Meadowlands: Saturday 4/9 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
MEET STATS: 145 - 489 / $856.40 (-$121.60) BEST BETS: 20 - 37 / $81.80 (+$7.80)
Best Bet: MEL MARA (6th)
Spot Play: PEDRO’S DREAM (3rd)
Race 1
(7) CAMWISER has done well at this level with a couple of wins in his last four starts. Veteran switches barns but shouldn’t miss a beat with Zeron taking over the lines. (4) MEDOLAND JATE has been racing well with Lasix added. (6) ABSOLUTELY MICHAEL has been racing okay. In this field that makes him a contender.
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Race 2
(3) SHAVING MUG drops in for a claiming tag tonight and should be handled aggressively. (5) AMPED UP had no shot from off the pace last time at Freehold. He’s another one I’m expecting to be showing early zest. (4) UF FAST FEELIN scored at first asking for new connections and remains at the same level; obvious player.
Race 3
(4) PEDRO’S DREAM was on my radar last week but didn’t gain late in the mile. Six-year-old picks up David Miller this time around and deserves another shot on that angle alone. (5) NATHAN FEELSGOOD is another that disappointed a week ago. I’m going to use him once again on some tickets because I know he can beat this field on a halfway decent night. (3) FOR A BETTOR TIME returns to the Meadowlands at a reduced level.
Race 4
(5) CITY PIE has raced well at this level on numerous occasions and doesn’t exactly face a group of killers on Saturday. (8) MOONLIGHT RANSOM takes a meaningful drop down the class ladder and could be firing fast off the gate. (2) SOUTHWIND INDY could make some noise if he reverts back to his 3-19 performance. (4) RELENTLESS DREAMER is always a closing threat in a bad field like this one.
Race 5
(3) WESTERN FAME raced well in his return qualifier, closing in 26 2/5 for the win. Lightly raced son of Western Ideal gets a narrow call. (2) IDEAL SON took some air and held well in his career debut. If he can build off that effort, he’ll be tough. (1) COMBAT was under consistent late urging in the stretch a week ago and seemed to get the idea that he needed to go on late in the mile; still learning. (7) DUKE OF DELRAY has displayed speed and raced well here in the past.
Race 6
(1) MEL MARA wasn’t going far last time after sitting behind pedestrian fractions. He should dispatch of this field as the odds-on chalk. (7) NITRO SEELSTER ships in sharp and has the early zip to make his presence felt. (6) SIR SAM’S Z TAM raced deceptively well behind some top horses last out.
Race 7
(6) ALWAYS AT MY PLACE didn’t exactly light the world on fire at Yonkers in Levy action. Fast son of Always A Virgin looked good qualifying here and is eligible for a wake-up on the switch to the big track. (2) MCARDLES LIGHTNING has reached the top of the condition ladder after three straight wins. Four-year-old continues to show upside and might me this good. (3) DOVUTO HANOVER wired a good bunch last time and remains a threat. (7) JK ENDOFANERA has tons of class, but taking into account the outside draw, I’ll wait one start.
Race 8
This mini-final should be a competitive race. (7) GRATIAS DEO beat up on easier foes last time and should have picked up some confidence along the way. Butenschoen trainee raced well here last year as well. (5) GOOD SIDE also won a preliminary leg last week and shows some fast miles in his 19 wins. (6) ROCKIN ROBERT flashed speed at both ends of the mile last Saturday. (1) RESTLESS NATIVE makes his second start since February 13 and should be tighter.
Race 9
(2) STRATOCASTER drops down and has proven to be versatile. (5) AVENUE HANOVER doesn’t race that often but has 21 wins in 89 career starts. (4) PIECE OF THE ROCK should get first shot at the lead and if his outside competition gets too comfortable, he could steal the race.
Race 10
(3) PRINCE PALANI returns to the level of his last win and doesn’t exactly face a strong group tonight. (1) CITY HALL came up with a huge mile here last year and seems to be in good enough form to come up big. (8) STARSKY’S DREAM N drops for a barn that is having a good meet.
Race 11
(7) WELL BRED qualified well with a strong final quarter versus a stacked field of quality Open types. Four-year-old makes his Ron Burke barn debut and could be very tough as the likely favorite against a lackluster group. (3) ASTOR comes off a decent effort. (5) BOBJACKS ANGLE A is off a win and could be dangerous if the pace gets hot.
Race 12
(7) DRAGON EDDY raced okay last time considering he hadn’t been out since October. Four-year-old set a 1:50 mark as a sophomore and raced well in his rookie year as well. (4) TWINCREEKS JESSE was used up early a week ago and could be dangerous if able to conserve his energy. (8) DAVID THE SAINT enjoyed the switch to the Big M and seems dangerous again. (3) DR C’S Z TAM could sneak into the number with a smooth trip.
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