Meadowlands: Analysis for Friday 6/2

CHAMPIONSHIP MEET STATS: 96-37-13-14 / $176.00 (-$16.00)

BEST BETS: 7-5-0-0 / $17.10 (+3.10)

SPOT PLAYS: 7-2-1-0 / $13.80 (-$.20)

BEST BET: CHILLIN BYTHE POOL (3^rd)

SPOT PLAY: AMBASSADOR HANOVER (10^th)

Race 1: Meadowlands Amateur Drivers Club Trot - Pick 5

(7) CONGRESS HILL EVA looks clearly best in this spot with the only unknown being whether the pace will be too slow to set up her rally. Since it is an amateur race that scenario is unlikely. (4) CAL MILES N SHELL has won two straight with his last being from post eight at Freehold after a break! (5) WOW LESTER finished a few lengths behind the top pick last time but overall catches a softer field.

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Race 2: Trackmaster 71.5 (NW L2/2L4 72/72.5) or less Series

(6) COLT FOURTY ONE hasn't done much since the move to the Burke barn but does get his first try on the mile track and might just awaken versus a very weak group. (1) ULTIMATE FLYER N has been racing ok at Freehold and figures to be firing out from the cones. (2) SUNSHINE'S FINEST is one of the faster horses in the field on paper but does go for an amateur driver and is always pace-reliant.

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Race 3: Trackmaster 74.40 (NW L2/L6 74.90/75.40) or less/NW1000 in last 4 - Survivor 7

(4) CHILLIN BYTHE POOL hasn't done much recently when looking with a quick glance but notice how fast the miles she's been competing in have gone. Four-year-old has a chance to shine here and was Miller's pick over #2. (2) MIAMI SEELSTER is first-time Estrada and that's about as good of an angle as there is here; Pick 5 must-use. (8) SKATEBOARD CHIC has a win over the track this year, which places her in rare air with these.

Race 4: Non-winners 2 (NW L2 3) races or $20,000 life/Maidens draw inside

(5) BABY OIL catches the easiest field she has seen perhaps all year and she figures to be on the engine here. (7) THE EMPRESS ICE has a bit of ability and this field seems like her comfort zone. (1) CADILLAC MOON is lightly raced and there might be plenty more in the tank. Notice Tetrick chose here over a Jim Campbell-trained horse.

Race 5: Meadowlands Amateur Drivers Club Pace

There are no easy solutions in this race. I'll try (1) BACKSTREET LAWYER as he should be able to sit closer starting from the inside and work out a good trip behind the clear speed. (6) BIONIC has big early speed and a driver that will certainly utilize it; dangerous. (4) MOONWARDS HANOVER was much better last time and perhaps that means he's turning a corner.

Race 6: Open 2 Handicap Pace - $50K GTD Pick 4

(6) TWIN B JOE FRESH was a very fast 2-year-old and her return qualifiers certainly make it seem like she's going to be even better this year. She'll probably be handled patiently and yes she is facing older mares, but I still don't think it will matter unless they go really slow up front. (5) KOBE’S GIGI has a race under her belt this year and should be ready to show even more; big threat. (3) HOT MESS EXPRESS seems to be coming around but she is facing steeper competition here.

Race 7: $240K NJ Sire Stakes 3YO C&G Final

(7) OH WELL was handled more aggressively last time and got nailed in the late stages. He now has two races under his belt and should be ready for a peak effort, though I'd need closer to 5-2 to take his side. (3) TACTICAL APPROACH was certainly sharp in his first two tries and charged home very willingly with a more conservative steer last time. He's very much a contender. (5) UP YOUR DEO was driven with purpose in his only start of the year and was able to gun down the top pick. He'll need to be even better now but I wouldn't put it past him. (6) AIR POWER is perfect in two starts and owns the fastest mile of the group.

Race 8: Meadowlands Amateur Drivers Club Pace - Pick 6

(2) SNAP CALL has done very well at Freehold since the barn change and Zuccarello seems to be getting along with him. At 4-1 or higher I'd take a shot. (9) ROCKABILLY CHARM wired an amateur field two starts back and his chances are going to come down to how many other horses leave the gate hard. (5) TOONIE TEEN picked up his game nicely in his first start for the new barn.

Race 9: $240K NJ Sire Stakes 3YO Filly Final

This is a very talented field with plenty of early speed possibilities signed on. With that, let's roll the dice with potential double-digit longshot and closer (4) BLONDE BOMBSHELL. High-priced yearling from a few years ago hasn't yet tapped into her true potential. She certainly had no shot last time after chasing a 1:27 three-quarters. (1) SPECIAL WAY has been nearly flawless and it will be interesting to see whether Svanstedt tries to park everyone out, brush or move first-over. She may simply be too much for these but I'm not convinced enough to take 2-5. (8) SECRET VOLO has gone two very nice miles in 2023 and she has the speed to make her own trip. (5) WALNER PAYTON is clearly a threat but I still see her as more of a consistent type rather than an electric filly. Perhaps she'll prove me wrong.

Race 10: Open 1 Handicap Trot - $50K GTD Pick 4

Be careful here because some of these horses are likely using this race as a prep for bigger races down the road. With that in mind, we'll try (5) AMBASSADOR HANOVER. He had no shot from an outside post in a bulky Cutler field last time and now draws in a spot where Zeron can easily zip to the front and at worst sit the pocket behind (7) LEXUS KODY. The latter was sharp in his return from a brief break and could get away with soft fractions here if the rest are as conservative as I expect. (6) BELLA BELLINI adds Lasix, so at least that explains her dull effort in the Cutler. She's certainly the best horse in the field but likely to be sitting last.

Race 11: Non-winners 2 (NW L2 3) races or $20,000 life/Maidens draw inside

(6) HUNGRY ANGEL BOY raced well while chasing a very fast 3yo in Christchurch to start his 2023 campaign. Colt should be even tighter now and I love that he picks up Bongiorno. (4) CAVIART SCOTLAND was super two back and had a bad trip last out. He figures in here and could offer decent value. (3) GOLDIN GREATNESS has some ability but has been a bit win-shy. I'd need at least 5-1 to consider him.

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Race 12: Non-winners $2,000 (NW L2/L3 $2,200/$2,510) in last 4 or non-starters in NW2000 last start

(6) STRETCH THE LINE made a break last time but still came home in 26 and change and it is worth noting that he was second the previous start in this class; Dunn joins the team. (4) CURBSIDE PICKUP is facing a soft group this week and if he is going to awaken this is the spot. (5) MONGOLIAN HERO N drops down and gets a new driver.

Race 13: Trackmaster 71.5 (NW L2/2L4 72/72.5) or less Series

(3) TREVOR'S HUNT scored at first asking for new trainer Mackenzie and perhaps he's figured the horse out. (5) WIGGLE MY COOKIE really hasn't been that bad since the barn change and getting Dunn back in the bike can only help. (6) VEL LARRY AND (1) SPIRIT OF TRUTH both get interesting drivers changes.