Meadowlands: Friday 10/18 Analysis

MEET STATS: 13-3-5-2 / $13.80 (-$12.20)
BEST BETS: 1-0-1-0 / $0.00 (-$2.00)
BEST BET: TROLLEY (7th)
SPOT PLAY: CHECKMATE TIME (3rd)
Race 1 – GSY Amateur - **$20,922 Pick 5 Carryover**
(5) BANK SEA is an erratic type but plenty fast enough when he is feeling good. He rallied well last week and this barn picked up a win here as well. Six-year-old should have a big shot. (6) BETTOR SPIRITS N was second best behind a monster last week. (7) QUALITY CLOSER is a versatile sort who could make some noise given the right trip. (2) FOX VALLEY BAILEY gets a good post, has a decent form and has won here in the past.
Race 2 – Kindergarten Classic 2YO Fillies
(7) CREATURE OF HABIT dominated in the Kindergarten last week and one of these would have to step up to best her tonight. (6) WORD OF HONOR was no match for the top choice last week but she draws to her inside this time and could get aggressive and brave. (1) SHE ROCKS KEMP has been keeping good company in Canada and seems like a fit in this series.
Race 3 – Non-winners $3,750 in last 5
(7) CHECKMATE TIME was second in this class a few months back and won twice in three tries in NW3500 in 2018. Five-year-old mare moves in a few slots on the gate and should be heading down the road. (1) EXPLOSIVE RIDGE qualified back well. He’s a bit inconsistent but certainly fast enough. (2) FIJI is hard to gauge on form coming out of amateur races. He might not be as good as last year but he’s certainly capable. (9) MISS RUBY has some class but the bad post might be too big of an obstacle.
Race 4 – Non-winners $3,500 in last 5
(6) GIVEMEYOURHEART came here from Freehold last year and came up with a big mile while winning in a higher class. Abbatiello tends to bring them ready and has them classified properly. (4) SUMMER ROCK gets a trainer change to a barn that is hitting at a 15% rate (38 for 247) here since the start of 2017. (3) VINTAGE BABE had no shot last time but is capable with the right setup.
Race 5 – CKG Billings Amateur
The track certainly provided us with a difficult finale to the Pick 5. (6) ROUNDTOWN ROCKER has been facing slightly better and has the early speed to avoid too much trouble in this bulky field. (3) JACKS TO OPEN comes in off a win for a high-percentage barn. Driver and horse know how to win here. (9) MARCH AWARENESS doesn’t show much early speed, but rarely does he get to start with such a long run into the first turn. If Stoebe can get this veteran into position, he has a serious shot. (11) EYORE HANOVER is clearly fast enough but the second tier starting slot with a horse that throws in breaks makes him a tricky play.
Race 6 – Kindergarten Classic 2YO Fillies
(5) ANNABELLE HANOVER got away with soft fractions but deserves some credit for shrugging off a Breeders Crown starter who came right to her in the stretch last week. She’s clearly the filly to beat. (6) SAIL BY woke up with a big mile last time. Was that her waking up or just an anomaly? (4) JK LADY LOVE displayed some late life in the stretch last time. I wouldn’t be shocked if she was ready to show more now. (1) HARPSWELL has clearly turned the corner versus cheaper at Pocono and this Diamond Creek Farm homebred is another who could be ready to step up.
Race 7 – Non-winners $21,000 in last 5
(10) TROLLEY has a couple of starts under his belt after a brief break in action and should roll in a spot like this despite the bad post assignment. (5) MISSLAROSE gets a trainer change to the highest percentage barn here since 2017 (26%); improvement possible. (7) HENDERSON SEELSTER has big early speed and does step up now and then. (2) CRUISING IN STYLE raced well in defeat last time. He has a shot with some improvement.
Race 8 – Non-winners $10,000 in last 5 - **$50,000 GTD Pick 4**
(4) MONICA GALLAGHER should be headed to the front and have a big shot at sitting close and coming up with a win. (8) BROOKLYN LILACS faces older foes but does drop out of stakes competition. (9) NEWSDAY finished just ahead of the top pick last week but gets a negative post shift. (5) SUDDEN CHANGE N & (3) SHELLIE DE VIE both come into Yonkers off a pair of wins and either could step up.
Race 9 – Non-winners $10,000 in last 5
(7) LA GRANGE A has been facing some killers in Kentucky lately and should have a huge smile when he sees this field. (5) CALL FOR JUSTICE moves into the Burke barn which ensures a shot price, but he hasn’t raced in four weeks, so who knows if he is ready. (4) EXS AND OHS is capable here but the top two appear too good. (2) ZLATAN is down in class.
Race 10 – Kindergarten Classic 2YO C&G
(3) CHIEF MATE chased slow fractions and finished up with plenty of pace and no shot last time. This is a weaker group. (1) FORCE N FURY was second best behind a horse that is lengths better than anyone in this field. (4) MAJOR RISKY made a strange break last time. He’s better than that performance.
Race 11 – Non-winners $6,500 in last 5
(9) FOR A DREAMER has been keeping some steep company at the Red Mile and could be a slightly sneaky play from the outside post without a regular driver. (6) GOLDEN MUSCLE raced well on the barn change. (3) INUCHUK CHUCK is on quite a roll; worth using. (2) MUSCLE HIGH woke up in a big way for his new trainer.
Race 12 – Kindergarten Classic 2YO Fillies
(6) HALL OF AM S moved first-over last week and trotted home willingly behind a runaway winner. Most importantly, she showed no signs of a miscue after breaking two back. I’m expecting a big effort this week. (4) SCORCHED ROMANCE has looked very good up North and could certainly give the top one some trouble if she is anything less than perfect. (3) JULA BEAUTY AM figures to leave well and sit on or near the lead.
Race 13 – Non-winners 4/6 races or $50,000/$75,000 life
(8) CANTAB FASHION hasn’t been able to relive his great performances as a 2-year-old but it doesn’t get any easier than tonight. (4) DEPLORABLE TOM seems to be moving in the right direction now for new trainer Andrew Harris. (6) HORNS FOR THREE qualified well behind a nice horse. Can he stay trotting? (9) QUEEN ON TRIXS has shown some ability at times but the post hurts.