HORSES TO WATCH

• Horses to Watch - December 21st, 2009.

  Posted on Mon, 21 Dec 2009 00:00:00 GMT by Greg Melikov

  
  

  AQUEDUCT
   
  Quiet Mover: Checked at start, raced sixth more than 5 ½ lengths behind after a half-mile, rallied belatedly in stretch to make up 5 ½ lengths and finished second beaten a length at six furlongs on Dec. 10; ran final quarter in 24 seconds.
   
  Almighty Silver: Raced sixth early, dropped to seventh under a firm hold on rail, swung three wide entering stretch, closed strongly from fifth to make up three lengths and finished second beaten a head at a mile on the inner track Dec. 4; ran final quarter in 23 1/5.
   
  Check It Twice: Raced eighth more than five lengths behind after a half-mile, angled out in upper stretch, rallied belatedly from sixth to make up more than 3 ¼ lengths and gained third by a half-length at six furlongs on the good inner track Dec. 3; ran final quarter in 23 4/5.
   
  Upper Gulch: Raced 14 ½ lengths behind in sixth after a half-mile, swung four wide for drive, rallied belatedly to make up more than 2 ½ lengths and finished third beaten a nose and a length at 1 1/16 miles on a good turf course Nov. 29.
   
  Chestoria: Raced sixth more than 13 lengths behind after a half-mile, launched three wide bid entering stretch, closed fast from fifth to make up 6 ½ lengths and finished second beaten a half-length at 1 1/16 miles on the turf Nov. 12; ran final 2 ½ furlongs in 29 4/5.
   
  Kissa Melissa: Raced 6 ½ lengths behind in fifth after a half-mile, angled out in mid-stretch and finished third at six furlongs on Nov. 25. (Tracked pace in third a head and a length back after a half-mile, swung three wide on turn, threatened in stretch, but could close gap and finished in that position beaten a neck for second at six furlongs on a sealed sloppy surface Dec. 13.)
   
  Fortissi More: Raced more than five lengths behind in sixth after a half-mile, entered stretch three wide, exchanged bumps with winner and finished second beaten a nose at a mile and 70 yards on the turf Oct. 12 at Philadelphia Park. (Raced more than 5 ½ lengths behind in seventh after a half-mile, rallied three wide on far turn and gained second by a half-length at 1 1/16 miles on the turf Nov. 28.) 
   
  CALDER
   
  Surround: Raced third early along rail, dropped to fourth more than 2 ½ lengths behind after a half-mile, lost ground angling out for stretch run, rallied to make up more than 2 ½ lengths and finished second nosed out at 1 1/16 miles on a good turf course Dec. 12.
   
  Can’t Stop the Lite: Broke alertly from the outside 12 post, raced more than five lengths behind in sixth after a half-mile, closed well from fourth three wide in stretch to make up 4 ¾ lengths and gained second by a head at seven furlongs on Nov. 13.   
   
  Ms. N. Tarsia: Broke awkwardly 10th and last, raced sixth more than six lengths behind after three-eighths of a mile, saved ground on turn, angled out in stretch, rallied from four to take command inside the eighth pole and drew off to win by 4 ¾ lengths at 5 ½ furlongs on Nov. 15. (Broke slowly, raced more than 12 lengths behind in ninth after a half-mile, closed fast from fourth in stretch and won by a nose at six furlongs on Nov. 28.)
   
  DELTA DOWNS
   
  Hunterbunter: Broke slowly, bothered, raced ninth and last more than seven lengths behind after a half-mile, rallied six wide in stretch from sixth, made up more than 2 ¾ lengths and finished third beaten 1 ¼ lengths at a mile on a sealed sloppy surface Dec. 17.
   
  Superior Thief: Raced more than three lengths behind in fifth after a half-mile, dropped to sixth after six furlongs, closed fast late to make up nearly three lengths and finished second beaten a neck at a mile on Dec. 3.
   
  Anna’s Glory: Raced seven lengths behind in eighth after a half-mile, advanced four wide from seventh on far turn, rallied from third in stretch, made up three lengths and drew clear to win by 2 ¾ lengths at 1 1/16 miles on Nov. 21. (Raced eighth early, dropped to ninth and last more than 12 ½ lengths behind after a half-mile, rallied to fifth in stretch and finished third by a head at a mile on Dec. 10.)
   
  FAIR GROUNDS
   
  New Elite: Raced sixth more than 5 ½ lengths behind after a half-mile, closed gamely in stretch to make up two lengths and gained second by two lengths at a mile and 40 yards on a sealed good surface Dec. 17.
   
  Sunny Lights: Raced more than 2 ½ lengths behind in fifth after a half-mile, lost ground steered to outside in mid-stretch, made up more than 2 ¾ lengths and finished third by 2 ¼ lengths at six furlongs on Nov. 29.
   
  Eat N Run: Raced ninth and last more than nine lengths behind after a half-mile, switched to outside in stretch, rallied from seventh to make up more than 2 ¼ lengths and finished second by a half-length at a mile on the turf Nov. 27.
   
  HAWTHORNE
   
  Daylight Creek: Went immediately to front, led by a head after a half-mile, dropped back to second after six furlongs, lost ground to third in stretch, came again gamely to make up two lengths and finished second beaten a neck at a mile and 70 yards on Dec. 6.
                
  Seguro: Hit gate at start, broke 11th and last, raced more than 5 ½ lengths behind in eighth after a half-mile, swung five wide into stretch, made up more than four lengths and finished second beaten a length at six furlongs on Nov. 28; ran final quarter in 24 4/5.
   
