Meadowlands: Analysis for Saturday 9/12/26
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BEST BET: AMERICAN SON (13th)
SPOT PLAY: ALI SWEET CAKE (4th)
Race 1: Fillies & Mares NW2500 in last 5 starts or $40,000 lifetime; AE TMR 77.5 or less Pace
(5) LYONS TRINA is one of a couple of fillies in here facing more seasoned stock but she's raced well here and has a good midpack post to use her early speed. (8) TURN UP THE MUSIC didn't fire at all last week at Yonkers but prior efforts have been good, especially her Meadowlands start back on August 6. (3) ROCKNROLL CAROLINE is the other filly in here and she set a life mark in her young career from a similar post; Cano trainee can build off that effort.
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Race 2: Fillies & Mares TrackMaster Rating 74.5 or Less ATOD - Opt. Clm. $10,000 Pace
(4) PERFECT AND SWEET added Lasix for last week's race and she was just nipped late after a good speed try. Bongiorno filly moves to the middle of the pack and figures to be aggressively handled again. (7) QUEEN SUN RYSER has a win and a rugged second in her last two local tries; she steps up a bit but faces no standouts. (5) PRINCESS ARONA won in this class five starts back and finished third last week from a similar spot.
Race 3: TrackMaster Rating 71 (N/W L2 or F&M 73.07)or Less ATOD - Opt. Clm. $7,500 Trot
(6) NICCOLO has been rather dull of late but so have these other trotters; at least he's got three wins on the season and drops a level. Could be more involved here. (3) MR INSTIGATOR was a wire-to-wire winner in this class five starts back. (4) PARODY has finished third or fourth in his last four starts.
Race 4: Fillies & Mares TrackMaster Rating 71 (N/W L2 73.05) or Less ATOD - Opt. Clm. $7,500 Pace
(5) ALI SWEET CAKE is a fresh face and she's proven capable of making noise both from on or off the pace; good post and seems like a good fit. (4) LIVIN A SWEET LIFE is a filly with just eight lifetime starts off a month coming in from Canada but she joins the Bongiorno barn with Joe B. driving and she certainly has some upside. (9) BEHEST was Beckwith's choice of a few in here.
Race 5: Horse & Geldings TrackMaster Rating 80.5 (N/W L2 82.5) or Less ATOD (NJSO 25%) Winner This Class or Higher Last Start Ineligible Pace
(4) EUPHORIA N is a classy veteran from the Vallee barn who's perfectly spotted at this level; can take these the distance. (5) GOODBYE STRANGER gets Joe B. back catch-driving and has been one of the more consistent ones in here. (9) GOLD GLOVE HANOVER beat softer on the engine last out at Pocono and now picks up Beckwith, who could be blasting for position.
Race 6: Fillies & Mares N/W $7,500 (NJSO or N/W L2 $8,250) in Last 5 Starts. AE: TM Rating 83.5 or Less ATOD Pace
(6) TWIN B SUNKISSED returns to The Big M after facing some good stock out of town and was Beckwith's choice. Veteran mare is as consistent as they come and recently went over the $600K lifetime mark. (2) AMIRA HANOVER is a filly from connections that are tough to ignore and the youngster blew away a Lynch consolation field two back at Pocono; dangerous. (10) NITE TIME DEAL is in a tough spot but has banked almost $100K this season and is a good fit class-wise.
Race 7: TrackMaster Rating 74.5 (N/W L2 or F&M 76.50) or Less ATOD - Opt. Clm. $10,000 Trot
(3) ALL TOO WELL was a bit outclassed in his last start at Yonkers but was a winner here the start prior in a comparable class. As one of the safer options on paper he figures to be stalking close up. (5) SHOPPING FOR GUCCI is one of the more lightly-raced options in here and yes she's a 3YO filly facing mostly boys but she's recently added both hobbles and Lasix and seems overdue for a big effort. (9) SUPERGIRL MOLLY steps up in class off a win where she was 20 cents on the dollar.
