Meadowlands: Friday 5/10 Analysis
Best Bet: GUARANTEED (5th)
Spot Play: AWESOMENESS (4th)
Race 1 - $25,000 Guaranteed Pick Five Pool
Race 8 - $50,000 Guaranteed Pick Four Pool
CHAMPIONSHIP MEET STATS: 7 - 26 / $42.60 (-$9.40)
BEST BETS: 1 - 1 / $3.20 (+$1.20)
Race 1
(6) BACKSEAT TERROR should have a clear road to the top in this short field and perhaps she’ll get brave on the engine. (1) SHE’S A MAJOR LADY raced well at big odds in her career debut and could certainly improve. (2) ODDS ON NAPLES seems fast enough but hasn’t been able to get over the top.
Race 2
(2) FRENCH CAFÉ comes off what looks like just an ok qualifier but she battled some brutally bad winds that morning which likely took about three seconds off the final time. Well-bred daughter of Father Patrick-Creamy Mimi deserves attention in this field. (6) TRIX ARE FOR KIDS came up second best last time to a nice foe. All of her recent lines look good. (5) DIVINE SPIRIT did ok in series action and should find this group to be in his comfort zone.
Race 3
(6) TOTAL DIVA is no killer but does find a soft field where she can head for the front and potentially not look back. (2) MAGIC N SPICE seems to be a horse with some issues. That said, on his best days a win would be well within reach. (9) KEYSTONE ACE rolls into town off consecutive breaks and might enjoy the switch to the big track.
Race 4
(5) AWESOMENESS woke up with a better mile last week and now drops into a great spot in the amateur ranks with a top driver. (7) SO TAKE THAT has proven himself in these amateur races and his form remains fine. (6) MCCITO looks like a player on paper but this driver tends to get overbet.
Race 5
(7) GUARANTEED could be any kind of horse at this point. I’m not about to play against him versus a mixed bag of NW2 types. (2) SUMMIT IN SIGHT kept his act together and picked up a win last time; he’ll need more here. (4) HOLIDAY HANGOVER has raced well in two starts since returning from winter vacation. If new driver Ginsburg can work out the right trip, he could get a nice piece.
Race 6
(6) TOTALLY TAKTER kept his act together with hobbles added in his most recent qualifier and seems to have caught a soft bunch here. (1) CELEBRATE IT ALL has done enough in qualifying action to make you think she can step up, but taking a close look at her in the post parade is suggested. (4) LAZZARO almost wired the field with hobbles added last time.
Race 7
(4) FOR A DREAMER has been racing well but getting stuck behind some slow fractions lately. This looks like the week were he comes off the gate hard. (2) DI OGGI is clearly a fit in this class but sometimes he gets himself into trouble with bad trips. (1) DON DREAM has looked good since returning from vacation.
Race 8
(3) MUCLE M UP has done good work since entering the Svanstedt barn and perhaps he is coming into his own. (2) OMAHA OMAHA has just one bad start this year. (1) DOVER DONY has speed and form; hard to toss. (8) HAMMER TIME & (9) KING CAVIAR are both capable but have a tough road ahead due to bad posts.
Race 9
(1) MISSION ACCEPTED proved to me he is the real deal with a solid mile in the Great Northeast series last time at Philly. (6) FIFTYDALLARBILL is the class of the race and if not for a break last week he could’ve placed nicely in the Cutler; using. (5) U NEED STONES takes a giant step up in class in terms of competition faced. He’s an underneath play for me in the exotics.
Race 10
(1) CRAZSHANA seems to be rounding into form based on last week’s performance. He steps up on paper but doesn’t face any killers. (5) LIFE WELL LIVED and IF NOT WHY NOT are both down a notch on the condition ladder. Either could perk up. (3) DW’S REVENGE was used early and lacked pop last time, but he did finish second in this class two back.
Race 11
(1) KEYSTONE NIKKI scratched out of a NW5100 race at Yonkers on Thursday for this spot and on paper this does look like an easy race. I imagine she’ll be kept close to the pace this time. (4) WYNNFRITH was claimed back by Surick for a higher tag than he lost her for. Seven-year-old mare is on a nice form spree. (3) EDEN PAIGE N ships into town for an easier class and might pick up her game. (9) WHISKERSONKITTENS won in this class last week and gets to hang around via the AE condition.
Race 12
(4) LANDONFITZ returns to the Meadowlands at a reduced level after a solid try at Freehold. (8) ARRAKIS has been facing better and he certainly has the early speed to be a player. (9) EXS AND OHS changes classes and a visit to the basement condition is always nice. (5) ARCH CREDIT is reunited with Andy Miller tonight.