Meadowlands: Analysis for Saturday 8/1

CHAMPIONSHIP MEET STATS: 174-48-35-29 / $246.10 (-$101.90)
BEST BETS: 13-6-4-2 / $26.20 (+$0.20)
BEST BET: PLUNGE BLUE CHIP (10th)
SPOT PLAY: WHEN DOVESCRY (5th)

Race 1: Non-winners $2,500 in last 5 - $40K GTD Pick 5

(4) SWIFT AS A SHADOW went a steady mile in this class last time versus a better field. I'm expecting Stratton will send this veteran to the front this week. (8) IN ROCK WE TRUST visits the basement condition level and is very capable of waking up, though the post isn't ideal. (7) MAN IN BLACK improved in his second start back from break and he really had no shot from outside posts in either start. (2) SANATTLE SLEW returns to The Meadowlands a couple of classes lower than when last here.

Race 2: Non-winners $4,000 in last 5/TM Rating 79.5 or less

(1) IM A DIRECTOR N was a solid second behind a runaway winner in this class last time. Import should come with a big effort and prove tough. (9) NEVER SAY NEVER N ships down sharp for a good barn and has the early speed to get into play. (3) HONOR ME has been racing in the amateur ranks but was a solid third in a similar class three starts back. (5) ANCLE drops a notch but is too pace dependent to trust.

Race 3: 3-year-old Fillies

This could be the trickiest race on the card as almost any of the eight could win and it will be a HUGE guessing game to see who is going all-out when they are racing for $600,000 next Saturday. I'll try (3) MAY BABY, who is perfect versus Indiana-breds this year and seems very likely to be heading to the front. (4) SOLSBURY HILL should offer a big price and she seems to have a nice kick if Zeron can set her up second-over. (8) HYPNOTIC AM could very well prove to be the best horse in the field, but will she show interest here or wait until next week? I just don't know. (1) REBA BLUE CHIP has only missed the board once in her career; big test here.

Race 4: Tompkins Geers - Pick 6

I have mixed feelings here about (10) TALL DARK STRANGER, but ultimately a bad loss won't look good on his resume, so I have to assume he'll be forwardly placed from post 10. If he is in striking range, he should win. (4) ALLYWAG HANOVER spent a lot of time on the rim in the Meadowlands Pace but ultimately had a decent trip and should've at least gotten into the photo. I'll give him another chance here to shine. (8) CAPTAIN KIRK was used too hard in the Med Pace and tried. If he gets an easier lead, watch out.

Race 5: Non-winners $20,000 in last 5 or 10 races life or 4-year-olds

(1) WHEN DOVESCRY raced rather well in the Hambletonian Maturity when you consider it was her first start of the year, going an extra eighth-of-a-mile and starting without Lasix. She draws inside and should be allowed to open up a bit to stretch her out for next week's stakes engagement. (3) JL CRUZE just keeps ticking against some very good trotters at age 9. He'll leave and get a big piece. (6) COMPELLING has some gaps in her lines but the times when she has been on the track, things have gone well. (10) FORBIDDEN TRADE is probably the best horse in the field, but I have zero confidence he'll be going hard from post 10. (9) CRYSTAL FASHION added Lasix and won last time. This guy has class and is capable.

Race 6: Hambletonian Elimination - $50K GTD Pick 4

The top 5 make the final here and the finalists are very much in doubt as this division came up much tougher than the second. (5) MAESTERAEMON showed me something by closing strongly from an impossible spot last time. He would've finished higher if not for late traffic. I truly believe there is at least another second in the tank and the price will be big. (3) AMIGO VOLO finally showed a little something last week at Pocono. It seems like he is ready to peak. (8) BEADS might be taking a lot of air from this post, but he is the rugged type of horse that can handle it. (1) BACK OF THE NECK won impressively last time but doesn't seem worth a short price quite yet. (7) RAMONA HILL is clearly fast enough to play with this group. Facing the boys and a rocky gait have me somewhat concerned.

Race 7: Tompkins Geers

Trouble seems to find (4) ROCKNIFICENT. She draws a perfect spot here and Zeron needs to take no prisoners and avoid hoping for luck this week. (2) ALEXIS'S BEACH finished ahead of the top pick last time and looms a serious threat with the right trip. (5) PEAKY SNEAKY got her first taste of stakes competition last out and wasn't bad.

Race 8: Hambletonian Elimination

While (8) READY FOR MONI was a solid play last week at 5-2, there is no value in playing him now at odds-on after just one race where he got a great trip. For a top pick, I'll look to longshot (6) CHESNUT HILL, who looks to be picking up speed every week and only needs to avoid a miscue to be charging hard for a potential victory. (4) ROME PAYS OFF had some issues in early June but has clearly turned a corner now. My only concern is having a young pilot in the bike in a huge spot. (5) THREEFIFTYTWO showed two starts back that he has the speed and last year's Hambletonian-winning trainer usually brings them ready to fire. (2) SISTER SLEDGE has never missed the board in 16 career starts.

Race 9: Open

(6) GEEZ JOE is certainly as sharp as any horse in this field and no doubt as fast. With most of these prepping for something ahead, it is tough to say which horses will be fully-cranked, but with Dube picking up this drive as likely a one-shot deal, I'll roll the dice that he'll be aggressive. (5) DONTTELLMEAGAIN stepped up in a big way last time and seems to be moving in the right direction. (4) BETTOR'S WISH couldn't overcome post 10 last time. I'm more inclined to watch him here unless the price hits about 5-1. (10) OUR MAJORDAN A was awesome most recrntly. Can he possibly make the top from post 10? (1) BACKSTREET SHADOW was used hard in the Haughton and paid the price. He's clearly a player.

Race 10: Miss Versatility - $40K GTD Pick 4

(1) PLUNGE BLUE CHIP gets away from Manchego and Atlanta and should prove very tough to beat. (9) FELICITYSHAGWELL S has big speed off the gate and can loop them all to the front. (3) KENZIESKY HANOVER is certainly capable of being a player with the right trip.

Race 11: Non-winners $14,000 in last 5 or 8 races life/TM Rating 88.5 or less

(1) SPRINGSTEEN has come back strong for new trainer Brett Pelling, Stakes-caliber 5-year-old remains in a winning spot as he climbs the condition ranks. (4) DORSODURO HANOVER couldn't quite sprint fast enough in the stretch last week. Perhaps he needs to roll on the front end and force them to catch him. (2) VETTEL N has speed, some form and draws better. (6) THE DEVILS OWN N came home in 25 4/5 last time with no shot.

Race 12: Non-winners $10,000 in last 5/TM 85.5 or less

(4) DE LOS CIELOS DEO chased home a charged-up winner last time to be a willing second. He drops again this week and only needs to behave to win. (7) MCTHRILLER has big speed and gets along nicely with Callahan; upset chance. (8) HARAMBE DEO was a good second when dropping to this class last time.

Race 13: Non-winners $7,000 in last 5/TM Rating 83 or less

(6) MY ALPHA ROCK N couldn't get going for new connections here in the U.S. and now is back with Team Tritton, who had him in a Group 1 in Australia in March 2019. I have to think he'll wake up here. (7) EFFRONTE A broke in his first try for these connections but certainly has the speed to be a threat if right. (9) VANQUISHED N raced big the last time Gingras drove. (5) ROCKINWITHTHEBEST gets an interesting driver change to Dunn.