Meadowlands: Analysis for Saturday 7/11/26

CHAMPIONSHIP MEET STATS: 252-86-50-23 / $454.60 (-$49.40)

BEST BETS: 17-11-2-1 / $31.60 (-$2.40)

SPOT PLAYS: 18-4-3-4 / $28.00 (-$8.00)

BEST BET: GO GO GRASSHOPPER (13th)

SPOT PLAY: SHE’S MONI (3rd)

Race 1: Non-winners $15,000 (NW L2 $16,500) in last 5 or 10 (NW L2 12) races or $125,000 life/TM 89.5 (NW 2L4 91.5) or less - Pick 5

(2) BEST CHIP has been super week after week and while he isn’t doing it in stakes races that doesn’t diminish his talent and form. (1) FIFTH AND FIVE has been rallying well versus much better fields and now finally drops into conditioned races; respect. (3) MANOLETE also exits the Graduate series and has a fair amount of class.

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Race 2: $141,900 G2 Del Miller Memorial 3YO Filly Trot

(3) SOUTHWIND CHASKA hasn’t displayed the form which saw her excel as a 2-year-old but the time for playing around is over. Tetrick is listed to drive and I have to think she’ll be ready to show what’s in the tank. (1) NEZUKO KAMADO S is the obvious 1-5 favorite and will be a single for most in the Pick 5. (6) LAINEY W has raced well in each of her three starts. She may simply be a step behind the top ones in the division.

Race 3: $143,150 G2 Del Miller Memorial 3YO Filly Trot - Pick 6

(5) SHE’S MONI was stacked five wide into the first turn last time as there were a host of leavers to her inside. Eventually she found a seat along the cones and finished up willingly when asked in the stretch. She could be good value here with most likely landing on (7) JAILBIRD JOG, who is a stakes winner and just missed in a huge uncovered mile in the Reynolds last weekend. (2) YGRITTE is undefeated in five starts this year and seems to have a nose for the wire. I wouldn’t discount her chances. (3) R RO seems to enjoy the big track.

Race 4: $145,900 G3 Stanley Dancer Memorial 3YO C&G Trot

(4) ENDURANCE has been super all year. Even his lone defeat was a huge effort to be second. This is a talented field but he deserves the call assuming you don’t have to accept much less than even money. (8) NIX NACKEN might present a great opportunity to get a horse that was 1-5 last week at a double-digit price tonight. There is enough early speed in the field to get him a more workable second- or third-over trip after getting stuck uncovered last time. (5) SILVERSTEIN didn’t enjoy the added distance in the Yonkers Trot. As a non-Hambletonian eligible, if he has a big mile in him this would seem like the time to show it. (1) SPENCER HANOVER won his first four races of the year but didn’t look great in the last victory and broke last time on the smaller track. He’s a rebound candidate but one I’ll probably avoid until he impresses more.

Race 5: $180,120 G3 Jerry Silverman Memorial 3YO Filly Pace

(7) DARLIN’S ANGEL could provide the opportunity for huge value on a filly that may just be as good as the two favorites. She missed by just a half-length to Loua Dipa when last seen at Pocono and really had no chance that day due to the fractions. Juan Cano trainee qualified sharply for this race. (9) BE PERFECT BG can benefit from drawing outside as that should make her the last of the early speed to make the front. She was huge in defeat in the Fan Hanover. (6) LOUA DIPA is certainly the one to beat on paper but I wonder what trip she’ll get from this post. Lasix goes on and it is scary to think that maybe she wasn’t at her best last time when she won in 1:50 3/5 at Pocono. She’s the one to beat but not one I want at odds-on.

Race 6: $144,650 G3 Stanley Dancer Memorial 3YO C&G Trot - $50K GTD Pick 4

(2) APEX has looked the part as the pre-race Hambletonian favorite thus far and from the inside post I don’t see a logical reason to pick against him. (7) INEXPRESSABLE really impressed me in the Yonkers Trot and we’ll find out more on whether he is a serious Hambletonian horse tonight. He’s a nice-sized horse that could relish the big track and really drop time. I may even play a saver Pick 4 ticket with him just in case. (6) REQUIEM either didn’t like the added distance or didn’t have it that night in the Yonkers Trot. Either way, it was his first start in 41 days and I think we can excuse the one dull effort. (3) AMERICAN POWER gets a live driver change to MacDonald.

Race 7: $165,700 G2 Dorothy Haughton Memorial Mare Pace

(7) TWIN B JOE FRESH raced huge on the lead in defeat to stablemate (8) MIKI AND MINNIE in the Perfect Sting last time and these two look to be a few steps better than the rest at this point. I’ll give the slight edge to Joe Fresh because of her tactical speed and the fact that she seems to still be reaching her peak while the other one is there already. (3) UNREASONABLE sat a ground-saving trip and rallied with some late interest to be third behind the top pair last time. (2) GIGGLINGONTHEBEACH owns a great record and gets tested this week to see if she can go with the best and drop time. I’m not willing to say it can’t happen yet.

