Meadowlands: Friday 6/21 Analysis
Best Bet: CAVIART ALLY (2nd )
Spot Play: DON’T LET’EM (7th)
Race 1 - $25,000 Guaranteed Pick Five Pool
Race 8 - $50,000 Guaranteed Pick Four Pool
CHAMPIONSHIP MEET STATS: 51 - 168 / $275.60 (-$60.40)
BEST BETS: 8 - 12 / $29.80 (+$5.80)
Race 1 – Non-winners 1 race life - $25K GTD Pick 5
(8) HATIKVAH moved into the Melander barn prior to his recent strong qualifier and seems to have figured things out. (5) GALIXTON kept up reasonably well versus top Hambo prospect Greenshoe last time out. (10) WINNING HABIT is in good enough form to win but has his work cut out from post 10. (6) CHEAP TRICKS burned a bunch of money when dropping out of Sire Stakes last Friday; rebounds?
Race 2 – Rainbow Blue
(1) CAVIART ALLY finally gets away from Shartin and should have a chance to stretch her legs with a big mile. (5) APPLE BOTTOM JEANS got a nice tune-up versus the boys in her recent qualifier. Assuming she leaves, the 6-year-old mare should be sitting in prime position. (2) KISSIN IN THE SAND hasn’t looked anything like the killer we saw last year and she continues to go through growing pains in her first year versus older foes.
Race 3 – Non-winners 2 races or $20,000 life
(5) STAR TRACK HANOVER comes off a nice win and adds Gingras. Three-year-old should sit a nice trip. (10) PERSONAL PARADISE comes off a big speed mile but it may be harder to last on the mile track. (2) MISS TRIXTON has proven capable of waiting and rallying late, but even so, will it be enough. (6) SCIROCCO DONNAHILL flashed late trot at Pocono versus #10 and seems to be moving in the right direction.
Race 4 - $7,500-$10,000 Claiming Handicap
(2) BANK SEA drops in claiming price and is rewarded with an inside post. Hopefully he can show a bit more in his second start for this barn. (8) VILLAGE JACKSON & (7) MCCITO ran one-two last week in a nice mile. Can they possibly knock another big mile out of the park? (4) TITUS SEELSTER should be able to come on late for an exotics spot.
Race 5 – Non-winners $12,500 in last 5 starts
(1) ON THE ROPES came up with a big mile a week ago and may just be ready to build on that effort. (4) PERLUCKY drops down to a winning level; using. (2) HENDERSON SEELSTER has proven capable when he stays flat. (3) MAX VOLO moves to a better post and still has decent form.
Race 6 – Graduate Trot
(8) ATLANTA is undefeated on the year and needs a good showing here after missing the first leg of this series. (2) CRYSTAL FASHION has been rounding into top form and seems to have found it. Don’t be shocked if he pops a monster mile soon. (5) PLUNGE BLUE CHIP scratched last week out of the Armbro Flight but she is loaded with talent. (7) MANCHEGO hasn’t done much yet as a 4-year-old but maybe new driver Dexter Dunn can turn her around.
Race 7 – Winners 4-7 races life
I loved the debut mile from (4) DON’T LET’EM and while he will likely get another conservative steer, I believe we are going to see a big mile from him soon. (9) FOR A DREAMER has an experience edge on his mostly younger rivals and has enough early speed to get into the mix. (7) FINAL CLAIM comes back off a freshening and has proven capable of a big mile in the past. (2) UNION FORCES raced well to start his 2019 and could certainly show more now.
Race 8 – Graduate Trot - $50K GTD Pick 4
(1) PHAETOSIVE comes off a complete throw-out mile at Tioga where she had no shot after chasing soft fractions. Now three starts into her 2019 campaign, I think we see a sharp mile from her here. (4) SIX PACK has been just ok so far but is obviously capable of much more. (3) FIFTYDALLARBILL rarely puts in a bad mile and a win is not out of the question.
Race 9 – F&M Non-winners 4-5 races or $50,000-$90,000 life
(5) KEY WEST improved in her second start of the year and seems to be edging towards a peak effort. (4) NEWSDAY was a solid second last week versus a very sharp foe. (2) SWEET DIAMOND is another which showed improvement last time. Well-bred filly could move forward. (9) SHE’S ALRIGHT lured Yannick, which surprised me a bit. Maybe we’ll find out why tonight.
Race 10 – Non-winners $17,500 in last 5 starts
(7) YES MICKEY put in a solid mile the one time Dunn was in the bike and he’s as good a choice as any in this competitive event. (4) ICE ATTRACTION finds the best spot she has seen this year and a wake-up mile is very much in the cards. (2) JL CRUZE deserves some respect because of his class but I haven’t been thrilled with any of his 2019 races. (6) PAPPY GO GO should be in the number somewhere, but his best is not as good as the top effort from others in here.
Race 11 – F&M Non-winners $3,500 in last 5 starts
This looks like a spread race in the Pick 4. (4) OUR ELS DREAM N was used hard from an outside post when last seen here and could get away with cheaper fractions or a pocket trip moving to post 4. (9) JOHN’S ONE DESIRE is certainly the sharpest in this field and is a must use on all tickets. (3) FOX VALLEY HERMIA was too far back last time but I get the feeling we may see early speed this week. (1) ADORABELLA exits Sire Stakes competition as she moves back to the east coast; maybe. (2) GIVEMEYOURHEART doesn’t win often but this isn’t a tough spot. She’ll save ground and might shake free.
Race 12 – Non-winners $9,000 in last 5 starts
(2) BOSSE DU FOSSE woke up in a big way in his first start for Silva, charging home impressively. He might be able to handle the class jump. (7) EXPLOSIVE RIDGE chased home a can’t-lose winner last time and deserves consideration in this spot. (5) SHADY MCCOY is capable versus this type when feeling good. (3) CHECKMATE TIME will take them a long way but seems likely to get passed by someone late.
Race 13 – Non-winners $3,500 in last 5 starts
(2) THERAPUTIC came back from a two month break with a solid attempt and really faces a soft group this week. (3) HAVEITALLTOGETHER comes to town for a barn that has seen success here this meet. (8) CARDINALE didn’t improve with Lasix added but sometimes second time’s the charm. (10) BELL A CHICK has form but a bad post.
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