Meadowlands: Analysis for Saturday 6/20

MEET STATS: 39 - 119 / $278.90 (+$40.90)
BEST BETS: 5 - 9 / $17.50 (-$0.50)
SPOT PLAYS: 3 - 9 / $55.60 (+$37.60)
BEST BET - GUARDIAN ANGEL AS (10th)
SPOT PLAY - CAN'T BEACH THAT (3rd)

Race 1 - NW3500L5/TrackMaster Rating 79.5 or Less as of 6/16/20 Pace - Pick 5

A real pari-mutuel puzzler to start tonight's extended card...(1) IDEAL SON was competitive against this TrackMaster class before the racing break and owns a good history at the Meadowlands. Qualified capably at Gaitway, and I'll use at what should be a price. (6) BIG TURN ON closed with some interest in the qualifier at The Big M and Czermann's horses usually fire when he gets to use Gingras like he does here. (5) WILLIE BOOTS kicked home with a sub-28 second final panel in his morning trial on 5/30 and did post a win at the Meadowlands, though clear back in January.

Race 2 - 3YO C&G NW1/7500LT Pace

(2) ROUSER HANOVER looked like a "could be any type" horse in those qualifiers back in the winter and then he romped in his one pari-mutuel start at Pocono. Qualified back with a strong finish behind two stakes types at Gaitway, and I think can top these. (4) TITO ROCKS broke briefly in the stretch when speeding up back on June 6, but I still liked the effort. I respect his PA Sire Stakes tries a year ago and he gets a new driver with Sears taking over. (9) NO LOU ZING paced home smartly to finish behind a well-meant Splash Brother two Saturdays ago. The connections seem to be educating him from off-the-pace, and I fear he might have too far to come to get to the winner's circle from this outside post.

Race 3 - Winners of 4 But Not 7 Extended PM Races/75000LT Pace

(3) CAN'T BEACH THAT ended up handled conservatively off the layoff and outside post in that contest two weeks ago, but I expect him to be much sharper and more involved tonight from post three. Put in some appearances against Grand Circuit foes in 2019 and took a 1:49 mark, so he's got some class. (4) GLOBALDOMINATION N fell less than a length short of winning in his Meadowlands debut last Saturday, and he also gets post relief for this try. (6) CAPTAIN GROOVY blitzed the NW4 class back on June 6 and steps up here. MacDonald has been aggressive with the Schnittker horses, and I expect similar tactics on this one.

Race 4 - NW4/50000LT / NW5/60000LT, NW Last 3 Starts Pace - Pick 6

(7) STIENAMS BEACH backed up his huge qualifier from May 30 with a romping win over NW2 on 6-6. He does move up in class here, but this bred-to-the-nines 4YO seems to have turned a corner for trainer Chris Ryder, and I'll slot on top. (1) CAPTAIN BARBOSSA is the lone 3YO taking on older here. He was sharp in both his qualifiers for trainer Tony Alagna and was a Grand Circuit winner as a rookie. (2) WESTERN EXPOSURE closed home strongly last Saturday. He has shown speed in the past, so that gives Buter some options from this inside post.

Race 5 - NW7500L5/Winners Base Class NW6000 or Less Last Start/20000CLM Pace

(1) OHOKA JOHNNY N goes for trainer Shane Tritton, who sent out two starters and was victorious with both last week. This horse won two of his last three in Australia before shipping over and lands in a very soft spot. I'll hope he keeps up the winning note for the stable. (3) ELWELL looked ready to go in that qualifier on the 5th of June where he took them all the way and finished up strongly too. Hasn't raced at the Meadowlands in several years, but usually fares very well in this sort of class over at Yonkers. (6) LETS ROLL sizzled to a 1:48 mark a year ago at The Big M. This is his first pari-mutuel appearance at the oval since then, but he closed well in the qualifier last Saturday.

Race 6 - NW15000L5/Winners Base Class NW12500 or Less Last Start/NW8 or 100K LT/50000CLM Pace - Pick 4

(2) DECISION DAY both drops in class and draws a vastly-improved post for his second start since the racing hiatus. I think that will put him in contention against this group. (3) ANTHEM N is another horse who normally races at Yonkers that's getting a chance at the Meadowlands before racing starts up again across the Hudson. He has a versatile racing style and did well against similar over in Westchester, so I think he's usable. (5) SOLO STORY had zero chance from an outside post two Saturdays ago, but slides inside to post five this time, and although he was kept at the rear in that mile, he did close well.