Race 8: $135,700 G2 William Haughton Memorial Open Pace - Pick 5/Mid-Double

(7) CAPTAIN OPTIMISTIC paced his second sub 1:47 mile in less than a month last week and did it very impressively. I’ll stick with him expecting a decent price due to the presence of (2) ERVIN HANOVER, who is now perfect in three starts and even broke his Big M losing streak. At this point it is hard not to use him in the Pick 4. (4) MAXIMUS MIKI showed very little in the Brower Memorial last time and perhaps that was due to the month of inactivity. I might consider using him on one ticket in case he can find his old magic.

Race 9: $425,000 G1 Hambletonian Maturity 4YO Open Trot

(4) GIMPANZEE DANCER took some shots at the big stage last year but didn’t seem ready for primetime. As a 4-year-old he’s been super in Kentucky with a 10-7-3-0 record. If he drops the usual two to three seconds that many horses do coming in from Oak Grove, he can certainly be a big factor in here at a healthy mutuel. (8) ON TO NORWAY truly proved himself in the Graduate final when he displayed the fortitude to out-muscle (6) SUPER CHAPTER in the late stages of the mile after a cagey drive from Gingras. While the added eighth-of-a-mile isn’t much, it should play into this guy’s hands. The latter was very good in defeat and super in previous races; obvious player. (5) DELANEY HANOVER wasn’t able to get involved in the Graduate but perhaps that was for the best given how fast the race went. Something tells me she could be in line for a big effort and the big question is whether that will be good enough. (2) WALSPEA was huge to be third last time; using underneath.

Race 10: $810,000 G1 Meadowlands Pace 3YO C&G - $50K GTD Pick 4

(2) BRANDON BLVD took care of business in the elimination round and he was hardly taxed despite pacing in 1:47 3/5. Dexter Dunn figures to let the early dust settle and make the winning move to the front. (4) GENTLEMAN’S CLUB was just even in the elimination round but really didn’t need to do more than that to make the final. It would’ve been foolish to go at the top one hard. Here he can gun off the gate and secure a close-up trip. (7) SWEET LOVIN LOU is another I think will change tactics and leave hard. He’s clearly sharp now and it makes sense to get him in position to succeed. (6) BOOKIE J adds Lasix this week and maybe that will move him forward. He was raced too aggressively last time and more patient handling should give him a chance to close for lower rewards at the end. (10) UBRUTE was a solid two-move third in the elimination but will need much luck to get involved from post 10.

Race 11: $135,700 G2 William Haughton Memorial Open Pace

(5) CAPTAIN ALBANO did his best but there was no closing into the 26 4/5 final quarter last week. That was his first start in four weeks and he was stuck in the second tier. I see a more aggressive and better effort coming tonight. (4) KEN HANOVER was the victim of a tough trip in the Brower and this time he can likely sit off the pace a bit, which is where he does his best work. (6) LOU HILL has only finished worse than second once in 12 starts this year and powered away on his own to win his tune-up qualifier. (2) COACHES CORNER went his best mile in some time in the Brower last time. Perhaps he is ready to awaken; Bartlett’s choice over #6.

Race 12: $40,000 Miss Versatility Mare Trot - $3 Pick 3

(7) LASTING DREAM has done great work in Kentucky after her first start of the year and everyone knows that when trainer Luc Blais shows up here he brings them ready. First-time Lasix also adds to the appeal on a horse that should be on or near the lead. (1) ELISTA HANOVER didn’t have her usual big kick after missing six weeks of action, but she wasn’t bad either, and trotted steadily through the wire. She has a post edge on her main rivals tonight and should be tighter. (9) BRAVO ANGEL S can’t seem to buy a clean trip and tonight’s post is once again less than ideal. (10) YO TILLIE was a complete toss last week given the post. I can see her being put in play this time if the situation is favorable to it. (4) CONVERSANO cruised home on her own in a qualifier but hasn’t raced in seven weeks.

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Race 13: Non-winners $10,500 (NW 2L4 $12,500) in last 5 or 8 (NW L2 10) races life/TM 86.5 (NW L2 88.5) or less - $5 Late Double

(8) GO GO GRASSHOPPER drops out of the Graduate series and should be gunning to the front; down the road. (1) HIRANYA N was doing good work here before tossing in a clunker at Philly; can rebound. (6) WORLD OF WISHES was also in the Graduate series but couldn’t make the final. He can be a player here on his best. (7) OUR SWEET DELIGHT A qualified very well but I suspect he might be handled patiently in start one on these shores.

Race 14: Trackmaster 80.55 (NW L2 82.5) or less

(9) BEAT COP dropped to this class last time and drew post 10. He only moves in one spot but is capable of firing off the gate with new driver Dan Dube in the fold. (1) CAVEMAN A was a good third last time when taking air on the rim and now Bartlett lands in the bike. (6) BET A BUNDLE is in better form than it seems and we get McCarthy tonight. (5) LMC PEANUTS WATCHN has the best form in the field but does rise in class.