Meadowlands: Analysis for Saturday 4/10
MEET STATS: 211-46-28-31 / $237.40 (-$184.60)
BEST BETS: 16-8-1-1 / $27.80 (-4.20)
BEST BET: DECISION DAY (10th)
SPOT PLAY: QUALITY BUD (13th)
Race 1: Non-winners $7,500 (NW L3 $9,000) in last 5 or $9,500 in last 8/TM Rating 81.7 or less - Pick 5
(6) STELLENBOSCH was second in this class two and three starts back behind two horses that would certainly warrant favoritism here. (1) WESTERN SHOWGIRL also has been right there lately at this level and usually at good prices. (8) SHEIKH YABOOTY N wired a NW7500 field here five starts back and is another who could offer decent value.
[DRF HARNESS: Get Harness Eye PPs for this card]
Race 2: Winners 2-4 (NW L3 5) or $40,000 Life (NW L3 $45,000)
(1) ISLAND OF THE SEA went some big miles in Indiana last year and really hasn't had much of a chance so far in 2021 with two outside starts at Dover. There seems to be a good horse here and the inside post should give McCarthy options. (7) ENVIRONS HANOVER was flat in the stretch versus a better group last time. He's back at the level where he dominated for weeks. (2) ROCKIN THE ACES also drops out of the W4-7 class and should be able to sit close here.
[DRF BETS: Wager on tonight's Meadowlands card at DRF Bets.com!]
Race 3: Non-winners $2,500 (NW L3 $3,165) in last 5/Winners TM Rating 74 or less in L2 - Survivor 7
(1) WHITTAKER disappointed me a bit last week but gets more class relief here and should have a big shot. (3) GOOD ROCKIN has more of my money than I'd like to admit but still is more than capable of winning at this level. I'll probably be gun-shy now, so fire away. (7) FERDINAND A raced evenly in his first start since September and can show more now.
Race 4: Non-winners $7,500 (NW L3 $8,500) in last 5/NW $1 last 2 or 1 race since 9-1-20
(1) COVERED BRIDGE raced well to close for third versus a better field following a six-month break in action. Five-year-old should be primed for a big effort tonight. (2) MISTER DONALD A hasn't been put in play in his first two starts but should have every opportunity if good enough tonight. (3) STONEDUST and (5) CLIFFHANGER both drop back down to the level of their last wins.
Race 5: Non-winners $15,000 (NW L2 $17,500) in last 5 or 9 races Life/TM Rating 87.5 or less
(5) BETALADY was used hard forcing the issue last time and rolled into a break on the final turn. I'm not going to hold that against her unless she tosses in another bad start. (6) APRIL AVA has come out strong in 2021 and seems worth following. (9) SWEET LUCY LOU gets dealt another bad post but wouldn't be a shock in this spot with the right trip.
Race 6: Preferred Handicap - $50K GTD Pick 4
(7) JL CRUZE is back at his favorite track and probably only has a couple more of these opportunities before some of the big guns start returning. (4) NOWS THE MOMENT raced very well off the bench last time and can fire off the gate with the best of them. (6) SCIROCCO ROB will probably race more conservatively here and there is enough early speed signed on to set him up.
Race 7: Non-winners $15,000 (NW L3 $17,500) in last 5
(7) HARAMBE DEO went a strong mile in his first start since early January and should be even better now. Here's hoping we see early speed. (4) FRANCO TOTEM N pulled off the mild upset beating the top pick from the pocket last Saturday. Was surprising to see Todd McCarthy choose #2 here. (5) U S CAPTAIN looks to be getting class relief on paper and is in reality, but the top two are both very capable at this level and are probably slightly better than him at best.
Race 8: Winners 5-8 (NW L3 10) Life - Pick 6
(2) REIGN OF HONOR was very impressive winning his 2021 debut and I only expect him to get better. (1) LOVEDBYTHEMASSES also comes off a sharp mile. He has a shot if the top choice is off his game even slightly. (3) EMMA TOWN BUD rallied well in his first start since November. Four-year-old should get better with each start.
Race 9: Winners 5-8 (NW L3 9) or $80,000 Life
(3) MY PAL JOE raced ok at Yonkers but wasn't quite the same horse as when he was at The Meadowlands. He returns to the place where he set his career-best mile and seems worth taking a stab with at a price. (1) ALWAYS AND AGAIN has three straight wins in this class and is clearly the one to beat. (5) POSEIDON SEELSTER showed some nice miles up in Canada and the team of Drennan and Brennan have been deadly here. (6) NICHOLAS BEACH returned from many months on the sidelines with a win. Notice his 11-for-13 career record. (9) STONE HANOVER raced well in a top class last time; certainly fits here.
Race 10: Non-winners $7,500 (NW L3 $8,500) in last 5/NW $1 last 2 or 1 race since 9-1-20 - $50K GTD Pick 4
(6) DECISION DAY has been off his game of late, though he's still finishing with pace each week. He gets major class relief here and Callahan will be firing hard off the gate. (2) IMA REAL LADYS MAN is better than he showed last week. He can sit close and get a nice piece. (1) BLOOD LINE is a classy veteran with good speed. If he looks ok on the track I'll use him underneath.
[DRF BETS: Wager on tonight's Meadowlands card at DRF Bets.com!]
Race 11: Non-winners $7,500 (NW L3 $8,500)
(2) ST JAMES GATE doesn't look very enticing on paper as he stays in the same class where he was a well-beaten fourth. That said, the competition he has faced in recent weeks is WAY better than tonight's foes. He is supposed to awaken here. (7) B YOYO returns to the barn where he's had tons of success. I'm not sure if he is ready but I also wouldn't be surprised if he won. (1) BEYOND ORDINARY comes off a nice victory and seems up to the task of facing this higher class.
Race 12: Preferred
(4) ANA AFREET N never looked comfortable at Yonkers and probably should've aborted his Borgata plans after the first week. He's back on the big track now and might give us one week of value. (7) COLOSSAL STRIDE A is one of the sharpest horses on the grounds; must use. (3) CHASER HANOVER and (6) YACHT SEELSTER are both in good form and either is capable with the right trip.
Race 13: Non-winners $4,500 in last 5
(5) QUALITY BUD ripped off a huge mile last week in his first start for Cano. This guy has been here many times in the past and beaten much better than these, so if he is feeling good now, he's a winner. (7) STATEMENT MADE A took a step in the right direction last time but has a ways to go to beat the top pair. (6) TUXEDO BAY has been solid since returning from the layoff. Trainer has himself down to drive, which isn't ideal, but if he makes a late driver change, don't be afraid to use this guy in the Pick 4/6. (1) POKERFACE BLUECHIP has been racing reasonably well but isn't fast enough to beat the top two if they are right.