Meadowlands: Saturday 6/25 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
CHAMPIONSHIP MEET STATS: 59 - 163 / $317.40 (-$8.60) BEST BETS: 8 - 14 / $20.10 (-7.90)
Best Bet: FASHION ROCKER (4th)
Spot Play: SOMESIZESOMESTYLE (8th)
Race 1
(7) CELEBRITY STIMULUS gets in against softer company and moves from an amateur driver to Vic Kirby. This looks like a winning spot on paper. (5) MR PROTAB comes off a very solid mile. Any similar effort would make him tough. (9) TROUBLE has come back okay from a long layoff but drew outside this week.
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Race 2
(7) HUG A DRAGONESS should be able to get the early jump on this field and prove tough to catch. (5) TONKA GIRL ships in for a very capable barn and could be live; watch the board. (6) ADDY GIRL beat the top choice recently, but I can see her getting looped away from the gate.
Race 3
(3) BEACH STORY is clearly nowhere near the horse she once was, but she comes off a game mile and has the tactical post edge. (4) BALLINEEN is certainly at a winning level if Kirby can work out a decent trip. (8) ROYAL ENGAGEMENT figures to be firing to the front in this spot; clear player.
Race 4
(3) FASHION ROCKER drops back down to the $10,000 claiming level and should prove tough to beat. (1) JETOMATT doesn’t look very appealing at first glance, but she should sit close to the action and have a legitimate chance late. (4) ARABELLA J looks like a fringe exotics player that could step up if things went her way. (7) NORTHERN BEAUTY has some early speed. That alone makes her dangerous.
Race 5
(7) STORMIN RUSTLER has performed very well at this level regardless of trip and deserves the call in what looks like somewhat of a two-horse race. (3) BROOKSTONE finished just ahead of the top choice last time and does have a post edge tonight. (4) BEAT OF NY looks to be in a slightly softer spot this week.
Race 6
(5) VAGUE TRACES won like a champ in his debut for the Ross Croghan barn. While some of tonight’s competition is sharp, he jumps off the page for me. (3) TYE SEELSTER rallied nicely in his third start for this barn and finally seems ready for a big effort. (2) GOOD DAY MATE has picked up his game over the last two weeks. (4) SOUTHWIND INDY comes off a win but things worked out nicely in that start.
Race 7
(7) JACKSRLUCKYTOO has been finishing fast from impossible spots in recent weeks. It’s a bit of a gut feeling on my part, but something tells me he is going to be closer to the action turning from home this time around. (3) CAUTION SIGNS picked up his game immediately upon arrival. This guy knows how to win and could easily string a couple together. (8) ASHLEY’S HUSBAND is always capable when racing at this level or below; hard to toss. (1) AMERICANPRIMETIME drops out of stakes action and deserves some consideration.
Race 8
(5) SOMESIZESOMESTYLE was third last week behind Jacksrluckytoo, who would be 1-9 in this race. Five-year-old lacks the killer instinct, but he seems to be in the right spot tonight. (2) ROCKIN WIZARD has early speed and form; must use against a weaker NW8000 field. (4) DOUBLE YOUR BET ships in for a barn that is winless at the meet, but don’t be fooled into thinking this is a bad stables; upset chance.
Race 9
(4) ALL THE COOKIES has some ability but has yet to put it all together. He was better last time with Lasix added and maybe now a couple of weeks later, he’ll show up with a big mile. (3) STOLEN GLIMPSE is the obvious one to beat on paper at a short price. (6) REDNECK RALLY showed some life in his last qualifier and the Miller barn has been doing reasonably well during the meet.
Race 10
(2) TRIPLE MAJOR raced okay versus better last week and will have no excuses versus this field. (5) RELENTLESS DREAMER is a closer that only seems to wake up in dull fields like this one; pick four must-have. (7) NOBLES FINESSE improved greatly with Lasix added.
Race 11
(2) OUREA NOURRIR double-drops in claiming price tonight. Veteran campaigner can take some air and knows how to get the job done. (1) BLATANTLY BEST sports very little recent form but has a ton of class; must include. (5) ITRUSTYOU drops this week and could be the favorite, which is an unappealing proposition.
Race 12
(7) AMPED UP had some traffic issues last week after a more conservative steer. I expect he’ll be forwardly placed this time around while offering some value. (3) RING WARRIOR goes for his third straight and should have a big shot. (1) BO’S SO HOT should be able to secure early position without working too hard from the inside post. (10) DABUNKA has form on his side but a bad post to start from.
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