Meadowlands: Analysis for Friday 7/31/26

CHAMPIONSHIP MEET STATS: 356-125-64-33 / $673.60 (-$38.40)

BEST BETS: 24-16-2-2 / $46.20 (-$1.80)

SPOT PLAYS: 25-8-3-5 / $47.80 (-$2.20)

BEST BET: SAMPRAS (10th)

SPOT PLAY: MYSTIC WAVE (9th)

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

(6) BLUE COLLAR MAN can fly off the gate and there doesn’t seem to be any early speed to his outside. That combination should set him up to control the action in the middle part of the race at his preferred pace. (2) CONTROL GROUP finished just behind the top pick last time. Perhaps if he can work out a pocket trip the results will be different; pick 5 worthy. (10) SEIZE CONTROL needs some help in terms of pace but can definitely work his way into the exotics if he gets it.

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Race 2: NJ Sire Stakes Platinum 2YO Filly Pace

(4) BUTTERFLY EFFECT has now raced on the lead and from off the pace and put in good efforts both times. Her price should drift to the proper level this week to make her worth a good swing. (7) STERL THE PEARL has been put in play in every trip to the track and she should be sitting first or second tonight with a big win chance. (1) PERFECT BODY has looked like the best of this group thus far but she also has trouble pacing a straight line in the stretch. I’m leaning against her until she gets her late antics under control.

Race 3: NJ Sire Stakes Platinum 2YO Filly Trot

(1) WALL OF FAME has absolutely dominated while looking like she could be any kind of talent in two starts; obvious multi-race single. (5) LOVE’S PASSION pulled the pocket on the top pick in her lone effort and that didn’t go very well. She can build off that mile at a much better price. (3) DANDELION WINE chased the top pick home for second a couple of weeks ago and is a contender for the exacta spot again.

Race 4: NJ Sire Stakes Silver 2YO Filly Trot - Pick 6

(5) WHOOPDEDOO HANOVER doesn’t show it on her line but she did push away from the gate nicely before finishing up the mile very well. They could’ve gone around again and she would’ve won as the hobbles righted the ship. (8) MRS RATTIGAN is another who benefitted from the addition of hobbles. Miller will likely be sending her to the top again. (2) OLBIA has raced well in both starts but couldn’t handle the top one late most recently. The connections always take money so I’ll lean against.

Race 5: Trackmaster 71 (NW L2 73) or less/Opt. $7,500 Clm.

(1) SPARTACUS BLUECHIP hasn’t done much of note lately but may just be in the perfect spot this week versus a field that mostly lacks early speed. He can get away in the first tier and perhaps brush to the front. (4) MIDNIGHT THUNDER has done his best work down a level but I can see Vallee looking at these pps and seeing an opportunity to fire out and take charge. (10) ALWAYS A WAY actually shows some lines where he left. Leading driver Beckwith may just take a shot early.

Race 6: NJ Sire Stakes Silver 2YO Filly Pace - $50K GTD Pick 4

(5) WENDY J STINGS got the win via dq last time and I’m not sure if the interference made the difference but it is clear that she is dropping down to face much easier foes. She may make the Platinum final but she’ll need a strong showing here to have the Silver option. (3) PERFECT KISS is another Platinum dropper that needs to race well to get into the Silver final; expecting early speed. (4) SOAP IN MY EYES shipped down and picked up a win; threat.

Race 7: NJ Sire Stakes Platinum 2YO C&G Trot

There really isn’t much incentive to any of these horses to go all out this week with the big money on the line in eight days. That said, I’ll stick with (8) MATS, who was awesome qualifying and even better in his debut. I doubt he’s going to be pushed very hard early but I do think the sky’s the limit. (2) LIFETIME DREAMER went much faster last time and dug down deep to find another gear when it looked like (1) PRESIDENTE was going to get him. Both of them have a big shot.