Race 7 - NW3500L5/TrackMaster Rating 79.5 or Less as of 6/16/20 Pace

(2) SAND STERLING turned in a solid qualifier behind some good ones down at Gaitway. Lands at the bottom non-winners class in his Meadowlands comeback, and he should have every chance to be competitive. (8) GENERAL JOY A made one start against NW3500L5's just before racing stopped and was second. Many of Kelvin Harrison's horses have fired off the bench, and this gelding had plenty of pace finishing in his local qualifier on May 30. (1) ALL IT TAKES returns for Cullipher tonight, and his horses have also put in some good performances since racing returned. He was competitive against these types back in the winter.

Race 8 - 3YO C&G NW2/20000LT Pace

(10) SPLASH BROTHER broke his maiden two weeks ago and now steps up and draws the far outside post, but the Schnittker pupils have come back strongly across the board, and I do think he can step to the front or at least get well-positioned. (2) CAPTAIN KIRK is sure to catch the eye given his strong qualifiers and the fact he managed to hold off Papi Rob Hanover in the morning trial a week ago. Definitely a big threat. (5) SOMBODYITREASURE was a good second from off-the-pace to Stienams Beach on June 6, so maybe see how that one did in race four. This horse sticks against NW2's and draws the same post again.

Race 9 - NW10000L5/Winners Base Class NW8000 or Less Last Start/30000CLM Pace

(1) LESPNDNITETOGETA N lures me to another horse from the Shane Tritton barn tonight. This 8-year-old makes his U.S. debut after kicking home sharply in a qualifier up at Goshen and shows a 1:51 mile back in March in Australia. (3) GRIFFON HANOVER returned with a good mile against NW15000L5's and now both drops and draws a bit better tonight. He's definitely a usable one here. (4) WINNING LINC showed an affinity for the Meadowlands oval throughout 2019 and tonight he makes his first local appearance this year. He should be tight enough with two qualifiers at Gaitway under his belt.

Race 10 - Preferred Trot - Pick 4

(3) GUARDIAN ANGEL AS readied for his 6-year-old campaign out at Scioto Downs and was second in their open on 6-5 to probably the sharpest trotter going anywhere right now in Majestic Player A. Ships east for Lorentzon, and I think is a notch or two better than these based on what he showed on the Grand Circuit in 2019. (2) LINDY THE GREAT didn't have the easiest time getting to the lead back on June 5 and then was in against the likes of Manchego to boot. He could get a much smoother trip from this inside post tonight, should be sharper second time out off the layoff, and was a stakes winner a season ago. (5) OBRIGADO has made his way back up to the open class, and is in-form too based on his 1:51 2/5 mile two weeks ago. If they let him get on the engine again, he will be hard to pass.

Race 11 - NW7500L5/Winners Base Class NW6000 or Less Last Start/20000CLM Pace

(7) SEEING EYE SINGLE burned some money in those races back in the winter, but made up ground through the mile in his qualifier at Gaitway after suffering early inteference, and certainly catches a beatable group here. I'll hope Yannick plants him on the lead in a field that appears to lack early foot. (2) ODDS ON DELRAY has always been a bit win-shy, but he raced in higher classes over at Yonkers throughout 2019, and like I said with my top selection, this is definitely a field he can be extremely competitive against. (10) FLAMING FLUTTER N is another starter for Shane Tritton tonight. This 11-year-old is a classy old boy with a couple Group 1 wins and a second-place finish in the Inter Dominion in Australia on his resume. He's lost a step or two since then, but he won his qualifier at Goshen and draws in a soft spot for his initial U.S. appearance.

Race 12 - NW15000L5/Winners Base Class NW12500 or Less Last Start/NW8 or 100K LT/50000CLM Pace

(10) BILLY BADGER N lacked clearance in that mile two weeks ago and finished up under a big hold from driver Dexter Dunn. Obviously he has to overcome post ten tonight, but I'll play him back on the drop and traffic excuse. (5) LYONS STEEL has turned in some big performances in the past both locally and out-of-town. He sharpened his speed in that qualifier and looked great in doing it. (2) VETTEL N won at the Meadowlands in March before the break from racing took place and was stout in his morning trials at Gaitway. It's looked like Bongiorno's horses have needed a start thus far, so I'll put underneath.

