ lengths and finished second, beaten a head at a mile on the turf April 8.

Warren’s Lover: Raced seventh and last 3 ½ lengths behind after a half-mile, rallied from sixth splitting rivals in stretch and gained second by a nose at a mile on March 29; ran final quarter in 24 seconds.

Valley Cat: Steadied at start, raced 15 ½ lengths behind in eighth after a half-mile, came out in stretch, rallied from sixth to make up 4 ¼ lengths and gained second by 1 ¼ lengths at a mile on the turf March 15. . (Raced sixth and last 8 ½ lengths behind after a half-mile, came into stretch four wide and rallied from third to win by a nose at a mile on April 7.)

Adam Suances: Raced more than seven lengths behind in seventh after a half-mile, came out leaving turn and finished third by a length at six furlongs on Feb. 21. (Raced seventh and last more than 9 ½ lengths behind after a half-mile, split rivals in mid-stretch and finished third by a half-length at a mile on March 18.)

TAMPA BAY DOWNS

Midnight Serenade: Broke eighth and last, trailed by more than 8 ½ lengths after a half-mile, rallied outside in stretch to make up more than three lengths and finished second, beaten a length at seven furlongs on April 7.

Kingofthehighcees: Raced fifth early, dropped to sixth more than three lengths behind after a half-mile, rallied in stretch to make up 2 ¼ lengths and gained third by a head at about a mile on the turf March 28.

Sparkles Gold Band: Raced three lengths behind in fourth after a half-mile, shuffled back in traffic to sixth after six furlongs, rallied from third in stretch to make up two lengths and finished second, beaten a length at 1 1/16 miles on Feb. 15. (Raced 4 ½ lengths behind in sixth after a half-mile, angled outside for the drive and finished third, beaten two heads at a mile and 40 yards on March 3.)

Another Smokey: Raced more than five lengths behind after a half-mile, angled outside for the drive and rallied in stretch to win by a length at 1 3/8 miles on the turf March 24. (Broke sixth and last, trailed by five lengths after a half-mile and rallied from fifth in stretch to finish third by a half-length at 1 1/16 miles on the turf April 7.)

Guam Typhoon: Tracked pace 1 ½ lengths and a head behind in third after a half-mile, led by 1 ½ lengths in stretch and won by 2 ½ lengths ridden out at 6 ½ furlongs on a wet fast surface Feb. 17. (Pressed pace early, led by a head after tree-eighths of a mile and won by 1 ¾ lengths at five furlongs on the turf March 17.)

TURF PARADISE

Seven Tuff: Bumped, squeezed at start, assumed command on turn, led by three lengths in stretch and drew off to win by 11 lengths ridden out at five furlongs on April 6.

Perfectionism: Raced fifth more than four lengths behind after a half-mile, eased out for drive, closed late in stretch to make up more than 3 ¼ lengths and gained second by a nose at a mile on March 27.

Rodeo Cat: Raced sixth more than 4 ½ lengths behind after a quarter-mile, steadied six wide on turn, close well late to make up 3 ½ lengths and finished second, beaten a half-length at 4 ½ furlongs on March 13. (Broke in, bumped, bobbled leaving gate, raced more than three lengths behind in fifth after a half-mile, rallied from fourth five wide into stretch and finished well to prevail by three-quarters of a length at 5 ½ furlongs on April 3.)