Meadowlands: Analysis for Saturday 8/8/26

CHAMPIONSHIP MEET STATS: 385-136-65-37 / $749.30 (-$20.70)

BEST BETS: 26-17-2-2 / $48.80 (-$3.20)

SPOT PLAYS: 27-8-3-5 / $47.80 (-$6.20)

BEST BET: BE PERFECT BG (15th)

SPOT PLAY: BOURBONISTA S (7th)

RACE 1: $30K Continentalvictory 3YO Filly Trot - $50K GTD Pick 6

(7) EMMAS MYSTERY CCL was a victim of the pace setup in last week’s elimination and prior to that was done in by poor posts. While early speed isn’t really her thing, she should be pushed away a bit in this spot and have every chance. (4) SOUTHWIND CHASKA got passed by multiple horses in the stretch last Saturday but also came home in 26 seconds. Some horses sprint faster than others and she would be well served to fire to the front this week. (2) GREEN MAZTAKE seems to have put her breaking issues behind her. How good is she?

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Race 2: $180K NJ Sire Stakes 2YO C&G Platinum Trot Final

(3) WRONG SOUNDS RIGHT was a first-over winner last time and has now picked up consecutive victories. He deserves respect. (2) LIFETIME DREAMER went a career-best 1:52 4/5 with Gingras in the bike and he’s back today after his other drive scratched. (1) PRESIDENTE has raced well every week but can’t seem to get over the top.

Race 3: $310K G2 Cane Pace 3YO Open - $75K GTD Pick 5

There seems to be opportunity for (3) GENTLEMAN’S CLUB to either steal this race on the front or sit the pocket at worst. He just missed in the Meadowlands Pace after a shuffle and it would be very fitting in this division if yet another colt took their turn in a major stake; there is some value here. (2) BRANDON BLVD is clearly the horse to beat off hie big performance last week. He’s as honest as they come and the only question is trip. Does Dunn make an early brush or elect to slowly creep up first-over. (5) ODDS ON MR MAMBA hasn’t proven to be at his best on the lead and that means his success is tied to others. Let’s player against at a shorter price with the knowledge that he could beat us.

Race 4: $50K Muscle Hill 3YO C&G Trot - Pick 4

Dexter Dunn is a great driver but it is hard to understand his tactics behind (2) NIX NACKEN last week. He takes a giant step down in class now and really should take this field to task. (3) FALSE DOGMA impressed me taking plenty of early air from post eight in a driving rain at Pocono last time and absolutely cruising to victory. For top trotting connections, he’s worth a look stretching out on the big track. Unlike the top pick, (6) INEXPRESSABLE was perfectly driven by Zeron in his Hambo Elim and the horse just didn’t bring his “A” game. I suspect he’ll be handled patiently now and I don’t see a great outer flow developing in this field.

Race 5: $40K Open Pace

Quick question, who is the second-fastest pacer of 2026? (7) BEST CHIP is the answer via his 1:46 4/5 win here on July 11. He went on to take a ton of air at Scioto and then blazed a 1:50 2/5 win at Yonkers with a 26 3/5 final quarter on Tuesday. He’ll be pointed down the road here and will prove difficult to beat. (6) FIFTH AND FIVE responded nicely last time with Lasix added and sprinted home in 25 2/5. There is some class here and I may use him on one Pick 5 ticket as a backup plan. (4) GO GO GRASSHOPPER has plenty of early speed and could be sitting the pocket to his speedy stablemate. (8) NEVERSTOPDREAMIN N was a good second behind #6 last weekend. Classy import has every right to improve in his second start on these shores but the post isn’t ideal and we don’t know if he is a 1:49 pacer or a 1:47 pacer at this point.

Race 6: $225K NJ Sire Stakes 2YO Filly Platinum Trot Final - Survivor 7

(3) NEVIS PEAK was somehow not the favorite last week as she romped while under a death grip from driver Yannick Gingras. She did go off as the chalk in start one and the results were similar as Gingras just sat motionless in the bike. Today’s task is more difficult due to the larger field, but we should have the opportunity to bet her as second choice and that is too good to ignore. (7) WALL OF FAME has been next level thus far in three career starts and is the deserving favorite. Her 1:52 win two starts back is the fastest of the year for all 2-year-old trotters. (9) DEJEUNER got an overcheck and driving bit adjustments last week when she was a much better third. I’m rating her this high thinking that Daley may pull the shoes and that could make her live at a huge price. (4) DANDELION WINE has gone back-to-back sub 1:53 miles and is certainly an exotics threat.

Race 7: $61K Vincennes Trot

There is a ton of potential early speed in here but ultimately I can’t get away from (2) BOURBONISTA S. She was absolutely awesome the last two times we saw her and while her qualifier with trainer Marcus Melander driving wasn’t pleasing to the eye, he told us she was grabby and he believes he choked her down. He also said she qualified with heavy shoes on rather than barefoot like in the races. (9) NORDIC CATCHER S only has one start since his Hambo win here last year but it was a sparkling 1:51 win at Pocono. Four-year-old has pacer speed off the gate and can overcome the post. (8) ANTOGNONI S has all the credentials to win and you’ll notice he typically goes off at 1-9. That said, his best game is on the smaller tracks so I’m going to lean against him unless his odds drift to at least 3-1. (4) MR MOUTON has ability and could get into the exotics with a good journey.

Race 8: $281K G1 John Cashman Memorial Open Trot - $125K GTD Pick 4

While I’d stop short of saying (6) LEXUS KODY is a lock to win, it is difficult not to land on him as the most likely winner. He’s won three straight and should push away enough to allow the outside speed to settle and take charge himself. (1) SUPER CHAPTER looked super winning his recent qualifier and it is hard to fault his 2026 body of work. He should benefit from the brief freshening. (7) UP YOUR DEO tends to show up in the biggest spots but is stuck in a difficult situation with early speed to his left and right.

