Meadowlands: Analysis for Friday 4/2

MEET STATS: 185-39-25-30 / $201.00 (-$169.00)
BEST BETS: 14-7-1-1 / $24.40 (-4.40)
BEST BET: CECIL CASANOVA (11th)
SPOT PLAY: STAYCATION HANOVER (2nd)

Race 1: Non-winners $2,500 (NW L3 $3,000) in last 5/TM Rating 75.5 or less/Opt. $10,000 Clm. - Pick 5

(7) U NEED STONES returned from a long break and surprisingly kept up with some pretty good foes in his qualifier. Now in the live Hernandez barn and with that solid tightener under his belt, I'll take a shot that he is ready. (1) MY BOY CHRISTIAN kept his act together and put in a good mile last weekend. Another step forward would put him squarely in the win mix. (4) MARQUIS VOLO raced well against the early bias last Friday; contender on best. (3) ALL AMERICAN N is an enigma wrapped in a question mark. Will he trot the entire mile?

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Race 2: Non-winners 2 races (NW L3 3) or $20,000 (NW L3 $22,500) life

(3) STAYCATION HANOVER finished with a very impressive 25 3/5 final quarter in his qualifier last Saturday while on her own. For a barn that knows how to handle a 3-year-old pacer as well as anyone, I'm on board. Anyone who remembers (4) STEPHANIE DEO's 10-hole win last June knows that she has ability. Her qualifier on March 20 was ok, though she did run in slightly, which I'm sure will be addressed. (5) SO DELIGHTFUL has a start under her belt for the Cullipher barn now and could show more.

[DRF BETS: Wager on tonight's Meadowlands card at DRF Bets.com!]

Race 3: Non-winners $2,500 (NW L3 $3,075) in last 5/TM Rating 74 or less - Survivor 7

(5) FORCE N FURY has actually been racing very well in recent weeks while the victim of circumstance, fast races and bad posts. This is the perfect spot for this guy to shine. (4) JUSTIN CREDIBLE drops out of a claiming race for this bottom-level conditioned event. He's supposed to show more now, but he's also 1 for his last 36. (3) GRIFFON HANOVER has been close in all his recent starts and it wouldn't take much for this guy to pick up his game a notch.

Race 4: Non-winners 2 races (NW L3 3) or $20,000 (NW L3 $22,500) life

(1) REALLY FAST certainly opened some eyes in his most recent qualifier with hobbles added. Former $700,000 yearling purchase seems ready to deliver some return on investment. (4) TORN TO PIECES AS put in a nice building-block mile in his career debut and a step forward seems likely. (8) BELIEVER was racing well when last seen on the track and the qualifier wasn't bad considering he chased slow fractions.

Race 5: GSY Amateur Series

(6) ROCKINWITHTHEBEST moves in a few spots on the gate and seems almost certain to be gunning to the front. Let's hope he gets there without too much trouble and can pull off the minor upset over likely favorite (4) CASHNCAM, who has been racing well for the hottest amateur pilot going now. (1) NO STONE UNTURNED was purchased by Ciuffetelli likely to drive in the series, so don't be shocked if he turns the horse around.

Race 6: $10,000/$12,500 Clm. Hcp. - $50K GTD Pick 4

(8) SUGARTOWN was severely overbet and poorly driven in last week's amateur final. The outside post here isn't ideal, but hopefully Miller will show some early speed and put this guy in play. (1) OCEAN COLONY looked good for this tag last time out, though it isn't encouraging that he was scratched-sick last week. (3) IDEAL SON was blocked in the stretch last week and everyone (and their mom) saw it. He's going to be overbet in a spot where he doesn't have to win. (7) PANTHEON HANOVER raced well last Saturday but might be a victim of the pace scenario if he can't find early speed.

Race 7: Non-winners $2,500 (NW L3 $3,100) in last 5 or $5,001 in last 10

(1) SLICK ARTIST raced well from a tough post while up in class and coming off a layoff last week. She should be ready to roll a big mile tonight. (3) KAITLYN N wasted money in the Blue Chip Matchmaker and now takes a monster class drop. At her best she's the one to beat in this field, but she really hasn't been at her best in some time. (6) VH PRINCESS BREA won in this class two starts back but clearly faces a tougher group now. (9) QUEEN JOSEPHINE also raced well in this class a few starts back.

Race 8: $7,500 Claiming - Pick 6

This bottom-level claimer is about as wide-open on paper as you can get. (4) BETTOR NOTBITTER A has been getting away slowly and closing well week after week. If from this good post MacDonald can keep him a drop closer, especially considering this field lacks early speed, he's got a big shot. (6) BETTOR BB has also been racing very well of late and he showed some early speed last time; very playable. (7) MASTER CONRAD rolled to an easy win last time for a very hot barn, but that race set up nicely with a big third quarter that took the sting out of the leaders. (1) MOTOR CITY MARCO and (9) SOSSY’S KING KONG finished one-two in this class a week ago and clearly merit consideration.

Race 9: Non-winners $4,500 in last 5 or 4 races life/Opt. $15,000 Clm.

Here is another very difficult race and I'm going to try (1) INXS, who ships down from Saratoga in search of a better spot and seems to have found it. He's been successful here before down one class and competitive against this type. (6) BEYOND ORDINARY has three straight good starts in this company and is certainly a player. (4) CHARLIE ONA HARLEY bumps up off a win. He has the early speed to be close to the pace. (5) FIJI seems to have found his form for Daley, but it is unclear how the amateur form will translate for the classy veteran. (7) SORTIE has always been a problem horse and now he's the problem of new trainer Jenn Bongiorno. Maybe she can figure him out? If so, he's capable.

[DRF BETS: Wager on tonight's Meadowlands card at DRF Bets.com!]

Race 10: $10,000/$12,500 Clm. Hcp. - $50K GTD Pick 4

(6) PREPPY ART has been ultra-sharp in the amateur ranks and showing guts each week. The switch to McCarthy can move him up. (8) NORTHERN ROCK switches barns but should keep his form and early speed for the new connections. (3) JUST WAVE GOODBYE isn't quite as sharp as #8 but has early speed and form of his own.

Race 11: TrackMaster 73.5 (NW L3 74.83) or less/Non-winners 1 race in 2019-21

(5) CECIL CASANOVA moves into the Silva barn and he is a master at resurrecting horses who have fallen on hard times but used to be good. He hasn't had this horse long and perhaps it will take a start or two, but on paper he couldn't have asked for a better spot. (4) GOTTA GO B B should make the front easily enough for a high-percentage barn. (1) STIRLING ENSIGN hasn't won a race in quite some time but should show some early speed and stay close to the action.

Race 12: Non-winners 2 races (NW L3 3) or $20,000 (NW L3 $22,500) life

(2) ITZALLDOWNTOLUCK N can’t be faulted for last week's ninth-place finish considering he was way up in class. We may get a good price here on a horse that is the co-fastest in the field on paper. (6) WHOLE LOTTA LOU looked very impressive winning his 2021 debut and lured Andrew McCarthy off another nice horse in #4. (3) SOUTH BEACH STAR was well within himself in his second qualifier despite losing by a large margin. He should show more but might need a start.

Race 13: $7,500 Claiming

(6) MOON DOGGIE is a sharp horse moving into a winning barn and he should be handled aggressively in this spot. (3) ROCKIN RAMBARAN has been racing ok lately and he gets a barn/driver change here; improves? (4) ALWAYS A FORCE gets a major driver change and could certainly awaken. (1) DASHBOARD tries the big track; helps?