Horses To Watch

by Greg Melikov

posted on August 28, 2012 in Blogroll, Free Picks and Tips, Handicapping, Horse Racing, WinningPonies.com | No Comments >>

Horses worth watching, a list of runners compiled by handicapper/turf writer Greg Melikov, should do well next time out. These thoroughbreds won eight times, finished second eight times and ran third four times since July 27. They’re worth considering when developing your wagering strategy for online betting or at your favorite track.

ARLINGTON PARK

Fire Cloud: Raced 13 lengths behind in seventh after a half-mile, swung five wide in stretch, rallied from sixth to make up 3 ¼ lengths and gained second by a half-length at a mile on a goof turf course Aug. 23. Lion

D N A: Bumped at break, raced more than seven lengths behind in fifth after a half-mile, rallied four wide in stretch making up two lengths and gained second by 1 ½ lengths at six furlongs on Aug. 4.

Bonnie: Broke seventh and last, trailed by 14 lengths after a half-mile, shifted outside heading home, split rivals, rallied to make up more than 6 ¾ lengths and finished second beaten three-quarters of a length at six furlongs on July 19; ran final quarter in 23 2/5.

Frances Gardner: Raced seventh early, dropped to eighth and last more than six lengths behind after a half-mile and rallied three wide in stretch to finish second beaten a head at a mile on the turf June 7 at Churchill Downs.

Mai Tai Mama: Pressed pace a head behind in second after a half-mile, wrested command midway on far turn and drew off in stretch under left handed encouragement to win by 4 ½ lengths at a mile on June 22. (Led by two lengths after a half-mile, increased margin to 2 ½ lengths in stretch, weakened and finished third by three-quarters of a length at a mile on the turf Aug. 19.)

CALDER

Sheriff Ira: Chased pace more than 7 ½ lengths behind in fifth after a half-mile, rallied from fourth in stretch to make up more than three lengths and finished second beaten a half-length at 6 ½ furlongs on Aug. 23.

Tinitus: Pushed inward at start, raced more than 7 ½ lengths behind in sixth after a half-mile, circled four wide into stretch, lugged in under right handed pressure bothering third place finisher, rallied from fourth to make up four lengths and finished second beaten a length at seven furlongs on Aug. 5; disqualified to third for causing interference in stretch.

Putyourdreamsaway: Chased pace more than 2 ½ lengths behind in fifth after a half-mile, angled out for stretch run and gained second by a half-length at six furlongs on July 28. Bothered at break, tracked pace in second 2 ½ lengths behind after a half-mile, rallied to take over in upper stretch and drew off to win by 7 ½ lengths at seven furlongs on a sealed sloppy surface Aug. 25.)

DELAWARE PARK R

Vivacious Girl: Chased pace 4 ½ lengths behind in second after a half-mile, blocked entering stretch, slipped through from third late to make up a length and gained second by a nose at 1 1/16 miles on the turf Aug. 20.

Monroe’s Hope: Stalked pace early, gained lead by a head three wide on turn after three-eighths of a mile, drew off smartly by four lengths in stretch and won by 11 ½ lengths ridden out at 5 ½ furlongs on Aug. 6.

Patatuz: Raced 3 ½ lengths behind in fifth after three-eighths of a mile and closed fast five wide in stretch to finish second beaten a neck at 5 ½ furlongs on Jul 25.

Youcancountonme: Raced more than 3 ½ lengths behind in fifth after a half-mile, dropped to sixth in traffic and rallied in stretch to gain third by a half-length at 7 ½ furlongs on the turf June 4.

DEL MAR

Causeithertz: Bobbled at break, raced five lengths behind in fourth after a half-mile, rallied in deep stretch to make up more than 1 ½ lengths and finished second beaten a half-length at 1 1/16 miles on the turf Aug. 5. (Chased pace more than 2 ½ lengths behind in fourth after a half-mile, lost ground to fifth in stretch and rallied a bit to finish third by a half-length at a mile on the turf Aug. 23.)

Woodmans Luck: Raced more than 6 ½ lengths behind in eighth after a half-mile, came four wide into stretch, rallied from sixth to make up more than two lengths and finished second beaten a neck at a mile on July 18; ran final quarter in 24 4/5. (Raced eighth and last more 5 /2 lengths behind after a half-mile, rallied from seventh four wide in stretch, made up more than 3 ½ lengths and finished second beaten a head at a mile on Aug. 11.)

