HORSES TO WATCH

• Horses to Watch - July 13th, 2009.

  Posted on Mon, 13 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT by Greg Melikov

  
  

  ARLINGTON PARK
  
  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.
  
  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.
  
  Iron Vow: Broke sixth and last, trailed by more than 3 ½ lengths after a half-mile, advanced along inside to fourth in stretch, rallied to make up more than 2 ½ lengths and finished second beaten a head at 6 ½ furlongs June 19; ran final 2 ½ furlongs in 30 4/5.
  
  Nan Ann Rocks: Broke slowly 10th and last, trailed by 10 ½ lengths after a half-mile, swung wide for the drive, rallied from sixth in stretch to make up more than 2 ¼ lengths and finished third beaten three-quarters of a length and a nose at a mile on the turf June 6; ran final half in 47 1/5, (Raced 11th and last more than 11 lengths behind after a half-mile, saved ground advancing to eighth in stretch and rallied between horses to make up more than 2 ½ lengths and finished third by 2 ¾ lengths at 1 1/16 miles on the turf July 1.)
  
  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.)
  
  Opportune Moment: Raced nine lengths behind in fourth after a half-mile, rallied wide to second in stretch, but couldn’t catch winner while securing place by 8 ¼ lengths at 1 1/16 miles on May 22. (Raced fifth more than 2 ½ lengths behind after a half-mile, slipped through on the turn to take lead in stretch and won by a length at a mile on June 13.)
  
  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
  
  Kutais: Steadied soon after start, raced six lengths back in seventh after a half-mile, waited behind wall of horses on far turn, altered course to outside in upper stretch, made up 2 ¾ lengths and finished second by 1 ¼ lengths at 1 1/8 miles on the turf July 8.
  
  Mustang Fever: Broke slowly 12th and last, steadied in traffic early, raced ninth more than 13 lengths behind after a half-mile, rallied inside while awaiting room nearing quarter pole and finished well to gain second by a nose at six furlongs on the turf July 8; ran final quarter in 23 1/5.
  
  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.)
  
  Kitty Nip: Raced ninth in traffic early, advanced to eighth seven lengths behind after a half-mile, angled four wide for the drive, closed from sixth in stretch to make up more than 3 ½ lengths and finished third beaten a neck and 1 ¼ lengths at six furlongs on the turf June 3; ran final quarter in 23 1/5. (Raced fifth early, dropped to sixth more than 3 ½ lengths behind after a half-mile and rallied willingly to finish third by 1 ¾ lengths at six furlongs taken off the turf June 25.)
  
  CALDER
  
  Cucina Nick: Raced fourth early, dropped to sixth more than four lengths behind after a half-mile, angled out for drive, closed well late to make up more than 2 ¼ lengths in stretch and finished second beaten three-quarters of a length at 6 ½ furlongs on July 5.
  
  Aly Raja: Bumped with rival at break, raced more than two lengths behind in fourth after a half-mile, lost a couple lengths going three wide around turn, made up 2 ¾ lengths in stretch and finished second beaten 1 ¼ lengths at six furlongs on July 5.
  
  CANTERBURY PARK
  
  Justa Streak: Tracked pace in second 3 ½ lengths behind after a half-mile, angled three wide for the drive, couldn’t close gap, but held place by 1 ¾ lengths at six furlongs on May 29. (Raced third more than 5 ½ lengths after a half-mile, shifted outside in stretch, closed gap and finished in same position beaten a head and 1 ¼ lengths at 5 ½ furlongs on June 13.)

  DELAWARE PARK
  
  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.
  
  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.
  
  Gray Might: Raced fourth more than six lengths behind after a half-mile, advanced to second in stretch and drew off to win by 2 ¼ lengths at six furlongs on a sealed sloppy surface June 20. (Raced four lengths behind in fourth after a half-mile, check on heels of rival leaving turn, rallied in stretch to run down leader and won going away by 2 ½ lengths at six furlongs on June 29.)
  
  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.
  
  Bust a Groove: Raced more than 7 ½ lengths behind in ninth after three-eighths of a mile, angled out in the lane, closed fast from fifth in stretch to make up 4 ½ lengths and finished second by a neck at five furlongs on the turf June 5. (Raced fourth more than four lengths behind after three-eighths of a mile, rallied outside in stretch and finished second by a length at five furlongs on July 10.)
  
  HOLLYWOOD PARK
  
  Scofield Barracks: Broke 12th and last, squeezed at start, raced ninth more than 8 ½ lengths behind after a half-mile, came out in upper stretch, rallied from fifth to make up more than five lengths and finished second by 1 ¼ lengths at six furlongs June 6; ran final quarter in 23 seconds. (Raced third early, dropped to fourth more than 2 ½ lengths behind after a half-mile and won under steady handling by three-quarters of a length at 5 ½ furlongs on June 28.)
  
  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. (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.)
  
  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.
  
  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.
  
  Belfast: Broke slowly 10th and last, trailed by more than 13 ½ lengths after a half-mile, swung five wide into the stretch, rallied from fourth to make up more than two lengths and finished second beaten a length at 1 1/16 miles on the turf April 23 at Lone Star Park. (Broke slowly, steadied, raced more than seven lengths behind in ninth after a half-mile, came five wide out of far turn and rallied in stretch to gain third by 2 ¼ lengths at a mile on the turf June 20.)
  
  MONMOUTH PARK
  
  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.
  
  PHILADELPHIA PARK
  
  Moon Spark: 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 July 7.
  
  Minor Issues: Hesitated at start before breaking eighth and last, raced 4 ½ lengths behind in seventh after a half-mile, rallied in stretch to make up 2 ½ lengths and gained second by three lengths at six furlongs on June 16. (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.)
  
  Peruano Smoke: Chased pacesetter five lengths behind in second after a half-mile, took command on far turn, led by seven lengths in stretch and won easily by 14 ½ lengths at 1 1/16 miles taken of the turf June 12 at Calder. (Raced fourth more than three lengths behind after a half-mile, raced second after six furlongs, but couldn’t catch winner and held place by 4 ¼ lengths at a mile on June 29.)
  
  Mr. Congeniality: Grabbed lead early, led by a length after a half-mile, gradually edged clear in stretch and won by 1 ½ lengths at 6 ½ furlongs on May 30. (Raced third more than 1 ½ lengths behind after a half-mile, rallied to second in stretch and edged ahead to win by a half-length at seven furlongs on June 7.)
  
  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.