HORSES TO WATCH

• Horses to Watch - January 4th, 2010.

  Posted on Mon, 04 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT by Greg Melikov

  
  

  Fortyninegeorgest: Raced sixth early, dropped to seventh more than nine lengths behind after a half-mile, split rivals in upper stretch, finished strongly to make up nearly 6 ½ lengths and ran second nosed out at six furlongs on the sealed fast inner track Dec. 26.
   
  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. (Raced more than 7 ½ lengths behind in seventh after a half-mile, advanced five wide on far turn, took lead in mid-stretch and won by a half-length at a mile and 70 yards on a sealed sloppy surface Dec. 26; returned $15.40 on the front end.)
   
  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.) 
   
  DELTA DOWNS
   
  Carson Connection: Raced sixth more than eight lengths behind after a half-mile, saved ground around far turn, made up two lengths in stretch and gained second by a half-length at 6 ½ furlongs on Dec. 22.
   
  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. (Pressed pace early, grabbed lead by a head after a half-mile, dueled with winner down the lane and finished second beaten a half-length at 6 ½ furlongs on a sealed muddy surface Dec. 30; returned $9.20 for place.)
   
  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
   
  Inti: Raced four lengths behind in sixth after a half-mile, came four wide into stretch losing ground, spilt rivals, made up 3 ½ lengths and finished second beaten a length at about a mile on a yielding turf course Dec. 20.
   
  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.
   
  GULFSTREAM
   
  Alluring Power: Raced fifth early, dropped to seventh more than 2 ½ lengths behind after a half-mile, lost ground on turn, rallied in stretch to make up more than 2 ¾ lengths and gained second by 4 ¼ lengths at a mile on Jan. 3.
   
  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 at Calder. (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 at Calder.)
   
  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. (Broke sharply, stalked pace two lengths behind in second after a half-mile, grabbed lead by a head after six furlongs, battled throughout stretch and won by a half-length at 1 1/16 miles on a good surface Dec. 23; returned $14.60 on the front end.)
   
  Jimmy Got Even: 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. (Raced sixth more than 6 ½ lengths behind after a half-mile, closed willingly in stretch and gained third by 3 ½ lengths at six furlongs on a good surface Dec. 23.)  
   
  LAUREL PARK
   
  L’Affaire: Bore in leaving gate, bumped foe, raced fifth early, dropped to seventh more than six lengths behind after a half-mile, eased out three wide entering stretch, rallied from fifth between rivals, made up more than 4 ½ lengths and gained second by a half-length at a mile on Dec. 16. 
                
  Sleep Out: Stalked pace a length behind in third after a half-mile, lost ground circling rivals into stretch, made up nearly 2 ½ lengths and finished second beaten a neck at six furlongs on a good surface Dec. 3.
                
  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
   
  Morador Liers: Broke a step slow 10th and last, moved to fifth more than 6 ½ lengths behind after three-eighths of a mile, closed well in stretch to make up nearly four lengths and finished third beaten a neck for place at 5 ½ furlongs on a sealed muddy surface Dec. 27.
   
  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. (Pursued pace more than four lengths behind in third after a half-mile, moved to second in stretch and closed gap but couldn’t catch winner at six furlongs on Dec. 28.) 
   
  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.)
   
  SANTA ANITA
   
  Alphie’s Bet: Broke 10th and last, trailed by more than 10 ½ lengths after a half-mile, rallied wide from fifth in stretch, made up more than 1 ¼ lengths and gained second by a half-length at 1 1/16 miles on Dec. 26.
   
  TAMPA BAY DOWNS
   
  Flatter This: Raced more than five lengths behind after a half-mile, weaved through traffic on far turn, rallied outside to make up 1 ¾ lengths in stretch and gained second by 1 ½ lengths at a mile on the turf Dec. 26.
   
  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
   
  Panamanian: Raced more than four lengths behind in seventh after three-eighths of a mile, eased out in stretch, made up 1 ¼ lengths and finished second beaten three-quarters of a length at five furlongs on Dec. 26.
   
  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. (Raced fifth more than 7 ½ lengths behind after a half-mile, came four wide into stretch and rallied to finish second nosed out at 7 ½ furlongs on the turf Jan. 2.)
   
  TURFWAY PARK
   
  Footlongkorn: Tracked pace two lengths behind in second after a half-mile, lost ground dropping to fourth in stretch, rallied willingly to make up more than 1 ¾ lengths and finished second beaten three-quarters of a length at 1 1/16 miles on Dec. 28.
   
  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. (Raced sixth more than 12 ½ lengths behind after a half-mile, angled out for the drive, rallied from fifth to make up more than 5 ½ lengths in stretch and finished second beaten a length at a mile on Jan. 3.)  
   
  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.)