Meadowlands: Friday 7/8 Analysis
Race 1 - $30,000 Guaranteed Pick Five Pool
Race 3 - $25,000 Guaranteed Pick Four Pool
Race 7 - $50,000 Guaranteed Pick Four Pool
CHAMPIONSHIP MEET STATS: 74 - 209 / $439.80 (+$21.80) BEST BETS: 10 - 18 / $27.90 (-8.10)
Best Bet: EVERY WAY OUT (2nd)
Spot Play: CHECKMATE TIME (3rd)
Race 1
(5) FLY ON chased a somewhat slow pace and sprinted home nicely in her pari-mutuel debut. He can build on that effort. The well bred (9) KING ON THE HILL made a late miscue in his debut and now adds Yannick Gingras to the equation. He clearly merits consideration but seems likely to be overbet. (2) SOUTHWIND COBRA put in a credible mile last week and seems worth using.
Race 2
(1) EVERY WAY OUT took care of business easily with the trainer in the bike last week and should have at least similar results against the same field with Tetrick driving. (3) DEO GALILEO was no match for the top one last week but nearly 10 lengths better than the rest; ice cold $4 exacta in store. (2) ICANWITHMAGIC looks as good as any of the rest.
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Race 3
(9) CHECKMATE TIME was driven with extreme patience in her debut and she promptly uncorked a 26 1/5 final quarter to sprint by the field. This Muscle Hill-Miss Checkmate filly seems to have some ability. (6) FEED YOUR HEAD wasn’t awful in her first pari-mutuel race and can improve. (2) ROMANCING RACHEL could have a chance if she can mind her manners.
Race 4
(6) KENNAN bested a similar group in the amateur ranks two starts back and seems to be slightly better than these. (5) CAPTAIN PRIMEAU has done well in these amateur races and should bring another honest effort. (8) NOWUCIT NOWUDONT is good enough to win, but this horse is not the best fit for an amateur driver.
Race 5
(3) SHE’S WATCHING, a half-sister to world champion He’s Watching, put forth a strong qualifying mile last time and her lone morning defeat came at the hands of World Apart, a 6-1/2 length first out winner in 1:55 2/5. (1) SOMETHINGINAWATER finished up her most recent qualifier with something left. Both of Wenditions first two foals set their lifetime marks as 2-year-olds—1:52 4/5 and 1:51 4/5. (4) ALL ABOUT THE PACE & (2) MISS JONES both come in off wins in the morning and deserve some consideration in a field with talent.
Race 6
You would think that I’ve had enough of (4) JACK VERNON by now. I just keep getting sucked in by his pure speed. Driver David Miller has sat behind him twice and was able to keep him trotting. Maybe he is the answer. (2) DOG GONE LUCKY would be my pick if this race was going for $100k, but I would imagine he’ll get a conservative steer once again this week. (5) WAITLIFTER K raced okay to start his 2016 campaign and should be helped by the addition of Tetrick. (8) MARION MARAUDER seems like to be closing from last as he gets a start over the track prior to stakes action.
Race 7
(1) INITTOWINAFORTUNE has been getting better each week and finished just a neck behind (7) MEDUSA last time. Let’s give her the narrow call to turn the tables on Medusa and snap the 5-year-old’s four-race winning streak. (2) KATIE SAID was a killer about a month ago but hasn’t been quite as sharp lately. That said, I respect her chances.
Race 8
(7) CRAZY WOW finally kept his act together for an entire race in his last start and now might be able to work on winning. He certainly has the class to overpower these. (5) DANISH DURANGO seeks his fifth straight win. (8) WIND OF THE NORTH hasn’t done much; class relief should help. (4) ITS HUW YOU KNOW has the speed to get the jump on them early.
Race 9
(7) CLEMENTINE DREAM came up short in the stretch versus a much better group than she faces tonight. The form is there and I’ll stick with her. (5) SOUTHWIND POSEIDON ships in from Tioga off a nice win and picks up Gingras. Note that he trotted in 1:52 3/5 here last year. (4) BLUE MUSE is a fairly consistent sort who should get a decent piece.
Race 10
(5) PURITY remains in decent form and gets a meaningful class drop to NW5000 tonight. (4) FOUR HOUR NAP gets a nice driver change to David Miller and has the early speed to make his presence felt. (7) KIA KAHA N makes her U.S. debut off a solid qualifier. (3) LET HER ROCK also gets a new pilot at the helm.
Race 11
(6) LIVINGINTHEDREAM overcame post 10 to score at first asking and faces a similar field this week. (5) WONDERFUL WORLD was a solid second behind the top choice last week; main danger. (7) STRONGRTHANASTORM broke at 2-1 in his debut and probably deserves a second chance.
Race 12
(9) WORLD CUP comes off a win versus cheaper, but this field isn’t exactly world-class. I’ll take a shot with Gingras jumping in the bike. (3) CELEBRITY STIMULUS has won two straight and the trifecta is not out of the question. (1) KELSEY’S KEEPSAKE has some ability if she can put it all together.
Race 13
(4) IRISH KATH N was better in her qualifier than it appears on paper. She faced some traffic and finished up willingly. (1) JANIE BAY improved as expected on the class drop and now drops in for a tag; very dangerous. (7) MILLWOOD FAITH N raced well in her U.S. debut and adds Tetrick now. (6) M A JACKIE has been a steady check-getter.
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