HORSES TO WATCH

By: AMERICAN TURF CLUB

CALDER

BURNING TRUTH: Gave a much better go of it in her second career start, showing speed from an outside post and staying on for third. Headed in the right direction.

DREAMLICIOUS: Pretty obvious why Kaplan tried this maiden of five starts in the Joe O’Farrell Juvenile Fillies. Multiple stakes-placed juvenile is overdue to earn her diploma.

MIA’S DOUBLE: Doesn’t like to win, but is a must for the exotics following back-to-back solid efforts at prices, including a second at 17-1. Tab at the basement.

RAPID RUNNER: Boasts two wins out of his last five starts and has done very little wrong throughout his 2012 campaign. Held his own versus tougher last time; note.

STARSHIP ROMEO: Overall record isn’t pretty, but has done quite well when spotted at $16k, including a maiden win in August. Primed for best third start off a freshening.

UNBRIDLED HEAT: Old-timer always shows up ready to run and can make some noise over either surface. Hard to root against him.

 

BEST BET: VALUE TRAP: Smart money rolled in on this son of Value Plus, and he lived up to it, cruising to a six-length wire-to-wire victory after cutting out fast early fractions. Future stakes winner.

 

LONGSHOT: DECISIVE DAVID: Posted a better-than-it-looked sixth at 42-1 as a maiden in the Appleton Juvenile Turf S. Coming along nicely on the green stuff.

 

NO. CALIFORNIA

 

ALL MY FRIENDS: Speedster has suffered tough beats in his last two, including a neck defeat most recently. Gets his picture taken shortly.

HOLLYWOOD FREDIE: Good third at 53-1 three starts back, then following an unplaced effort in a stakes at Fno, returned to grass with a near miss at 9-1. Better than rated.

LANA LANG: Continues to improve with experience, and has run big in her last two over both surfaces here. Has options; dangerous.

MANDALA: Showed little in his first two tries at Golden Gate this summer, but has responded nicely to a little time on the bench. Can build off second-place finish.

QUACKIN: Didn’t get much respect at the windows, but overcame rail draw to rally from last of 11 to finish third at 55-1. Take another look.

SAHHA: Handles the grass and all-weather here, and has put in two solid efforts since a freshening. Has the last laugh.

STRESSFUL TIMES: Sat close and reported home a strong second in his unveiling at odds of 13-1. Don’t worry about a thing; this one has got you covered.

TRIBAL SKY: Has run well in defeat in two subsequent attempts since posting consecutive narrow victories. Hard-knocking gelding fires for low-profile connections.

 

BEST BET: OUTSIDE NASHVILLE: Hollendorfer runner has really come into his own since shipping in from SoCal. Runaway maiden winner followed up with another impressive victory in the Golden Nugget. Keeps on rolling.

 

LONGSHOT: SHI’AH SAND: Back-to-back strong efforts at 65-1 and 69-1, then regressed a bit to finish fifth at 7-1. Gets another chance if the price is right.