Horses To Watch<\/p>\n
Horses worth watching compiled by handicapper\/racing writer Greg Melikov won three races<\/a> and finished second four times since Dec. 17. <\/p>\n AQUEDUCT<\/u><\/strong> <\/p>\n Ghost Mountain: <\/strong>Tracked pace in third more than two lengths behind after a half-mile, rallied inside for the drive, steadied in upper stretch, altered course to outside, finished gamely to make up more than 2 \u00bd lengths and lost by a half-length at six furlongs on Jan. 12. <\/p>\n FAIR GROUNDS<\/u><\/strong> <\/p>\n Thunder Mission: <\/strong>Lunged at break, spotted field five lengths early, trailed by 10 lengths after a half-mile, advanced on turn, steered out from fifth in stretch, closed fast to make up seven lengths and lost by 1 \u00bd lengths at six furlongs on Jan. 13; ran final quarter in 24. <\/p>\n GULFSTREAM<\/u><\/strong> PARK<\/u><\/strong> <\/p>\n Wild Holly: <\/strong>Broke last from Post 10, raced seventh early, steadied on first turn, dropped to eighth more than three lengths behind after a half-mile, angled out for drive losing ground from fifth to sixth, closed well to make up more than 3 \u00be lengths in stretch and lost by three-quarters of a length and a nose at 1 1\/16 miles on the turf Jan. 14; ran final 2 \u00bd furlongs in 29 4\/5. <\/p>\n LAUREL<\/u><\/strong> <\/p>\n Cole\u2019s Player: <\/strong>Raced<\/a> fifth early, shuffled back nearing three-eighths pole, dropped to sixth more than sixth lengths behind after a half-mile, rallied in two path in stretch, steadied when blocked late, made up five lengths and finished fourth, beaten less than 1 \u00bc lengths at seven furlongs on Jan. 14. <\/p>\n SANTA ANITA<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n Firebird Sweet: <\/strong>Broke last, trailed by more than 11 \u00bd lengths after six furlongs, rallied five wide from 12th to seventh into stretch, closed gamely to make up more than 4 \u00bd lengths and lost by a head at 1 \u00bc miles on the turf Jan. 13. <\/p>\n TURFWAY<\/u><\/strong> PARK<\/u><\/strong> <\/p>\n Hum That Tune: <\/strong>Raced more than 10 \u00bd lengths behind in seventh after a half-mile, rallied four wide on far turn to fifth entering stretch, finished fast late to make up nearly four lengths and lost by a neck at a mile on Jan. 12. <\/p>\n \n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Horses To Watch Horses worth watching compiled by handicapper\/racing writer Greg Melikov won three races and finished second four times since Dec. 17. AQUEDUCT Ghost Mountain: Tracked pace in third more than two lengths behind after a half-mile, rallied inside for the drive, steadied in upper stretch, altered course to outside, finished gamely to make … Continue reading Horses<\/span>