Race 9: $500K G1 Hambletonian Oaks 3YO Filly Trot - $3 Pick 3

After much deliberation, (2) NEZUKO KAMADO S is not only the fastest horse but in a perfect spot to allow the ample early speed to settle before either making a quick brush to the front or idling comfortably first-over on the rim. This is her race to lose and only a very tough trip will be her undoing. (6) CARVE is fast off the gate and should be able to secure a decent trip second or third on the pylons. If that happens and space opens up she’s very dangerous. (7) LEADING LADY broke while leaving the gate in her elimination and then uncorked an eye-popping 25 2/5 final quarter to just miss a victory. Prior to that she was very game in defeat after showing speed from post nine at Vernon. This filly is in career form and any decent trip could get her home. (4) SETYOURSIGHTSHIGH is a filly I’m not overly high on at the moment. That said, I do believe she may land a perfect trip from this post and that factor makes her a serious contender if the top one falters.

Race 10: $183K G2 John R. Steele Memorial Mare Trot

(2) TACTICAL MONI has been with Melander for five weeks and that is ample time to get her back on the right track. She displayed no signs of making a break in her qualifier and will race without shoes on Saturday. I’ll roll the dice at big odds. (4) WALSPEA has good early speed and plenty of class. She also adds Gingras and still figures to offer fair value. (5) YO TILLIE seems to be back to her old self judging by the victory and words from trainer Andrew Harris. Four-year-old obviously has a big shot but I’m not prepared to bet her as the chalk quite yet. (11) WARRAWEE MICHELLE knows how to show up in these big moments and might rank higher for me if not for the second-tier starting slot.

Race 11: $1,000,000 G1 Hambletonian 3YO Open Trot Final - $100K GTD Pick 4

It is very difficult to look past what we saw from (4) BIG RANGER in the elimination round. He was wide on the first turn, took on intense pressure from a reasonably talented Nix Nacken and pulled away from the field with ease. It is fair to ponder whether he could’ve pulled away from (7) ENDURANCE or (3) APEX, but I’m of the opinion the answer is yes. If the same Big Ranger we saw last week shows up again, he will win. ENDURANCE is the best grinder in the field and he simply doesn’t know the end of the mile. He’s going to need those qualities in this field since it is likely he’s going to race parked the mile, perhaps behind cover from APEX, who lacked high early speed but also can take air. He’s a better sprinter than Endurance and if someone takes it to Big Ranger and he’s on that horse’s cover, I would fear him greatly, but I can’t play the second choice or favorite hoping for that trip. (2) IT COULD BE WORSE has finished first or second in three straight stakes appearances and was locked in for part of the stretch before getting clear last time. (10) AMERICAN POWER will almost certainly be firing out from post 10 and I do think he’ll find position. He’s never missed the board in seven starts this year.

Race 12: $138K G2 Sam McKee Memorial Open Pace - Pick 5

(5) KEN HANOVER is a horse I only land on when the situation seems ideal and today seems like one of those spots. There is ample early speed to his inside and outside but also live escorts he can latch onto when the field hits the backstretch to set up a sweet cover trip. Defending McKee champion should offer fair value. (9) LOU HILL has been great all year but has really upped his game in recent starts. Five-year-old can fly off the gate and should be in play with a big shot. (4) CAPTAIN OPTIMISTIC got a useful tightener in at Philly. Does he have another 1:46 mile in his tank?

Race 13: $139K G2 Sam McKee Memorial Open Pace - Pick 4

I don’t have a ton of confidence in any of these horses and thus it is mandatory that I land on a longshot. With that, how about (5) MAXIMUS MIKI? He’s followed up a spectacular campaign with a very subpar season, but he finally got back in the win column last time at Pocono with an easy score. That should have him set up for a 1:47 mile if he is back to his old self. (2) COACHES CORNER could be close to a double-digit price and that makes him intriguing. He’s always there in these big races and only needs a smooth trip. (7) PRINCE HAL HANOVER is the clear chalk in this softer McKee division. He’s found too many ways to lose lately for me to accept the price. (3) BYTHEMISSAL looked like his old self rolling home for the win in the Haughton. I’m not sure I can play him here at 5-1 or 6-1 when he’s still far from confirmed as “back” in form.

Race 14: $156K G2 Lady Liberty Mare Pace - $3 Pick 3

(2) MIKI AND MINNIE draws inside this week and that’s key for this mare since she lacks zip off the wings of the gate. It would be great if she made an early brush to the front but she can also grind out a first-over win since she won’t need to work hard early in the mile. (7) TWIN B JOE FRESH has gotten the best of her stablemate in their last two meetings but she’s far from a lock. (4) UNREASONABLE has big gate speed which allows her to get into prime position. She’ll likely be sitting the pocket early behind #7 and that makes her a win threat.

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Race 15: $123K G3 Shady Daisy 3YO Filly Pace - $5 Late Double

(5) BE PERFECT BG doesn’t really face much competition here. Supplemental entrant should cruise at 1-5. (7) SANGRIA SUMMER also posted $7,500 to enter. She’s very sharp right now and should be pushing hard off the gate for position. (1) DARLIN’S ANGEL picked up a nice win with Lasix added but this is a big class jump to tackle the top one.

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

(1) APOCALYPSEBLUECHIP tackles older foes this week but seems more than sharp enough to handle the task. (8) AVANTI was a victim of circumstance last time as even a 25 3/5 final quarter couldn’t get the job done. He should be pushing hard off the gate today. (2) HANDSOME STRANGER didn’t have much success at Yonkers. Note that he posted a career-best 1:48 1/5 win on the mile oval last year.