Meadowlands: Friday 9/8 Analysis
Best Bet: I’M A BIG DEAL (8th)
Spot Play: STRENGTH OF A WOMAN (5th)
FINAL CHAMPIONSHIP MEET STATS: 122 - 312 / $578.00 (-$46.00)
BEST BETS: 17 - 25 / $54.20 (+$4.20)
Race 1
(2) TROPICAL STORM BI has the early speed and necessary inside post to secure good position. Five-year-old seems as good as any in here and figures to offer a solid price. (3) DIZZY RIZZY has won her last two races by a combined 15 lengths but I’m not sure she is worth a potential short price. (1) DANISH DURANGO won an Amateur race here in early August but with a different driver. McDermott trainee is the fastest horse in the race when right. (5) S J BETTER DAYS has some class and I wouldn’t be shocked if he woke up.
Race 2
(1) CAPRICE HILL has been racing well for some time while tackling the best trotting mares in the business. This abbreviated field is a step down and I’m hoping she’ll take charge. (3) P L JILL is in fine form and handled the class jump nicely last time. (2) OHO DIAMOND & (4) BROADWAY DONNA are both capable when feeling good.
Race 3
(6) DAB HANOVER qualified nicely and you’ll notice she held her own versus better in the Doherty here five weeks ago. (7) MEGADOLCE probably has the best looking lines in the field but with four seconds in five starts, I’m worried she lacks the killer instinct. (3) HEY JUDY JUDY just won by more than 10 lengths. That effort should instill some confidence in this daughter of Muscle Massive.
Race 4
(2) SONG OF THE VALLEY ships in from Northfield off a convincing win. I’m not sure how she’ll handle the big track, but none of these really jump off the page for me. (3) WAR CRY HALL drew inside of the other early speed players and seems likely to be on a mission early. (7) CELEBRITY STIMULUS is another with early zip and driver David Glasser seems to get along with him.
Race 5
(4) STRENGTH OFA WOMAN comes down from Canada off a solid win and needs to make some noise in here if she is to have any chance of making the final. (1) DEFIANTSNOWFASHION romped with hobbles added last time and may keep rolling with that equipment in place. (3) MOOSHKA STRIDE has turned in two decent efforts but has yet to live up to her $260K price tag.
Race 6
(3) POINTS NORTH is yet another from the Nifty Norman barn with a big chance in this Kindergarten series. Somebeachsomewhere gelding finally picked up win No. 1 last out and finds himself in another favorable position. (4) AMNERICAN INFLUENCE won at first asking and clearly has a big shot on Friday. (6) SURFING TIDE has turned in two decent efforts but hasn’t exactly been getting a lot of track time.
Race 7
(2) FARSETTI HANOVER has been competitive with better than he faces tonight. He should take charge here. (6) CHUCKY DE VIE has raced well at Ocean Downs. How will that form transfer here? (7) STORYTIME HANOVER is a high-priced yearling that has yet to pay dues. Can’t say I loved his recent qualifier, either.
Race 8
(7) I’M A BIG DEAL took a shot in the Champlain at Mohawk and couldn’t compete, though the 10-hole didn’t help. He is back in against softer company now and should take charge. (5) WINSTON comes off a win and seems to be moving in the right direction of late. (4) SUDDENLY SAM drops out of PASS races and could certainly show more.
Race 9
(6) U NEED STONES seems to be a bit faster than this group. The six week layoff is a concern but his comeback qualifier seems like it was good enough to tighten him up. (7) BROTHERS N ARMS broke in his debut and then was stuck with outside posts. There are enough excuses there to give him another shot. (8) MUSCLE FASHION jumped in the slop most recently but his prior efforts were fine.
Race 10
(6) KJ’S BEKAH could have a bit of a tactical advantage on what looks like a competitive group. American Ideal filly figures to be on the lead or in the pocket. (1) ALEXA’S POWER has never finished worse than second in five career starts; very dangerous. (5) REIGN ON ME raced well behind a nice foe in Kissin In The Sand when last in Kindergarten races. (7) I’M TRIGGER HAPPY goes for three straight.
Race 11
(5) SANDY’S BEACH wasn’t getting the job done from last after drawing an outside post last time. Her prior efforts were fine. (3) SOLITARY has early speed and has been very consistent of late. (8) ALDINE HANOVER comes off a win and should be competitive but I’m not sure she’ll be handled aggressively enough to get the victory. (7) BLUE GROTTO raced well in her last appearance in this series.
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