HORSES TO WATCH

By: AMERICAN TURF CLUB

SANTA ANITA

 

AIR RACE: Finished ahead of some well-bet horses when third off of a three-month layoff. Can benefit from the return effort.

CERVELO: Toss out the fourth-place finish in the Thunder Road Hcp. after he blew the break and then rushed up into a dirty work pace pressing trip behind a loose speed horse. Can rebound.

COURTNALL: Got going too late and couldn’t catch up after his foes got the jump on him. Finished off the board, but didn’t lose by too much and should improve in second off the brief freshening.

DON’T JINX IT: Finished a close third while five lengths clear of the fourth horse after getting carried wide and bumped off-stride turning for home. Better luck next time.

FORGIVABLE BOB: Forgive Bob for his loss on 2/1 when he broke at the rear of a 12-horse field and then had to rush into contention before tiring. Worth another shot.

GENERAL BUENO: Lost ground four-wide on the first turn when chasing a loose-on-the-lead wire-to-wire winner. Better luck next time.

GOTTHATFEELING: Stumbled badly after the start and then rushed up to the lead and still held on for second, beaten only by his entry mate. Got that feeling he won’t be a maiden for long.

HIT SHOW: Had nothing left for the stretch-run after losing ground four-wide on the first turn from an outside post on turf. Try again.

KISSIN PARTY: Got hung out to dry four wide on the first turn when left to chase an overpowering loose speed winner. Settled for third after the dirty-work trip and can’t be ignored next time.

LIVER: Was trying to make the winning move but lost all chance when carried out on the turn by a breaking down horse. Hard-luck loser can win in a similar spot next time.

MADE IN CALIFORNIA: Didn’t get a great start from the rail and then rushed up into a five-way speed duel and held on for second. Can graduate in second start off the seven-month layoff.

PAVAROTTI: First starter dueled for the lead the whole way in difficult two-turn assignment against a 2-5 favorite and did well to get third. Shouldn’t be a maiden for long.

SHERMEEN: Steadied when crowded at the start but still outran 11-1 odds for third in return from an eight-month layoff. Watch out in second off the layoff.

WAY TO GO EDDIE: Showed speed behind a pair of favored entry mates and outran 10-1 for third in return from year+ layoff. Makes sense in second off the extended vacation.

BEST BET:  STRONG FAITH: Was a hard-luck loser on 2/4 when caught in traffic when trying to rally behind a slow pace. Still almost won and may be difficult to stop next time out.

LONGSHOT:  SHE’S SOME WAGON: Didn’t run a bad race for fourth in down-the-hill sprint in return from an eight-month layoff. Prepped and ready now.

 

 

PHILADELPHIA PARK

 

COUNT ON ME: Sent for the lead but got hooked and cooked by a winning 1-5 favorite. Threat to shake loose next time.

ECHOS ANGEL: Set a fast and pressured pace going :22.2 in a two-turn race, and still held on for a third-place finish while clear of the fourth horse. Don’t overlook in next.

FAMILY APPEAL: Reared at the break and lost all chance at the start last time out. Can rebound with a better start.

LUCKY MONKEY: Toss out the seventh-place finish when she broke slowly in a 5 1/2-furlong sprint. Can rebound with a clean start in first race off the claim.

MY POKER PLAYER: Broke slowly then rushed up and has nothing left late on 1/27. Worth another shot off the claim.

PIECEOFTHENUGGETT: Outran 39-1 odds for third in return from a three-month layoff in a 5 1/2-furlong sprint. Try again.

ROCKIN RAVEN: Pressed the pace and finished far ahead of his early challengers in a race that set up for all closers. Too early to give up.

SUNDAYS ON THE BAY: Got caught in a three-way battle for the lead and finished off the board as a result. Can rebound.

TRAFFIC ALERT: Got caught in a three-way battle for the lead and did well to hold on for third in a race ruled by closers. Can make amends.

BEST BET:  PROUD CHARM: Broke last in a 10-horse field and then rushed up toward the pace and still held on for a close-up fourth-place finish in return from an eight-month layoff. Won’t be denied with a clean break in second race off the layoff.

LONGSHOT:  SILVER METEOR: Was easily the best of the early speed horses when fourth, just a neck out of third, in a race ruled by closers. Worth another shot on the front-end.