Meadowlands: Analysis for Friday 6/7

MEET STATS: 112-32-24-17 / $203.70 (-$20.30)

BEST BETS: 8-4-1-2 / $18.40 (+$2.40)

SPOT PLAYS: 8-1-2-0 / $11.80 (-$4.20)

BEST BET: DEVASTATE (5^th)

SPOT PLAY: ONLY ONE COSMO (7^th)

Race 1: Meadowlands Amateur Drivers Club 1 Pace - Pick 5

(4) YER SO BAD has been keeping better company in recent weeks and doing what he can as a closer. Harrison only needs to keep him mid pack here to have a big shot of swallowing up the field. (6) JUST A ROCKET MAN has been close to the kitchen through some quick fractions lately. With little speed to his inside perhaps the road will be easier tonight. (3) LOVETHEWAYYOULIE comes out of the same race as the top pick and finished right there on the wire with him. Still, I’d prefer this guy underneath.

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Race 2: Trackmaster 69 (NW L2/2L4 69.5/70) or less - Survivor 7

This Trackmaster level might be a new low for The Meadowlands and the field reflects it. (4) GREYSTONE TREASURE gets a nice class drop here and jumps off the page as a logical horse to awaken. (2) ALWAYS AS FAST has been racing ok and does get a nice driver upgrade to McCarthy. (7) ROLL ON MYWAY is a sharp new shooter from Ohio who has to prove herself on the big track versus older foes.

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Race 3: Trackmaster 74.5 (NW L2/2L4/L9 75/75.73/75.91) or less

There isn’t much early speed in this field on paper and that could play right into the hooves of (1) HEARTLANDBANYSBRO, who has had some bad post luck lately but is perfectly spotted for success tonight at good odds. (2) COIN FLIP looks like the clear favorite on the drop out of the amateur series and recent decent lines in a similar class, but one win versus 10 seconds and thirds this year is worrisome. (4) GEMINI EXPRESS has qualified back well for new connections. He’ll probably need to find a second here to win.

Race 4: Meadowlands Amateur Drivers Club 2 Pace - Pick 6

(4) EL YERNO gets a nice post edge on the main contenders, which should allow this one-run sprinter to sit in the middle of the pack and uncork a potentially winning move at fair odds. (7) MACHLICIOUS has turned into a new horse since the barn change and figures to be gunning off the gate along with (9) MUSCLE FACTORY A, who rated the middle half and beat him last week. Interesting that the latter loses his regular pilot to #1. (8) T DOG took air and kept finding more last time; clearly sharp now.

Race 5: Play Meadowlands Non-winners 2 races or $30,000 life Series

(5) DEVASTATE made an aggressive middle move with a 27 2/5 third quarter only to fall to the two favorites in NY Sire Stakes action last time. This is clearly a softer spot in a field with many potential breakers. (1) GREEN PASTURES took a step in the right direction last week and certainly fits here if he can repeat that mile. (6) THE THING IS came back from some time on the sidelines and rallied very well late with no chance after chasing slow fractions. I wonder if maybe there is more than meets the eye to this guy.

Race 6: Trackmaster 77 (NW L2/2L4/L8 77.5/78/78.80) or less/NW $1,560 p.s. in 2023-24 - $50K GTD Pick 4

(6) SEEUINNASHVILLE A looks awful on paper, but those lines all came versus any number of horses who would crush this group. With a catch-driver getting in the bike, I expect we may see early speed and certainly more life tonight. (2) NATIONAL SPORT raced well coming back from a break in action and certainly has some class. My only hesitation is seeing a scratched-sick line right back from a vacation. (7) FERRAGAMO HANOVER raced evenly when last here in this condition. His best is more than good enough to contend; may need pace help.

Race 7: Play Meadowlands Non-winners 2 races or $30,000 life Series

(7) ONLY ONE COSMO, making her 2024 debut, was driven patiently from the outside post but began to pick off horses quickly around the final turn when she ran into a roadblock and jumped it off. After the miscue she recovered nicely and trotted home well. I can see her showing early speed this week. (4) BIKINI MODEL was used to make the front and raced well to be second last time. The road to the front should be much easier here. (9) SASSY ZAZA was starting to hit her best stride when another foe broke and she followed suit. She did recover quickly though and maybe there is more than meets the eye here. (10) ST PAULI GIRL has won three straight but must overcome post 10 tonight. (11) TOVE PALEMA is another obvious contender dealt with a difficult starting spot in the second tier.

