HORSES TO WATCH

By: AMERICAN TURF CLUB

LONE STAR PARK

ABBASTANZA: Battled on the pace and succumbed in the lane but fourth-place finish, beaten under three lengths, was more than acceptable; next time.

BELLA MARIE: Took class drop and moved to turf for her latest and showed some improved early speed and staying power en route to fourth-place finish; can still offer value, so stay on board.

HAYHOMEY: Dueled on the pace and weakened in the lane when a narrowly beaten fifth in his latest, but note major improvement off move to turf and route scene; maiden score in sight.

LAST CORONA: Showed good late energy with a wide close for third, beaten only a length, with a step up on move back to main track for her latest; veteran mare is a proven commodity.

NAEVUS GIRL: Has been second in each of her last three, but has shown ability to win in the past, also; continues to build on 13 exacta finishes from 22 lifetime trips.

STREETWISE: Lagged early and never threatened, but did step up in form when seventh at long odds on move back to sprint for her latest; veteran mare to use in exotics.

TIS ALKIE: Made the pace and remained clear with nice score on stretch out to 7 ½-furlong trip most recently; can maintain good form.

4*SPECIAL: EXPECT DOBBIN: Overcame poor start with willing finish and notched fourth, beaten just a length, as the choice in his latest; makes amends with chalkies.

LONGSHOT: COOK’S NOOK: Put in rally to be second of five most recently, and  has kept form since claimed by J. Torrez barn; can still offer tote value.

 

HOLLYWOOD

 

ALEX T: Dueled down on the rail after needing to send from the inside post in a race that otherwise set up for closers. Dangerous speed vs. maiden claimers.

CARBONITE: Sat a dirty-work trip chasing a loose lone speed runaway wire-to-wire winner and then lost second late. Too early to give up on him.

DANCE LITTLE ANGEL: Got bumped and steadied at the start to fall far back early in a race ruled by horses close to the pace. Worth another shot.

EXUMA: Drew a far outside post and lost ground five and four wide around the turns in third-place finish in return from a seven-month layoff. Ready to roll.

FIFTH COMMANDMENT: Outran 24-1 odds for third in difficult assignment in return from a 6+ month layoff. Don’t overlook.

FUND RAISER: Broke poorly from the tricky rail post in return from a seven-month layoff. Too early to give up on her.

IGNITED: Set and pressed a blazing 6 ½-furong pace and never got a breather up front. Still finished third, just a head out of second while 12-lengths clear of the fourth horse.

KLASSY SAINT: Got caught in a five-length-gap speed duel and managed to hold on for third behind a pair of perfect set-up closers. Try again.

KVELL: Steadied at the start when wanting to be forwardly-placed, then got bumped and steadied on the turn and stuck down inside when unable to close ground in the stretch. Worth another shot.

MISS ANIME: Got squeezed back at the start to trail an 11-horse field, yet she still rallied for fourth to outrun her long odds. Don’t ignore.

MIZDIRECTION: Got stuck in traffic and then bulled through too late to settle for second. Can make amends with a clean trip.

RACKETEER: Lacked room to maneuver when trying to rally from the quarter pole to the eighth pole. Can win off the Carava claim.

SENATOR BOB: Got hooked in a 2 ½-length-gap speed duel at the demanding 7 ½-furlong distance, and still held on for second while nine lengths ahead of his early speed challenger.

TOMMY D’ HORSEY: First starter showed ability when settling for third behind a pair of heavily-bet front-runners after getting bumped around at the start. Should graduate vs. maiden claimers.

WILD ROSE: Foreign invader outran 10-1 odds for second after losing ground wide on the first turn when needing a race off a seven-month layoff. Can win off the claim in second off the layoff.

BEST BET: UNUSUAL JAZZ: Started slow in 6 ½-furlong sprint prep career debut, yet closed for second as the only horse in the race to gain any ground from behind. Won’t be a maiden for long.

LONGSHOT: TIZ GOLDEN: Broke awkwardly and clipped heels early in return race off more than a year layoff. Finished fifth, but lost by only two lengths and it’s still too early to give up on his guy.