Meadowlands: Analysis for Friday 5/31

MEET STATS: 84-22-20-13 / $156.00 (-$12.00)

BEST BETS: 6-2-1-2 / $5.80 (-$6.20)

SPOT PLAYS: 6-0-2-0 / $0.00 (-$12.00)

BEST BET: TOTO HANOVER (11^th)

SPOT PLAY: JIVE NINETY FIVE (2^nd)

Race 1: Non-winners 4 (NW L/S or 3YO or TM 80 or less 5) races - Pick 5

(4) WOMAN OF PASSION has returned in 2024 as a much faster filly, owning 1:52 4/5 and 1:51 4/5 victories. If she brings anything close to those miles with her tonight, this field will have a tough time beating her. (5) PURPLE LORD raced well last time versus a pair of horses that would trounce this group. Four-year-old has a serious chance facing younger foes. (2) WINTER SOLDIER qualified back well versus a potential divisional leader in Sig Sauer. He may get a conservative steer in his first start.

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Race 2: Meadowlands Amateur Drivers Club Trot for TM 77 (NW L2/2L4 77.5/78) or less - Survivor 7

(4) JIVE NINETY FIVE is going to fire to the lead here and probably attempt to bottom-out the field. The probably of success seems to be above average. (1) LIVINGONTHERAIL hasn’t won a race in a very long time but does land in a soft spot and should offer fair value; using underneath. (6) ARCHIBALD comes off a win at Freehold and looks like a very logical candidate to complete the exacta.

Race 3: Play Meadowlands for Non-winners 2 races or $30,000 life

(1) DIPLOMACY pushed away from the gate but settled for the four-hole in his recent qualifier. While outkicked home, he trotted nicely and seems primed for a good effort versus a suspect bunch. (6) FOR JULY comes off perhaps his best career mile when third at Pocono last time from an outside post; likely chalk. (3) MR BLUEBIRD was a decent 2-year-old, but a so-so qualifier followed by a scratched-sick line isn’t promising.

Race 4: Play Meadowlands for Non-winners 2 races or $30,000 life - Pick 6

In a race with no clear standout and a number of horses who may or may not leave the gate hard, let’s try a longshot in (7) SASSY ZAZA. This filly gets a key trainer change to one of the best in Noel Daley and I’ve seen him turn around worse-looking horses on paper. (3) ST PAULI GIRL has come to form at Pocono but faces more talented horses here. (6) SOUTHWIND BIANCA won her career debut at Pocono a few weeks ago by showing speed at both ends of her mile. We’ll get a better idea of her level of ability tonight.

Race 5: Winners 1-2 races (NW L2 or 3YO 3) or $20,000 (NW L2 or 3YO $30,000) life/Maidens draw inside

(8) REMEMBER THE ALAMO and (5) MCCRUNCH jump off the page in this race. The latter got the best of the former last time they met after setting pedestrian fractions. Perhaps Remember The Alamo makes the top this time from the outside post and gets to turn the tables at better odds on Mccrunch, who is undefeated in four starts this year over the track. (3) CAPTAIN BAZINGA is likely racing for third and has a reasonable shot of sucking along and getting up for that spot.

Race 6: Play Meadowlands for Non-winners 2 races or $30,000 life - $50K GTD Pick 4

(3) LIFE ON THE BLUF left well and got into a tough spot on the turn where the horse to his inside got a bit funky and the one to his outside broke. Let’s excuse that miscue and look for a better effort from the inside post in a shorter field. (6) HILLOOKIN fired out and was part of a quick pace before weakening last time. A smoother trip could lead to better results. (5) BRYANT BROS S raced evenly in his 2024 debut and could show more here; using.

Race 7: Meadowlands Amateur Drivers Club 1/2 Pace

(6) MUSCLE FACTPORY A and (7) MACHLICIOUS should both be firing off the gate and figure to sit one-two without much pressure early. The former has won two of three in a similar class and the latter is off a two-move win on the trainer change to Bongiorno. (4) ROCK ON LINE has been a model of consistency and one of these days he’ll get over the top for a win. (3) BAILEYS ROCK N has been closing with a fervor of late and if the trip works out he could make some noise at a good mutuel.

