HORSES TO WATCH

• Horses to Watch

  Posted on Mon, 12 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT by Greg Melikov

  
  

  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.
  
  More Than a Reason: Broke fourth, steadied along inside on first turn, raced sixth more than 6 ½ lengths behind after a half-mile, saved ground for six furlongs, steadied in traffic on far turn losing ground, rallied to second in stretch, made up 4 ½ lengths and was beaten a half-length at 1 1/16 miles on the inner track Jan. 1. (Raced four lengths behind in fifth after a half-mile, split rivals entering stretch and finished willingly to gain third by four lengths at six furlongs on Jan. 10.)
  
  Heir to the Stone: Stumbled at start, bumped, raced fourth early, advanced to third two lengths behind after a half-mile, rallied turning for home, made up nearly two lengths in stretch and finished second beaten a head at six furlongs on Dec. 14.
  
  The Shaughraun: Broke next to last from the outside 10th post, raced 11 ½ lengths behind after a half-mile, turned for home five wide in fifth, finished willingly to make up 2 ½ lengths and ran second by a neck at a mile on the inner track Dec. 7.
  
  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.
  
  Fifty Five: Broke ninth and last, raced more than 10 ½ lengths behind in eighth after a half-mile, came inside on far turn, angled out for drive, went inside in stretch rallying from seventh to second, made up five lengths and gained second by a nose at 1 1/16 miles on the turf Dec. 6.
  
  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.
  
  Lincoln’s Bullet: Pressed pace a half-length back in second after a half-mile, moved up to engage winner in stretch, dueled, gained lead by and head and was out gamed to the wire finishing second beaten a half-length at seven furlongs on Dec. 28 at Calder. (Raced 10th and last early, advanced to seventh more than 4 ½ lengths behind after a half-mile, moved five wide to fifth in stretch, rallied to make up more than 3 ½ lengths and won by a nose at six furlongs on Jan. 11.)
  
  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.
  
  Bow Tie Pasta: Broke sideways ninth and last, moved to fifth 2 ½ lengths behind after a half-mile, steadied repeatedly along backstretch losing a couple of lengths, dropped to seventh after six furlongs, made up a length in stretch and finished a game fourth at 1 1/16 miles on Dec. 6.
  
  LAUREL
  
  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.
  
  Anjunothat: Stalked contested pace in third more than two lengths behind after a half-mile, eased out midway on turn, took command in upper stretch and drew off under confident handling to win by nine lengths at six furlongs on Dec. 6; ran final quarter in 24 2/5. (Raced eight lengths behind in fourth after a half-mile, angled out four wide approaching quarter pole, closed sharply under steady hand pressure to collar leader nearing sixteenth pole and drew clear to win by 1 ½ lengths at six furlongs on Jan. 9.)
  
  PENN NATIONAL
  
  Bruno’s a Biter: Broke alertly from post 12, raced 1 ½ lengths behind in third after a half-mile, lost ground circling rivals on far turn, rallied in stretch to make up nearly three lengths and finished second beaten a neck at a mile on Dec. 18 at Laurel.
  
  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.
  
  Smitten Citi: Clipped heels of rivals while racing fifth, near five-sixteenth and quarter poles, closed from fourth in stretch to make up more than 3 ½ lengths and finished second by a nose at 5 ½ furlongs on Dec. 16.
  
  Novation: Sprinted to front, led by five lengths after a half-mile, steadily increased margin in stretch and cruised to easy win by 14 ¾ lengths at six furlongs on a sealed muddy surface Dec. 2.
  
  Take a Leap: Raced more than 4 ½ lengths behind in fifth after a half-mile, split rivals entering stretch, finished fast to make up 4 ½ lengths and gained second by three lengths at six furlongs on Nov. 4 at Philadelphia Park. (Broke a step slow seventh and last, raced eight lengths behind in fourth after a half-mile, carried wide around turn, rallied to second in stretch, made up 5 ½ lengths and finished full of run beaten a half-length at six furlongs on a good surface Dec. 2 at Penn National.)
  
  Lemon Spray: Broke a step slow eighth and last, steadied and bumped along backstretch, rallied to lead by 1 ½ lengths off rail approaching far turn, bore out leaving quarter pole, drifted further outward in stretch, wavered lanes and finished second by a length at a mile on Nov. 11. (Raced four lengths behind in sixth after a half-mile, took lead nearing stretch, led by two lengths with a furlong to go, weakened and finished second by 1 ¾ lengths at a mile and 70 years on Dec. 30.)
  