ELLIS PARK

Stormin Bandini: Raced sixth more than 6 ½ lengths behind after a half-mile, boxed in on far turn, dropped to eighth after six furlongs, steadied lacking room entering stretch, angled outward, rallied late to make up nearly 2 ¼ lengths and finished fourth beaten a neck for third at a mile on the turf July 6.

LOUISIANA DOWNS

Love’s in Style: Raced eighth and last more than 5 ½ lengths after a half-mile, waited behind a wall of rivals, shifted outside, split rivals in stretch, rallied from fourth to make up more than 3 ¼ lengths and gained second by a half-length at 1 1/16 miles on the turf Aug. 23.

Chef Scott: Tracked pace more than 1 ½ lengths behind in sixth after a half-mile, encountered traffic on turn, moved five wide for drive and rallied from fourth to finish second beaten a half-length at six furlongs on Aug. 5. (Tracked pace in third more than three lengths after a half-mile, rallied outside in stretch and won by a head at six furlongs on Aug. 23.)

She Loves Runnin’: Veered at start, straightened, led by a length after a half-mile, increased margin to four lengths in stretch and won ridden out by 9 ¾ lengths covering the six furlongs in 1:11 4/5 on July 26. (Led by a length after a half-mile, weakened in stretch and finished third by 2 ¼ lengths at six furlongs on Aug. 18.)

Macabe’s Gold: Broke seventh and last, moved to fourth a length and a head behind after a half-mile, rallied to second in stretch, carried out late and finished in the same position by a half-length at six furlongs on July 15. (Raced fourth early, shuffled back to fifth after a half-mile and rallied from fourth in stretch to finish second beaten a head at six furlongs on Aug. 5.)

Butter Brown: Raced sixth more than 4 ½ lengths behind after a half-mile, moved outside for drive, brushed with winner and rallied from fourth in stretch to finish second beaten a neck at six furlongs on July 4.

MONMOUTH PARK

Redhotlion: Tracked pace more than 1 ½ lengths behind after a half-mile, rallied past mid-stretch to make up a length and finished second beaten a neck at six furlongs on Aug. 24.

A P Elvis: Raced more than 2 ½ lengths behind in fifth after a half-mile, rallied from fourth between rivals in stretch, made up more than 1 ½ lengths late and finished second beaten a half-length at five furlongs on the turf Aug. 9.

Murphys Covert: Raced 5 ½ lengths behind in fifth after a half-mile, lost ground on turn, closed fast in stretch to make up more than two lengths and finished second beaten a neck at a mile on the turf July 15; ran final quarter in 22 2/5.

Ambit: Raced eighth and last more than seven lengths behind after a half-mile and rallied gamely outside from sixth in stretch to finish second beaten a neck at 1 1/16 miles on a good turf course July 27 at Monmouth Park. (Raced more than 4 ½ lengths behind in seventh after a half-mile, awaited room in upper stretch, blocked, checked, rallied from fifth late and finished second beaten three-quarters of a length at 1 1/16 miles on the turf Aug. 9.)

Michael P.: Raced four lengths behind in fourth after half-mile, dropped to sixth after six furlongs and rallied in stretch to gain third by a head at 1 1/16 miles on June 15. (Raced sixth more than 3 ½ lengths behind after a half-mile, rallied in stretch to put head in front just past sixteenth pole and weakened to finish third beaten two necks at 1 1/16 miles on a good turf course July 27.)

MOUNTAINEER PARK

Guam Typhoon: Broke alertly, quickly took command, led by a length after a half-mile, increased margin to four lengths in stretch and cruised to victory by 2 ¾ lengths under very mild urging at six furlongs on July 4 at Colonial Downs. (Pressed pace a head behind in second after a half-mile, drew clear by two lengths in stretch and prevailed by a neck at six furlongs on Aug. 4.)

PARX (PHILADELPHIA PARK)

Green Bananas: Raced seventh more than eight lengths behind after a half-mile, raced extremely wide entering stretch, rallied from fifth to make up more than 4 ½ lengths and gained second by three-quarters of a length at 6 ½ furlongs on Aug. 26.

She Is a Lioness: Chased pace five lengths behind in fourth after a half-mile, rallied in stretch to make up four lengths and finished second full of run beaten a length at 5 ½ furlongs on Aug. 4. (Broke on top, led by 2 ½ lengths after a half-mile, drifted out in stretch and finished second beaten a head at seven furlongs on Aug. 26.)

