Meadowlands: Analysis for Friday 5/19

CHAMPIONSHIP MEET STATS: 56-23-7-7 / $112.00 (+$0.00)

BEST BETS: 4-3-0-0 / $10.70 (+2.70)

SPOT PLAYS: 4-1-1-0 / $6.80 (-$1.20)

BEST BET: WATCH ME NOW N (12^th)

SPOT PLAY: BEACH CRAZY (3^rd)

Race 1: Meadowlands Amateur Drivers Club - Pick 5

(2) SHORTYS GIRL put in a decent mile from post 10 as she acclimated to "big track" speed last time. This field seems to lack as much early speed as that race and she should be close to the action. (6) SOMWHERNBROOKLYN N moves into a barn that has done well during the meet and a wake-up call is possible. (4) MAKE IT BIG and (3) PHILOSOPHIZER helped burn each other to a crisp vying for the lead a week ago. The road to the top should be smoother if they elect to try those tactics again.

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Race 2: Trackmaster 74.5 (NW L2/2L4 75/75.5) or less

(3) T DOG has turned in some nice efforts out of town and while he faces older here, the competition really isn't that stiff. It is very encouraging that Kimelman elected to use a catch-driver. (2) HARRY HANOVER gets a monster driver change to Dunn and we've already seen him pick a horse from the same driver recently. (5) SPORTS ADVISOR hasn't seen results but has been racing better.

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Race 3: Non-winners $3,000 (NW L2 $3,301) in last 4/TM 77.5 (NW L2/2L4 78.2/78.75) or less - Survivor 7

While she was in a good spot last week, it was no surprise to see that (3) BEACH CRAZY needed one more start to get up to speed. This field is better than the group she faced last time but it won’t matter if she is on her game. (8) FIRSTUP double-drops in company and really should bring a sharp effort. (2) DRAGONS REVENGE faced a bad field and got a perfect trip last Saturday. She can win here but I'd demand at least 5-1 to roll the dice.

Race 4: Non-winners $7,500 (NW 2L5 $8,250) in last 4 or $9,501 in last 7

(8) CHAMPAGNE HANOVER went an even mile while facing much better competition last time. While she is 0-for-9 to start the year, I believe there is more to her than meets the eye and hopefully she'll get the right setup to show that off. (6) NYLANDER shouldn't have been 50-1 last time and he raced well to finish third from a difficult post. He moves to the middle of the gate here and has more options. (1) SKYWAY KON MAN arrives sharp and owns a win over the track in 2023.

Race 5: Meadowlands Amateur Drivers Club

(6) JONAH should have much trouble making the front this week and if they leave him alone the race could be over. (4) TAKEITTOTHEFACE has been right there week after week in this class. (5) THNDRFRMTHETHRON N was too far back last week but his prior efforts have been fine in the amateur ranks.

Race 6: Non-winners 2 (NW L2 3) races or $20,000 life/Maidens Draw inside - $50K GTD Pick 4

(4) CHRISTCHURCH has looked darn good in the morning and this barn usually sends them to the track ready to roll. Off the qualifiers, it is curious that McCarthy sticks with #5, though he does have a 1:50 2/5 mark as a 2-year-old. (6) CAVIART SCOTLAND comes off a monster mile at Plainridge and still might be overlooked a bit with Fonseca in the bike. (2) DUPREE HANOVER has done nothing wrong in two qualifiers thus far.

Race 7: Non-winners $10,000 in last 4/4YO Mares NW4 life

(4) PURE COUNTESS went a big mile last time in a condition where she basically couldn't lose. This presents a HUGE jump in class but perhaps one she can handle despite the loss of Dunn to #3 for one of his main clients. (8) DONATO PATRIOT K won in this class from a tough post two starts back. (1) GOTWUTEVERITTAKES drops down to his comfort zone and it really comes down to whether he decides to behave.

Race 8: Non-winners 2 (NW L2 3) races life/Maidens draw inside - Pick 6

(2) DIAMONDSNPEARLS was fast off the gate before yielding to a heavy favorite that has won five straight and chasing that one home. While (4) ODDS ON HAIL MARY could prove tough, this could be a better spot. The latter took a shot first-over at Pocono last time and probably should've won. She can definitely improve off that effort. (6) MIND BLOWING chased home perhaps the best 3-year-old filly in the sport in that last qualifier, so second looks much better when you consider that possibility.

Race 9: Meadowlands Amateur Drivers Club

(9) ITS SHOWTIME has been catching much better foes than he faces tonight. Trainer Cano is capable in the bike and usually gives his horses a fair chance. (7) ROCKIN M was way overbet last time while making his first start since August 2022. Eight-year-old can be much better this week at higher odds. (3) CAMLACHIE CHROME has three consecutive seconds in this class.

Race 10: $20,000-$25,000 Claiming Handicap - $50K GTD Pick 4

(5) BANK SEA gets a pretty big class drop and drops in for a claiming price this week. He can certainly awaken. (1) RAPTORS FLIGHT N blew up the board a week ago and is certainly capable of doing it again…at a much shorter price; keeps McCarthy over #5. (4) I'M BURLINGTON N also picks up a claiming price this week. He's been right there of late.

Race 11: Non-winners $5,000 (NW 2L7 $5,581) in last 5/TM 80.5 (NW L2/2L4 81/81.75) or less

(3) UPTOWN LADY N lands a good post in a somewhat soft NW5000. If Smith keeps her in close range and lands on cover, watch out! (8) SHEZAFREAKLIKEME drops a notch and has the early speed to gun to the front if Chiodo desires. (5) CASH ROLL has a similar profile to #9 as likely early speed getting a bit of a class break.

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Race 12: Non-winners $12,500 (NW L2 $13,750) in last 4/TM 85.5 (NW L2/2L4 86/86.5) or less

(3) WATCH ME NOW N got a useful start under her belt last weekend and should be ready to show what she has in the tank now; McCarthy sticks here over #8! (5) JODY will be heading to the front and have another shot of lasting. (8) KOBE'S GIGI is clearly the best mare in the field but seems highly likely to race from last and perhaps close too late.

Race 13: Non-winners $3,000 in last 4/TM 77.45 or less

(3) CONGRESS HILL EVA takes the jump from TM74 to this condition and while that is no small rise in class, she's certainly sharp enough to handle it. (4) FOOLISH MONI adds Lasix and that is a good enough angle for me in a sketchy field. (2) IFNOTMEWHO has the early speed to make the top and should stick around for a piece. (8) GOLDEN CROSS STONE is a capable horse when she feels like playing nice.