Race 8: Trackmaster 71 (NW L2 73) or less/Opt. $7,500 Clm.

(1) MR GRANT faces a mostly dull field with questions to answer. Vandervort seems likely to fire out and try to control the action. (2) IGOTTHEMONEY S was able to keep up with much better the last time a catch driver was in control. She’s risky in terms of breaks but should be competitive if she behaves. (3) CHAPROW gets a barn and location change. On paper she fits nicely with these.

Race 9: NJ Sire Stakes Silver 2YO C&G Trot

(7) MYSTIC WAVE was up against it from post 10 and then chasing slow fractions from the back of the pack in his debut. I believe there is more in the tank and he’ll need a win or a second to secure a spot in the final. (3) JOSEPH THE GREAT and (1) MACKINAC ISLE don’t get the heart racing but have each turned in solid efforts and have a tactical edge. (8) DELTA is the clear horse to beat off his 1:55 score last time but I fear he may get a more conservative steer with his seat in the final already secured.

Race 10: NJ Sire Stakes Silver 2YO C&G Trot - $50K GTD Pick 4

(7) SAMPRAS dealt with early stretch traffic in his debut and that compromised his chances of making a meaningful impact. Walner colt had more in the tank and while the outside post isn’t ideal, I expect him to take this field to task. (2) REVERENCE has an early speed advantage here that should get him in a winning position if the top one runs into trouble. (6) ASTON KEMP finally stayed trotting and if his issues are behind him the raw speed appears to be there. He was listed as a colt until his last race so maybe they gelded him

Race 11: Non-winners $7,500 (NW L2 $8,300) in last 5 or 5 (NW L2 7) races life/TM 83.5 (NW L2 85.6) or less

(2) INTERVIEW FRA A gave notice that perhaps he’s feeling a bit better with a strong rally from an impossible spot last time. (4) CHAMPAGNE PROBLEMS righted the ship with hobbles added and perhaps she can move forward again tonight. (8) GREENMA drops out of stakes competition and adds Lasix. A wake-up call isn’t out of the question. (5) BENNY J has the raw speed to play with these and win given the right trip.

Race 12: NJ Sire Stakes Silver 2YO Filly Trot

(7) RUTH’S KALILA has been chasing the freaky Wall of Fame lately. Muscle Hill filly takes a meaningful drop out of the Platinum division and should shine. (2) SIP AWAY got caught in a 1:52 3/5 mile in her debut. Don’t hold the 13-plus length loss against her. (4) SPECIAL ORCHID is another exiting races versus tougher and an improved effort is very possible.

Race 13: NJ Sire Stakes Platinum 2YO Filly Trot - $3 Pick 3

(3) NEVIS PEAK has looked like a next-level prospect every time she has stepped on the track and here’s hoping we get a decent price on her because others have gone faster already. (6) GRANDIFLORA powered away from the competition to win her second career start and on paper she seems like the one to beat. (1) RIO DE JANEIRO was no match for the winner last time after she got the jump on her. I fear she’ll be raced conservatively again.

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Race 14: Trackmaster 74.5 (NW L2 76.5) or less/Opt. $10,000 Clm. - $5 Late Double

(4) LOVE THIS BAR returns to The Big M and at a level where he won his last start by three lengths. Eight-year-old lands in a good spot without too much early speed to his inside. (5) TACHYON didn’t do much and broke on the half in his return from a six-week break. His last win came on the mile track in a similar class. (2) GO LONG had been sharp before the break last time. I can overlook it one time.

Race 15: Trackmaster 71 (NW L2 73.05) or less/Opt. $7,500 Clm.

(1) ROCKNROLL CAROLINE arrives from the five-eighths tracks in Pennsylvania and if she drops time on the mile oval this field is in trouble. (3) PEARL HARBOUR N has early speed, form and is comfortable in this condition. (8) EXQUISITE has been getting a bit better with each start since a couple of scratch lines; can be in the exotics, maybe more.