Race 8: $240K NJ Sire Stakes 3YO Filly Trot final - Pick 5

This is a really a spectacular race with at least a half-dozen fillies that could come away with a win given the right setup. (5) LOCAL HONEY upset at 15-1 last time after firing away and sitting a sweet pocket trip. If she got out earlier she probably would’ve won by more. Brittany Farms homebred lands a perfect post to win from on or off the pace and should offer big odds with McCarthy going to #1. (8) BUY A ROUND is arguably the best filly in this field. That said, she’s a confirmed closer that could have many horses to pass late from the outside post. (4) FRENCH CHAMPAGNE lands a nice driver change to Tetrick here that seems likely to go somewhat unnoticed on the toteboard. (3) SPY COAST is undefeated since arriving in the Burke barn. For my money, she hasn’t been tested yet and I’m not loving her at shorter odds.

Race 9: Trackmaster 72.5 (NW L2/2L4/2L8 73/73.5/74) or less Series/Opt. $7,500 Clm./NW 1 in 2024

(2) GREYSTONE TREASURE displayed speed at both ends of the mile last week upon debut for this barn. The inside post should ensure a reasonable trip. (7) POWERED BY MACH has big early speed and finished just behind the top pick a week ago. (8) QUEEN SUN RYSER drops a notch and gets a nice driver change to Gingras; using in Pick 4. (4) CELCIUS faces much easier but hasn’t displayed much this year; big unknown.

Race 10: $240K NJ Sire Stakes 3YO C&G Trot final - $50K GTD Pick 4

We are truly going to learn how good (7) KARL is as a 3-year-old here because there are many talented horses in this field. The Nancy Takter trainee has done nothing wrong thus far and has the looks of a superstar. (2) TONY ADAMS S rallied nicely to be second behind Karl last time and now he gets a nice driver upgrade to Dunn. (3) CABALLERO proved two starts back that he has some ability and the price will be humungous here. (5) PANTORAN has plenty of ability but is still learning, as evidenced by the fact that he lost a race he had won last time.

Race 11: Play Meadowlands Final for $12,500 Clm. Starter allowance

(1) TOTO HANOVER has been unbeatable in two starts in this class with Zeron in the bike and there are no signs that will change this week. (5) APERTIF couldn’t rally last time starting from post 9 and seems to do better work when near the front. He’ll have a better chance of being involved from post 5. (3) BETTOR AT HIGHTIDE has raced very well each of the last four trips to the track including being a distant second behind the top pick last weekend.

Race 12: NJ Sire Stakes 3YO Filly Trot Consolation

(9) COOL MA BELLE took a while to kick in but did have something left in the tank late in the mile in her last start. She’s the only horse in the field that I like on paper and from what I’ve seen on the track. Hopefully Tetrick can figure out a trip from the outside. (6) TACTICAL LORI got away slowly and lost all chance into a soft pace last time. Will we see early speed tonight? (2) MARG IN CHARGE moves back to the inside of the gate and that should improve her chances dramatically.

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Race 13: Non-winners $2,000 (NW L2/2L5 $2,200/$2,501) in last 4

This Pick 4 sequence keeps getting more difficult as the races go on and here we have a number of horses dropping in class. Which one will bring the best mile? Tough question! (7) STRAIGHT TALK has dropped two seconds in each of his sightings in 2024 going back to his first qualifier and he should be primed for a peak effort in start two on the year. (1) ALWAYS B BILLY went his last good mile when in this class and adding the aggressive Siegelman in the bike should ensure he’ll be put in play. (9) LOORRIM LAKE A double drops in class but drew outside and isn’t known for his blazing early speed; needs pace help. (6) BOBCAT BAY continues to drop in search of form. Not sure I can ride the ship until he throws in a better effort.

Race 14: Trackmaster 72.5 (NW L2/2L4/2L8 73/73.5/74) or less Series/Opt. $7,500 Clm./NW 1 in 2024

(1) LAZARUS GIRL gets post relief and picks up a top catch-driver; narrow edge in competitive event with mostly Freehold shippers. (6) BEACH PASSAGE has the early speed to make the top and was Beckwith’s choice of four horses. (4) CUTTING HUMOR drops into a more comfortable spot after trying the NW2500 company at Freehold.