Race 13 - NW22500L5/Winners Base Class NW17500 or Less Last Start/NW10 or 125K LT Pace

(7) FRANCO TOTEM N gets a chance to race at a level lower than the open or preferred tonight and will probably look to take advantage of that. Closed well from an impossible spot a couple weeks ago, moves from post ten to post seven here, and was Dunn's choice. (5) THE DEVILS OWN N mowed that group down from first-over last Saturday night in convincing fashion. He does hike up a notch on the class ladder here, but it's tough to ignore Harrison's horses right now. (8) CLOSING STATEMENT didn't get much in the way of fractions to chase on the 6th of June but still flew home off cover to prevail. He gets to race at the same level and should be in position to get a similar type of trip.

Race 14 - Preferred Pace - Pick 5

(1) GEEZ JOE now has a tightener under his belt from last Saturday, and he motored home from off-the-pace in 26 seconds flat. He draws the rail tonight, and I'll look for Marcus Miller to have him in play. (4) SHNITZLEDOSOMETHIN took a shuffle when he sat in the four-hole two weeks ago, then split rivals and flew home to just miss. Let's see if Callahan tries to plant him on the front this time. (5) BECHERS BROOK A had a pocket trip and was third in the preferred a week ago, and I envision something similar to that here.

Race 15 - NW10000L5/Winners Base Class NW8000 or Less Last Start/30000CLM Pace - Pick 4

(5) LOVE THE BLUES N owns a similar profile to others from the Kelvin Harrison barn that have fired full bore in their first starts in the States recently, and I'll give him a chance. Finished well in the lone qualifier to Jet Airway, who came back and won last week. (7) BLOOD MONEY raced super in his first start for Brett Pelling last Saturday, coming in second to The Devils Own N. He drops like several others in here and should be a contender. (2) IDEAL FEELING got shuffled back some after showing early speed and wound up fourth on the 6th of June. Gets some class relief here, and I'll expect aggressive tactics.

Race 16 - NW5000L5/Winners Base Class NW3500 or Less or TrackMaster Rating 79.5 Last Start/15000CLM Pace

(8) PREMIER JOY A sat off a slow pace in the qualiifer at Magical Acres and gained some positions. He's another Harrison horse who draws in a soft-looking race for his first U.S. start, and given the way others have performed when given that chance, I think you have to use him. (4) PASSA-GRILLE BEACH qualified in fine fashion both at Gaitway and the Meadowlands and draws well here both post and class-wise. (9) PALOMAR appeared ready in that qualifier last Saturday as he led all the way and was wrapped up. He went some big miles at The Big M back in the winter months.

Race 17 - NW5000L5/Winners Base Class NW3500 or Less or TrackMaster Rating 79.5 Last Start/15000CLM Pace

(3) ON ACCIDENT sprinted home in 26 3/5 in the qualifier on 6-5 with trainer Tim Lancaster driving and now gets David Miller instead. I'll also bank on that qualifier being a live one, given winner Globaldomination N was second and runner-up Marco Beach won a week ago. (7) CONSTNTLYSIDEWYS A hasn't visited the winner's circle since last July but did win a qualifier up at Goshen handily and meets up with a group here he can threaten. (5) HERE COMES WILLIAM was third against NW6000L5's in an appearance at the Meadowlands last summer, so I think he does fit here. Was out-finished in the qualifier after being put on the front-end, but it should still be a useful prep.

Race 18 - TrackMaster Rating 74.5 or Less as of 6-16-20/Starters in a 7500CLM or Less That Are NW L3 Starts Pace

(4) NAMEISONTHEHALTER doesn't show a lot of lines where he passes horses, but he is capable of putting in a good effort when driven aggressively, and I think he might get that here based on how David Miller drove him in the qualifier at Magical Acres. He might offer a square price in the wide-open finale. (2) OUR ART AND HEAVEN probably left the track in the best form of these when racing had to cease. Faded some in the qualifier, but those were tougher horses that he meeets here. (5) WALKS OF LIFE wound up as Gingras's choice over Our Art And Heaven, and he qualified both of them, so that might be a key vote of confidence. Made front from post ten in the qualifier, so I think he'll likely be sending.