HORSES TO WATCH

By: AMERICAN TURF CLUB

HOLLYWOOD

 

AMERICAN STORY: Finished the best of the speed horses in his race for third despite steadying in tight traffic in the stretch in a race where closers finished 1-2.

AVEROO: Broke slowly and then did about as good as he possibly could have done from there for second behind a loose lone speed wire-to-wire winning 3-2 favorite.

CAITIE’S SECRET: Set a very fast and pressured two-turn pace and could only hold on for third after outlasting her early speed challengers. Too early to give up on her.

CHEROKEE HEAVEN: Hesitated at the break to lose all chance in a turf sprint ruled by a loose lone speed wire-to-wire winner. Can make amends with a clean start.

DANGEROUS ANGEL: Sitting on a win still after getting hooked in a speed duel and settling for second again. Can shake loose up front.

FAVORABLE: Well bet first starter got off to a slow start in career debut and finished off the board. Can graduate off the claim by Mitchell.

JUDGE JOAN: Battled for the lead and faded to second as a result of those early efforts, losing only to the 8-5 favorite. Ready to get over the hump.

LUCKYVIC: Pressed a fast 6 ½-furlong pace and held on for second in a race otherwise dominated by closers. Ready to graduate.

MAGIC SPIRIT: Raced close up to a lively 7F pace and finished the best of the pace horses to hold on for third in a race where stalkers/closers claimed the top two spots.

RENEGADE STORM: Broke slowly in a rough start to begin last in a nine-horse field. Could only get up for sixth, but was a pair of noses out of second and can improve with a better start.

ROCK SO HARD: Got caught in a head-and-head speed duel and nearly managed to hold on the entire 1 1/16 miles before getting nipped at the wire. Won’t be a maiden much longer.

SCORPION WARRIOR: Ran well for second in career debut from post 10, catching all except the loose wire-to-wire winning even-month favorite.

SHE’S CHEEKY: Was right in the thick of the race until steadying sharply when interfered with in deep stretch. Better luck next time.

SKIPTON CREEK: Beat everyone except the 3-5 favorite in return from a six-month layoff. Her turn next time.

TENACIOUS TINA: Sped to the lead in return from a 10-month layoff but got hooked up front and settled for third, just a nose out of second. Can win second off the layoff.

THE WHAMMER: Got shuffled back in traffic into the turn and steadied off heels coming into the stretch and didn’t have time to make up for the difficulties in a turf sprint. Try again.

BEST BET: QUICK ENOUGH: Couldn’t get on track in time after waiting in traffic into the turn and then getting caught in traffic again in mid-stretch. Can rebound.

LONGSHOT: MAKE MINE REMY: Stumbled badly at the start to begin behind the field. Just needs a clean start.

 

 

ARLINGTON

 

ARE YOU DANCING: Got hooked in a three-length-gap speed duel in return from a five-month layoff and still held on for a close second after her early challenger tired badly to last. Looms a threat to shake loose.

DAVID D: Pressed a pace that totally collapsed and was the only front-runner still around at the end of a race ruled by stalkers/closers.

GOLD LEGION: Closed good ground for third when needing a race in return from a nine-month layoff. Ready to roll next time.

IMAGE OF GRANDEUR: Got shuffled back in traffic leaving the turn and was left with too much to do. Did well to close for fourth, beaten less than a length for second.

JULIET TANGO: Was too close up to the pace, shuffled back inside, and then up too close again en route to a fourth-place finish in a race otherwise dominated by closers.

LANTIC: Closed gamely for second in short sprint prep race return from a six-month layoff. May not be denied in next.

LEMON CUSTARD: Got bumped at the start, then showed good interest both early and late in a z-pattern runner-up finish behind a lone speed winning 6-5 favorite.

LUCKY GAL: Was close to a pace that collapsed and made a premature move to the lead, but nevertheless ran a solid third off a five-month layoff, and has every right to improve further next time in second off the layoff.

SEEYALATERTATER: Trailed the field behind a modest pace but still managed to outrun 18-1 odds for third, just a nose out of second, in return from nearly a five-month layoff. Don’t overlook in second off the layoff.

STIVERS SUPRISE: Broke poorly to lose her best chance at the start, then chased a lone speed wire-to-wire winner. Try again.

XPECTATION: Toss out the distant sixth-place finish when she got caught in a four-length-gap battle for the lead. Finished 12 lengths ahead of her early challenger and can make amends next time.

BEST BET: OUR DELIGHT: Made a run at a runaway leader and finished well for second in a good effort off a six-month layoff. Can win in current return from the sidelines.

LONGSHOT: FEARFUL WOMAN: Broke awkwardly and was hustled up toward the pace and held on well for second in a race otherwise dominated by deep closers. Don’t ignore.