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Greg Melikov's Horses to Watch

By GREG MELIKOV

Horses worth watching, a list of runners compiled by handicapper/turf writer Greg Melikov that should do well or improve significantly next time out, won six times, ran second five times and finished third three times since Oct. 1. These thoroughbreds are worth considering when charting your betting strategy.

AQUEDUCT

Captain Backfire: Stumbled badly at start, raced seventh and last 12 lengths behind after a half-mile, fanned three wide heading home, rallied with good energy late to make up 6 1/2 lengths and finished second beaten a length at six furlongs on Nov. 1; ran final quarter in 23 4/5.

CALDER

Wild Blue Dreams: Raced five lengths behind in fourth after three-eighths of a mile, rallied four wide entering stretch, made up nearly 3 1/2 lengths and ran second beaten a head at five furlongs on Nov. 6.

Super Whipper: Raced inside more than 5 1/2 lengths behind in fifth after three-eighths of a mile, angled outside winner in stretch, rallied to make up nearly four lengths and finished second beaten a head at 5 1/2 furlongs on a good surface Oct. 25.

Appealing Runner: Raced more than 4 1/2 lengths behind in fifth after a half-mile, rallied to make up more than 3 3/4 lengths in stretch and finished third beaten 1 1/4 lengths at 6 1/2 furlongs on Oct. 13. (Raced more than 7 1/2 lengths behind in fifth after a half-mile, rallied from fourth in stretch to make up 32 1/2 lengths in stretch and finished full of run to gain second by 1 1/4 lengths at six furlongs on Nov. 1.)

CHURCHILL DOWNS

Princessmarguerite: Raced more than 7 1/2 lengths behind in fifth after a half-mile, split rivals entering stretch, angled out for clear sailing and made up three lengths to finish second beaten a length at six furlongs on Nov. 7.

Masrawy: Broke a step slow 11th and next to last on rail, raced seven lengths behind in 10th after a half-mile, circled field five wide for drive, bumped repeatedly with rival entering stretch, continued with good energy from fifth, made up six lengths and finished third beaten a length at seven furlongs on Oct. 26.

Silver Bayer: Raced more than 2 1/2 lengths behind in fifth after a half-mile, rallied four wide into stretch, made up 2 1/2 lengths and finished second beaten a length at five furlongs on the turf Sept. 6 at Calder. (Raced 4 1/2 lengths behind in fourth after a half-mile, rallied inside to gain second and finished in that position by two lengths at 5 1/2 furlongs on Oct. 18 at Calder.)

DELAWARE

Etrain: Raced fourth early, dropped back to eighth and last through the turn, rallied from seventh in stretch and finish third beaten a neck for place at six furlongs on Oct. 20; ran final quarter in 24 4/5.

DELTA DOWNS

Matt's Cajun Fire: Raced fifth more than five lengths behind after a half-mile, rallied three wide on far turn, grabbed lead in stretch and drew off to win by two lengths at a mile on Sept. 27 at Retama Park. (Tracked pace in sixth more than two lengths behind after a half-mile, rallied around far turn to take lead in upper stretch by a length and drove clear to win by 3 3/4 lengths under steady urging by 3 3/4 lengths at a mile on Oct. 29.)

FORT ERIE

East Face: Raced more than six lengths behind in eighth after a half-mile, angled out in final furlong, rallied from fifth in stretch, made up three lengths and finished second beaten a neck at six furlongs on Oct. 10 at Woodbine. (Broke sixth and last, raced more than 1 1/2 lengths behind in fourth more than three lengths behind after a half-mile and finished third by 2 1/2 lengths at 6 1/2 furlongs on a sloppy surface Oct. 27.)

HAWTHORNE

Marvelex: Raced third early, dropped to fourth more than 1 1/2 lengths behind after a half-mile, lost ground angling out five wide for clear run, brushed with rival, made up 1 3/4 lengths in stretch and finished second beaten three-quarters of a length at six furlongs on Nov. 2.

Sky High Spirit: Raced more than five lengths behind in eighth after a half-mile, rallied through traffic from fifth in stretch and finished second beaten a half-length at six furlongs on Oct. 22.

Bar Hoppin: Broke 12th and last, trailed by more than 7 1/2 lengths after a half-mile, rallied three wide into stretch to third, closed steadily to make up six lengths and finished second beaten a half-length at six furlongs on Sept. 27; ran final quarter in 24 1/5. (Raced more than four lengths behind in sixth after a half-mile, swung six wide into stretch, rallied from third to make up two lengths and won by three-quarters of a length at six furlongs on a good surface Oct. 24.)

HOLLYWOOD PARK

Day of the South: Squeezed at start, raced seventh more than 8 1/2 lengths behind after a half-mile, angled in for drive, came out mid-stretch, rallied from fifth to make up more than four lengths and finished third beaten a length and a nose at six furlongs on Nov. 6; ran final quarter in 23 1/5.

Joe Bravo: Raced eighth more than 8 1/2 lengths behind after a half-mile, came out in seventh in stretch, closed willingly to make up more than 3 1/2 lengths and finished second beaten a half-length at six furlongs on the turf Nov. 6; ran final quarter in 22 1/5.

LAUREL

Unbridled Behavior: Raced seventh and last early, advanced to fifth four wide eight lengths behind after a half-mile, closed gamely in stretch from third to make up five lengths and finished second beaten a head at six furlongs on Nov. 5; ran final quarter in 24 seconds.

Crack the Opus: Broke in air, rushed up inside to chase pace 4 1/2 lengths behind in second after a half-mile, eased out for drive, made up nearly three lengths in stretch and finished second beaten a head at six furlongs on a sealed muddy track Oct. 25.

