Meadowlands: Analysis for Saturday 5/8

CHAMPIONSHIP MEET STATS: 26-9-5-6 / $35.40 (-$16.60)

BEST BETS: 2-0-1-0 / $0.00 (-4.00)

BEST BET: BEYOND WORDS N (5th)

SPOT PLAY: RESPECT OUR FLAG (8th)

Race 1: Winners 2-4 (NW L3 or 3YO 5) races life or $4,500 in last 5 - Pick 5

(5) DELIGHTFUL TERROR had a strange trip and while he had no shot last time, he still seemed a bit short. Now in his third start back and facing some younger foes, I'll give him one more shot at a price. (2) SOUTH BEACH STAR goes for three straight and is clearly the one to beat. (3) ABUCKABETT HANOVER looked awfully good in his qualifiers, finishing powerfully when called upon in the lane both weeks. I'm going to watch the first week but wouldn't be surprised if he beat me.

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Race 2: Non-winners $4,500 (NW L3 $5,100) in last 5/TM 77 or less

None of these really excite me, so take that into consideration when placing your wagers. (3) CLEVER CHARACTER comes off a poor performance but I like the fact that he didn't race for a couple of weeks since that likely means they are taking time to correct the issues. He drops in class tonight and can dominate if feeling good. (9) GINGRAS BEACH ships over from Yonkers to find a softer class. Outside posts have also hampered him of late. (2) CECIL CASANOVA has won two of three starts and deserves a look. (6) BATTLE STRONG exits claimers where he was taking on some sharp foes.

[DRF BETS: Wager on tonight's Meadowlands card at DRF Bets.com!]

Race 3: Miss Versatility - Mares Open - Survivor 7

(6) HYPNOTIC AM was patient in the pocket and pounced on the leader to win her lone comeback qualifier. Marcus Melander tends to send them to the track ready and there is ample early speed in the field if Sears wants to be patient in her first start back. (1) NEXT LEVEL STUFF put in a really nice mile to be second in her first start of the year and she has to be considered the one to beat with that mile under her belt. (5) FELICITY SHAGWELL S has big early speed and she just missed to the top pick in her qualifier. (3) WHEN DOVESCRY deserves plenty of respect but didn't look completely ready to me in her qualifier. That said, her best makes her tough.

Race 4: Winners 0-2 races life

(3) TORONTO has a bit of a conditioning edge on many of these and the horses who have been defeating him are pretty solid. (6) PIRATE HANOVER came up second best behind the undefeated Perfect Sting in a good qualifier last time. (9) ROCKYROAD HANOVER has shown good early speed and also qualified well. He's worth a look on the track.

Race 5: Non-winners $10,500 in last 5 or 7 races life

(6) BEYOND WORDS N is a horse I've been waiting for since she qualified on April 10, but with her being 4-5 after missing a few weeks, it seemed best to watch a start last weekend. She raced well and seems to be in cheaper this week. I'm all-in! (9) SWEET HEAVEN gets a touch of class relief and should be much tighter in her second start after more than five weeks off. (1) ROSE RUN VANTAGE has inside speed but has lacking the winning desire over the last two years; using underneath.

Race 6: Winners 5-8 (NW L3 9) or $75,500 life - $50K GTD Pick 4

(5) ISLAND OF THE SEA finally gets a decent post to start from after a long trip last week. He should offer good value here and is certainly fast enough to win. (2) SERIOUSLY HANOVER couldn't have looked much better than he did winning last time; one to beat? (7) NO LOU ZING is a stakes-caliber horse being sent out by a barn that tends to have them ready off the bench and I wouldn't hesitate to jump on board if the price is right or if he looked good in the post parade.

Race 7: Non-winners $10,500 (NW L2 $12,500) in last 5/TM 89.15 or less

(2) HEZA REAL DIAMOND is probably still one class above his perfect spot, but he's still a very capable horse that should be close to the lead with a reasonable chance to win. (3) IM SIR BLAKE A was actually better in the lone qualifier than it looks because a gapper took him out of contention. It is hard to say that he is ready for a big mile. If the price is right, roll the dice. (8) AMERICAN HISTORY probably should've won last week. Then again, he should probably win this week. Will he?

Race 8: Non-winners $7,500 (NW L3 $8,500) in last 5/TM 84.25 or less - Pick 6

(1) RESPECT OUR FLAG finished steadily from a bad post when up in class last week. Now making his second start in two months and dropping a level, expect him to be sharper. (4) HARAMBE DEO hasn't been very sharp but also dips down the condition ladder for a barn that tends to excel on that type of move. (2) SUNDOWN KID has been chasing some quality foes in fast miles recently. If the top two don’t show up, watch out for this guy.

Race 9: Winners Over/Preferred Handicap

(8) NICHOLAS BEACH is racing on another level right now. There is the question of him having two early speed players right to his inside, but he just seems too sharp to lose. (6) TATTOO ARTIST came up a bit short in the Graduate last week making his first start since November. He should be much tighter now and looms a huge threat. (7) COLOSSAL STRIDE A has yet to finish worse than second in nine starts in this country. That said, this is the best field he has faced. (2) IMA REAL LADYS MAN has climbed the ladder in a hurry and now seeks four straight wins. Is this class too high?

Race 10: Winners over $10,500 in last 5 or $50,000 life - $50K GTD Pick 4

(3) ZIG ZAG took a nice tour of the track in his first start in nearly six weeks. Mohawk shipper should be in line for a much more aggressive steer with that start in hand and moving to the inside of the gate. (4) LOVEDBYTHEMASSES keeps climbing the ladder and proving himself. There is no reason to believe he can't win again, though it was surprising that Dunn chose #5. (8) RICH AND MISERABLE leaves PA with a four-race winning streak. He's won here before and certainly fits if they let him get away soft on the engine. (1) ONEY HALL, like the top pick, is eligible to improve in his second start off the bench.

[DRF BETS: Wager on tonight's Meadowlands card at DRF Bets.com!]

Race 11: TrackMaster Rating 77 (NW L3 78)

(5) MASTER CONRAD did a great job closing from eighth to third last week on a track that was favoring speed due to strong winds. Everything from this barn seems to be live when in the right spot. (8) ALWAYS'SYOURWAY was a bit short at Yonkers last time after missing 26 days. Back on a normal cycle and on a track that gives his closing style a better chance (sometimes), he's in with a decent shot. (4) ROCKINWITHTHEBEST should be heading to the front and be in prime position in a field that seems to lack early speed.

Race 12: Miss Versatility - Mares Open

(6) AB'SATTITUDEXPRESS prepared for this spot nicely with a pair of match races. She should be ready for a peak performance and the couple of starts gives her a slight conditioning edge over (4) SORELLA, who was just ok in her morning efforts. (7) NO MAS DRAMA couldn't be any sharper. Is she this good?

Race 13: $10,000 Claiming

(10) DEERFIELD BEACH moves into a barn that tends to wake them up in a hurry and Gingras is a driver that has no issues sending one hard from post 10; interesting at a price. (7) STATESMAN N drops back down in claiming price and reunites with Dunn who drove him to four wins this year. (4) FINAL JUSTICE is sharper than his recent lines look, but he doesn't win much anymore; using underneath. (5) BETTOR BB blazed down the road off the claim and certainly has a shot here.