Meadowlands: Analysis for Friday 6/26

CHAMPIONSHIP MEET STATS: 44-15-7-5 / $63.40 (-$24.60)
BEST BETS: 3-1-0-1 / $4.40 (-$1.60)
BEST BET: MAX VOLO (1st)
SPOT PLAY: PHILLY HANOVER (11th)

Race 1: Non-winners $5,000 in last 5/Opt $15K Clm - **$40K GTD Pick 5**

(2) MAX VOLO was used early and still found enough to close for third after a bad shuffle last week. He's a legitimate favorite in here that should prove tough to beat. (3) WARRAWEE SHIPSHAPE tackled some salty foes in his lone comeback qualifier. Cullipher trainee is in a good spot to make some noise. (8) FRIEND OF NATURE S raced evenly in his first stateside start. A little improvement would put him in the picture.

Race 2: NJ Sire Stakes - 3YO Filly Pace

(3) KELLY'S CHAMP wasn't asked until at least mid-stretch in her career debut and was really motoring home in the final sixteenth. Homebred and first-ever foal from Jim's Guy, a near-$500,000 earner who did it the hard way, might just have some potential. (5) ODDS ON SARASOTA was a very sharp winner in the opening leg of this series and will not go down without a fight. (1) THUNDRA chased #5 from the pocket a week ago and should be in good position again. (6) READY SET ROCK showed good speed and was steady in the lane last time. She's a must in the exotics.

Race 3: NJ Sire Stakes - 3YO C&G Pace

(6) ROCK ME HARD couldn't have looked any better winning the first leg last week and I don't see a way to play against him. (5) ROCK N TEEN was used hard and came up short late after a few months on the sidelines. He could be in control again tonight and last a lot longer. (4) ROCKIN THE GATES came home in 26 seconds last Friday and didn't gain much ground; inside post now. (9) ROCKIN THE ACES saved ground and finished well last time but gets a negative post switch.

Race 4: Trackmaster Rating 73.5 or less - Pick 6

It is hard to like anyone in this formless and soft field of bottom-level campaigners. I'll roll the dice with (8) DASHBOARD on the he picks up Dexter Dunn angle. His recent qualifier wasn't bad and I'm hopig Dunn can shake him up. (5) VILLAGE JACKSON finished well in his qualifier and there is a decent chance "Irish" Joe will be firing off the gate. (4) SUTTON SEELSTER qualified reasonably well for the new barn. (6) VICTORYDAZE WILWIN wins a race here seemingly every year and this is the kind of soft spot he can take advantage of.

Race 5: Non-winners 2/3 races or $20,000 life

(5) HALL OF AM S disappointed a bit in her career debut but I'm not giving up on her quite yet. The better post this week and start under her belt should only help. (4) NEVER CONTENT scored at first asking in 2020 and deserves some respect now. (7) HELLO TOMORROW is another who raced well in her first start of the year who could certainly step forward moving in a few spots on the gate. (8) PANEM has talent but may have too far to come unless she finds early speed.

Race 6: Non-winners 6 races or $75,000 life - **$50K GTD Pick 4**

This is a stakes-quality field and we'll likely see many of these in a few weeks for the Mistletoe Shalee. (1) ROCKNIFICENT was right there with all of these last year and I love her two qualifiers. The price will be right, though I'm not sure if she'll be firing out, so we'll need a bit of luck in the form of a trip. (6) ALEXIS'S BEACH won last week in 1:50 and has almost no chance of being the favorite. She's a great value play. (2) JK FIRST LADY has been as spectacular as the top pick in the morning and she has a big chance to win here, but I'm going to stand against her as the likely favorite. (4) REFLECT WITH ME looks to be a step behind the top ones right now. She did win the Breeders Crown last year, so I'll respect her chances down the line.

Race 7: NJ Sire Stakes - 3YO Filly Trot

(2) FORTUNE STARLET burned a bunch of money while chasing slow fractions last week. The price will be much better now, especially with Dunn choosing off. Don't give up on her too quickly. (8) LINDY'S STARDUST flashed a bit of speed in her start last week and I wouldn't be shocked if Ake kept going with her until she reaches the top tonight. (6) SPOILED PRINCESS proved game in victory in round one action; clear player. (9) FORTUNE TELLN LADY raced big last Friday; not impossible.

Race 8: Non-winners $7,500 in last 5

(8) APPLE HANOVER takes a nice drop in class here and raced rather well against better last time. (9) JB'S SHOOTING STAR is an uncoupled barn-mate of the top pick coming out of the same race and in form. (5) BRONSKIMACKENZIE A closed reasonably well last time but she's been more of a smaller track horse.

Race 9: Preferred

(7) JOEY BATS got stacked up in a bad spot in the outer flow last time. I'm going to stick with him at what should be another good price. (8) SOUTHWIND CHROME is clearly the horse to beat and a must-use on all tickets. (2) EUROBOND is very fast and seems to be heading in the right direction with the hobbles added; interesting. (10) MISSION ACCEPTED just missed in a solid effort last time; post hurts.

Race 10: Non-winners $15,000 in last 5 - **$40K GTD Pick 4**

(4) BUEN CAMINO improved in his second start back from the COVID-19 break and gets away from a killer in 'Grandma' this time. This is the right spot. (5) NOWS THE MOMENT burned my money when he broke last week but I’m not going to let that anomaly push me completely off him. (8) GRIMMIE HANOVER should be tighter after chasing the best trotters in the country last week. Is she ready to step up? (1) CARRICK & (2) VERY VERY FAST are capable horses given the right setup.

Race 11: Non-winners $15,000 in last 4/9 races life/4-year-olds

(8) PHILLY HANOVER has acclimated nicely to life as an aged mare, and now in her third start back, I think we'll see some early speed and a more aggressive steer from driver Dexter Dunn. (7) ROYALTYWESTHO came up with a nice victory in this class last time and you know Gingras will have her in play. (9) TRILLIONS HANOVER charged home a week ago but has a tough task from post 9. (1) ROCKN PHILLY is a quality mare that may need one more start to get up to speed.

Race 12: NJ Sire Stakes - 3YOC&G Trot

(2) JULA TRIX TREASURE displayed some speed at both ends of the mile to win in leg one. He likely has a tactical edge here on (7) PLAY TRIX ON ME, who seems likely to get another conservative steer ahead of next week's final. (6) BARLEY has the early speed to control the action.

Race 13: Non-winners 2 races or $23,500 life

(6) BEADS was likely on his way to victory last time when the wheels came off in the stretch. There is no doubt in my mind that he is the most talented horse in this field if he minds his manners. (7) ONTOPOFTHEHILL showed some late life a week ago and may have matured over the winter. (1) SERMON is another who broke in his first start of the year. He has some ability. (2) DURHAMVILLE has the early speed to get involved. He can stick around for an exotics slot.