Meadowlands: Analysis for Saturday 6/26

CHAMPIONSHIP MEET STATS: 215-71-40-37 / $398.00 (-$32.00)

BEST BETS: 16-5-6-1 / $16.80 (-15.20)

SPOT PLAYS: 16-5-5-2 / $38.40 (+$6.40)

BEST BET: GODS SPIRIT N (13th)

SPOT PLAY: ROCKNIFICENT (4th)

Race 1: 3-Year-Old Filly Open Trot - Pick 5

Four of the six horses entered are owned and trained by Ake Svanstedt, who is known for using the numbers to his advantage in races. That is compounded by the fact that two of the four are being driven by Ake and his wife Sarah. (2) WET MY WHISTLE has missed four weeks but raced much better after the long winter break than his second start two weeks later. She seems to have some talent and is part of the Svanstedt majority. (5) FLAWLESS COUNTRY has the early speed to make the front. She had a great 2-year-old season and should come around sooner or later. (3) DUCHESSPEDIA raced well with McCarthy in the bike last time.

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Race 2: 2-Year-Old Fillies

(3) MAX CONTRACT unleashed a 54-second final half to power away impressively in her lone baby race at Gaitway. Huntsville-sired half-sister to 1:49 winner I’m A Big Deal seems ready to close the deal. (4) KELE KELE appeared to be a bit green and made a break but still finished up willingly behind the fastest baby-race winner of the morning on June 19; price potential. (1) CAPTAINS PRINCESS & (2) DONT FENCE ME IN both won their most recent qualifiers nicely and either seems capable.

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Race 3: Non-winners 2 (NW L3 3) races or $20,000 life/Maidens draw inside - Survivor 7

(7) SOUTHWIND PETYR has been tackling better in his last two start and finds a great spot here to get his first win of the year. (5) TORONTO tried to run away and hide last week and it didn't work. He's an exotics lock but very shaky on the win end. (3) TWIN B FIGHTER closed in 26 2/5 after a six-week break and could be tighter now.

Race 4: TrackMaster Rating 92.7 or less

(7) ROCKNIFICENT is finally showing some signs of life after closing in 25 3/5 two starts back and finishing a good second last week in 1:48 2/5. She lands in a soft spot tonight and should roll down the road. (2) STONEBRIDGE SOUL & (5) TREACHEROUS REIGN are two classy mares who had subpar 4-year-old seasons but were able to pick up their first wins of 2021 last time. If the top one isn't on her game, watch out for them.

Race 5: Winners 2-4 (NW L3 5) races or $50,000 life

(2) CAPTAIN KIRK served notice that he's back after a sizzling 1:49 3/5 win at Scioto on June 17. This field didn't come up easy but if he can reproduce his last mile they will be in trouble. (9) THE GREEK FREAK seems to find ways to lose even in easier spots, so I wouldn’t bet the bank account on him, but he is clearly a contender. (3) PIRATE HANOVER dealt with traffic and had pace late against a solid field on June 19. This group might be even tougher. (6) ROUSER HANOVER won last time despite coming off a year-long break in action. He can definitely take a big step forward. (8) BAYFIELD BEACH was willing in his qualifier for new trainer Nancy Takter and might wake up in a hurry at a decent price.

Race 6: Home Grown 2-Year-Old Filly Pace - $50K GTD Pick 4

Many of these fillies looked very good in their baby races so we are splitting hairs to some extent choosing one over the other. (6) SWEET OMEN was wrapped up late in a very impressive second qualifier at Magical Acres last time. Sweet Lou-sired youngster is a half-sister to Someomensomewhere, who was a Breeders Crown and 1:51 2/5 winner as a 2-year-old. (4) SWEET HELLO, Tetrick's choice here over a couple of others, was a last-to-first winner last week and is now undefeated in two morning efforts, as is (2) ONECROOKEDLEG, who was well within herself in the last win. (5) JK I FEEL FINE flipped the script from her first qualifier when she set slow fractions and got passed by the field to post an eye-catching 26 1/5 final quarter to sweep the field last time.

