Meadowlands: Analysis for Saturday 8/1/26

CHAMPIONSHIP MEET STATS: 356-125-64-33 / $673.60 (-$38.40)

BEST BETS: 24-16-2-2 / $46.20 (-$1.80)

SPOT PLAYS: 25-8-3-5 / $47.80 (-$2.20)

BEST BET: DARLIN’S ANGEL (2nd)

SPOT PLAY: UBRUTE (8th)

Race 1: Hambletonian Oaks Elim #1 3YO Filly Trot - Pick 5

(5) CARVE lacks a big win but that doesn’t diminish her ability. Noel Daley trainee just needs a covered up trip to have a big upset shot. (4) JAILBIRD JOG is going to be a heavy favorite here and rightfully so. She’s fairly versatile and that only adds to the allure. (2) LAINEY W has early speed and decent form. I don’t fancy here fast enough to win but an exotics slot is well within reach. (7) MADAM CHEVAL was a bit disappointing in the Zweig. Can she rebound with a slightly better performance?

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Race 2: Tompkins-Geers 3YO Filly Pace

(4) DARLIN’S ANGEL has only finished behind Loua Dipa and Be Perfect Bg this year and they are without a doubt the two best 3yo pacing fillies in the sport. She is supposed to handle this field without too much trouble; adds Lasix! (1) SUNNY STATION raced well when last here and qualified very nicely as she was squeezed between foes and finished up willingly under her own power. (2) CAR KEYS reunites with Dunn and they hooked up for a 1:50 win when last partnering up. (6) GRACIOUS has won three straight; tested for class here.

Race 3: $20,000-$25,000 Claiming Handicap

(10) ROCKNROLL GOLD rolled in his first start for Bongiorno back in May but hasn’t been able to handle the class jump since. He drops in for a lower claiming price and returns to the surface of his last win; early speed expected. (4) LOU ON THE BEACH was used and raced well with MacDonald in the bike last time. He can definitely make the front here and sit a decent trip. (8) JUDDY DOUGLAS A is another with potential early speed that has been racing well. The addition of Dunn to the team adds to the appeal. (3) GALLIE GETAWAY had every chance to win last time but gets a bit of a pass since the trainer was in the bike. I did think that was one of this guy’s better recent effort.

Race 4: Hambletonian Oaks Elim #2 3YO Filly Trot - Pick 6

(5) NEZUKO KAMADO S is perfect in four starts and has won from on and off the pace this year. She appears to be a step or two faster than these but I have to admit I wouldn’t empty my wallet on her. (7) EMMAS MYSTERY CCL finished just as well as Jailbird Jog last week but was stuck racing in last after starting from post 10. She has talent and her chance will come down to trip. (6) R RO needs to prove she can take the next step but definitely has some ability and moves up on the big track. (2) FRATTINA DIABLO S is off a nice effort and hasn’t been worse than second in six starts this year. I’ll probably fade her in this spot but realize she could nip me.

Race 5: Trackmaster 80.5 (NW L2 82.5) or less

This race is a bit of a crapshoot with many potential winners. (1) LMC PEANUTS WATCHN was much better last time in his second start back from missing four weeks. The inside post should provide an option for an aggressive early brush. (7) EUPHORIA N takes the same class drop as the top one and is quite versatile; big threat. (3) BET ON MAC was a winner when last in this condition and is a solid 1:51 pacer. (6) CAVEMAN A has hit the board in more than half of his starts this year and is just under 50% for his career.

Race 6: Hambletonian Oaks Elim #3 3YO Filly Trot - $50K GTD Pick 4

(3) SOUTHWIND CHASKA may’ve pulled off a big upset if she was able to shake free a bit earlier in the Del Miller. This is a serious filly that shouldn’t be taken lightly. (6) CUSTOM has yet to prove that she is a top filly but she is certainly competitive. She won her last qualifier in-hand and won the Reynolds before that easily enough. (1) SETYOURSIGHTSHIGH will be the favorite here but doesn’t jump off the page for me. She’s definitely a good trotter but needs to prove to me she is deserving of 4-5. (2) VICTORIANAS SECRET has one loss on the year and it came to Jailbird Jog who would be favored here.

Race 7: Hambletonian Elim #1 3YO Open Trot

(3) INEXPRESSABLE was every bit as good as Apex and American Power when third in the Dancer as he finished in 25 4/5. Tonight he gets a tactical advantage having drawn inside and with two unproven horses to his inside. Zeron should be able to work out the winning trip. (9) ENDURANCE got the worst of the draw but is spectacular at taking air on the rim and continuing to march forward. As the second or third choice, I want him on my Pick 4 tickets. (7) APEX deserves all the respect in the world but must show he can fire out and find enough to put away any late challenges. He really has never shown early speed in his career. (8) AMERICAN POWER proved for certain in the Zweig that he belongs with the divisional elite; win threat.

