Meadowlands: Saturday 6/22 Analysis
CHAMPIONSHIP MEET STATS: 51 - 168 / $275.60 (-$60.40)
BEST BETS: 8 - 12 / $29.80 (+$5.80)
Best Bet: MCERLEAN (3rd)
Spot Play: SPIRIT OF TRUTH (5th)
Race 1 - $25,000 Guaranteed Pick Five Pool
Race 8 - $50,000 Guaranteed Pick Four Pool
Race 1 – GSY Amateur - $25K GTD Pick 5
(5) BIG JER raced well from a tough spot in his lone recent amateur appearance. That was against a better overall group. Veteran should have every chance to win. (4) SERIOUS MAJOR has been parked the last two weeks and that should be less of an issue moving to post four. (2) DULL ROAR is clearly facing easier this week; using. (8) JACKAMINO has been racing well in this series week after week.
Race 2 – 4-year-old Preferred
(1) AMERICAN HISTORY has struggled in his 4-year-old season while facing some stiff competition. This looks like the spot for him to shine. (5) ALWAYS A PRINCE has gone some big miles while travelling around from track to track. (4) BACKSTREET SHADOW has won two of three and seems to be getting better with age.
Race 3 – War Horse, Winners of 20 races and $200,000 life
(1) MCERLEAN has been stuck with outside posts at Yonkers lately and prior to that was facing better at Freehold. This is a perfect spot for the near-millionaire. (3) ROCK THREE TIMES moves down in class off some decent lines. (6) ATOMIC REI has some form but closing into slow paces is quite difficult. If the go too fast early he’ll be there to charge home. (7) VICTORYDAZE WILWIN won this class last time and certainly could repeat.
Race 4 – Non-winners $12,500 last 5 starts
(3) ALOTBETTOR N finds a softer spot this week and should be ready to fire a big shot for high percentage connections. (1) MUSIC IS ART & (4) LYONS STEEL are both early speed types that could grab the bull by the horns and get away with cheap fractions.
Race 5 – Non-winners $3,500 last 5 starts
(5) SPIRIT OF TRUTH gets post and class relief this week. It’s been a long time since he’s been in this cheap at The Meadowlands. (7) ALL IT TAKES moves way down the class ladder and you’d think he’ll wake up. (2) MR CARROTTS dropped to this level and missed by just a neck two starts back. (5) SPIRIT OF TRUTH is another class-dropper in a field full of them.
Race 6 – G Notes, Trackmaster Rating 75 or less
(4) TARAMAKAUREACTOR N has been trying to close into slow fractions with no success. I’m going to take one more shot this week in a field with no early speed and hope driver Bill Mann gets aggressive. (2) FIRE LIGHT & (5) TAILGUNNER HANOVER are both coming off wins in this class and certainly figure as contenders, but neither is a win machine and the price will be short. (7) BUCKEYE CHROME has been racing well of late.
Race 7 – Trackmaster Rating 80 or less
(6) SPONDULICKS N was forced into very fast fractions and paid the price last week. He can march down the road in this spot. (5) IN ROCK WE TRUST took advantage of the misfortune of the top pick and rallied to control in the lane last time. With a similar effort he can compete. (7) STARSKY’S DREAM N exits claimers and might have a say.
Race 8 – Non-winners $9,000 last 5 starts - $50K GTD Pick 4
(4) BIG STRETCH MARK was a winner when last seen at the NW 9000 level and I’m certain Pat Berry will be firing off the gate. (10) SHNEONUCRZYDIAMND A responded with Lasix added last week and takes another step down the ladder tonight. (7) NEW TALENT gets a new driver this week and maybe that will help him last the mile. (2) FOUR STACES moves into a new barn off a decent mile and sticks with an inside post.
Race 9 – Non-winners $6,000 last 5 starts
(4) CONSTNTLYSIDEWAYS A has been awful lately and now changes barns. The ability is there is his new connections can find the answer. (2) CENTURY CHURCHILL woke up as expected on the class drop last week. He doesn’t catch the toughest group here and might be able to go back to back. (10) SAMS A CHAMP A is down in class and could potentially awaken, though I’m not sure what to expect. (7) MIKE’S POWERHOUSE has the early speed to make noise and get a share.
Race 10 – Non-winners $25,000 last 5 starts
(7) MCTHRILLER was used hard versus a much better group in the Golden Receiver last time and still hung in reasonably well. That sixth-place finish could mean a better price tonight. (4) SWEET ROCK comes out of the same race as the top pick and finished less than a length behind. (1) WHEELS ON FIRE has early speed and pylons position. He could be firing hard off the gate.
Race 11 – Non-winners $3,500 last 5 starts
(3) BYBY LANDON comes off an ugly line, but that was against a better group and from a bad post. This is a great spot for him to shine. (7) JACK RACKHAM also comes out of a better race and although he hasn’t won much lately, he could potentially compete here. (4) DAVID THE SAINT qualified back nicely.
Race 12 – Winners 4-7 races life
(5) SHARP ACTION MONEY got bested by a better horse last week. He has a big shot to rebound here. (2) CRUSADES raced well in his debut for the Harmon barn and he could improve second start out. (6) PRINCE OF TIDES has found his grove lately but gets tested here. (7) YOUCANIKNOW comes off an improved mile at Pocono on June 9.
Race 13 – G Notes, Trackmaster Rating 75 or less
(6) SOUTHWIND DARWIN got hung out last week but should have less trouble making the front here in a terrible field. (5) ROCKS NOBLE ARTIST raced well against better when last seen. (8) BUCKEYE IN CHARGE comes off a tough-trip mile. (4) SPEAR POINT has hit the board in four of his last five starts.