Race 8: Horse & Geldings TrackMaster Rating 80.5 N/W L2 82.5) or Less ATOD (NJSO 25%) Winner This Class or Higher Last Start Ineligible Pace
(2) GAZOO keeps Chisholm over a couple of other options, including one that he has driven to two straight wins. Gelding moves inside after a series of tough posts. (7) IWANNABEWITHYOU has a ton of speed and sometimes he lasts and sometimes he folds. Veteran does stretch out to a bigger track though; mixed feelings. (8) BUGABOO LOU has also employed speed tactics of late and has burned money. Steve Smith is now listed on the catch drive and will probably be looking at a more conservative trip, like four back when he stormed home in an Amateur event.
Race 9: Horse & Geldings TrackMaster Rating 77.5 (N/W L2 79.5) or less ATOD (NJSO 25%) Winner This Class or Higher L/S N/E AE: Not 1, 2, 3 This Class Last Start Pace
(2) AMERICAN MERCURY has won two straight in the Amateur ranks and now picks up Ahle from a good post. 10YO veteran leads this field in 2026 wins and earnings. (4) BET ON MAC returns from Yonkers and picks up Beckwith; he's proven competitive with similar. (8) WARRAWEE YANKEE was uninvolved last week against better and now picks up a catch driver for Silva.
Race 10: N/W $7,500 (N/W L2 or NJSO $8914) in Last 5 Starts AE: TM Rating 84.53 or less ATOD Pace
(4) LITE N SWEET returns to The Meadowlands for the Cancelliere barn and he's got a 1:50 4/5 mark here from earlier in the season; he's a threat to roll these on the front or from right in behind. (9) STOP THE SHOOTIN' has been close in all recent races and figures to offer some value from the outside post. (5) XPERT steps up a notch off a solid front-end win and Ahle figures to be on the move early.
Race 11: Horse & Geldings TrackMaster Rating 74.5 or Less ATOD (NJSO 25%) Winner This Class or Higher Last Start Ineligible. AE: Not 1, 2, 3 This Class Last Start Pace
(3) MIDNIGHT LIGHTNING has seemingly been around since the Clinton administration and at 14 years old he can still bring it. Vallee trainee keeps Chisholm and gets significant post relief. (9) AMERICA'S GUEST was an open-lengths winner last week ending a long dry spell and prior efforts were decent. (7) EVERYBODYLOVESLOU shipped in from Philly with a poor record and not much form but he surprised with a good second-place finish. Maybe he can sneak in there again.
Race 12: Horse & Geldings TrackMaster Rating 71 or less ATOD - Opt. Clm. $7,500 AE: Not 1, 2, 3 This Class Last Start Pace
(1) THE OPENER picked up Colin Kelly last week and picked up his first win of the season in his 28th start. He steps up a notch but doesn't face anyone threatening and is in a good spot to pop another one. (7) MIDNIGHT THUNDER gets a notable driver change to Beckwith. (3) DIRT ON MY BOOTS broke at Vernon last start but destroyed a soft field here the start prior.
Race 13: N/W $10,500 in Last 5 Starts. AE: TM Rating 86.5 (N/W L2 88.5) or less ATOD AE: N/W 8 (N/W L2 9) Ext. PM Races Life Pace
(6) AMERICAN SON has been live in all recent starts for Chris Ryder and he gets a new set of hands tonight as Ahle gets the call; top billing. (4) IT'S IN THE STARS returns locally and Beckwith sticks with him after winning his last start up at Plainridge. (2) SPORT SECRET was a bit short last week in a fast mile; barnmate to #4 has a shot to hit the ticket.
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Race 14: Claiming Price $20,000 (NJSO 25%) Pace
(2) MOVING ON OVER beat many of these last week and is right back in where he can win; Beckwith predictably sticks with the Engblom trainee. (1) GALLIE GETAWAY didn't fire from the back in that same race at the top choice but prior efforts from better posts were good. (6) MIKI RAY is a definite closing threat.
Race 15: Horse & Geldings TrackMaster Rating 68 (N/W L4 69) or less ATOD Pace
If my math is correct then (6) BACKSTREET LAWYER has lost his last 99 races but most of his recent races have been competitive and he gets a very notable driver change to Brett Beckwith. Could that be enough? Probably not but it's hard to get excited about anyone in here. (5) CHEESE OMELET returns from Philly off a win in the Amateur ranks; Chisholm picks up the drive. (8) STONE COLD SAVAGE hit the board in two of his last three and could be a closing threat with Steve Smith on the catch drive.