Meadowlands: Saturday 7/22 Analysis
Best Bet: ODDS ON DELRAY (8th)
Spot Play: CHECKMATE TIME (9th)
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: 263 - 745 / $1,479.20
BEST BETS: 36 - 64 / $122.60
Race 1
(8) FLYING ISA N was flat last week but that can happen when returning from a long layoff. In a field without much form, he should have a major say with an improved effort. (3) BOOTSWITHTHEFUR drops down in class and I can definitely see Bill Mann trying to gun off the wings of the gate. (1) RIDGEWAY SPRINGS comes off a decent mile and should be forwardly placed from the inside post.
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Race 2
(1) TWINCREEKS JESSE is still looking for his first win of the year and it won’t get much easier than this spot. New driver McCarthy is good at bringing it longshots. (5) WOODMERE ULTIMATE has been a bit better in his last two starts and driver Tom Merton has shown he knows how to fire one up behind the gate. (2) QUALITY BUD just missed last out versus a better horse. My only concern is the three week layoff.
Race 3
(7) WALKS OF LIFE finished second behind Mr Julian last time and that foe stepped up to the $30,000 claiming level and was second last Saturday. Gelding has enough form to win against this group. (8) MASERATI SEELSTER ships in from Hawthorne for a barn that is having some success this meet. (6) UF FAST FEELIN is hard to get excited about but good enough to compete with these.
Race 4
(3) FEED YOUR HEAD almost wired the field last Saturday but was out-finished by a pocket-sitting (7) OVERDRAFT VOLO, who drew outside this time around. Gingras should be setting the pace again with #3 and have enough distance to hold off #7. (1) LEFT HANOVER has some early speed and will likely be using it tonight. (6) VOXY is worth consideration on the driver change angle.
Race 5
(8) ROLL N CATCH burned plenty of money as the 1-9 favorite on July 1 and now seems likely to offer a much better mutuel versus somewhat similar competition. If he was 1-9 before, certainly he is worth taking a shot with at 2-1 or higher, right? (4) STAKEOUT can’t seem to buy an easy trip of late. Driver change this week; must use. (6) ART MIAMI put in the same effort on consecutive weeks but it wasn’t good enough last time. He’s a player in here. (3) SOUTHWIND JENSON is just 1 for 11 in his career but yet still seems like a possible winner.
Race 6
(2) METEORIC got along nicely with McCarthy two starts back at Philly and this guy showed he can go with the better ones in the Dancer last time. With others looking ahead to the Hambletonian, perhaps he can steal this race. (8) ENTERPRISE hasn’t raced in over a month and his sights are set on the first Saturday in August, so I’m not sure what to expect tonight. (3) INTERNATIONAL MONI is another with high hopes and a five week layoff, plus he was out-kicked by a filly in his qualifier. (4) GIVEITGASANDGO has the early speed to make his presence felt and might just luck-out.
Race 7
(2) YES MICKEY stole a conditioned event a couple of weeks back and now tries his luck in stakes action again. New driver McCarthy should have him in a winning spot. (4) DOVER DAN stepped down the class ladder and won at Pocono most recently. He fits very well in this spot. (5) SOUTHWIND COBRA never got into the race from post 9 last time. I wouldn’t be shocked if he woke up here at a price. (3) PERFECT SPIRIT is fast enough to win given the right trip.
Race 8
(2) ODDS ON DELRAY left well but got caught in a bad spot last Saturday as the leader tired in front of him. He drops a notch this week and there are no excuses accepted. (3) BEYOND DELIGHT stayed on a bit better with Lasix added last Saturday. He’s a major player tonight and the only other horse on my pick four tickets. (7) JUSTIFIED has a pair of second-place finishes in this class over his last five starts.
Race 9
(3) CHECKMATE TIME looked like the filly we saw last year in NJ Sire Stakes action when she was a willing third last week in the Del Miller. If she can avoid too many stressful moments, this looks like a great spot. (5) FINE TUNED LADY has early speed and form. Cantab Hall filly has only been worse than third once in 18 career starts. (8) PRINCESS AURORA displayed some guts in winning her July 15 qualifier. Gingras joins the team now.
Race 10
(8) BEACH CLUB ships in with fine form for trainer Ron Burke and seems to have caught a soft NW11500 field. (6) BEYONCES ROCKN wasn’t going anywhere versus a much better group a week ago. If Lachance puts her in play I can see a win being within her reach. (9) BLUSH HANOVER has a tough post to overcome but certainly fits at this level. (4) MCACE OF ARTS tends to be forwardly placed when she draws well.
Race 11
(5) MORE DRAGON put in a big mile two starts back but couldn’t reproduce it in his most recent outing. If he has another top effort in him I’m sure Gingras will get it. (7) JACKSRLUCKYTOO is reunited with Tetrick after a somewhat flat try last time. (4) BRUCE’S MAGIC has dangerous early speed in his arsenal.
Race 12
(2) LAST DRAGON took care of business the last time he was at the NW3500 level. (1) VICTORYDAZE WILWIN is another one that tends to perk up when he drops down the class ladder. (4) CLASSIC AMERICAN N hasn’t done much in his last three starts but I get the feeling that a good effort is eligible to pop up at any time. (6) ST LADS FLIRT adds Tetrick and can certainly show more now.
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