  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.
  
  Aille’s Heartflush: Unruly in gate, vied for lead early, raced a half-length ahead after three-eighths of a mile, dueled with winner in stretch and ran second defeated a neck at 5 ½ furlongs on Dec. 18. (Tracked pace in third more than a length behind after a half-mile, rallied on far turn moved to second, but couldn’t close gap in stretch and finished 1 ¼ lengths ahead of the third-place finisher at a mile on Jan. 2.)
  
  Cowgirl Cool: Fractious in gate, original rider hurt and replaced, stalked pace 2 ½ lengths behind in second, dropped to third after six furlongs, rallied in stretch and gained second by 2 ¾ lengths at a mile on Nov. 21. (Raced more than two lengths behind in fourth after a half-mile, rallied on turn to take second, but couldn’t catch winner while securing the place by a dozen lengths at a mile on Dec. 5.)
  
  Fiesta Margarita: Broke from the outside 10th post, raced 10th and last early, advanced to ninth more than 7 ½ lengths behind after a half-mile, rallied four wide to fourth in stretch, closed fast to make up 4 ½ lengths and finished second nosed out at 5 ½ furlongs on Oct. 11. (Raced more than 3 ½ lengths behind in sixth after three-eighths of a mile, swung out four wide in upper stretch, rallied from second and won by a length on Nov. 20.)
  
  SANTA ANITA
  
  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,
  
  TAMPA BAY DOWNS
  
  Unbridled Behavior: Raced 10 lengths behind in sixth after three-eighths of a mile, swung out very wide in mid-stretch, closed sharply from fourth under strong handling and won by three-quarters of a length at 5 ½ furlongs on Nov. 21 at Laurel. (Stalked pace a length behind in second after a half-mile, rallied three wide into stretch, duel with leader and edged clear under strong handling to win by 1 ¼ lengths at 6 ½ furlongs on Dec. 26.)
  
  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.
  
  Derry: Bumped at break, raced 4 ½ lengths behind in fourth after three-eighths of a mile, dropped to fifth in stretch, closed steadily to make up more than 1 ½ lengths and finished second beaten a nose at 5 ½ furlongs on Dec. 20. (Raced 1 ½ lengths behind in third after three-eighths of a mile, fell back leaving turn and gained second by three-quarters of a length at five furlongs on a sealed muddy surface Jan. 6.)
  
  His Way: Raced third early, dropped to fifth more than 1 ½ lengths behind after a half-mile, rallied to second in upper stretch, threw his head inside the furlong marker and finished third beaten two necks at a mile on the turf Dec. 8. (Pressed pace in third more than a length behind after a half-mile, rallied to a narrow advantage between rivals nearing the lane, but couldn’t catch winner and finished second by 6 ½ lengths 1 1/16 miles on a sealed muddy surface on Dec. 23.)
  
  Hills of Roses; Broke from the outside ninth post, raced fourth more than 4 ½ lengths behind after three-eighths of a mile, angled in during stretch run, rallied to make up more than 2 ½ lengths and finished second beaten a half-length at five furlongs on Oct. 10. (Chased pace five lengths behind in second after three-eighths of a mile and rallied in stretch to win by a half-length at 5 ½ furlongs on Oct. 26.)
  
  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.
  
  Star’s Classic Cat: Broke 10th and last from inside post, raced more than 3 ½ lengths behind in seventh after a half-mile, lost ground swinging six wide leaving turn, rallied from fifth to make up more than three lengths in stretch and finished second beaten a length at six furlongs on Jan. 1. (Broke alertly from outside post, moved up to grab lead by a half-length after a half-mile and drew clear under steady urging to win by three lengths at six furlongs on Jan. 9.)
  
  Southern Squire: Broke in the air, raced seventh early, moved to sixth more than 6 ½ lengths behind after a half-mile, split horses for the drive, gained second in stretch, made up 3 ½ lengths and lost by a half-length at 6 ½ furlongs on Dec. 5.
  
  Silver Bayer: Raced 4 ½ lengths behind in fourth after a half-mile, rallied inside to gain second and was beaten by two lengths at 5 ½ furlongs on Oct. 18 at Calder. (Raced fourth more than three lengths behind after a half-mile, assumed command entering stretch and drew clear to win by 7 ¾ lengths at six furlongs on Dec. 7.)