Calvados: Pressed paced two heads and a length behind after a half-mile, challenged in stretch and finished second beaten a half-length at six furlongs on July 8. (Stalked pace four wide a head and a half-length behind in third after a half-mile, edged to front by a half-length in stretch and prevailed by a head at 6 ½ furlongs on Aug. 13.)

SARATOGA

Stephanie’s Kitten: Raced sixth early, brushed rail nearing first turn, dropped to eighth and last more than 12 ½ lengths behind after a half-mile, launched rally from sixth in upper stretch, lacked room from eighth pole to sixteenth pole, worked way inside and gained fourth beaten a neck and two heads at 1 1/16 miles on the turf July 25. (Tracked pace three lengths behind in third after a half-mile, angled outward in stretch and rallied to win by a half-length at 1 1/8 miles on the turf Aug. 19.)

Kauai Katie: Bobbled slightly at break, accelerated to the front, led by a length after three-eighths of a mile and drew clear under steady handling in stretch to win by 12 lengths at 5 ½ furlongs on July 20. (Scampered to front, led by a length after a half-mile, increased margin to three lengths in stretch and won easily by 2 ¾ lengths at 6 ½ furlongs on Aug. 12.)

Kindergarden Kid: Raced fourth early, dropped to fifth five lengths behind after a half-mile, moved up in traffic for the drive and rallied in stretch to gain third beaten a neck for second at 1 1/16 miles on the turf July 4 at Delaware Park. (Bumped at break, raced fifth more than eight lengths behind after a half-mile and rallied in stretch to gain second by a head at 1 3/16 miles on the turf Aug. 2.)

Hessonite: Raced four lengths behind in fifth after a half-mile, awaited opening on far turn, rallied to take lead by a head in upper stretch and drew clear to win by 4 ¼ lengths at a mile on a yielding turf course July 27. (Raced 5 ½ lengths behind in sixth after a half-mile, rallied readily in stretch, took command past eighth pole and won by 1 ½ lengths at 1 1/16 miles on the turf Aug. 16.)

King David: Raced more than 5 ½ lengths behind in fifth after a half-mile, rallied in stretch despite being bumped and won by a head at a mile on the turf July 15 at Arlington Park. (Raced 3 ½ lengths behind in fourth after a half-mile, angled out three wide for stretch run and drew clear to win by 3 ¼ lengths at 1 1/16 miles on a good turf course Aug. 13.)

SUFFOLK DOWNS

Gordian Knot: Raced third early, dropped to fourth 5 ½ lengths behind after a half-mile, split rivals in stretch, gained brief lead inside sixteenth pole, encountered trouble with leader and finished second beaten a neck at six furlongs on Aug. 22; claim of foul against winner for interference not allowed.

Spicer: Broke on top, led by four lengths after a half-mile, increased margin to eight lengths in stretch and cruised to 11-length victory in 1:11 3/5 for six furlongs on Aug. 7. (Pressed pace a head behind in second after three-eighths of a mile, dueled with winner in stretch, weakened and finished second by 3 ½ lengths at 5 ½ furlongs on Aug. 28.)

WOODBINE

Starship Sabrina: Jostled with rival at break, raced more than five lengths behind in seventh after a half-mile, rallied four wide in stretch from fourth to make up more than two lengths and gained second by 1 ½ lengths at seven furlongs on Aug. 24.

Blushing Brat: Chased pace more than three lengths behind in fourth after a half-mile, rallied outside to make up more than 2 ¾ lengths in stretch and finished third beaten a neck and a head at six furlongs on Aug. 6.

Twenty Black: Raced fifth early, dropped to seventh more than four lengths behind after a half-mile and rallied gamely in stretch to gain second by a nose at six furlongs on July 25. (Raced 3 ½ lengths behind in sixth after a half-mile, gained second in stretch, but was outdueled and finished in that position beaten a half-length at 6 ½ furlongs on Aug. 12.)

Portland Point: Raced 2 ½ lengths behind in fifth after a half-mile, rallied in stretch to second, weakened and finished third by a length at six furlongs on July 25; paid $7.80 to show. (Raced sixth more than three lengths behind in sixth after a half-mile and rallied in stretch to finish second by a half-length at 1 1/16 miles on Aug. 8.)