Meadowlands: Analysis for Saturday 7/4

CHAMPIONSHIP MEET STATS: 70-20-13-10 / $93.20 (-$46.80)
BEST BETS: 5-1-2-1 / $4.40 (-$5.60)
BEST BET: BETTOR'S WISH (10th)
SPOT PLAY: THINKBIG DREAMBIG (12th)

Race 1: Non-winners $4,000 in last 5/TM79.5 or less - $40K GTD Pick 5

(7) CITY HALL returns to his favorite track in a class where he tends to dominate. Last July he came in from Pocono off two poor efforts and won against similar. Don't ignore this classy 10-year-old. (6) JOHNNY CHIP moves into the Harris barn and adds Lasix; qualifier was strong; using. (8) MCSPIDEY and (3) IDEAL CHILL are both dropping in class and either seems capable if the top one doesn't bring his "A" game.

Race 2: Non-winners $7,000 in last 5/Opt $20,000 Clm

(5) ROCK THE NITE was used last week and couldn't quite sustain late at Philly. This looks like a great spot without too much early speed for him to take charge. (7) VANQUISHED and (10) IM A DIRECTOR N are both coming out of a very fast 1:48 4/5 mile where they had no shot. Either is capable of waking up with a solid effort here and if one of them leaves off the gate, that would likely improve their chances. (8) GRIFFON HANOVER drops down off a good mile and seems like a fit.

Race 3: Non-winners $10,000 in last 5

(1) BILLY BADGER N is certainly not one of my favorite horses, but he lands in a good spot tonight and really should respond. (6) DECISION DAY moves down the class ladder off a pretty good effort. (3) NO EASY DAY raced evenly after six months on the sidelines. He can show more now. (4) FIZZING N raced well at Yonkers and this barn did win twice last weekend here.

Race 4: Graduate Pace - Pick 6

(8) HURRIKANE EMPEROR ruled over his competition in the first leg of this series at Tioga and seems to have found himself as a 4-year-old. He arguably lands in the softest division and should prove tough to beat on the engine. (4) ESCAPETOTHEBEACH jumped over something on the track in the stretch and still paced in 1:48 last week. He definitely showed something there. (5) WARRAWEE UBEAUT wasn't quite ready to go first-up versus the boys in her first start of the year. I think we'll learn more about where she stands this week.

Race 5: Non-winners 4/5 races or $50,000/$60,000 life

(7) MANTICORE rallied nicely to be second last week and is certainly prepping for the Meadowlands Pace tonight. That said, I don't see a ton of speed to his inside and perhaps driver Jordan Stratton will take a shot. Even if he doesn't leave, the trip could work out from off the pace. (6) CATCH THE FIRE has but two qualifiers a month apart on his record in 2020. I have to think his connections will air him out in preparation for next week's Pace eliminations. (8) ALLYWAG HANOVER certainly looks like the one to beat on paper, but I'm not willing to accept odds-on quite yet. (4) CAVIART ROCKLAND faces mostly younger foes and is clearly a threat.

Race 6: Graduate Pace - $50K GTD Pick 4

(3) COVERED BRIDGE raced well from the outside post off two qualifiers last time but wasn't quite as sharp as (6) DANCIN LOU, who was making his second start of the year. We see a post shift this week and perhaps he can turn the tables on that clearly sharp foe. (8) CAPTAIN VICTORIOUS has the early speed to make some big noise in here and you have to like what he showed in his 4-year-old debut. (7) BLLACK HOLE raced reasonably well in the first leg of the Graduate and has never finished worse than third in his career.

Race 7: Non-winners $14,000 in last 5/Opt $50,000 Clm

(6) DEALER'S TABLE finds a field that seems to lack early speed and he has it in spades if called on. Note that Tetrick took off a Jim King horse for this guy. (3) OCEAN COLONY is certainly heading to the front here and should be sitting a good trip. (5) ROCKAPELO and (7) SAYING GRACE N are both moving down the class ladder and neither would be a surprise in this spot.

Race 8: $170,900 Arthur J. Cutler Memorial

(6) MANCHEGO didn't seem to be at her best to me last time and still won. Being outside of (5) ATLANTA gives her more options to either leave hard or try to follow cover depending on what her main foe does. Best of all, I think we might get around 6-5 on her tonight. The latter only missed by a hair versus the top pick in her first start since November. There is no doubt she can win, but I have more confidence in Manchego overcoming a bad trip and the price should be similar. (11) GUARDIAN ANGEL AS showed what he is made of with a big mile last time. Positioning is going to be key here from the second-tier because I don't seem him tracking down the top one late without the perfect trip. (9) PLUNGE BLUE CHIP is a talented mare and we know Svanstedt can have them ready off the bench. Don't be shocked if she is flying off the wings of the gate.

Race 9: Open/Preferred F&M

(8) KISSIN IN THE SAND was awesome in her last start and went the easiest 25 3/5 final quarter that perhaps I've ever seen winning her qualifier in 1:49 1/5. After a down year as a 4-year-old, she has the looks of a killer right now. (5) SOHO BURNING LOVE A was super last week and could be any kind at this point. (6) CAVIART ALLY didn't quite look ready at Yonkers on Tuesday despite setting slow fractions. That mile should help but I'm leaning against. (4) TRILLIONS HANOVER is a still improving 4-year-old tackling some very established older foes; tough spot.

Race 10: Graduate Pace - $40K GTD Pick 4

(2) BETTOR'S WISH was handled conservatively in the Roll With Joe versus older foes and still almost rallied from the back to win. He needs a win here to secure a spot in the final next week and I'd be shocked if he wasn't revved up and ready for a more aggressive performance. (5) BEST IN SHOW came up short last time but should be better now. Expect to see early speed. (8) WORKIN ONA MYSTERY rallied off good fractions to take down the first leg of the Graduate at Tioga. While Tetrick chose him over #5, I 100% expect him to be raced from off the pace again; passing on the win end.

Race 11: Non-winners $14,000 in last 5/8 races life

(10) PAPI ROB HANOVER draws into a tough spot versus older foes and from post 10, but I don't see how taking back to last will benefit him ahead of the Meadowlands Pace eliminations next weekend. My view is that he'll be forwardly placed and I think he is the best horse in the field. (6) THATSWHATISAID N was driven very aggressively last time and he came up just short. We should see speed again here. (8) PERSIMMON A bested the top pick last time but gets a post swap this week. (4) CAPT MIDNIGHT is another talented 3-year-old like the top pick, but I expect McCarthy to be fishing for cover here rather than taking charge.

Race 12: Non-winners $10,000 in last 5/TM 86 or less

(5) THINKBIG DREAMBIG is way down in class and should be rolling on the engine this week. (2) SHNEONUCRZYDIAMND A comes out of a very fast mile and gets class/post relief this time; threat. (8) SOMEBADDUDE has the early speed to be a player and the class to post a big mile at his best.

Race 13: Non-winners $2,500 in last 5

(4) MAKE IT BIG drops down in his second start back from the COVID break and finds a field lacking early speed. He can steal this race. (7) THE MIGHTY MARNER and (8) MISTER REBBILY A are both capable closing threats who may need some help to get the job done. (5) PROPHET BLUE CHIP won here in 1:52 last year, so at least you know it is possible.