Race 7: Non-winners $17,500 (NW L3 $20,851) in last 5 or 9 races (NW L2 11) life

(4) LOVEDBYTHEMASSES doesn't seem to be a stakes horse but should feel right at home at this condition level. Every horse she has lost to in recent weeks would be odds-on in this spot. While Tetrick abandoned ship for #5, Sears should make a fine replacement. (5) AB'SATTITUDEEXPRESS also drops out of a stakes action where she has been facing the best older mares in the sport. (8) JL CRUZE is more of an exotics player than win for me. He's as classy as they come, has early speed and usually gives an honest effort. (6) CHIN CHIN HALL is more than fast enough to win if he is feeling good.

Race 8: Non-winners $12,500 in last 5 or 7 races life/TM 94.95 or less - Pick 6

(2) SAVE ME A DANCE looks like a private purchase from the stable of the late Bob Key. He did well in the qualifier and could certainly pick up his game. (7) ONE EIGHT HUNDRED stepped up his game with a nice win last time as he preps for the Meadowlands Pace. Three-year-old is very capable despite facing older foes. (10) FILIBUSTER HANOVER moves down the class ladder as he approves $2 million in career earnings. I wouldn't be shocked if he made some noise. (4) BETTER TAKE IT has finished first or second nine of 12 starts this year; trip player.

Race 9: Open Pace

(5) THIS IS THE PLAN got a few weeks off after posting the fastest race in history on a half-mile track. Six-year-old was always good but seems to be on a new level now. (1) STARS ALIGN A wasn't quite as sharp as we've seen him in the past but I'm willing to give him another chance at what could be a decent price. (6) AMERICAN HISTORY might not be quite as sharp as he was a month ago. Perhaps we get more patient tactics here.

Race 10: Open Trot - $50K GTD Pick 4

(2) ATLANTA looked spectacular winning her two qualifiers and all systems seem to be on go despite facing a strong field. (6) FORBIDDEN TRADE has been good in each of his three starts this year and you may get decent value on him here. (4) WHEN DOVESCRY stole two legs of the Miss Versatility. Things won't be that easy this week.

Race 11: Non-winners $9,000 (NW L3 $10,100) in last 5 or 5 (NW L3 6/FM 7) races life

(6) VENERATE looked awesome winning his qualifiers and certainly seems to be every bit the early Hambletonian favorite. It seems unlikely they'll be gunning out in his 2021 debut, but expect Miller to keep him in play enough to win. (10) DANCINGINTHEDARK M has done everything right thus far. Post 10 is a big issue because it seems too early in the year to charge off the wings of the gate. If the trip works out he can clearly win. (2) THANKFUL NO and (8) GLOBETROTTING are two newcomers to the scene which could make some noise. The former looked good in her qualifier after shipping in from Sweden and Smedshammer reaches out for Dunn to drive. The latter moves into the Burke barn and could obviously improve.

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Race 12: Non-winners $9,000 (NJSO $9,900) in last 5/Opt. $22,500 Claiming

(3) FATHER NUNO took 2020 off and won his first two starts in 2021 before getting thrown into some deep waters. He finds the perfect spot this week and has no excuses. (6) IMA REAL LADYS MAN raced reasonably well in defeat last time and deserves another look. (2) ANA MALAK N rolled to a sharp win last weekend; dangerous.

Race 13: Non-winners $6,000 (NW L3 $6,600) in last 5/Winners TM 77 last start

(8) GODS SPIRIT N looked much better last week and seems to have turned the corner. He's going to be sent down the road here. (2) STONEDUST came up sick last week in what looked like a slightly tougher spot; player. (9) THE DEVILS OWN N took a shot and weakened some last time. The post hurts but Dunn can find a way. (4) A MAJOR OMEN is simply a consistent check-getter; using underneath.