Race 8: Tompkins-Geers 3YO C&G Pace - Survivor 7

(7) UBRUTE raced big in the Meadowlands Pace elimination and then was unlucky to draw post 10 in the final. There doesn’t seem to be too much separating the best from many of the other top 10 in this division and I can see this guy being sent to the front and pulling off the upset. (2) BRANDON BLVD is arguably the best 3-year-old colt pacer in the sport right now, yet he won his last race by just a head and was a tough trip runner-up in the NA Cup. He’s clearly the horse to beat tonight but maybe not one you want to back heavily at 3-5 when he’ll race for five to six times more money next week. (1) TOAST OF THE TOWN was dealt a bad hand with outside posts in the Adios. Perhaps the inside draw will provide an opportunity for him to sneak into the exotics. (6) SEA BISTRO HANOVER comes off a 1:48 win at Oak Grove and now gets tested for class. I wouldn’t be surprised if he stepped up.

Race 9: Hambletonian Elim #2 3YO Open Trot

(8) BIG RANGER has been flawless since the barn/driver changes and even set a track record along the way at Scioto. The task won’t be easy in a field where he is surrounded with potential early speed, but all things being equal I think he is the best horse. (6) REQUIEM provides the opportunity for some huge value. He couldn’t handle the extra distance at Yonkers and had no shot last time when sitting last through slow fractions. We haven’t seen his best yet and my spidey sense tells me we are going to see much more this week. (5) NIX NACKEN isn’t going to take the heat and wire a field. He also won’t come first-over and blow them away. That said, if you give him a decent cover trip, watch out for him; Pick 4 worthy.

Race 10: Miss Versatility Leg 3 Mare Trot - $50K GTD Pick 4

(4) YO TILLIE put in as good an effort as I’ve seen from her this year when winning her qualifier wrapped up. Lasix was added for that start and perhaps that is the magic potion that returns her to prominence. (2) CONVERSANO missed seven weeks and posted a strong mile to lose by just a nose in the last leg of this series. She’s a big threat again. (8) WARRAWEE MICHELLE needs some points having missed the opening legs and we’ve seen what she can do in the past when she has missed time between starts. With all due respect to her former pilot, (11) ELISTA HANOVER needed a new set of hands to see if that rights the ship. Maybe Wrenn can get the best out of her.

Race 11: Non-winners $15,000 (NW L2 $16,500) in last 5 or 10 (NW L2 11) races or $125,000 life/TM 89.5 (NW L2 91.5) or less

(3) FALLOUT drops out of stakes action and should be able to handle this field. Anything close to a top effort gets the job done. (8) FIFTH AND FIVE is another who has been keeping good company. He’s also adding Lasix and was sharp in his qualifier with it. (9) NEVERSTOPDREAMIN N was under a big hold late behind #8 in that same qualifier. He shipped here months ago and is finally making his U.S. debut.

Race 12: Trackmaster 83.5 (NW L2 85.81) or less - $3 Pick 3

(6) ALWAYS B GIBBY isn’t one of my favorite horses but is at a level where he should excel. Dunn was an easy winner with him the last he drove and this guy was also a good second the previous time he was in this class. (5) HUNTINGFORCHROME was taken back to last and didn’t do much in start three for this barn. Perhaps the new driver tonight will give it a go with speed off the gate. (7) AROLNDAHAYBLUECHIP has been climbing the class ladder with ease and perhaps he’s not done ascending yet.

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Race 13: Trackmaster 77.5 (NW L2 79.5) or less/Opt. $12,500 Clm. - $5 Late Double

(3) DREAMLANDCAPPUCINO gets the triple threat of class relief, better post and driver improvement. This would seem to be a spot where he can make some noise. (7) WHAMMER JAMMER also steps down a level after not getting involved last time. Maybe he gets put in play this week. (1) FIZZING N could be more forwardly placed in this spot as there is no obvious early speed horse.

Race 14: Trackmaster 74.5 (NW L2 76.5) or less/Opt. $10,000 Clm.

(4) MANALOU raced well from behind two starts back and I’ll take it as a positive sign that he was handled aggressively last time. Unfortunately he got hung the mile. Now he drops a level and gets a new pilot. (5) GOOD ROCKIN will be gunning to the front and we all know what he is capable of when feeling good. (1) HASHTAG MONEY should be pushing away hard from the inside as well. He’s missed some time but is certainly able to be a player in here. (9) WARRAWEE YANKEE switches from the trainer to the leader driver in the bike; has to help.