Meadowlands: Saturday 6/3 Analysis

Best Bet: BETTOR'S EDGE (11th)

Spot Play: JET AIRWAY (2nd)

Race 1 - $25,000 Guaranteed Pick Five Pool

Race 3 - $25,000 Guaranteed Pick Four Pool

Race 7 - $50,000 Guaranteed Pick Four Pool

MEET STATS: 36 - 86 / $183.90 (+$11.90)

BEST BETS: 6 - 8 / $15.60 (-$.40)

Race 1

(3) VERY SPECIAL AGENT displayed some glimpses of ability last year despite failing to win a race. After a solid comeback qualifier and considering the competition, he should have a big shot. (1) FRANZ had some traffic trouble when a foe in front of him broke last time, yet he still paced home willingly. I’m not sure he is fast enough but I’ll use him on some multi-race tickets. (6) HALLIE’S COMET comes with a steady effort each week. I guess he could trip out and win.

Race 2

(1) JET AIRWAY chased slow fractions and really had no chance of rallying into a fast final quarter. Let’s look for a very aggressive effort in this spot. (7) IWILLMAKEYOUSAYWOW finished seventh last week but is still as sharp as ever. If he leaves hard, he’ll have a big shot. (8) ALWAYS AT MY PLACE has plenty of speed but lacked top form. Maybe he’ll pick up on the big track.

Race 3

(1A) TORI HANOVER was flat in her 2017 debut, but I don’t usually expect horses from this barn to be firing at first asking. Half-sister to American Jewel and Luck Be Withyou faces a blank field and should prove tough. (3) TRAFFIC JAM shows some good lines at Rosecroft and now moves into a new barn. (7) DR J’S KISS is the fastest horse on paper but I’m not entirely sold on her, especially is she winds up as the favorite.

Race 4

(2) DONAU showed some life from the back last week and I’ll take that as a sign he is ready to come to form. Combined with a nice class drop, he’ll be one of my key plays on the card. (4) MAJOR BUBBLES N doesn’t have many pretty lines on his program of late, but the switch to the larger track could help wake him up. (5) SCALPED didn’t show much after a long layoff from post eight; upset potential. (7) DEMOCRACY has won here in the past and Callahan does join the team. (6) MIDNIGHT LIGHTNING is a bit hit and miss. I wouldn’t be shocked if he raced well.

Race 5

(4) OUR REGAL IDEAL N raced steadily in his first North American start at The Meadowlands versus much better before going to Yonkers and getting dealt two bad posts. He’s back at the swamp tonight with a perfect post and looks very playable. (5) TWINCREEKS JACK was used hard from post 10 and hung in nicely for third. (3) VILLE VALO tried to rally into a slow half and predictably failed last time. He could step up here. (6) TO BEACH HIS OWN has valuable early speed and should be used underneath in the exotics.

Race 6

Since I have questions about some of the favorites, I’m going to roll the dice with (2) FAD FINANCE. She’s been in over her head lately and if Trond can keep her flat this week, she is fast enough to win. (3) JEWELS IN HOCK left her best game at home on a recent trip to Mohawk. I’d expect she’ll improve in her second start of the year. (6) STONEBRIDGE COMBAT has shown big early speed and might not be able to take back at this point, which hurts the chances of (7) WINTER HARBOR & (8) OOH RAH, who finished one-two last time but will most likely have to work out trips from behind tonight.

Race 7

(2) MEL MARA last on the front in his first start of the year and should only get better. (3) DEALT A WINNER has also come back to the races strong; major threat. (7) CHRISTEN ME N has been a bit disappointing thus far, but perhaps he is simply acclimating to this style of racing after life Down Under.

Race 8

(6) WOODMERE ULTIMATE has a string of outside posts on smaller tracks in his PP lines. Let’s look past those races and remember that he has done some good things here in the past, including leaving hard and winning with Callahan driving in 2016. (2) THISGUYSAROCKSTAR steps up off a decent effort while facing a mostly dull group. (3) MOONLIGHT RANSOM is certainly not one of my favorite horses but this is an easy spot.

Race 9

(4) ODDS ON EQUULEUS qualified back nicely and should be too classy for this group. (2) DAIYMIR comes off a 1:51 1/5 win at Tioga but was disqualified long after the race was official because the horse apparently wasn’t eligible to the series. The talent is there. (1) SAMS TRIPLE CROWN has displayed plenty of guts thus far. This is a big test. (5) SPICEBOMB has proven capable when feeling right.

Race 10

In a race that amounts to a crapshoot, I’ll try (7) DAYLYN HORIZON by default on the driver change angle to Tetrick. (8) WALKS OF LIFE comes with the certainty that he’ll me forwardly placed, which is more than the rest can guarantee. (1) CLARK P KENT could save ground and fire late…but so could many of these.

Race 11

(6) BETTOR’S EDGE drops down and should take care of business. (1) SIPPIN ON SUDS can stick close from the pylons and pick up the spoils. (8) ROLL ON goes for the same tag as he was at Yonkers, but with the exception of the top pick, this group is easier. (2) MEETYOUATMIDNIGHT is sharp but enters a barn that is winless at the meet.

Race 12

(6) ST LADS FLIRT comes off a decent effort and moves into a good barn; one to beat. (2) AMERICAN FLIGHT ships in for a stable that hits at a high rate here. (3) EVER AGAIN used to be pretty fast. Against this mostly dull collection of bottom-level pacers, maybe he can awaken. (1) TOSSIES FLASH has early speed and pylon position; using underneath.