Meadowlands: Analysis for Friday 5/7

CHAMPIONSHIP MEET STATS: 26-9-5-6 / $35.40 (-$16.60)

BEST BETS: 2-0-1-0 / $0.00 (-4.00)

BEST BET: JK ALWAYSBALADY (5th)

SPOT PLAY: PIKACHU HANOVER (10th)

Race 1: $7,500 Claiming - Pick 5

(3) OUR ART AND HEAVEN couldn't go forward for the new barn and they quickly decided to call on former trainer Izzy Estrada who had this guy going well. Let's take a shot that he wakes him up. (6) JUST N BERLANDER ships up in good form for a very capable young trainer/driver; fits with these. (4) MOON DOGGIE has good early speed and has been very consistent in this class.

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Race 2: $15,000 Claiming

Lots of barn changes in this race to evaluate. (6) BANK SEA comes off an impressive score and stays at the same claiming level for new connections off the claim. (4) CHIEF ALTAWICK drops in class as he tries the mile track. Coming from off the pace isn't easier on smaller ovals so perhaps the switch will help. (5) SUNNY BO had no chance last time and I expect we'll see early speed here, but this guy hates to win.

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

Race 3: Winners 5-8 races life - Survivor 7

(5) CHIN CHIN HALL moves to a much better post this week and faces a less formful group. This looks like the right spot. (6) REIGN OF HONOR will be a major factor if he can make it past the start while trotting. (8) BEADS is an enigma wrapped in a riddle. Will he trot?

Race 4: Winners 1-2 races life – 3YOC&G

(3) CARUSO displayed some ability as a 2-year-old and while his last qualifier was far from exciting, he was facing a killer that morning and may not have enjoyed being taken off the gate. In a race with plenty of talented 3-year-olds, this guy seems worth a roll of the dice at a price. (8) MYCROWNMYKINGDOM rated and blew away his competition last time. He's a clear contender here but one I'd want 5-2 or higher on to try. (4) ZENITH STRIDE has a couple of good return qualifiers. Mark Harder trainee might be handled more patiently in his debut. (5) WARRAWEE WHISPER raced evenly in his first start since October; more now?

Race 5: Winners 1-3 races life – 3YOF

(1) JK ALWAYSBALADY was one of the top 2-year-old pacing fillies in the game last year and she seems to have found a cozy spot for her return. This barn tends to send them out sharp and her qualifiers were very good. (7) STAYCATION HANOVER has looked good finishing first or second in each of her starts this year but hasn't faced the likes of the top one in terms of talent. (6) NIGHTLIFE SEELSTER was second best behind a nice filly in her last qualifier. I get the feeling she'll need a race but she could get into the exotics.

Race 6: Winners 2-4 (FM 7, NW L3 or 3YO 5) races life - $50K GTD Pick 4

(2) NYLANDER was thought to be a nice 3-year-old but it never panned out. He put in a nice even mile versus better in his first start since August and can improve in a big way second time out. (6) TRICKY SISTER comes off a nice 2021 debut win and deserves serious consideration. (4) SHESWILDNFREE looked good in a wire to wire victory last time and could be even better now in her second start in almost six weeks.

Race 7: $12,500 Claiming

(2) PREPPY ART was done in by a soft half and a track that was severely favoring early speed. We could get some value here on a still sharp gelding. (5) ROCKIN RAMBARAN puts in a big effort every time Yannick hops in the bike lately. This is a class rise but not an insurmountable one. (1) WHATSTROUBLNUROCKY has early speed and decent form. He should be forwardly placed and in with a shot.

Race 8: Non-winners $2,500 or $4,500 (NW L3 $5,100) in last 5 - Pick 6

(5) NO DRAMA PLEASE returns from vacation off a strong qualifier and should be very comfortable against a mostly formless group. (10) MEMO was just even after missing more than a month of action. Post 10 isn't ideal but he has the early speed needed to gun to the top. (4) HALLIAMA has proven himself capable of a big mile at times and the switch to the big track should help with his breaking issues. On the negative side, David Miller takes over in the bike and that could mean an underlay price.

Race 9: TrackMaster 82.1 (NW L5 82.51) or less

(7) LARJON LEAH gets an interesting barn/ownership change here to Burke and we've seen him win with one of these Canadian shippers already. Four-year-old catches a soft field and I'm expecting her to pick up her game. (1) EYE POPPING is an up and down sort who can certainly be involved here if feeling good. (3) BE BEST has been rallying well most weeks. I don't love her on top but an exotic spot is very possible.

Race 10: Winners over $10,500 in last 5 or $50,000 life - $50K GTD Pick 4

(2) PIKACHU HANOVER had no chance versus a much tougher field from an outside post. He moves to the inside of the gate in his second start on Lasix and I'm expecting a big effort. (8) DELTASUN A catches a field with plenty of potential early speed players and that could play to his advantage. (4) QUIKSILVR BLUECHIP is probably not the fastest horse in the race, but he's fairly reliable as an exotic player.

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

Race 11: TrackMaster 79.6 (NW L5 80.30) or less

(5) LOVELY DONNA arrives from Canada having missed five weeks of racing, which is clearly a concern, but she also takes on a lackluster field. Anything close to her best would mean a win. (4) BREAK THE DEAL was stuck with outside posts at Philly and now gets a cozy mid-pack spot here. Four-year-old should fit nicely. (2) MANHATTAN PLAY has been finishing well with no real shot in recent weeks. She's hard to like on top but certainly playable in the exotic spots.

Race 12: Winners Over/Preferred Handicap

(4) JK FIRST LADY was stretched out nicely in her latest qualifier and not asked until very late while losing to a top mare. She lands in a perfect post here where Dunn can show early speed or look for cover. It is worth noting that Dunn is driving at Yonkers tonight but coming here for this horse. (7) MACHNHOPE showed me something by sprinting to the front and going all the way last Friday. She might have one more week to shine before the 4-year-olds get up to speed. (2) LYONS SENTINEL did everything nicely in a pair of qualifiers but hails from connections that typical race conservatively coming back from winter vacation.

Race 13: TrackMaster 73.5 (NW L5 75) or less

(8) PIRATES ALLEY hasn't been awful lately (some selling point) and now gets to drop to the lowest condition at the track. Do we see early speed? (1) MAY I CRUISE WEST gets a 2-3 second driver change here but that will very much be reflected in his odds; underlay possibility. (9) MEETYOUATMIDNIGHT crosses the river from Yonkers to race in the bottom condition at the track. His form looks bad, but he was facing sharper horses from bad posts recently. Don't be shocked if Tyler Miller leaves hard at a price. (7) YS SUNSHINE and (4) MAKE IT BIG both move into new barns and either could awaken.