Meadowlands: Analysis for Saturday 6/17

CHAMPIONSHIP MEET STATS: 149-52-30-20 / $265.80 (-$32.20)

BEST BETS: 11-7-1-0 / $24.10 (+2.10)

SPOT PLAYS: 11-3-4-0 / $21.80 (-$.20)

BEST BET: CHAMPAGNE HANOVER (5^th)

SPOT PLAY: VIRGIL N (8^th)

Race 1: Meadowlands Amateur Drivers Club 1 - Pick 5

(6) MAKE IT BIG raced decently last time from an outside post. I can see him showing early speed in this spot with Solomon getting in the bike, but the barn is still winless at the meet. (5) FATHER FRED is a fresh face to the group with a driver that likes to fire to the front when the moment is right. (7) DEERFIELD BEACH is a horse I've been waiting to see gun to the front for a few starts now. Will it be this week? I don’t know. Watch the warm-ups for clues.

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Race 2: Meadowlands Amateur Drivers Club 1/2

(2) KARETS draws well this week in a race with plenty of early speed. Hopefully Slendorn can wait early and pounce late. (5) BLOGMASTER is the most logical horse looking at his PP lines but he still only has one win in 16 starts this year. (6) WOW LESTER and (7) JIVE NINETY FIVE are both decent horses and either could leave hard.

Race 3: Trackmaster 71.5 Series Consolation - Survivor 7

(5) ONLYTHETUFFSURVIVE was even last time in his return from a break and sometimes it takes these older performers a while to hit high gear. (4) ROJAN’S WAY took air last time and held well. (2) WOODMERE ANDROLLI has missed four weeks but maybe the new barn can move him up.

Race 4: Meadowlands Amateur Drivers Club 1

(8) JUST A WRANGLER has the speed to make the front and a driver who loves to wing it on the engine. Trainer change could perk this guy up. (6) FERDINAND A is another who is fast off the gate; must-use. (10) SPORTS HERO will need some help from this difficult post, especially off the layoff, but he ranks competitively here.

Race 5: Non-winners $3,000 (NW L2 $3,331) in last 4 or $4,251 in last 6/TM 77 or less

(3) CHAMPAGNE HANOVER has been stuck in some very fast miles lately and should enjoy the class relief tonight. (6) GOLDEN CROSS STONE gets a catch-driver back and should respond accordingly. (9) PLUMB raced very well when dropped to this level last time; respect despite the bad draw.

Race 6: Play Meadowlands Non-winners $5,000 Series Final - $50K GTD Pick 4

(8) WHOLE LOTTA LOU is clearly the sharpest horse in the field and he certainly has the early speed to make the top from the outside post. (5) HAMMERING HANK has been very disappointing thus far in 2023 but there is always hope he'll find that killer instinct he needs late in the mile. (1) IMAGINARY LINE rallied well for second behind the top pick last week and can certainly be a major player again with a reasonable trip.

Race 7: Play Meadowlands Non-winners $10,000 (NW L2 $11,000) in last 4 Series/TM 86.5 (NW L2/2L4 87/87.5) or less

(6) CAN B PERFECT has proven very comfortable at this level and usually offers a good price. Tonight should be no different considering the competition and the trip figures to line up nicely. (8) P L OZZY was sharp prior to the claim by Sodano but he has taken this horse to a new level. If he turns in another 1:49 mile the rest will be racing for second. (1) MIKE'S Z TAM has plenty of class and a wake-up would be no surprise. (7) WHITECOOKIE was a leg-one winner in this mini-series; very capable.

Race 8: Meadowlands Amateur Drivers Club 2 - Pick 6

(9) VIRGIL N has won two of three starts since the barn change with the only loss coming in an odd-distance race. The post isn't ideal but he seems good enough. (1) SEEUINNASHVILLE A was huge from post 10 last week. Anything close to a repeat would make him tough again. (3) ITS SHOWTIME was too far back to menace last time but that shouldn't be an issue from this post. (5) FIRSTUP has been a steady performer that should get an exotics slice.

Race 9: Non-winners $7,500 (NW L2 $8,250) in last 4 or $1,630 p.s. in 2002-23/TM 83.5 (NW 2L4 84.70) or less

(6) RIVER NESS exits a tough race and while this isn't an easy NW7500, he should have a big shot. (3) MARCUS SEELSTER steps down a class and in theory could win here and stay in this condition. (4) BOILER MAKER has been facing some sharp claimers and now tackles a field with less form.

Race 10: Play Meadowlands $20,000-$25,000 Series - $50K GTD Pick 4

(4) BETTER THAN SOME has been a consistent winner in this class and he'll get another shot at the seemingly unbeatable (7) RAPTORS FLIGHT N. Post edge to the former could be the difference maker this time. The latter owns five straight wins and certainly won't go down without a fight. (9) GOOD ROCKIN is very capable in this class but he'll need the right setup.

Race 11: Meadowlands Amateur Drivers Club 2

(2) T DOG looks very good on paper with the exception of a dull effort two starts back. Kimelman should be able to sit just off the speed and pounce late. (1) A B COLLINS is in good form for a driver/trainer combination that has done well in the amateur ranks. (4) BLOODHOUND has big speed and there is always a chance he'll keep going.

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Race 12: Meadowlands Amateur Drivers Club 1

(3) BIONIC should be rolling to the front here and work out no worse than a pocket trip. (5) ROCKABILLY CHARM put in a solid mile last time and now moves into a better post. He's the other horse that seems likely to be forwardly placed in a race that seems to lack much early zip. (6) TOONIE TEEN will need some pace help but is racing well enough to be a win player if the race goes faster early than I expect.

Race 13: Meadowlands Amateur Drivers Club 1

It's hard to get excited about any of these horses. (7) HOWTOTRAINURDRAGON was just even in his first start for the new barn and here’s hoping that Yogi fires him up here and takes a shot at the lead early. (2) JERRYTONE should get away close and have a chance if on his game. (4) MASK ON MASK OFF gets a new driver tonight. (6) JOHNNY Q raced well in this class last time; contender. (1) BESTONEYET HANOVER adds Lasix. Helps?