Meadowlands: Friday 7/5 Analysis
CHAMPIONSHIP MEET STATS: 63 - 208 / $319.60 (-$96.40)
BEST BETS: 9 - 15 / $33.20 (+$3.20)
Best Bet: LADY LOU (7th Race)
Spot Play: CAPTAIN BARBOSSA (2nd Race)
Race 1 - $25,000 Guaranteed Pick Five Pool Race 8 - $50,000 Guaranteed Pick Four Pool
Race 1 – New Jersey Sire Stakes – 2YOF - $25K GTD Pick 5
(4) FORTUNE STARLET floated away from the gate but wasn’t given much chance to succeed sitting fourth behind pedestrian fractions. Driver change here says connections were expecting more as well. (1) COMMON SENSE S flashed good speed and both ends of her debut mile. (6) VIOLET STRIDE was never involved in her debut but finished up well. (9) JULA CHAMPAGNE will need to step up off her qualifiers but there could be some ability here.
Race 2 – Kindergarten Classic – 2YOC&G
(3) CAPTAIN BARBOSSA was locked in behind foes throwing his head as he wanted to go in md-stretch before finding room and charging home in his latest qualifier. I’m on board even though McCarthy went to #2. (4) SUPER MAC shows some nice morning efforts for a barn that has been sending his 2-year-olds out ready. Somebeachsomewhere gelding is a full brother to two $600K-plus winners from the mare’s first five foals. (2) CHIEF MATE lost to a very game winner in his last qualifier, but I’m somewhat concerned that he was asked and couldn’t pass.
Race 3 – New Jersey Sire Stakes – 2YOF
(3) SPOILED PRINCESS was relaxed at the back and came home with good energy in her initial start. I don’t think we saw her best and she could be put in play from the inside post. (8) DRAMATRA rolled down the road but didn’t exactly rocket off the gate. There is some early speed inside her which could cause some trouble. (5) CAVIART EVA & (4) SPIRIT OF DEO finished a nose apart in a different NJSS division last time; clear factors.
Race 4 – New Jersey Sire Stakes – 2YOC&G
(8) ROCK N TEEN rallied nicely in his first career start and this field seems to have come up a little soft. Hopefully Callahan puts him in play from the get-go. (2) VILLIAM paced home nicely after saving ground last week and is another who might show more now. (3) CEDAR HALL HEAVEN is one of few in here who came up running with early speed in his first pari-mutuel start; dangerous. (11) ROCKIN THE ACES beat all of the top three last time but has to start from the second tier now.
Race 5 – Non-winners 2 races or $20,000 life
(9) GALIXTON blazed down the road with some solid fractions last time and with Ake putting Dunn up to drive, I’d expect similar tactics. (6) SOUTHWIND CHROME never lived up to expectations and now finds himself in a new barn. If Cullipher can figure him out he could win by open lengths. (1) SKYWAY KON MAN went a long mile and hung in there nicely at Yonkers. He has raced well on bigger tracks in the past. (4) ARCHIE HILL is likely to save ground and in a field with potential breakers and a lot of early speed, that could be a recipe for success.
Race 6 – Kindergarten Classic – 2YOF
I was leaning to (8) JK FIRST LADY but seeing that Gingras chose her pushed my decision over the top. First foal from former Horse of the Year JK She’salady dealt with stretch traffic in her latest qualifier and finished up willingly. (3) SHOULDABEENATD has some impressive lines from Gaitway which I couldn’t see. (6) SWEETONTHEBEACH finished up nicely in her latest qualifier. She’s the first foal from a mare that paced in 1:50 4/5 and earned over $474K.
Race 7 – Kindergarten Classic – 2YOF
(4) LADY LOU strode clear from her competition effortlessly last time and seems to have talent. (5) REAL LONG HANOVER displayed good third quarter speed and also won by open lengths in the morning. (10) CAVIART JANE put up the fastest qualifying win and is the first foal from 1:49 3/5 mare Act Now. (9) BOLT OF BEAUTY hasn’t done anything wrong.
Race 8 – Non-winners $9,000 in last 5 starts - $50K GTD Pick 4
(4) QUALITY BUD picks up Gingras. In a race where none of these really jump off the page, perhaps he can wire the field. (2) NASCAR SEELSTER perked up upon arrival. Maybe Berry just gets along with him. (1) MESSI N is a sharp horse that can handle this class rise. (5) JK WILDFIRE could be a threat if they mix it up on the front, though I’m not sure I see that happening.
Race 9 – Kindergarten Classic – 2YOF
(1) HIDDEN COVE won in 1:57 2/5 at Monticello and that is no easy task for a 2YO filly. She also has early speed in her corner, which will serve her well with many taking it easy in their first starts. (4) REFLECT WITH ME uncorked a very impressive final eight when asked in her latest qualifier. (2) JK FINENDANDY finished with a visually impressive burst in both qualifiers, but that could mean she’s in a bad spot and potentially stuck in traffic after slow starts. (6) NEVER EVER FORGET qualified well and has some history as a half-sister to Key Advisor ($215K) and All Star Rating (1:49). (1) ROCKNIFICENT rallied well in the morning. She’s the first foal from Rocklamation (1:48 3/5, $2.2 million).
Race 10 – Non-winners 4-6 races or $50-$90K life
(3) MAJOR DECPTION couldn’t handle foes in the Hempt but is back at his comfort level where he has won before. (2) CRUSADES has been racing well and now moves into the Burke barn; short price expected. (8) RESPECT OUR FLAG is a capable horse if Bongiorno can find a trip from the outside post. (5) FROMTHESTARTAGAIN comes out of some fast races on the NYSS scene. I’m going to give him a look on the track.
Race 11 – Non-winners $17,500 in last 5 starts
(5) DARLING MEARAS S hasn’t lived up to the hype thus far but did qualify well and I’ll take a flyer with her. (1) THE ERM is fast enough to win but has been off form. Maybe the change in scenery will help. (7) JOEY BATS has turned his year around since the switch to this barn. (9) BUEN CAMINO might be on the move early with Gingras taking the lines.
Race 12 – Kindergarten Classic – 2YOC&G
(7) CAPT MIDNIGHT looked like he had something left in his neck win last time. Colt is a full brother to Meadowlands Pace starter Captain Trevor (1:49 1/5). (2) BOMBSHELL HANOVER finished just a neck behind the top pick last time, so it is hard to toss him. (6) GENIUS MAN might get overlooked in the wagering but seems like a player on paper. (5) CAPTAIN NEMO is out of a mare who has thrown three six figure winners from four foals including Hayden Hanover (1:49 3/5). He seemed to have more left in his last qualifier.
Race 13 – Non-winners $12,500 in last 5 starts
(1) CHIEF JUSTICE raced well for second behind a potential Hambletonian player last time. Perhaps this one is finally ready to awaken. (5) HENDERSON SEELSTER has been doing better of late and he has the early speed to menace. (9) CALL FOR JUSTICE & (10) CASINO CUTIE IT are poorly drawn but have the form to win with the right trip.
Race 14 – Non-winners 4-6 races or $50-$90K Life
(6) SMART AS HILL has some ability but also a propensity to break. He’s more than capable of taking this field down. (9) REIGN OF HONOR raced ok in the Beal; much easier spot here. (1) GERRY has the early speed to be close but he must behave. (3) CAPT CHAPS HANOVER kept his act together with hobbles added.