Meadowlands: Friday 5/19 Analysis
Best Bet: EVERY WAY OUT (2nd)
Spot Play: CHECKMATE TIME (1st)
Race 1 - $25,000 Guaranteed Pick Five Pool
Race 3 - $25,000 Guaranteed Pick Four Pool
Race 7 - $50,000 Guaranteed Pick Four Pool
MEET STATS: 18 - 42 / $82.60 (-$1.40)
BEST BETS: 3 - 4 / $8.40 (+$0.40)
Race 1
I’ve been very impressed with (5) CHECKMATE TIME when she decides to stay trotting. Her last miscue might just bump her price up. (1) HILLARMBRO qualified nicely for a barn that has been having good success with horses back from layoffs this meet. (4) FEED YOUR HEAD raced well last year and her qualifier could be a key race. Winner That’s All Moni raced well in a Sire Stakes and third-place finisher Cresurrey won here last week.
Race 2
(4) EVERY WAY OUT should win by 10 lengths if he doesn’t make a break. (1) DEO GALILEO has been on the road plenty lately, going from Florida to Canada to New Jersey. He should be a clear second best. (5) PRAIRIE MCDREAMY is probably looking at third as his ceiling in here.
Race 3
(5) LONG TOM raced well at Lexington last year but ran into some breaking issues afterward. I liked what I saw in his return qualifiers and love that Melander is enlisting Tetrick to drive here. (2) YES MICKEY was a game second behind a decent youngster to start his 3-year-old campaign. (1) IMPACTER started his year off right and picks up a top catch-driver this week.
Race 4
(1) BJANTHONY drops down this week as he enters the amateur ranks. In a race that seemingly lacks outside speed, driver Joe Lee just needs to keep this guy close and find a seam in the lane. (2) REAL DJ HANOVER beat a bad field last week. Five-year-old has a good shot in here but will likely be an underlay. (7) PINE TAB is racing well but doesn’t win (7 for 162 lifetime). (3) KEYSTONE THOMAS has the speed to control the race but had every chance a week ago. (5) TOSS CARTWRIGHT is an interesting longshot play; post relief.
Race 5
Reigning 2-year-old filly Trotter of the Year (3) ARIANA G returns versus New Jersey state-bred competition and is very hard to pick against. (5) ICE ATTRACTION was a solid second versus a nice-looking 3-year-old colt in Enterprise; facing girls now. (1) DREAM BABY DREAM went a brutal trip in her first start of the year. There is talent in this gal. (2) MYAMMIE DRAMA has looked good so far; big test here.
Race 6
(7) CRAZY WOW was a sharp second behind perhaps the best trotter in the country (Resolve) in the Cutler memorial. This should be his race to lose. (6) WINGS OF ROYALTY won easily to kicki off his 2017 campaign and is more than capable of winning if ready for his best. (3) JL CRUZE has been racing well so far this year and merits consideration.
Race 7
(5) APPOMATTOX seems to be at the level where he has trouble, but this field seems more like a NW11500 than a NW15000. I’ll take a shot that Callahan gets aggressive and sits no worse than a pocket trip. (1A) GURAL HANOVER is certainly in cheap and he has the early speed to dart to the front in a hurry from his outside post. (8) FAD FINANCE is certain to be forgotten in the wagering, but this mare has some class and could pull off a shocker if the trip is right.
Race 8
(4) WHAT THE HILL took care of business nicely in his first start of the year and seems to have landed in another winning spot. (2) KING ON THE HILL was used in a pretty quick mile in his latest qualifier. There is talent here. (7) SIGNAL HILL dug in nicely while confidently handled in his qualifier last Friday. I wish he would have drawn inside.
Race 9
(4) EASTERN PROMISE comes off a solid effort to begin 2017 and seems to have caught a soft field. Hopefully Campbell will hustle this guy off the gate for position. (2) CELEBRITY RUTH broke on the half-mile at Freehold and should enjoy the big track. I am somewhat concerned that she’ll be handled gingerly off the miscue. (6) SHIVERED qualified back OK and does show enough ability to compete at a price. (8) ANOTHER CHAPTER was stuck in post eight at Freehold in the Dexter Cup. We should get to see how good he is in this spot.
Race 10
(4) COLORFUL JASMINE has yet to finish worse than second in her career and dominated in the slop to start off the year. Against what looks like a soft field, she should take charge. (3) RINGING OF THE BELL got a chance to face her peers last time but landed an outside post; chance to wake up here. (7) ARE YOU TERRY picks up a catch-driver.
Race 11
(6) GALARINA comes over from Freehold in good form and picks up Callahan. (4) MOJARRA HANOVER would be a lock in my book if Sheehan was still training. I’m really not sure what to expect from her here, but this is a winning spot. (1) BACKWOODS BARBIE took plenty of air last week and draws inside now. (3) LITTLE MISS MARIE has been racing well; using underneath.
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