Rescigno: Raced seventh more than nine lengths behind after a half-mile, rallied six wide in stretch, closed willingly despite drifting wide, made up more than 3 3/4 lengths and finished second beaten three-quarters of a length at 1 1/8 miles on the turf Oct. 10. (Broke 11th and last, trailed by more than 20 1/2 lengths after a half-mile, advanced between rivals to fifth in stretch, eased outside near sixteenth pole, made up 3 1/2 lengths and drove clear to win by a length at 1 1/16 miles on the turf Oct. 23; returned $12 on the front end.)

MEADOWLANDS

Rise Up Singing: Pressed pace early, took command by a length after a half-mile, shook free in stretch and drew off to win by 5 1/4 lengths at six furlongs on a sealed muddy track on Sept. 6 at Monmouth. (Pressed pace early, grabbed lead by a length after a half-mile, dug in gamely in stretch and finished second beaten a neck at six furlongs on Oct. 1.)

Big Easy: Trailed by more than four lengths after three-eighths of a mile, advanced to second in stretch, angled out and rallied to win by a head at five furlongs taken off the turf Sept. 13 at Philadelphia Park. (Raced more than five lengths behind in sixth after a half-mile, angled out for the drive and rallied in stretch to gain third by 1 1/4 lengths at five furlongs on the turf Oct. 18.)

PHILADELPHIA PARK

Take a Look: Raced more than 4 1/2 lengths behind in fifth after a half-mile, split rivals entering stretch, finished fast to make up 4 1/2 lengths and gained second by three lengths at six furlongs on Nov. 4.

Wildcattwentyfour: Broke eighth and last, raced seventh more than six lengths behind after a half-mile, advanced wide to sixth in stretch and finished third at seven furlongs on Oct. 14. (Raced fifth early, dropped to sixth after a half-mile, came three wide into stretch and finished third by a neck at 6 1/2 furlongs on Oct. 25.)

RETAMA PARK

Magic Misty: Raced seventh more than five lengths behind after a three-eighths of a mile, angled out off turn to fifth in stretch, closed willingly to make up 3 1/4 lengths and finished second by a head at five furlongs on Nov. 7.

Cowgirl Cool: Raced more than 5 1/2 lengths behind in fifth after a half-mile, fanned three wide on far turn dropping to sixth, rallied five wide in upper stretch from fifth, closed willingly to make up 2 1/2 lengths and finished third beaten a neck and two lengths at a mile on the turf Oct. 30.

Fiesta Margarita: Broke from the outside 10th post, raced 10th and last early, advanced to ninth more than 7 1/2 lengths behind after a half-mile, rallied four wide to fourth in stretch, closed fast to make up 4 1/2 lengths and finished second nosed out at 5 1/2 furlongs on Oct. 11.

Bill's Last Fling: Broke alertly from the outside 13th post, chased leader early in second, took lead by a length after a half-mile, drew clear in upper stretch and won by 6 1/2 lengths ridden out at six furlongs on Sept. 27.

Waco Hug: Broke 10th and last, raced seventh more than five lengths behind after a half-mile, swung out three wide for the drive, advanced to second in stretch, closed fast to drew off and won by two lengths at a mile on Oct. 10. (Broke seventh and last, trailed by eight lengths after a half-mile, rallied on far turn to grabbed lead, increased margin to six lengths in stretch and drew off ridden out to win by 12 1/4 lengths at a mile on Oct. 17.)

Ms Classic Seneca: Raced more than four lengths behind in eighth after a half-mile, advanced four wide for drive, steadied off heels of rivals inside quarter pole, rallied from sixth to make up more than 2 1/4 lengths in stretch and gained second by a half-length at six furlongs on Sept. 6. (Raced fourth early, dropped to fifth more than 1 1/2 lengths behind after three-eighths of a mile, rallied four wide to second in upper stretch and won by a half-lengths at five furlongs on the turf Oct. 4: returned $12.20 on front end.)

TURF PARADISE

Cut the Silk: Tracked pace two lengths behind in second after a half-mile, rider lost whip in upper stretch, continued willingly to the wire making up a length and lost by a half-length at a mile on Nov. 2.

Dante's Gulch: Raced seven lengths behind in fifth after a half-mile, advanced to third in stretch, made up 3 1/2 lengths and finished second by 3 1/4 lengths at a mile on Oct. 25.

Hills of Roses; Broke from the outside ninth post, raced fourth more than 4 1/2 lengths behind after three-eighths of a mile, angled in during stretch run, rallied to make up more than 2 1/2 lengths and finished second beaten a half-length at five furlongs on Oct. 10. (Chased pace five lengths behind in second after three-eighths of a mile and rallied in stretch to win by a half-length at 5 1/2 furlongs on Oct. 26.)

WOODBINE

Kingcarey: Broke 12th and last, trailed by more than 12 lengths after a half-mile, angled from rail to six wide late on far turn, rallied willingly through stretch from ninth, made up 2 3/4 lengths and finished second beaten three-quarters of a length at 1 1/16 miles on Nov. 5.

Tap Show: Raced more than nine lengths behind in eighth after a half-mile, rallied between rivals in stretch from sixth to make up nearly 2 1/2 lengths and finished third beaten a length and a head at 1 1/16 miles on Oct. 19. (Broke a step slowly, stalked pace four wide on far turn, gained second in stretch, led briefly and lost by a length at 1 1/4 miles on Nov. 10.)

Splash of Gold: Raced 2 1/2 lengths behind in fifth after a half-mile, closed outside rivals to second on far turn, gained lead by a head at sixteenth pole and was nipped at wire by a neck at 1 1/16 miles on Oct. 13. (Raced four lengths behind in fifth after a half-mile, rallied four wide to second in stretch and finished in that position by 6 1/2 lengths at seven furlongs on Oct. 31.)