HORSES TO WATCH

• Horses to Watch - July 28th, 2009.

  Posted on Tue, 28 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT by Greg Melikov

  
  

  ARLINGTON PARK
  
  Crater Maker: Raced six lengths behind in fifth after a half-mile, swung widest on far turn, lost ground in stretch, closed with a rush to make up 3 ¾ lengths and gained second by a neck at a mile on a good turf course July 24.
  
  Bacetto: Raced eighth and last more than 10 ½ lengths behind after a half-mile, closed with a rush in the stretch to make up 6 ½ lengths and finished third beaten a head and a length at seven furlongs on July 9. (Broke slowly, raced eight lengths behind in eight and last after a half-mile, advanced five wide into stretch, closed fast late from third and drew off to win by 2 ¾ lengths at a mile on July 23.)
  
  Link to My Heart: Raced 10 lengths behind in sixth after a half-mile, dropped to seventh after six furlongs, split horses in stretch and rallied late to make up more than seven lengths and gained second by a half-length 1 1/16 miles on a yielding turf course July 9.
  
  The Foundry: Raced seventh and last more than 10 lengths behind after a half-mile, angled out widest for drive, rallied from fifth in stretch and gained third by 1 ¼ lengths at 1 1/16 miles on June 14. (Raced 16 lengths behind seventh and last after a half-mile, circle field entering stretch and closed fast from fifth to win by a neck at a mile on July 8.)
  
  Jilly From Philly: Raced fifth early, dropped to sixth more than 4 ½ lengths behind after a half mile, lost ground turning for home and rallied from fifth in stretch to gain third beaten less than three-quarters of a length at a mile June 7. (Raced 4 ½ lengths behind in third after a half-mile and finished in that position at 1 1/16 miles on July 5.)
  
  Pure Clan: Raced sixth and last 3 ½ lengths behind after a half-mile, angled out four wide on far turn, rallied between horses in stretch from fourth to make up nearly two lengths and finished second beaten a neck at 1 1/16 miles on the turf June 6 at Churchill Downs. (Raced four lengths behind in fourth after a half-mile, dropped to fifth after six furlongs, steadily advanced to take lead by a head in stretch and drew off to win by 2 ½ lengths at 1 3/16 miles on the turf July 11.)
  
  BELMONT
  
  Hurricane Heat: Gained lead soon after break, was two lengths in front after a half-mile, discouraged pair of pursuers increasing margin to six lengths in stretch and won by 8 ½ lengths ridden out at 7 ½ furlongs on June 19. (Dueled for lead shortly after break, pressed pace in second a head back after a half-mile, took lead on turn, kept to task in stretch and won by a half-length at a mile on July 1; returned $10.20 on front end.)
  
  CALDER
  
  Midnight Scrimmage: Broke slowly, raced five lengths behind in sixth after a half-mile, came three wide into stretch, closed well to make up nearly 3 ½ lengths and finished second beaten a head at a mile on July 18.
  
  DELAWARE PARK
  
  Harlequin Sky: Raced 6 ½ lengths behind in sixth after a half-mile, closed well outside into the stretch, made up four lengths and finished third beaten a half-length and a neck at a mile and 70 yards on the turf July 21.
  
  Split City: Broke alertly, went right to front, led by a length after a half-mile, increased margin to six lengths in stretch and drew off to win by 13 ½ lengths ridden out at a mile on July 4. (Raced sixth early, advanced to fourth a length and two heads between after a half-mile, moved up inside leaving turn and finished well between rivals in second by a length at six furlongs on July 20.)
  
  Burrowing Owl: Raced 1 ½ lengths behind in third after a half-mile, lost ground going four wide in stretch, rallied to make up nearly three lengths and finished second beaten a nose at six furlongs on June 16. (Raced four lengths behind in third after three-eighths of a mile and gained second by a head at 5 ½ furlongs on July 25.)
  
  DEL MAR
  
  Tallahsocean: Broke a bit slowly, raced 11th early, advanced to ninth more than 6 ½ lengths behind after a half-mile, moved up outside on turn, rallied from sixth in stretch to make up more than 4 ¼ lengths and finished second beaten three-quarters of a length at six furlongs on July 23; ran final quarter in 23 4/5.
  
  Itsnotjustagame: Stalked pace two lengths back in third after a half-mile, lost ground swinging wide on far turn, closed willingly from fifth to make up nearly three lengths and finished second beaten a nose at 1 3/8 miles on the turf July 23.
  
  Warren’s Tony R.: Raced more than three lengths behind in seventh after a half-mile, closed willingly from fourth in stretch to make up nearly 2 ½ lengths and finished second beaten a neck at seven furlongs on May 22 at Hollywood Park. (Stalked pace 2 ½ lengths behind in third after a half-mile, came out in upper stretch, gained narrow lead in mid-stretch and won by three-quarters of a length at mile on June 18 at Hollywood Park.)
  
  ELLIS PARK
  
  My Rocket Man: Raced more than four lengths behind in sixth after three-eighths of a mile, lost ground moving five wide on turn, closed well late from fifth to make up nearly five lengths and finished second beaten a neck at 5 ½ furlongs on soft turf July 24.)
  
