Jan 09, 2009
HORSES TO WATCH
By: AMERICAN TURF CLUB
HAWTHORNE
AGAWAM: Out-of-town bush track invader will be giant odds after local flop on 12/27, but deserves one more shot after a rough start.
C SAGA RYDER: Outran 21-1 odds for second in return from a year and a half layoff. Needed a race, beware in next.
FROSTY MELODY: Got caught in a three-way duel for the lead, yet still outran 36-1 odds to emerge the best of the front-runners while ahead of the 3-2 and 9-2 speed horses.
JAYGAR DANCER: Settled for second, but was nine lengths clear of the rest of the field. Don’t overlook.
KNOB CREEK: Lost to a loose lone speed runaway winner, but closed well for a clear second on a speed favoring track. Worth another shot.
PEYOTE PATTY: Set and pressed the pace in a three-way, four-length-gap speed duel and held on best in return from an eight-month layoff. Can win second off the layoff.
PROFESSIONAL GRADE: Got hooked in a five-length-gap speed duel and held on well for second. Still looms a threat to shake loose up front.
SARATOGA BREEZE: Hopped at the start to begin last in an 11-horse field and then failed to recover in a race won off by en even-money favorite. Beaten 13 lengths but was only four lengths out of second and only needs a clean start to improve.
SLAVE’S RANSOM: Was bumped at the start on a speed favoring day and was one of many horses who couldn’t get near a runaway odds-on winner.
BEST BET: SASSY BUCK: First starter was ignored at 20-1 but ran a bang-up debut for second, closing from far, far behind on a speed-favoring track. Won’t be a maiden for long.
LONGSHOT: CLASS ACK: Set a pressured pace while hooked up in a four-length-gap speed duel. Held on the best of the speed horses for fourth and looms a live overlay right back.
GULFSTREAM
DANCER BY NIGHT: Woke up with a second-place finish at 17-1 following a pair of disappointing efforts at Calder. Include in the exotics.
GO GO BAR: Very solid New York-bred filly got little respect following a couple of near misses at Saratoga and Belmont, but proved many wrong with a rallying third-place finish at 22-1. Same connections teamed up to annex the GI Hollywood Starlet S. with Laragh.
GRANTED TIGER: Always have to respect “The Chief,” and this one shipped in off a couple of well-beaten efforts at the Big A to complete the trifecta at 22-1. Follow right back.
PAY WRIGHT: Once a very promising runner, returned from a brief freshening with a game tally versus $50K claimers. Only started twice in 2008, but looks like she’s headed in the right direction.
PLATINA ROSE: Beaten chalk in Gulfstream opener made a good middle-move after breaking in the air, but ran out of gas in the stretch and faded to eighth. Son of Point Given deserves another chance at $25K.
TOMFOOLERY: Jersey-bred ran well in his first two efforts to finish third against state-breds at Monmouth last summer, then resurfaced from a July layoff to complete the exacta at Gulfstream. Won’t remain a maiden for long.
4 STAR SPECIAL: CHECKLIST: Looks like a three-year-old with a ton of upside following a geared-down four-length victory at first asking. Flashed brilliant speed in debut, but son of Gone West out of Black-Eyed Susan winner Yearly Report should be able to stretch out based on his pedigree.
LONGSHOT: BUILT TO PRECISION: Hit some hard times following his July maiden win, but looks like he’s back in action following a third-place finish at 79-1. Follow for low-profile barn.
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