Meadowlands: Friday 5/31 Analysis
Best Bet: GREENSHOE (2nd)
Spot Play: MISSISSIPPI STORM (10th)
Race 1 - $25,000 Guaranteed Pick Five Pool
Race 8 - $50,000 Guaranteed Pick Four Pool
CHAMPIONSHIP MEET STATS: 33 - 103 / $190.00 (-$16.00)
BEST BETS: 4 - 7 / $12.80 (-$1.20)
Race 1
(4) GIVEMEYOURHEART went an even mile from post 10 while up in company. While she isn’t a win machine, she’s proven in the past that she can handle these low-level conditioned foes. (2) KEYSTONE NIKKI set a good clip and held for third when last seen at this level. (8) MAJOR MAID took air and lived to tell about it with a win last time.
Race 2
(3) GREENSHOE seems to have matured over the winter and there is no doubt he is seconds faster than tonight’s competition. The only thing he has to fear is himself. (8) SOUL STRONG has come back from vacation with a pair of strong miles and you might even get good value with him on the bottom of the exacta. (7) NO DRAMA PLEASE has the speed to make the front and should be a player in the battle for second. (6) REIGN OF HONOR owns a big late kick but might have too many to pass.
Race 3
(7) FIJI comes in with a string of ho-hum lines in amateur races but don’t let that fool you. When he reaches the basement condition a wake-up mile is usually on the way. (4) MAX VOLO would seem to be in a winning spot but is just 3 for 57 in his career. (5) RED WIES AND BLUE closed well at Yonkers and gets a shot on the big track now.
Race 4
(5) SAY YOU DO has been on quite a roll of late and slips into a great spot this week. (3) PAT MATTERS has a bit of class to her and might be sharper now with the start under her belt. (1) WARRIOR ONE hasn’t been worse than second this year. (4) DON’T LET’EM is capable of good things but I’m going to watch from the sidelines in his first start of the year.
Race 5
(6) STENHOUSE HANOVER lost to a decent horse the last two weeks while saddled with outside posts. He catches a field of mostly unaccomplished 3-year-olds here and should be able to pick up an elusive win. (8) TALKOHOLIC drops out of amateur action and may have more in store than you’d expect. (2) TOTALLY TAKTER could be a player if he decides to trot.
Race 6
(7) EVIDENT BEAUTY sprinted to the lead in the stretch in a race she had no business winning after chasing through slow fractions. She seems much the best of this group at the moment. (5) FRENCH CAFÉ really should’ve won last week but I’ll give her a break and expect more in her second start on Lasix. (9) STARITA came up with a big mile last time and I’d expect Brennan to be aggressive.
Race 7
(1) GOLD MEDAL SWAN grinded out a tough-luck loss last week. He should prove tough in this spot. (3) VEYRON returns here at a reduced level and merits some consideration. (9) SHADY MCCOY doesn’t look great recently on paper but is very capable at this level.
Race 8
(5) THE VETERAN needed the race last out and could be tighter now. Four-year-old outdraws his main rivals and could be interesting if put in play. (10) PAPPY GO GO raced very well versus tough competition last Friday and he does have the early speed to get involved. (8) JL CRUZE stopped badly last week for no reason. I’m not sure what to think. (6) PERLUCKY & (9) ICE ATTRACTION are capable horses if the trip goes right.
Race 9
(3) SIGNAL HILL faced some salty foes in that last qualifier, so don’t hold the fifth-place finish against him. In a field without a standout, maybe he can come out swinging off the bench. (2) MANOFMANYIMAGES comes in off a nice win at Yonkers. (5) TOUGH MAC has good early speed and is certainly a potential player.
Race 10
(5) MISSISSIPPI STORM hasn’t seen many good spots of late and while this field didn’t come up soft, it represents a big step down from what he has been facing. (10) IN MY DREAMS comes off two impressive wins at Yonkers and slips into this class on the Trackmaster AE opening. (2) BUEN CAMINO is capable of stepping up at times.
Race 11
(6) TRAFFIC JAM beat a fairly similar group last week and deserves the comeback call. (2) DIAMONDTOOTHGERTIE is down in class for a barn that excels with that type. (8) ROCKIN THE BOYS A raced well in his first start for Harris and could be ready to step up.
Race 12
(7) JOHN’S ONE DESIRE has shown some signs of recent life, which is saying a lot in this field. (4) ANOTHERPRETTYFACE ships in for a barn that is having a good meet. (2) NORTHERN SOIREE gets a good post to work with for the first time in a while.
Race 13
(8) UF ROCKIN DRAGON has proven himself here in the past and you know he has the early speed to make the top. (1) SERIOUS MAJOR wired a $10k claiming field impressively last time. (3) JUST N BERLANDER exits amateur races and still seems to be in fine form. (2) MCCITO chased #1 in his first start off the claim; using underneath here. (6) SIR RITCHIE N couldn’t be racing better and he did win here in 2018.