HORSES TO WATCH

• Horses to Watch - Feb 1st, 2010.

  Posted on Mon, 01 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT by Greg Melikov

  
  

  AQUEDUCT
   
  Bible Belt: Fractious at start, leapt out of gate spotting field five lengths, raced eight lengths behind in sixth while saving ground after a half-mile, rallied belatedly in stretch to make up three lengths and gained third by a length at six furlongs on Jan. 24.
   
  Chaysen’ Alex: Broke slowly seventh and last, raced five lengths behind in fourth after a half-mile, advanced three wide to third in stretch, closed willingly to make up three lengths and finished second beaten a length at six furlongs on the inner track Jan. 7; ran final quarter in 44 2/5.
   
  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. (Raced more than four lengths behind in fifth after a half-mile, rallied three wide enter stretch and won going away by three-quarters of a length at six furlongs on Jan. 10.)
   
  Quiet Mover: Raced in traffic two lengths behind in fourth after a half-mile, split rivals enter stretch and finished second beaten 1 ¼ lengths at six furlongs on Jan. 6. (Raced more than three lengths behind in fifth after a half-mile, rallied three wide to third in stretch, but couldn’t close gap and finished in that position at a mile and 70 yards on Jan. 13.)

  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: 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. (Stumbled at start, raced 3 ½ lengths behind in fourth after a half-mile, rallied three wide in stretch and finished second beaten 1 ½ lengths at six furlongs on Jan. 7.)
   
  DELTA DOWNS
   
  Mitch My Boy: Broke from outside 10th post, raced sixth more than seven lengths behind after three-eighths of a mile, altered course to inside in stretch, made up more than 3 ½ lengths and gained second by a half-length at five furlongs on Jan. 28. 
   
  Haggis: Trailed early, raced eighth more than seven lengths behind after three-eighths of a mile, closed fast from sixth in stretch to make up 4 ½ lengths and finished second beaten a length at five furlongs on Jan. 6.
   
  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.
   
  Anna’s Glory: 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. (Raced more than 10 lengths behind after a half-mile, angled out for the drive and rallied from fourth in stretch to win by two lengths at a mile on Jan. 6.)
   
  FAIR GROUNDS
   
  Shape: Raced inside more than 9 ½ lengths behind in sixth after a half-mile, angled out for the drive, split rivals in stretch, rallied late to make up nearly 3 ½ lengths and finished second nosed out at a mile and 40 yards on Jan. 25.
   
  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
   
  Shehashighhopes: Raced 5 ½ lengths behind in fifth along rail after a half-mile, lacked room behind leaders entering stretch, angled out and gained second by two lengths at 1 1/16 miles on the turf Jan. 29. 
   
  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. (Stalked pace a length behind in second after a half-mile, eased back around far turn dropping to fourth, angled out in stretch, rallied to make up three lengths and finished second beaten a head at a mile on the turf Jan. 24; returned $10 for place.)
   
  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 at Calder.
   
  Ms. N. Tarsia: 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. (Raced 12th and last early, advanced to eighth more than seven lengths behind after a half mile, eased for stretch run and finished second beaten a neck at a mile on a good turf course on Jan. 18; returned $14.40 for place.)
   
  LAUREL PARK
   
  Lookin’ Foxy: Raced eighth and last more than 10 lengths behind after a half-mile, came seven wide into stretch, closed fast to make up 8 ½ lengths and finished second beaten a neck at seven furlongs on Jan. 23; ran final three furlongs in 37 2/5.
   
  Stellar Ambition: Raced more than two lengths behind in third after a half-mile, eased out for the drive losing much ground to fourth, closed steadily to make up more than 3 ¼ lengths in stretch and finished third beaten a neck and a nose at a mile on Jan. 9.
   
  OAKLAWN PARK
   
  Actual Fact: Raced 10th and last more than 10 ½ lengths behind after a half-mile, roused for the drive five wide, closed late from sixth to make up more than four lengths and finished second beaten a head at a mile on Jan. 21.
   
  Deputy Sreva: Ducked out at start, raced sixth in traffic more than 10 lengths behind after a half-mile, shuffled back on far turn, roused for the drive and made up more than 3 ½ lengths in stretch finishing second full of run beaten a length at a mile on Jan. 15. 
   