  Songanddancelady: Broke slowly from the outside 9 post, raced seven lengths behind in seventh after a half-mile, swung six wide into stretch, rallied late from sixth to make up more than 2 ¾ lengths and finished second beaten three-quarters of a length at six furlongs on a sealed sloppy surface Oct. 30.
   
  Jimmy Got Even: Raced sixth and last early, moved to fifth more than 6 ½ lengths behind after a half-mile, finished well making up nearly 3 ½ lengths and ran second beaten a neck at six furlongs on Oct. 24. (Raced fifth more than four lengths behind in traffic fifth after half-mile and rallied in stretch to finish third at six furlongs on Nov. 27.)
   
  HOLLYWOOD PARK
   
  Living Our Dream: Set pace, led by 1 ½ lengths after a half-mile, drifted out a bit in stretch in deep stretch and finished second beaten a neck at 1 1/16 miles on Nov. 13. (Chased pace five lengths behind in second after a half-mile, grabbed lead shortly after mid-stretch and won by 1 ½ lengths at a mile on the turf Dec. 6.) 
   
  Lookin At Lucky: Broke sixth from outside post 13, carried wide on first turn, checked after being bumped repeatedly, dropped from seventh to 10th more than eight lengths behind after a half-mile, circled five wide into stretch from ninth to fifth, brushed with winner, made up 2 ½ lengths and finished second beaten a head at 1 1/16 miles on Nov. 7 at Santa Anita. (Tugged hard along rail into backstretch, raced second a length back after a half-mile, grabbed lead by a head after six furlongs and edged away in stretch to win by three-quarters of a length under vigorous handling at 1 1/16 miles on Dec. 19.)
   
  LAUREL PARK
   
  Swing Music: Raced 8 ½ lengths behind in sixth after a half-mile, steadied near the 4 ½-furlong marker, came five wide for the drive, made up 3 ½ lengths in stretch and gained second by three-quarters of a length at six furlongs on a sealed muddy surface Nov. 26; ran final quarter in 23 4/5. (Flipped behind gate, raced fourth early, dropped to sixth more than 6 ½ lengths behind after a half-mile, came back through the final furlongs, rallied in stretch and gained third by 1 ½ lengths at seven furlongs on Dec. 16.)   
   
  PHILADELPHIA PARK
   
  Liger: Raced seventh and last early, moved to sixth more than six lengths behind after a half-mile, rallied widest from fifth in stretch, made up more than 2 ¾ lengths and finished third beaten a head and three-quarters of a length at six furlongs on Dec. 7.
   
  G’day Mate: Steadied at start, raced more than 1 ½ lengths behind in fourth after a half-mile, lost a couple of lengths entering stretch, closed willingly to make up nearly 2 ½ lengths and finished third beaten a head and a length at 6 ½ furlongs on Dec. 1.
   
  Cuvee Rouge: Pressed fast pace in third two heads behind after a half-mile, moved to second in stretch, but couldn’t catch winner and held position 3 ¼ lengths at six furlongs on Nov. 16. (Tracked pace more than two lengths behind in second after a half-mile, advanced to second drifting out in mid-stretch and closed fast nearing wire to win by a neck at six furlongs on a sealed sloppy surface on Dec. 5.)
   
  TAMPA BAY DOWNS
   
  New Day Rising: Bobbled at break, raced seventh early, dropped to eighth and last seven lengths behind after a half-mile, fanned seven wide into stretch, closed fast late to make up more than 1 ½ lengths and finished second beaten a length at six furlongs on Dec. 16; ran final quarter in 24 2/5.
   
  Blazen: Pinched back after breaking 10th and last, moved to eighth more than 9 ½ lengths behind after a half-mile, dropped to ninth after six furlongs, swung out for stretch run, rallied to make up more than three lengths and finished second beaten a length at a mile on a yielding turf course Nov. 28 at Calder; ran final quarter in 23 3/5.
   
  Apple Charlotte: Raced more than 7 ½ lengths behind in ninth after a half-mile, blocked and steadied in upper stretch, dropped to 11th, recovered quickly, closed like a rocket to make up more than 10 ¼ lengths and gained second by a nose at a mile on a good turf course Nov. 1 at Churchill Downs. (Raced more than 5 ½ lengths behind in fifth after a half-mile, made a quick move inside on far turn, angled out to take lead after entering stretch, drew off while racing greenly and won by 5 ½ lengths at 1 1/16 miles on Dec. 16.)
   
  TURF PARADISE
   
  Highland Games: Raced sixth early, dropped to seventh more than 3 ½ lengths behind after a half-mile, rallied six wide in stretch to make up more than two lengths and finished second nosed out at a mile on Dec. 12.
   
  Global Empress: Rank breaking slowly eighth and last, raced more than 4 ½ lengths behind in fifth after a half-mile, eased out for the drive, made up more than 2 ½ lengths in stretch and finished third beaten a head and a neck at six furlongs on Nov. 27.
   
  TURFWAY PARK
   
  Victory Sign: Broke in air, lost ground, raced sixth more than 9 ½ lengths behind after a half-mile, angled out to clear rivals, came five wide into stretch, rallied from fourth to make up 3 ¾ lengths and gained second by 2 ¼ lengths at a mile on Dec. 12. 
   
  Lion’s Den: Hopped at start, raced more than 6 ½ lengths behind in sixth after a half-mile, angled out entering stretch, made up 2 ½ lengths and finished second beaten a half-length at six furlongs on Nov. 29. (Stumbled at start, recovered quickly, pressed pace a head back after three-eighths of a mile, took lead by a half-length in stretch and won by a head at 5 ½ furlongs on Dec. 17.)