Meadowlands: Analysis for Friday 5/21

CHAMPIONSHIP MEET STATS: 80-24-15-14 / $151.80 (-$8.20)

BEST BETS: 6-1-4-0 / $2.80 (-9.20)

SPOT PLAYS: 6-2-1-1 / $13.80 (+$1.80)

BEST BET: HELLO I LOVE YOU (3rd)

SPOT PLAY: MEMO (8th)

Race 1: $7,500 Claiming - Pick 5

(3) ROCKIN PANDA was used in the early pace versus tougher last week. Tonight he drops back down to the $7,500 level where he dominated two starts back. (9) CLOSING BELL was my top pick when he scratched-sick last time. The barn change angle still applies but the post could hurt here. (5) TOLLY-HO scored at big odds here last week in a good performance and can repeat.

[DRF HARNESS: Get Harness Eye PPs for this card]

Race 2: NJ Sire Stakes 3YO C&G

(1) BEE FOREVER is able to overcome one of the worst gaits I've seen to trot some fast miles. It's debatable whether he'll be cut loose tonight but he's much the best here if driven with any urgency to win. (2) LOCATELLI raced well in his seasonal debut and could improve off that mile. (7) CALLE PALEMA was never involved and finished up with steady trot last week. With that flat line under his belt maybe we'll see some early speed now.

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

Race 3: NJ Sire Stakes 3YO Fillies - Survivor 7

(8) HELLO I LOVE YOU was a willing third with no shot at the top two spots in her first start of the year. While the outside post seems like a negative, she has a bunch of questionable horses off the gate to her inside that should allow her to easily get good position. (2) HOT AS HILL comes off a sharp mile and seems like the deserving chalk. (3) EAZY PASS has never been worse than second this year. (5) MATERIAL GIRL finished up nicely when clear in the stretch and could show more in her second start of the year.

Race 4: Non-winners $3,500 (NW L3 $3,850) in last 5/TM 79.6 (NW L5 80.3) or less

(10) GOTTALOVEMYSHADOW is stuck with the worst post for the third straight week but gets key class relief for a trainer/driver combination that clicks regardless of the odds. Tyler Miller owns a 43% ROI this year at this track. (1) KAITLYN N was used too hard last week and paid the price. Eight-year-old mare remains in form and will be helped by the inside post. (6) ALWAYSABEACHDAY closed well last time on the condition switch to this TrackMaster class; threat with the right trip.

Race 5: Non-winners 2 (NW L2 3) life or $1 in 2021/Maidens draw inside

(5) AHUNDREDDOLLARBILL was an easy winner in his first qualifier and finished up willingly in his second. This barn has come out strong over the last couple of weeks and as long as the son of Chapter Seven gets a clean trip he'll have a big shot. (1) SOUKUP BLUE CHIP blew out a huge mile in the morning last weekend and could be the real deal. (8) DEE'S RED DELICIOUS flashed some ability last year when he won the Kindergarten and his most recent qualifier was solid. (4) TANGLED LOVE was raced conservatively and finished up willingly in his 3-year-old debut. He can certainly improve but I have questions as to whether he is fast enough.

Race 6: NJ Sire Stakes 3YO C&G - $50K GTD Pick 4

(5) MON AMOUR was closing in with plenty of trot through the stretch in his first start of the year and the switch to Gingras can only help his chances tonight. (7) CUATRO DE JULIO looked like a new horse, quiet and relaxed in the post parade and the race last week. That said, he was able to set a very comfortable pace on the engine and now gets a serious test with the speedy (1) KILDARE KING unlikely to let him go without a fight. The latter raced well in defeat last time but is clearly in tougher now.

Race 7: Non-winners 2 (NW L2 3) life or $1 in 2021/Maidens draw inside

(3) BALENCIAGA took a casual tour of the track in his career debut and finished up willingly while barely asked in the stretch. Paul Kelley trainee gets a good post and catches a softer field. He could really shine tonight. (9) SWEEPING RAINBOW flashed speed, had to wait for stretch clearance and came home with steady trot last week; clear player. (4) RITSON also finished well and just ahead of the top pick most recently, but I'm not sure he has the same upside after seeing a few races from him.

Race 8: Non-winners $6,000 (NW L3 $6,600) to $9,000 (NW L3 $9,900) in last 5/TM 83.7 or less - Pick 6

(6) MEMO was super in victory last week and should fire off the gate here and sit another cozy trip. (7) DOUBLE ACCOUNT is a scary class-dropper that is probably better off losing this week from a condition placement standpoint. A win knocks him out of the class while anything else gets him another ride or another drop in company. (4) OMAHA OMAHA should be the first horse to the lead and get there in a hurry. The big track could pick his game back up.

Race 9: Non-winners $6,000 in last 5/TM 81.5 (NW L/S 82.91) or less

(5) MAJESTIC VIRGIN won in this class two starts back. She was running over horses last week while loaded with pace and nowhere to go versus slightly better. (6) ROSE RUN VANTAGE drops out of the same race for a good barn; wakeup candidate with Lasix added. (7) RUBY ON RAILS finished well with no shot a week ago. (3) J ROKIN B comes off a nice win but moves up the ladder.

Race 10: NJ Sire Stakes 3YO Fillies - $50K GTD Pick 4

(8) AVENIR is a tricky horse that only seems to behave when sent to the front. Miller seems likely to use those tactics and I'll roll the dice in a race where no one sticks out. (1) IMHATRA AM S put in another decent yet uninspiring effort last week in leg one of the Sire Stakes. This field seems to be somewhat softer. (9) AWESOME TRIX overcame the obstacle of the second tier last week and now has to deal with the outside; capable with clean trip. (3) BELTASSIMA impressed me in her April 30 qualifier but was outkicked in her first start of the year. She’s a contender with some improvement. (5) AUNT IRENE has talent but still seems to be putting it all together.

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

Race 11: Non-winners $3,500 in last 5/TM 80.5 or less

(2) INNISFALLEN raced well last Friday while losing to a pair of foes who are simply better than him. He should have a big shot to succeed tonight. (5) RESITA is at the right level but will likely need a live escort to get him into the race. (4) SOUTHWIND FROST goes from an amateur driver to a Hall of Famer; improvement expected.

Race 12: Winners 5-7 (NW 3 races draw inside) races life

(7) P L NOTSONICE drops out of stakes competition and finds a spot where she is supposed to succeed. (6) BEYOND ORDINARY has found herself in recent weeks and seems like a major player if the top one falters. (3) NYLANDER had dead aim on #6 two weeks ago and not only couldn't he pass but it seemed like Miller was holding him together. I'd need to see something impressive in the warmups or an equipment change to use him on top.

Race 13: TrackMaster Rating 77 (NW L2 79.70) or less

(1) DAVID’S COMING HOME gets a better post to work with and tackles a very iffy group. This looks like a now or never type spot. (9) PREPPY ART drops out of claimers like a few others in here and into a better spot. Nine-year-old is off a good mile. (7) SUNNY BO raced about a mile-and-a-quarter while parked every step a week ago. The class drop here should help. (10) P L LEROY has big early speed and finds a field that may lack that quality. (5) ALWAYS’SYOURWAY adds Lasix and I'll throw him on my Pick 5 ticket off that angle alone.