  Ponticiello: Raced ninth early, dropped to 10th more than 8 ½ lengths behind after a half-mile, launched six wide bid into stretch, closed fast from sixth to make up more than 5 ¾ lengths and finished third beaten a nose and a neck at a mile on soft turf July 24; ran final quarter in 24 ¾.)
  
  EVANGELINE DOWNS
  
  Feelthelightening: Raced more than 7 ½ lengths behind in eighth after a half-mile, rallied wide from sixth in stretch to make up more than three lengths and finished second beaten a half-length at five furlongs on July 4.
  
  Fiber Core: Broke 14th and last, moved to 12th early, advanced to seventh more than 7 ½ lengths behind after a half-mile, rallied from sixth in stretch and gained second by a neck at seven furlongs on June 19.
  
  HOLLYWOOD PARK
  
  Reba Is Tops: Pressed pace less than a length behind in third after three-eighths of a mile, gained advantage in stretch by a half-length and won by a length at five furlongs on the turf May 15. (Dueled for lead a head in front after a half-mile, edged away in mid-stretch to lead by 1 ½ lengths, but was nipped at the wire by a nose to finish dead-heated for second at six furlongs on the turf June 19.)
  
  LONE STAR PARK
  
  Our Story: Raced more than six lengths behind in fifth after a half-mile, swung out in fourth at top of the stretch, closed fast to make up 4 ½ lengths and finished second beaten a half-length at seven furlongs on a muddy surface May 3. (Raced more than 3 ½ lengths behind in fifth after a half-mile, advanced three wide on the turn entering stretch and gained second by three-quarters of a length at six furlongs on July 25.)
  
  LOUISIANA DOWNS
  
  Walkinpicture: Raced more than four lengths behind in eighth after a half-mile, came six wide out of turn, finished willingly to make up nearly 2 ½ lengths in stretch and finished second beaten a head at six furlongs on July 2. (Raced more than four lengths behind after a half-mile, challenged three wide into stretch to grab lead and increased winning margin to six lengths under steady urging at six furlongs on July 24.)
  
  MONMOUTH PARK
  
  Brotherly Love: Stalked pace three wide two lengths back in third after a half-mile, lost ground in stretch angling inward, made up nearly three lengths and finished second beaten a neck at six furlongs on July 19.
  
  Whats Up Cuge: Chased pace more than four lengths behind in third after three-eighths of a mile, angled out in upper stretch, made up 2 ¾ lengths and gained second by a head at five furlongs on July 5. (Broke alertly, went right to the front, led by two lengths after three-eighths of a mile, increased margin in stretch and drew off ridden out to win by 7 ¼ lengths at five furlongs on July 26.)
  
  PHILADELPHIA PARK
  
  Moon Spark: Broke sluggishly, raced ninth and last more than 15 ½ lengths behind after a half-mile, rallied wide from fifth in stretch, made up more than six lengths and finished second beaten a half-length at a mile on the turf July 7.
  
  Minor Issues: Raced fifth early, advanced to lead by a head after a half-mile, dropped to second in stretch and held place by 8 ¾ lengths at 6 ½ furlongs on July 5. (Broke slowly, raced two lengths behind in fourth after a half-mile, came very wide into stretch and rallied from second to win by a neck at 6 ½ furlongs on July 21.)
  
  Peruano Smoke: Raced fourth more than three lengths behind after a half-mile, advanced to second after six furlongs, but couldn’t catch winner and held place by 4 ¼ lengths at a mile on June 29. (Raced seventh more than four lengths behind after a half-mile, moved to rail on far turn, rallied from third in stretch to take over and drew clear to win by 3 ¼ lengths at 1 1/16 miles on the turf July 19; returned $27.60 on front end.)
  
  PLEASANTON
  
  Welken: Tracked pace in fourth more than three lengths behind after a half-mile, moved up in tight quarters behind a wall of horses, gained command in stretch and won by a length at 1 1/16 miles on the turf June 14 at Golden Gate Fields. (Broke on top, led by a head after a half-mile, increased margin to 1 ½ lengths after six furlongs, weakened in stretch and finished third at 1 1/16 miles on July 12.)
  
  WOODBINE
  
  Silent Knight: Raced more than 4 ½ lengths behind in seventh after a half-mile, angled out late on turn, rallied willingly to make up more than four lengths in stretch and finished second beaten a length at 1 1/16 miles on the turf July 8.
  
  PHILADELPHIA PARK
  
  Cuvee Rouge: Bumped, bobbled soon after break in brutal trip, steadied again in tight quarters during opening quarter-mile, raced sixth more than two behind after a half-mile, blocked between rivals trying to find opening in upper stretch, steered out wider and closed well late to gain second by a neck at 6 ½ furlongs on July 18; ran final 2 ½ furlongs in 30 3/5.
  
  Prime Delivery: Raced ninth and last more than 7 ½ lengths behind after a half-mile, lacked room on far turn, and eight wide into stretch and closed steadily from seventh to finish second beaten a neck at 1 1/16 miles on the turf July 18; ran final 2 ½ furlongs in 30 2/5.
  
  WOODBINE
  
  Lucky Lulu: Broke 11th, dropped to 12th and last 13 ½ lengths behind after a half-mile, angled out in upper stretch, closed fast from 10th to make up more than 3 ¾ lengths and gained second by a half-length at seven furlongs on the turf July 15; ran final three quarters in 33 2/5.