Meadowlands: Friday 5/24 Analysis
Best Bet: SOUTHWIND CHROME (5th)
Spot Play: JL CRUZE (6th)
Race 1 - $25,000 Guaranteed Pick Five Pool
Race 8 - $50,000 Guaranteed Pick Four Pool
CHAMPIONSHIP MEET STATS: 23 - 77 / $117.40 (-$36.60)
BEST BETS: 3 - 5 / $9.40 (-$.60)
Race 1
(3) OMAHA OMAHA is no world-beater but does find the easiest spot he has seen in some time. His last start in this class was against Graduate winner Muscle M Up. (1) WHITE TIGER kept his act together after the switch to this barn and did show ability as a 2yo. (5) WINNERUP comes off a monster effort, though that was set up by others going quick early.
Race 2
(4) KISSIN IN THE SAND faced a top-notch group last week and came up short in the lane. There are no excuses for failure this week. (5) BETTOR JOY N is a mare I really like but she seems better from off the pace and there may not be enough speed to set her up. (1) BETTORHAVEANOTHER should be sitting close to the front with a big chance of being in the number.
Race 3
(5) EVIDENT BEAUTY proved much the best facing many of these last week and should continue to roll tonight. (1) MARVELOUSTRIX continues to out-race her odds but she’ll need to go faster this week to have any chance versus the top pick. (6) FRENCH CAFÉ was quite disappointing last week but I wouldn’t hold it against her just yet.
Race 4
This claiming handicap came up cheap compared to the straight $7,500s (3) OH MY JOEPA has been tackling lately. Veteran took tons of cash and disappointed in his first start for these connections and raced well from a tough post last time. This is the perfect spot. (2) VILLAGE JACKSON has been racing well and perhaps the new barn this week can get the 11-year-old over the top. (6) DAYLYN HORIZON has been better off the pace and should switch tactics this week.
Race 5
Look down a few PP lines and you’ll see (6) SOUTHWIND CHROME took a shot in the Hambletonian eliminations before packing it in for the year. Both of his return races have been decent and now he catches a soft group for him to flex his muscles. (4) PILOT DISCRETION scored at first asking in 2019 and is now undefeated in three starts; main threat. (9) STENHOUSE HANOVER almost wired a field in this class last week but is 1 for 33 lifetime. (1) LAZZARO has been close each week but needs more to have any shot at a win.
Race 6
(2) JL CRUZE displayed marked improvement in his second start since October and I think he might be sitting on a big mile despite the fact that driver Andrew McCarthy opting for (4) MUSCLE DIAMOND. The latter broke in his first start since January but has shown an affinity for this track. (7) HANNELORE HANOVER qualified back from winter vacation in good order and while this group is a step below the best in training, it will be a good test for her.
Race 7
(6) GOLD MEDAL SWAN has been an also-ran since returning from a long break but his defense was in against some stiff competition. He should be able to shine this week. (1) LUCKY WEEKEND steps up but comes off a strong mile. (8) WILD SMILE switches to the big track and could awaken.
Race 8
(6) REIGN OF HONOR blew up early last week and took a bit of my money with him. I still believe he’s got talent and at least I’ll get a much better price when I play this time. (3) NO DRAMA PLEASE needs to find a way to get over the top but you can’t find much fault his two races thus far in 2019. (4) BATTENBERG lost to older foes and Greenshoe so far. I wouldn’t give up on him yet. (8) GALIXTON wasn’t bad last time and the driver change is interesting.
Race 9
(4) DIBABA N was thrown to the wolves in her first stateside start and rebounded with a nice mile versus easier last time. She should have a legitimate shot here. (7) MISS YOU N is on quite a roll and it will be interesting to see what she accomplishes on the big track. (3) TALL DRINK HANOVER could be the best 3yo filly in the sport at the end of the year but this isn’t a great spot to start her campaign; watching tonight.
Race 10
(2) SAY YOU DO came up short in a good performance last week and despite another step up in class, I’ll roll the dice again. (9) HENDERSON SEELSTER wired a cheaper field last time but is very capable of beating these. (3) SHEEZ ON A CRUZE drops out of a stakes competition and seems worth including on your tickets. (7) U NEED STONES is best on the engine and perhaps those tactics will be used tonight.
Race 11
This looks like the most difficult race on the card. (5) TRAFFIC JAM has been knocking on the door lately and here’s hoping Buter can work out a clean trip for her. (4) WHISKERSONKITTENS has been working on some sweet trips of late and she loses Tetrick here. (1) BEST OF JENNA, (2) AMATEUR HOUR & (7) TERROR AT NIGHT all arrive from Yonkers and look like contenders given the right trip.
Race 12
(2) MAJOR MAID finds a soft spot and that is when trainer/driver Eric Abbatiello tends to get aggressive early in the mile. (3) ROCKIN THE BOYS A moves into a live barn and could show improvement. (5) GLORIA PIERRE comes into town off two decent efforts.
Race 13
(1) IDEAL CANDIDATE tends to wake up at this level and Dexter Dunn in the bike is a good addition. (6) ABBEYLARA beat this kind last week but is typically trip dependent. (7) ALWAYS A TIGER comes into town off a nice performance. (9) OHIO LARRY was second for this claiming tag last time.