Meadowlands: Analysis for Saturday 7/20

MEET STATS: 279-99-56-35 / $550.80 (-$7.20)

BEST BETS: 20-13-3-2 / $49.60 (+$9.60)

SPOT PLAYS: 20-6-4-2 / $43.00 (+$3.00)

BEST BET: BET A BUNDLE (11^th)

SPOT PLAY: QUICK FIRE (2^nd)

Race 1: Meadowlands Amateur Drivers Club 1 Pace - Pick 5

(4) T DOG is certainly sharp and he finds a field loaded with potential early speed types to set up his late rally. (6) MUSCLE FACTORY A is in play week after week, and from top to bottom this isn’t the toughest spot he has seen. (7) FERDINAND A is one of the early speed players. He’s really the speed of the speed and is capable of taking heat and hanging around for a big piece.

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Race 2: Non-winners $3,000 in last 4/TM 77 or less - Survivor 7

(5) QUICK FIRE has been better with Lasix added and tonight she really does catch a soft bunch. Filly faced all kinds of traffic last time and finished with plenty of pace. Amateur driver just adds to the price. (3) FLAMBOYANCE should make the front pretty easily and it is just a matter of how much company she has on the engine. (4) SPROUT was racing well before getting stuck in post eight last time; exotics player.

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Race 3: Non-winners $7,500 (NW 2L5 $8,250) in last 4/TM 83 or less

(4) CAPTAIN CRUSADER A found himself down at Philly and now he returns here at a reduced level. (2) CHURCHVIEWFRANKL IR moves to the inside of the gate after starting from post 10 and he’s had previous success in this class. (1) STONEBRIDGE REEF rarely misses the board when in the NW7500 condition but hasn’t been stepping up for the top spot often enough.

Race 4: Meadowlands Amateur Drivers Club 2 Pace - Pick 6

(4) WHAMMER JAMMER hasn’t been able to close the deal lately but does get a much better post now and there are a couple of potential early speed horses on the outside of the gate that could set him up. (7) DRAGON SAID and (8) GAZOO couldn’t be any sharper. Both are very capable given any reasonable trip. (6) ROCK ON LINE is always a closing threat if the trip is clean.

Race 5: Non-winners 2 races life for 2YOC&G

I love betting 2-year-old races but this one is very difficult because all of these horses are certainly prepping for later races. I’ll take a shot with (5) BLUE ONYX, who sprinted home in 26 1/5 to take his most recent qualifier and hails from a barn that can surprise and have one ready when you don’t expect it. (7) CAPTAIN OPTIMISTIC was spectacular in his debut mile and may simply be too good for these but I’m not taking 4-5 to find out. (6) FALLOUT has never crossed the wire worse than first, so it is hard to discount his chances.

Race 6: Tompkins-Geers 3YO Filly Trot - $50K GTD Pick 4

I’m not necessarily as excited about picking (3) ELISTA HANOVER as her 8-for-9 record should make me feel. She hasn’t raced in a few weeks and is likely aiming for next week’s Hambletonian Oaks elimination, but by the same token her connections may want to stretch her out a bit to prepare for that race. I have mixed feelings, which isn’t great for an odds-on horse. I may need to skip this Pick 4. (2) MISS I LA has only finished worse than second once this year and that came in her last start versus a better field than she tackles tonight. (6) ST PAULI GIRL is another who rarely finishes worse than second. She has the speed to be heard from in this race.

Race 7: Non-winners $5,000 in last 4 or 1 race/$10K in 2024/TM 81 (NW L/S 81.3) or less

(5) MADRID A impressed and won a race that looked potentially unwinnable with a powerful late rally in her first start for this barn; sticking with her. (3) HERS HUNGRY missed a nose to the top pick and came back the following week to romp; clear threat. (2) TWIST LITTLE GIRL N moves back to the big track where she’s had prior success.

