Meadowlands: Saturday 4/6 Analysis
Best Bet: CENTURY CHURCHILL (11th)
Spot Play: MACH ONE (3rd)
Race 1 - $25,000 Guaranteed Pick Five Pool
Race 8 - $50,000 Guaranteed Pick Four Pool
MEET STATS: 201 - 622 / $1165.90 (-$78.10)
BEST BETS: 16 - 49 / $54.60 (-$43.40)
Race 1
(1) MCCLINCHIE N has been closing well from the back of the pack lately and on the class drop here Vallee calls on Gingras to drive. Expect to see a more aggressive steer. (5) NASCAR SEELSTER is another class-dropper in with a chance. Even though Gingras opted for the top pick, this 5-year-old has a chance. (7) BROOKIES PRINCE N raced evenly after some time off and could show more now.
Race 2
(2) WESTERN RED HOT moves to an inside post and faces a mixed bag of horses from various conditions. This looks like a good spot for him to show speed and shine. (1) FRANKIE BOY should stick close to the pace in a field without much early zip on paper. (6) JDS BRENT N SHEREE put in a good effort last time; using underneath.
Race 3
(2) MACH ONE outside posts and an amateur driver in one race have done this guy in recently. In a field lacking much form, this guy has a big shot to shine. (3) RUDE BOY hasn’t done much since Davis took over as trainer but he gets a big driver change tonight. (7) A SWEET RIDE moves into a new barn that was firing on all cylinders last week. (1) TALK SHOW was used up early and tired last time. Sooner or later he should wake up.
Race 4
(9) STROMAN put up a monster qualifier in his debut for trainer Jimmy Nickerson and seems worth a shot coming down to The Meadowlands since he is unlikely to be the favorite. (5) BLACKLIGHT seems destined to take a ton of money off a decent qualifier. While he can win, the price will be too low. (4) VODKA ON THE BEACH disappointed as the chalk last time but clearly figures in this field. (7) BOMBAY HANOVER is a capable horse is he behaves.
Race 5
(1) ABBEYLARA bumped up off the claim and predictably could threaten. Dropping back down he should prove tough. (8) ATOMIC REI scored at first asking for the Surick barn but wasn’t overly impressive. (7) THE ROYAL GARDEN N drops in for a tag. Everything from this barn is worth a look right now unless the Friday horses all come up sour.
Race 6
(3) WINNING LINC drops back down to the class where he won two back by four lengths. (4) CASTLE FLIGHT has been used hard and paid the price in consecutive starts; clear player. (2) MCTHRILLER does his best work down one class but he is still capable versus these with the right trip. (6) BUSHWACKER has early speed and should be in the number.
Race 7
(5) WHITTAKER N exits the Levy series where he was tackling some killers. When last here he was winning and racing well versus better than he faces tonight. (8) PLAY JET RAY wasn’t as good as I expected last week but I’m not about to give up on him that quickly; contender. (2) DUBIOUS CLAIM put up a big mile in a similar class a few starts back, but that was a weaker field.
Race 8
(8) AMERICANPRIMETIME brushed and went down the road last week and this guy has the class to back that up. (1) SHARP ACTION MONEY has developed a breaking problem at Yonkers. Perhaps the switch to the big track will cure what is bothering him. (9) DECLAN SEELSTER has displayed a nice ability to take air and still win, which may come in handy from the outside post; using.
Race 9
(1) ART DANCER exits some very competitive NW4/5 races for this somewhat soft NW9000. In a field where I don’t have a strong opinion, he should have a good shot. (7) QUALITY CLOSER won at this level two starts back and didn’t disgrace himself when up in company. (3) JK PARLAY has early speed if he needs it and should be in play.
Race 10
(1) BRAVE WORLD woke up in his second start for this barn with a sharp display of early speed and held for the win. Five-year-old put up some nice efforts on the big track up north. (7) DRAGON TIME raced better in his second start off the bench and could take another step forward tonight. (9) MINDTRIP hasn’t been the same since switching barns but does get in a softer spot this week.
Race 11
(2) CENTURY CHURCHILL raced better over at Pocono and now returns here against a very weak NW6000. This is a wake-up spot if I ever saw one. (1) LIVE ON has a couple of starts under his belt after a brief vacation; shows more? (3) SPAGHETTI EDDIE is a player but the top two are better if they bring their best game to the track.
Race 12
(7) SKIP JIVE raced well upon arrival last week and now drops to the basement condition. (1) SUNSET DREAMER hails from a high percentage barn and seems likely to be in play from the start. (3) SWORD OF THE SPIRIT just missed in his last try at the NW3500 level.
Race 13
(3) DAYLYN HORIZON finally showed some signs of life last Friday in his fourth start back from a break. Often it can take lower-level claimers a while to find their groove. (8) MAGNUM MIKE looks like a heavy favorite on paper, which is risky considering he starts from post 8 and doesn’t show much early speed. (9) IDEAL CANDIDATE does his best work at the $7,500 claiming level, and while this is a handicap, the race shapes up more like that bottom condition. (4) DRIVE ‘EM COWBOY gets a driver change to Gingras and is worth a look on the track.