Horse Racing Tips - Thoroughbreds to Watch
by Greg Melikov
Horses worth watching, a list of runners compiled by handicapper/turf writer Greg Melikov that should do well or improve significantly next time out, won six times, ran second seven times and finished third once since Oct. 26. These thoroughbreds are worth considering when charting your betting strategy.
AQUEDUCT
Chocolate Pop: Steadied in traffic along inside on first turn, raced seventh more than 6 ½ lengths behind after a half-mile, swung five wide into stretch and rallied from fifth to gain second by a half-length at a mile and 70 yards on Jan. 10.
FAIR GROUNDS
South Line: Broke ninth and last, advanced to raced fifth 8 ½ lengths behind after three-eighths of a mile, swung out wide turning for home, rallied determinedly from fourth in stretch, made up more than 6 ¼ lengths and finished second beaten a head at 5 ½ furlongs on Jan. 1; ran final half-furlong in five seconds.
GULFSTREAM PARK
Museeb: Prompted pace along rail a half-length behind in second after a half-mile, dropped back on far turn, steadied, angled outside a wall of rivals at sixteenth pole and finished dead-heated for fourth beaten less than three-quarters of a length at 1 1/16 miles on the turf Jan. 10.
Red Hot Bullet: Steadied early after breaking third, raced more than four lengths behind in seventh after a half-mile, angled out for stretch run, rallied from fifth to make up more than two lengths and finished second beaten a head 1 1/16 miles on the turf Jan. 3; ran final 2 ½ furlongs in 30 seconds.
Notonthesamepage: Broke seventh from inside post, rushed up to the front, led by 1 ½ lengths after a half-mile and drew off to win by 8 ¼ lengths ridden out at six furlongs on Jan. 3; ran final quarter in 23 4/5.
HAWTHORNE
Songanddancelady: Chased pace early in seventh, dropped to eighth more than 5 ½ lengths behind after a half-mile, swung six wide into stretch, rallied to second, made up 3 ½ lengths and lost by three-quarters of a length at six furlongs on Jan. 9.
LAUREL PARK
Golden Vision: raced more than 11 lengths behind in eighth after a half-mile, came wide turning for home, closed fast from fourth in stretch to make up more than 5 ¼ lengths and finished second beaten a head at six furlongs on Jan. 10; ran final quarter in 23 4/5.
Dr Stick: Shuffled back near three-eighths pole, raced more than two lengths behind in fourth after a half-mile, swung wide in upper stretch, rallied to make up more than two lengths and finished second beaten a nose at seven furlongs on Jan. 3.
PHILADELPHIA PARK
True Values: Raced fourth early, dropped to fifth more than 1 ½ lengths behind after a half-mile, boxed in leaving turn to upper stretch, responded in final furlong and gained second by a neck at 6 ½ furlongs on Jan. 2.
RETAMA PARK
Hadi K: Raced six lengths behind in fourth after three-eights of a mile, rallied inside on turn while saving ground, made up more than four lengths in stretch and finished second beaten a half-length at 5 ½ furlongs on Jan. 3.
Justwill: Raced more than five lengths behind in fifth after a half-mile, rallied four wide on turn to third in stretch, made up 2 ½ lengths and finished second beaten a length at six furlongs on Dec. 27; ran final quarter in 24 4/5.
SANTA ANITA PARK
White Lace Jimmy: Raced 2 ½ lengths behind in third after a half-mile, dropped to fifth in stretch, surged after coming off rail, gained more than two lengths and finished second beaten a half-length at 6 ½ furlongs on Jan. 8.
Thelma Rose: Raced more than 6 ½ lengths behind in ninth after a half-mile, came out four wide into stretch, rallied from sixth to make up more than 4 ½ lengths and finished second beaten a length at six furlongs on Jan. 1; ran final quarter in 24 1/5.
Sprung: Raced seventh early, dropped to eighth more than 6 ½ lengths behind after a half-mile, split rivals in mid-stretch and closed from fifth outside foes to make up more than 1 ¾ lengths and finished second beaten three-quarters of a length at a mile on the turf Jan. 1; ran final quarter in 23 2/5,
TURF PARADISE
Miguel H: Chased pace early 3 ½ lengths behind in second after a quarter-mile, took command by two lengths after three-eighths of a mile, increased margin to 8 ½ lengths in stretch and won by 11 ¾ lengths ridden out at 5 ½ furlongs on Jan. 10; ran final 1 ½ furlongs in 17 3/5.
Moon Over Hemet: Moved to rail shortly after breaking from outside seventh post, raced more than 5 ½ lengths behind in sixth after a half-mile, saved ground into stretch, eased out, made up more than three lengths down the lane and finished well beaten a half-length at 6 ½ furlongs on Dec. 29.
TURFWAY PARK
Lady Troie: Raced seven wide more than three lengths behind in fourth after a half-mile, lost ground to fifth in upper stretch, came again to make up 3 ½ lengths and finished second beaten a head at six furlongs on Jan. 9.