Race 8: Non-winners 2 races or $20,000 (NW $33,500 draw outside) life - Pick 5

(2) COCCO PUFF POWER caught a serious filly last time and can’t be faulted for falling just short in a 1:48 1/5 mile. She’s a clear standout here off that mile but certainly not a lock. (5) VIKI HILL gave her all but wasn’t quite good enough last time. If this mile goes in the 1:50 range she’ll be tough. If it goes sub 1:50 she may not be good enough. (7) DAVENPORT has never missed the board in seven career starts. We’ll get a good measure of her tonight.

Race 9: Meadowlands Amateur Drivers Club 1 Pace

(1) SUNSHINE’S FINEST doesn’t appear to be the fastest right now but he is very capable of sitting just off the pace and perhaps pouncing if a horse like (6) WAY TO CLOSE gets a little leg weary late from going too fast. He’s a viable upset candidate but I’d include both in my Pick 4. (3) WARRAWEE YANKEE is a capable horse on his best but one that seems to settle for underneath exotic spots. (9) BIONIC comes off a monster mile. Repeating that seems unlikely but not impossible.

Race 10: Non-winners $10,000 (4YO $12,391) in last 4 or 8 races life/TM 85 or less - $50K GTD Pick 4

(6) PERICULUM was spectacular last time and if he brings anything close to that effort again he’ll be very difficult to defeat. (3) NELSONBRITEAGLE NO gets a driver change to Svanstedt after a good qualifier. This barn is more than capable of having one pick up a few seconds off a workout-type mile. (1) NEW RULES seems to have perked up with Lasix added to the equation.

Race 11: Trackmaster 76.5 (NW L2/2L4/L6 77/77.5/78.25) or less Series

(8) SEVEN IT IS returns to a bigger track where she saw plenty of success out west. I was originally thinking you may get some value here but the addition of Tetrick might kill that potential. (4) P L PORTIA rallied home strongly at big odds last time but that shouldn’t have been a surprise as this gal has raced well here before. (7) OUR SHELL BELLE found a seam and got up for the win two starts back and turned in another good effort last time; trip threat. (5) ROMA AMOR is as sharp as any in here; hard to toss.

Race 12: Non-winners $5,000 (NW L2 $5,615) to $7,500 (NW L2 $8,250) in last 4 or 4 races life or $3,500 in last start

(5) BETTERINPINEHURST doesn’t show much recent form but that is negated by a double class drop. Even his “B” game is too fast for these. (6) LINDY’S COYOTITO has won two straight including one over this track. Although he faces older foes, he seems very competitive versus all but the top pick. (8) DONATO PATRIOT K returns to The Meadowlands at the same level where he was second twice in late April and early May.

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Race 13: Trackmaster 72 (NW L2/2L4 72.5/73) or less/Opt. $7,500 Clm.

(6) ROSE RUN URIAH takes a substantial dip in class in terms of competition. Notice he’s coming out of much faster miles than any of these and last time he was stuck in post 9. He should be heading down the road on the engine to get this barn off a long losing streak at the meet. (8) BIG BAD BILL was much better last time when he did his best to leave in a quick opening quarter and raced steadily late. (4) XMARKXTHESPOT and (1) DOCTOR BB are both capable of following along and getting lucky off a good trip, though neither inspires confidence.

Race 14: Non-winners $3,000 in last 4/TM 77 or less

(2) UNIQUE KEMP has yet to find the winner’s circle this year but lands in a good spot due to the number of potential breakers and an inside post. She can following along in close order and perhaps pull off an upset in the stretch. (7) SHINKANSEN is clearly the one to beat on paper but not a horse you’re going to get excited about betting on at shorter odds. (5) KINGPIN HANOVER won his last try over this track in this condition; clear contender.