Meadowlands: Analysis for Saturday 5/29

CHAMPIONSHIP MEET STATS: 107-34-19-19 / $212.40 (-$1.60)

BEST BETS: 8-2-4-0 / $6.40 (-9.60)

SPOT PLAYS: 8-3-2-1 / $33.40 (+$17.40)

BEST BET: LEXUS WITH A VIEW A (13th)

SPOT PLAY: SOUTHWIND PETYR (5th)

Race 1: Miss Versatility 2nd leg - Pick 5

(1) NEXT LEVEL STUFF lands in a soft division and figures to employ "brush and crush" tactics. (7) A FANCY FACE never got involved in her first try in this series, her first start of 2021. She has good early speed and that may serve her well here. (3) GHOSTINTHESHELL S was just even in her first start on these shores; more now?

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Race 2: TrackMaster Rating 73.5 (Mares 74, NW L5 75) or less

(4) WALKS OF LIFE and (2) SOSSY'S KING KONG both showed signs of life we haven't seen in a while with strong final quarters in their last starts. I'll lean slightly to the former because of his 25% lifetime win rate versus 5% for the latter, even though McCarthy went with the latter. (5) DEPENDLEBURY A also rallied well last weekend and gets to drop in the TrackMaster ranks.

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Race 3: Non-winners $6,000 (NW L3 $6,600) in last 5 - Survivor 7

(4) DE LOS CIELOS DEO wasn't very good on the class drop last time and now he takes another step down the ladder. Who really knows if he is going to awaken? As long as I get a double-digit mutuel, he's worth the risk. (1) QUALITY BUD raced well as expected last week and should be right there again tonight. (9) BECHERS BROOK A drops for the top barn at the track and figures to show more. (7) LETS ROLL drops and is certainly capable on his best.

Race 4: Non-winners $12,500 (NW L3 $14,250) in last 5/NW $9,000 in last 5 draws inside

(3) JL CRUZE was done at the start when he didn't leave last week. There is no doubt he'll be gunning here from the inside post and it just comes down to how much company he'll have on the engine. (8) GRANDMA HEIDI impressed me with a strong stretch kick last time after a couple of tiring efforts. (6) PIKACHU HANOVER rarely tosses in a bad mile and could get a good pace to run at if the outside three fire hard off the gate.

Race 5: Non-winners 2 (NW L3 3) races or $22,500 life/Maidens draw inside

(4) SOUTHWIND PETYR took his shot and came up flat late in his first start since November. Expecting him to be much tighter now. (8) TORONTO flashed good speed at both ends of the mile when out-finishing the top pick last week; dangerous again. (3) JIMMY CONNOR B was hammered at the windows and did what he has been doing - closed well for a share. He could win but I would want closer to 4-1 than 4-5. (6) SONIC FLARE climbed the ladder and proved he could handle it; capable.

Race 6: Non-winners $17,500 (NW L3 $19,250) in last 5 or 10 races life - $50K GTD Pick 4

(2) CHAPTIAMA came up big with Dunn added to the team last week. This is no easy race but we'll give him the narrow call to repeat. (1) PLAY TRIX ON ME has gotten down to speed in stakes competition and might just be ready to break out with a big mile against lesser. (6) DELTASUN A finds a good spot to gun to the front and he's proven dangerous when able to control it.

Race 7: Non-winners $12,500 (NW L3 $13,750) in last 5 or 3-year-olds

(2) WES DELIGHT took a nice step in the right direction chasing home a monster last week. If (1) SUNDOWN KID can't repeat his mile from two weeks ago, #2 has got a big shot. The latter popped a monster mile seemingly out of nowhere and I'm not sure I want short odds on him this week. (5) BEST IN SHOW returns to the scene of his Meadowlands Pace win and might be able to use off-the-pace tactics now.

Race 8: Non-winners $17,500 (NW L3 $20,050) in last 5 or 9 races (NW L2 10) life - Pick 6

(6) PEAKY SNEAKY was in deep waters in her first two starts as a 4-year-old and now finally gets some class relief. There is no guarantee she is ready to pop a big mile, so don't take a short price, but I give her the edge. (3) BETTORS HEART N never had a hint of a chance last week versus a stellar field from the second tier. Don't be shocked if she wakes up with her nose on the gate. (5) BESTSELLER HANOVER had to need the start last time; expecting more here.

Race 9: Non-winners $17,500 in last 4/TM 92.6 or less/NW $1 in 2021

(1) ANGERS BAYAMA was a horse I thought would win last time but the fast fractions took a tool in deep stretch. Still, he's plenty fast and as talented as any in here; sticking with him. (4) BEAUMOND HANOVER drops out of stakes company where he kept up nicely in some fast miles. I wouldn't be surprised if we saw speed off the gate this week. (3) HESA KINGSLAYER N showed some guts over at Yonkers in the Borgata series and really had no shot last time. He can be patient and perhaps get lucky with a trip.

Race 10: Miss Versatility 2nd leg - $50K GTD Pick 4

I'm torn here between (6) WHEN DOVESCRY and (1) SORELLA. The former blew out a nice qualifier to prepare and should be ready. The latter could be the better value after finishing sixth last time, though that was against the boys. (2) FELICITYSHAGWELL S chocked down last time. Let's expect a much better performance.

Race 11: Winners 5-7 (NW L3 or 3YO 8) life

(5) ALLYWAG HANOVER has been tackling some difficult foes and while this spot isn't easy, it is a bit of class relief. Hopefully we'll see off the pace tactics here as that seems to be his best game. (8) CAPTAIN BARBOSSA is clearly the horse to beat, but I have some doubts as to whether he'll be forwardly placed in a non-stakes race like this one; tough call. (2) SERIOUSLY HANOVER is in a winning spot and only needs a smooth trip.

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Race 12: $12,500/$17,000 Claiming Handicap

(6) TJ BLAST finds a field that is ripe to be bested by an early speed play and he seems like the most likely candidate. (9) SUGARTOWN gets handicapped outside again and so far has been able to overcome it enough to get big checks in consecutive starts. (8) JUSTIN CREDIBLE only needs a reasonable trip to have a big win shot.

Race 13: Non-winners $3,500 (NW L3 $3,850) in last 5

(3) LEXUS WITH A VIEW A drops in class for the third straight week and has shown good life in his last two starts. There really are no excuses for failure here. (9) ROCKIN THE ACES has been facing worlds better in an alternate condition but could be hampered by the outside post. (1) POKERFACE BLUECHIP improved last time. He isn't good enough to win but could hit the exotics with a similar performance.

Race 14: $10,000 Claiming

(1) WESTERN REDHOT drops back down to the level of his recent claim and should perform well. (2) TOLLY-HO is a sharp horse moving into a high- percentage barn. (8) BUGGER BRUISER ships in sharp and has back-class. (9) MISTER HAT came up with a huge mile last week. Can he repeat that effort?