Interesting.... There may be something that deserves further investigation regarding the place prior to the spell.

There were 33 horses resuming Tuesday (definition used: more than 60 days since their last). 17 were maidens. Of those, there were 4 that finished top 4 in the race immediately preceding their spell. All placed: 1 first (the $19 shot you mentioned), 2 seconds and a third.

Four horses demonstrated the improving fashion you noted pre-spell: 1 win, 1 third, a 9th and a 10th. The two placegetters had Unitab ratings that put them in the top half of the field; the other two, the lower half.

Lastly, the "ones to watch" - per your suggestion - with a 4th placing after a spell, are Steakandbearnaise and Space Invader (both of which are 1 from 1 2nd up, funnily enough; though they *were* also 1 from 1 first up until today! )