Race 8: Tompkins-Geers 3YO Filly Trot - Pick 5

(2) CHAPALONIA left last time and found herself in the pocket, which didn’t please her very much as she fought driver David Miller. Making matters worse, she kept getting shuffled by the longshot in front of her and that ultimately led to a break. There is some talent here, however, and I think we’ll see a nice mile. (5) HONEY’S SWEET also had things go wrong last time when she jumped it off early in the mile. A revert to her previous form would make her a serious threat. (1) MEETMEATTHEBAR hasn’t been here in a while but she did finish second in her last appearance in a NJSS consolation.

Race 9: Tompkins-Geers 3YO C&G Trot

It isn’t farfetched to assume that we may see a handful of these enter next weekend in the Hambletonian eliminations. (4) BELLA’S MUSCLEHILL has been babied along on the road to the big race and only really got a decent pace to rally into one time. This being a fairly talented field, it should play into his hands and set up his 26-second speed late. (6) BIG BEN PELLINI S takes a giant step up the class ladder here but does so with a new driver taking the reins. I’m curious to see what he has in the tank. (3) BRIGHT STAR has the early speed to make the top if Zeron wishes and we’ve seen some good things from him. Will he be stretched out after missing a few weeks of action? (8) SPAAAANZANO makes his first-ever trip to The Meadowlands in what has to be a test run to see if it is worth putting up a five-digit sum to enter the Hambletonian. You have to believe he’ll be pushed off the gate and taking a shot. (1) SECRET AGENT MAN comes off a sizzling mile and in theory is the one to beat, but he still shows breaks in two of his last four starts.

Race 10: Non-winners $14,250-$17,500 in last 4 or 9 races life/TM 89.5 or less - $50K GTD Pick 4

(4) CHRISTCHURCH’s best effort was coming off the pace but he hasn’t caught a field like this one in quite some time. A solid B+ effort should be good enough to take these down unless (7) STONEBRIDGE HELIOS brings something close to his 'A' game. I think that one comes off an important mile where he was used a bit and might be ready to pop. (8) JOEMIKIYOURSOFINE takes on some stakes foes but has the chops to play with them if given the ideal trip.

Race 11: Non-winners $2,000 (NW L2 $2,200) to $3,000 (NW L2 $3,365) in last 4

(7) BET A BUNDLE drops to the basement condition and should be pointed towards the front early and never look back. (9) REVOLVER N raced very well in his last start in this class but must overcome the outside post. (1) T’S RAIDER II draws inside this week and steps down a notch; exotics player.

Race 12: Tompkins-Geers 3YO Filly Trot

(4) SPY COAST rebounded nicely as expected in the Reynolds and now catches a field she should beat. It’s time for her to show what’s in the tank ahead of a possible Oaks appearance. (2) COCKTAIL WITHAKICK moves to the big track this week and it will be interesting to see whether that equates to a 1:52 mile or more of the same from his PA starts. (6) UPALLNIGHT HANOVER has a win and a second in two starts with catch-drivers in the bike.

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Race 13: Trackmaster 84 (NW L/S 84.5 – NW 2L3/2L7 84.8/85.45) or less

(5) AVF CLAIRE should be firing off the gate here and notice she has a pair of wins and a second in this class in her last five starts. (6) ABSOLUTE POWER is the other most likely early speed player and a big candidate to complete the exacta or perhaps get home first; using both in Pick 4. (8) ODDS ON HAIL MARY was in over her head last time but should be more comfortable with this group with a reasonable trip.

Race 14: Trackmaster 77.5 (NW L2/2L4 78/78.58) or less

(5) BOARDWALK JACK drops a notch on his return to New Jersey and almost has to show early speed. This is the perfect spot for him to get his first win. (3) KINGSTON PANIC moves to the inside of the gate after some decent efforts from tougher spots. (1) FERRAGAMO HANOVER is capable of going a good mile or laying an egg; who knows which?