Meadowlands: Saturday 7/21 Analysis
Best Bet: DEALT A WINNER (4th)
Spot Play: PENPAL (7th)
Race 3 - $25,000 Guaranteed Pick Five Pool
Race 8 - $50,000 Guaranteed Pick Four Pool
CHAMPIONSHIP MEET STATS: 82 - 227 / $396.10 (-$57.90)
BEST BETS: 13 - 21 / $40.80 (-$1.20)
Race 1
(6) LANDONFITZ exits the Amateur ranks and gets trainer Eric Abbatiello back at the helm. Eight-year-old is capable of taking charge in a weak field. (4) MR PROTAB raced well two starts back and caught a better field last time. This spot is more up his alley. (8) SWEET JUSTICE is way down in class but has awful form; tough call. (9) ARRAKIS also seems to be in cheap but drew worst.
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Race 2
(6) SUN SHINES BRIGHT has won two straight in this condition. This spot seems slighter tougher but she should still prevail. (4) HURRIKANE EMPRESS qualified well and has a knack for finishing second and third. (1) LONELY DAYS raced ok from outside posts when last here in this class. I wouldn’t be shocked if she saved ground and came charging home for a nice piece.
Race 3
(7) OSIRIS BLUE CHIP sprinted home in 26 3/5 last time showing life for the first time in a while. In a field where it is hard to get excited about any of these, that late pace could be an indicator of a strong effort. (4) NY WHITESOX picked up his game in start two for this barn. (6) OUTSIDER was used hard on the lead last time and took too much air the prior start. I’m not counting him out of this race. (9) DANISH DILIGENCE comes off a decent try and can get into the exotics despite the bad post.
Race 4
(6) DEALT A WINNER has been a legitimate stakes horse for years and he finds himself in an overnight this week. He should win for fun. (5) CLOUSEAU HANOVER comes off a strong effort and should battle for second. (4) EXPRESS STRIDE N got the class relief he needed but was unlucky that the top pick ended up in this field; exacta player.
Race 5
(3) DAENERYS HANOVER wired a similar field in this class last time from post 9 and looks like the clear one to beat again. (10) ICOMMANDMYSPIRIT took aim on the top pick and couldn’t pass most recently. She has the early speed to overcome the outside post. (8) INTOVIEW & (2) MILADY DENVER A exit a tougher race at Philly and can play with this group.
Race 6
(1) EVALUATE burned plenty of money including mine when he came up flat last time after Wolfgang got the jump on him and he couldn’t quarter-move. There are no excuses this week. Callahan must place him on the engine and see what is in the tank. (5) MET’S HALL chased in a world record mile and that should have him tight enough to show more now. (2) SAMO DIFFERENT DAY couldn’t get into the action from an outside post in the Dancer. He can make some noise here on his best.
Race 7
(5) PENPAL is back in the conditioned ranks here at her favorite track. I expect she’ll handle this group. (7) ROCKIN PRALINE just missed behind the top pick in her last try. (6) STORMTRACKER has the early speed to be a factor but must get the front easily to have the chance to stay around at the end of the mile.
Race 8
(3) HEY BLONDIE was in the outer flow behind slow fractions and kicked home nicely in 26 2/5 in the Del Miller last Saturday. Now in her fourth start of 2018, she seems primed for a strong performance. (9) LOOKING FOR ZELDA leaves Ohio behind to take a shot on the Grand Circuit. Break The Bank-sired filly has the ability to get involved. (2) TOP EXPECTATIONS should be handled aggressively from the inside post and seems capable on her best.
Race 9
(3) MESSI N showed some early speed and still finished up willingly in his first North American try. Down Under import could be live here. (6) SPRINTER N moves in a few spots after racing well in this class from post 9 a week ago. (2) EVER AGAIN moves into the Burke barn and gets a major driver change to Tim Tetrick. (7) BRUCE’S MAGIC & (8) QUALITY BUD are sharp but need their best to win.
Race 10
(4) NEW JERSEY VIKING raced evenly in his recent qualifier. The fact that he’s missed seven weeks of action isn’t ideal, but he does have the class to best this group. (10) MISSLAROSE is clearly fast enough to sprint off the gate from post 10 and make the top if she behaves. (3) DREAM BABY DREAM couldn’t get her act together for Czernyson and now moves on the to the Brett Pelling barn; tricky read here.
Race 11
(2) GO BIG SPENDER gets class relief and should be handled aggressively. (9) MAJOR WAR was dead on the board and not surprisingly made a break. Let the toteboard be your guide. (5) BETTORS GLASS scored a major upset when last at this level. With the right setup he could do it again.
Race 12
(4) FRANKANDJOANNE gets post and class relief this week and finds a very soft field. He hasn’t been great this year but does come off a decent effort. (9) ROCKET J is going to make the lead without having to work very hard one of these weeks. When that happens, he’ll win. (5) URBANITE HANOVER drops down a class but still likely needs a good trip to have a shot. (6) OUTCRY didn’t get involved last time. There is a better shot of him showing speed this week.
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