Horses to watch from the Kentucky Downs meet

The following are trip notes for horses who ran well or had tough trips at the Kentucky Downs meet, encompassing five race days from August 31 through September 12. These horses figure to improve as likely overlays in their next races, or run big again in their subsequent starts. Add these runners to your horses to watch list and bet them back next time out if they land in a reasonable spot.

Racing for the entire Kentucky Downs meet was run under good weather conditions on mostly fair, firm turf. The possible exception was on September 7, when speed horses and horses on or close to the pace ruled sprints and one-turn races.

AIFE: Broke slow to be last in a 10-horse field, then had to hustle up back into contention and ran on for a solid second behind only a wire-to-wire, even-money favorite. In fine form at present.

ARMCHAIR JOCKEY: Broke slowest in a 12-horse race but then ran a strong race to close fast but too late from too far back to settle for second. Should get top prize in next.

BIRD'S EYE VIEW: Got no help up front on the pace when chasing a horse that got loose and went all the way on a solo lead, but did the best of the rest to close from 10th to second and is knocking on the door at present.

COMIC KITTEN: Was in contention in deep stretch when checked hard and impeded to lose best chance. Should find another turf marathon spot.

FIRST COURSE: Closed from 10th to fourth behind the three front runners as the only closer to make a dent in the race on a very firm turf day the one-turn races favored speed. Ready to graduate.

GOLD ENDEAVOR: Broke slow to be too far back in a 6 1/2-furlong sprint, but rallied willingly for fourth, just a nose out of third.

HERMAJESTYCOMMANDS: Stumbled at the start to break last of 12, but ran better than the seventh-place finish would suggest to close to less than a length out of third. Just needs a decent start for Mark Casse.

HOLIDAY STONE: Chased a crawlingly slow turf sprint pace at Kentucky Downs and could not gain on the leaders for better than fourth. Just needs better pace to chase.

I CAN DO ANYTHING: Set a 6 1/2-furlong course record, running faster than several stakes races at the distance on the card that day. Look for him in a stakes for Stanley Hough.

JOLTING JOE: First starter lost to a good-looking 6-5 favorite when second best for Mike Maker. Won't be a maiden for long.

MR DUMAS: Passed horses to run a blazing time despite settling for third, and was the only off-the-pace runner to make a dent in a course-record sprint.

NEW YORK STYLE: Broke last in a big field then closed from 12th to fourth in a solid effort from that far behind that many horses. Just needs a better start.

NEXT SHARES: Had run but was blocked with nowhere to go through the stretch run. Just needs clear sailing.

OLEKSANDRA: Broke slowly and was too far back in a big field in the Ladies Sprint (G3), then closed strong but had too much to do and settled for third. Worth another chance.

ROYAL ALEXANDRA: Broke slow and tried to close from last to first in a 12-horse race, weaving through traffic to lose by only a length in third. Fits vs. local competition.

SISTA OF WAR: Tough trip en route to an eighth-place finish, steadying in tight traffic and clipping heels into the stretch. Too early to give up on her.

WILD ABOUT YOU: Showed good interest both early and late for fourth in tough-luck z-pattern effort after checking hard and losing position and momentum in mid-race. Just needs clear sailing.

ZABAVA: Made a mid-move to the lead in a turf marathon and finished best of the front runners in a race that was dominated by late closers who finished 1-2-3-4.