Meadowlands: Friday 3/22 Analysis
Best Bet: BLUSH HANOVER (7th)
Spot Play: TROLLEY (12th)
Race 1 - $25,000 Guaranteed Pick Five Pool
Race 8 - $50,000 Guaranteed Pick Four Pool
MEET STATS: 181 - 570 / $1059.10 (-$80.90)
BEST BETS: 15 - 45 / $51.40 (-$38.60)
Race 1
(1) CC BIG BOY SAM has been a popular commodity at the claiming box, changing hands in four straight starts. His only win during that stretch came for trainer Rick Dane Jr and that is the barn he winds up in this week. With capable amateur driver Monica Banca at the helm, this 9-year-old should prove tough. (3) SO TAKE THAT sat off crazy fractions and uncorked his usual late rally to win. The setup might not be so kind this time. (9) VELOCITY SUB Z posted those crazy fractions and held very well; another speed blast coming?
Race 2
(2) FOREVERHILLREIGN posted two very nice qualifiers and was really motoring in the late stages last week. First-time starter looks like he has the talent to win but keep in mind that he’ll likely be handled patiently and will need stretch clearance. (1A) GOES DOWN SOUTH was an easy qualifier winner in his first start since early October. It is certainly possible that he has matured over the winter. (4) WINGS OF SPEED was raced easily in his career debut and could open up a bit now. (8) B MEDISTRIKE has a bit of GO to him but seems like the ‘handle with care’ type. I’ll wait for a better spot on top.
Race 3
It is difficult to fall in love with any of these from a wagering standpoint. (9) TUCKY’S JACK comes off a decent mile and perhaps he can show more for new connections. (5) KNIGHTOFVICTORY hasn’t won in years but his recent lines aren’t that bad. (4) P L LAYLA has some early speed and would be wise to use it tonight.
Race 4
(8) DIVAS IMAGE lucks into an upper level conditioned race dressed up as a Preferred. She has no excuses for failure despite post 9. (1A) INVERSE HANOVER finished behind the top pick in two of her last three starts at Dover, but does get to draw inside that one this week. (3) NEWSDAY comes up from Pompano off a useful first start of the year. Solid 2018 performer as a 3-year-old has a chance to show what she is made of in the older ranks.
Race 5
(2) LASA DIDA LADY picked up a second last week versus a runaway winner who steps back up to the Preferred condition this week. Five-year-old seems to have her act together after a string of breaks in February and might be ready to uncork a nice mile. (8) BIZET is clearly the one to beat but just not worth the odds-on price that is expected. (7) HAMMER TIME has been very consistent. He should get a piece and could get more if things go his way.
Race 6
Here is another tough race to handicap on a card full of brainteasers. (4) CELEBRITY LOVER gets some post relief and is as good as any in this field. I’ll take a shot at what should be a price. (8) TECH TITAN is clearly a contender but also the likely favorite, and a shaky one at that. It might be best to play against him and hope you land in the right square. (1) FASHION WINNER raced well on the class drop and should be close to the action from the inside post. (7) JUSTCALLMERONALD perked up in a hurry when switched back to this barn.
Race 7
(6) BLUSH HANOVER drops to the basement condition in her third start back from vacation and should crush this bunch. (4) DUCK DUCK DRAGON moved to this level last week and got caught in a fast mile as Tearful Of Happy came to play in a big way. She has a chance but gets unlucky to catch the top one. (1) LIVE ODDS tends to race well from inside posts so I’m expecting her to get into the exotics. (3) AMETHYST SEELSTER arrives in form and adds Gingras.
Race 8
I’m not quite sure what happened with (1) ATABOY HANOVER last week when he stopped badly, but typically when horses are entered right back the next week off lines like that the fix is easy. Let’s take the better price now and hope for better results. (5) NOWS THE MOMENT is a clear player and could be heading to the front. (7) PRESIDENTIAL ZETTE might just be sharp enough to take this giant leap into the mid-upper level non-winners races.
Race 9
(9) SHADY MCCOY gets to step down the class ladder once again and while his last line doesn’t look enticing, he got backed out of the race by a tired foe. The only negative for me is the outside post, though this field is loaded with early speed to set him up. (4) DAWSON SPRINGS has kept his act together in three straight starts and as stated, the pace could be quick, which could play to this closer’s strengths. (7) MIAMI was awful with Lasix added but his prior form was fine. Let’s expect a return to form. (6) HAMMER CREEK doesn’t like to win but gets into the number quite often.
Race 10
(4) TEARFUL OF HAPPY set a new lifetime mark off the claim by trainer Nick Surick. If she brings that same effort this week the result will be two in a row. (7) YOU SHOULD BE HERE chased for second money last time and has been in form for some time now. (9) SHEWEARSTHEPANTS rallied well from a tough post last time and is stuck outside once again. (10) WELL SAID MARIA comes off a win, but at short odds from an outside post, she seems worth a play against.
Race 11
(2) LANDONFITZ just missed in this class last time and he doesn’t face any killers in here. (6) HOCKEY HANOVER was keeping good company at The Meadows when last in action in December; return qualifier was decent. (4) PERSEVERANCE comes in from Dover off a win and seems like a decent fit with these.
Race 12
(5) TROLLEY gets the post position relief he needs to gun to the front and sit no worse than second. This is a great spot. (7) WINNING SHADOW came to town back in December on a winning streak and uncorked a strong 1:52 3/5 win. After a very sharp qualifier, I wouldn’t be shocked if he was ready to roll. (6) SUTTON got away with soft fractions last time. The going gets tougher this week. (3) RUBBER DUCK steps up to the top level and might just be sharp enough to make some noise.
Race 13
(8) ABBEYLARA faces a weak group and will romp if he brings anything close to his recent efforts. (6) TWINCREEKS JACK & (5) ABOUT THE BENJAMNS both have early speed and either could be a player if they get away soft. (3) JUST N BERLANDER is a trip player but hard to recommend with confidence.