Meadowlands: Saturday 4/20 Analysis

Best Bet: K RYAN BLUECHIP (8th)

Spot Play: IMAGINEUWITHOUTME (9th)

Race 1 - $25,000 Guaranteed Pick Five Pool

Race 8 - $50,000 Guaranteed Pick Four Pool

MEET STATS: 217 - 674 / $1321.30 (-$26.70)

BEST BETS: 16 - 53 / $54.60 (-$51.40)

Race 1

(7) MCRAVEN finds a good spot in this Trackmaster Rating race and figures to be handled aggressively for the high percentage Surick barn. (1) CAMWISER came up with a big mile last time and now gets a better post to work with here. (8) ABRAHAM N was too far back on a track that heavily favored speed early in the card; in with a chance.

Race 2

(4) GRAND TETON won his 2019 debut easily enough. Legitimate stakes performer last year should prove tough in this spot. (3) WHEELS ON FIRE just missed last week in a good effort. He’s capable but I think the top one is better. (2) MACH AND CHEESE is sharp enough to compete but seems to be a step slower thus far.

Race 3

(6) UFFIZI went down the road versus a soft field last week. He takes a logical step up but really didn’t catch the most difficult group. (1) DECISION DAY is down in class and really hasn’t been racing badly despite the 0 for 9 record. (8) ALL IT TAKES also drops a notch and picks up Gingras; using.

Race 4

(10) ELEKTRA KING makes her first start for Ron Burke and seems to have landed in a decent spot if she can overcome post 10. She has displayed early speed in the past, so you would think she’ll be able to get early position. (1) ODDS ON NAPLES & (4) ABIGAIL DAWN finished a neck apart at the wire last time and both are in with a big chance.

Race 5

(7) POP POP JOE has done his best work on the engine and last week settled in fourth. Hopefully we’ll see big early speed in this spot. (9) RATHER SWELL is back in the claiming ranks after a spell in amateur races; form is good. (3) MAGNUM MIKE always seems to be there and last time he got the win; hard to toss.

Race 6

(5) MACHIATTO A came up with a big mile on the switch to the big track last week and anything close to a repeat effort would result in a win. (6) TALK SHOW had no shot last time but ends up in a better spot here and could menace at a nice price. (2) ALWAYS A DIAMOND battled gamely with the top pick and just missed a week ago.

Race 7

(1) DUBIOUS CLAIM drops down off a good effort where he missed by only a neck. One would think this is a winning spot. (8) BRAVO TEX N never got involved last week but is at a winning level if he can get a decent trip behind live cover. (2) HIGHLANDBEACHYCOVE was racing a couple of classes higher when last seen here. He can definitely be a player in this field.

Race 8

(5) K RYAN BLUECHIP drops out of the Preferred and should take this field to task easily enough. (6) PENZANCE HANOVER took a shot and tired last time. He’s better than that effort. (2) ROUGH ODDS & (1) STONEDUST will need a top effort but either could pull off the upset if the top pick comes up short.

Race 9

(1) IMAGINEUWITHOUTME dropped in for a tag last time and couldn’t do much damage from post 10. Moving to a more desirable post, this guy should prove tough. (6) FOUR STACES couldn’t get near the lead last time and wound up parked through fast fractions. He’s clearly a player here moving back into the Fusco barn who he won fortwo back. (4) SPAGHETTI EDDIE & (9) JK PARLAY have good early speed and both are in with a chance.

Race 10

(4) MAJOR AUTHORITY paced home well last week with no shot while racing up in class. Four-year-old is in better form than it seems on paper and should offer some value. (8) BETTOR’S EDGE typically takes a few races to get into peak form but actually raced very well last week. Double millionaire can boss this group if ready to fire. (1) MCCLINCHIE N drew the inside with Gingras two starts back and sealed the deal. This is a tougher field but he has a reasonable chance. (7) I’M A BIG DEAL was a quality 3-year-old and should be tighter now. The question is whether Dexter Dunn makes it back from Yonkers in time to drive.

Race 11

(6) BUSHWACKER is a horse I tend to avoid because he just doesn’t win often enough, but the 8-year-old gets serious class relief this week and should have a big mile on tap. (4) LYONS KING scored in this class last week and new driver Cole has done well with him in the past. (8) SAMS A CHAMP A is another dropping in class and you might get a sweet price here; using. (7) REBEL ROUSER is on quite a winning streak and Gingras was lured to join the team. He has a shot but I see him as a pass due to poor value.

Race 12

(8) LIVE ON dropped to this condition last week but really wasn’t in a great spot. I’m expecting to see him forwardly-placed versus this field. (9) CC BIG BOY SAM exits the amateur ranks and is another that could be on the move at the start. (10) TJ BLAST drops down and keeps the services of David Miller.

Race 13

(1) DIABANDO turned into a new horse after the claim and Surick smartly shoves this guy right back in for the $7,500 tag; that’s how you win races. (2) DAYLYN HORIZON is a horse I’ve been chasing lately without success. He is going to fire a big one sooner or later, hopefully with my money behind him. (3) R U MACHIN ME arrives for a capable barn off a decent effort. (7) OH MY JOEPA won in this class two starts back.