  PHILADELPHIA PARK
   
  Forcefully: Pressed pace in third a half-length and a head behind after three-eighths of a mile, lost a couple of lengths going wide for the drive, made up nearly 2 ½ lengths in stretch and finished second beaten a nose at 5 ½ furlongs on Jan. 22.
   
  Check It Twice: Raced fifth more than 1 ½ lengths behind after a half-mile, awaited room on turn, closed strongly in stretch and won going away by 2 ½ lengths at a mile on the inner track Jan. 10 at Aqueduct. (Raced more than 3 ½ lengths behind in fifth after a half-mile, closed throughput stretch to finish fourth beaten less than three-quarters of a length at 6 ½ furlongs on Jan. 31; moved up to third because of interference by runner-up.)
   
  G’day Mate: Raced more than 2 ½ lengths behind in fourth after a half-mile, dropped to fifth going wide in stretch and rallied to gain third by three-quarters of a length at 6 ½ furlongs on Jan. 11. (Raced sixth early, moved to the front by the half-mile pole, led in stretch by 1 ½ lengths and prevailed by the same margin at seven furlongs on Jan. 24.)  
   
  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. (Went straight to the front, led by a head after a half-mile, gave way grudgingly in stretch and held second by 1 ¾ lengths at 6 ½ furlongs on Jan. 12.)
   
  SAM HOUSTON RACE PARK
   
  Superior Thief: 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 at Delta Downs; returned $9.20 for place. (Prompted pace a half-length behind in second after a half-mile, weakened in stretch and finished third at 1 1/16 miles on Jan. 30.)
   
  SANTA ANITA PARK
   
  Forcefully: Pressed pace in third a half-length and a head behind after three-eighths of a mile, lost a couple of lengths going wide for the drive, made up nearly 2 ½ lengths in stretch and finished second beaten a nose at 5 ½ furlongs on Jan. 22.
   
  Remus: Broke slowly 10th and last, raced more than nine lengths behind in sixth after a half-mile, rallied outside from fifth in stretch to make up more than 6 ¼ lengths at about 6 ½ furlongs on the turf Jan. 10; ran final 1 ½ furlongs in 27 4/5.  
   
  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. (Squeezed after breaking slowly, raced eighth and last more than six lengths behind after a half-mile, came four wide into stretch, closed fast to make up more than 3 ½ lengths in stretch and drew clear under strong handling to win by 1 ¼ lengths at a mile on the turf Jan. 15.)
   
  Lady Alex: Raced four lengths behind in fourth after a half-mile, came out off heels of rival in upper stretch, closed willingly to make up three lengths and finished second beaten a half-length at six furlongs on Dec. 2 at Hollywood Park; ran final quarter in 24 2/5. (Pressed pace a length back in second after a half-mile, grabbed lead by a half-length in early stretch and inched away to win by a length at a mile on the turf Jan. 13.)
   
  TAMPA BAY DOWNS
   
  Claxton: Raced seventh and last early, moved to sixth more than 4 ½ lengths behind after a half-mile, slipped through along rail into stretch, made up three lengths and finished second beaten a half-length at 6 ½ furlongs on Jan. 24.
   
  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
   
  Zahari: Broke slowly, raced eighth and last more than 12 lengths behind after a half-mile, closed fast from sixth through traffic in stretch, made up more than 7 ½ lengths and gained second by a nose at a mile on a good surface Jan. 24.
   
  Coach Pete: Broke seventh and last, raced fifth more than 4 ½ lengths behind after a half-mile, lost ground moving further out for the drive and finished a game third making up more than 5 ¼ lengths in stretch beaten a head and 1 ¾ lengths at 6 ½ furlongs on Jan. 8.
   
  Panamanian Playboy: Pressed pace two heads behind in third after a half-mile, advanced to second in stretch, closed gap a bit and held that position by 1 ¾ lengths at 6 ½ furlongs on Jan. 10. (Tracked pace more than two lengths behind after a half-mile, advanced steadily in stretch and gained third beaten three-quarters of a length and a neck at 6 ½ furlongs on a good surface Jan. 24.)
   
  TURFWAY PARK
   
  Deputy Darling: Raced 10th early, dropped to 11th and last more than 9 ½ lengths behind after a half-mile, closed fast from seventh in stretch to make up seven lengths and finished third beaten a neck and a head at a mile on Jan. 23; ran final quarter in 24 3/5.
   
  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.
   
  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.)