Meadowlands: Analysis for Friday 6/19

CHAMPIONSHIP MEET STATS: 199-63-41-19 / $319.90 (-$78.10)

BEST BETS: 13-9-2-0 / $26.90 (+$.90)

SPOT PLAYS: 14-1-3-4 / $3.80 (-$24.20)

BEST BET: ROCK MY UNIVERSE (9th)

SPOT PLAY: TOBY ORNOT TOBY (8th)

Race 1: Meadowlands Amateur Drivers Club 1 Pace - Pick 5

(3) FERDINAND A drops back into the amateur ranks where he’s won two of his last three starts. He should be able to get around the two to his inside without breaking a sweat and might even get enough separation to guarantee no worse than a pocket trip. (2) MEET THE CREEPER has been racing well of late for a barn that has been better lately as well; needs a smoother trip. (6) MARSHALL ZHUKOV moves into a new barn that has done good work this year and with some new arrivals. He’s winless on the year but should be able to use his early speed to work out a trip.

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Race 2: Trackmaster 71 (NW L2 73.18) or less

(7) MR GRANT has been sharp with victories in both of his recent efforts in this class and with Vandervort in the bike the price should be reasonable. (4) ALL TOO WELL has finished second in this class four straight weeks; obviously contender. (1) IN SECRET was a decent second in his 14-year-old debut and picks up Boyd this week. He’s a third-place finish away from reaching millionaire status; Pick 5 worthy.

Race 3: $20,000-$25,000 Claiming Handicap - Pick 6

(3) DANCING LEW dropped in for a tag last week and got caught first over and couldn’t overcome the trip. A smoother journey can turn the tables for him. (8) CURBSIDE PICKUP rolled past many of these after sitting off a hot pace; big threat to repeat but no lock. (6) IDIOSYNCRATIC was never put in play on the big class hike last time. Beckwith joins the team now and perhaps that means a more aggressive try is coming. (7) ACAPULCO SUNBURN has early speed and form; dangerous as well.

Race 4: Trackmaster 68 (NW L4 69.15) or less

(4) COUNTRY DANCING got in a decent tune-up after missing six weeks of action. Four-year-old won multiple times in this class last year. (2) BABY DOLL JEN moves back to the inside of the gate and should have a say in here, especially with Miller taking over the lines. (3) SWEET TALKIN GYPSY picks up Beckwith. Will that alone be enough to get this mare her first win since December 2024?

Race 5: Meadowlands Amateur Drivers Club 1 Pace

This is a very competitive amateur event with many possible winners. (5) PIRATES SHADOW is new to the class having not started since February when Cote Keim took over the training. He’s now been in this barn for long enough and I can see him being ready to fire fresh. (1) SEEYOU AT THEBEACH finally draws a decent post after a string of positions on the outside of the gate. He should be very competitive in here. (4) ROCK ON LINE is certainly sharp enough to win if Verruso can work out a trip for this pace reliant sort. (7) WHAMMER JAMMER tends to get more aggressive in these amateur races and he can take some air and race well.

Race 6: Non-winners 2 (NW L/S 3) races or $20,000 (NW L2 $30,000) life/Maidens draw inside - $50K GTD Pick 4

(9) ISABELLA BI gets some major class relief here as she drops out of the Platinum ranks of the NJSS. Svanstedt should have this gal flying off the wings of the gate and into the action. (5) OPULENCE didn’t behave in her first start of the year but deserves another look. (6) SEVENATO went his best mile of the year on the big track at Vernon. This would seem to be a good shot to see how good he is at this point. (4) ZIDANE KEMP faces a different caliber of competition this week after romping last time in his Bongiorno barn debut. I don’t think he is good enough to win but I wouldn’t be shocked if he did.

Race 7: Exit 16W Final for F&M NW 3 races or $30,000 life

(3) YGRITTE keeps rolling along and is now perfect in four starts this year. There is no reason to get off the bandwagon. (1) IT COULD BE WORSE was second best behind the top pick last time and you can certainly make the case that he’ll be tighter in his second start since October. (7) LUCCHESE has been finishing well but hasn’t been given a true chance to succeed. Could we see some speed this time with a new driver in place?

Race 8: Exit 16W Final for H&G NW 3 races or $30,000 life - Pick 5

(3) TOBY ORNOT TOBY had some traffic trouble last time. It’s irrelevant when considering him because his win chance was zero due to a slow pace. That mile came after a four-week absence and I expect he’ll be much more prominent tonight. (7) SOUNDS SO SWEET has the early speed to get into play and he rarely misses a chance to hit the top three. (1) ROCKNACIOUS is going to be 3-5 here after a two-move win last time. He’s certainly a contender but hardly worth the short odds off a race where he basically stole the win with soft fractions.

Race 9: Non-winners $2,500 (NW L2 $3,000) in last 5/TM 77.5 (NW L2 79.5) or less/Opt. $12,500 Clm.

(1) ROCK MY UNIVERSE put in a steady mile in his Harmon barn debut. Five-year-old has beaten much better here and could be very tough to beat if Harmon gets more out of him in start two. (2) NICCOLO has defeated lesser in his last two tries here. The form is good and he’s a viable win player. (6) IM AN ANDOVER seems to have been helped by the time on the sidelines if the last qualifier is any indication. I’d use him underneath in exotics.

Race 10: Non-winners $2,500 (NW L2 $3,100) in last 5/TM 77.5 (NW 2L4 79.5) or less/Opt. $12,500 Clm. - $50K GTD Pick 4

(8) TWIN B SUNKISSED gets a key class drop tonight and while she isn’t known for blazing gate speed, she has on occasion taken that tool out of the bag. We should see it here. (4) AMERICAN STORY has looked sharp in consecutive victories and now gets a tougher test versus sharper or more capable foes. I’m using her but wouldn’t take a short price. (1) BLUE POINT is going good now and certainly capable of a win. (5) STAY HAPPY is the other class-dropper in the field. She’s winless on the year and owns no form; your call.

Race 11: Trackmaster 71 (NW L2/L6 73.05/74.65) or less/Opt. $7,500 Clm.

I rarely switch my picks for driver changes but the move to Bongiorno tonight is too much to ignore on (1) DIVIDED WE FALL, who has been racing well for some time but hasn’t gotten over the top at this level. Bongiorno has been waking up horses and I think he can do it here. (5) DREAM PILLAR drops to the TM71 level where she has two wins and five seconds in her last seven starts. Despite the good performances, we should get value here as most people focus on (4) PINK LUMIERE, who steps down the class ladder as well and has much prettier form. (6) HOLD MY TIARA drops to the level of her last win. She’ll need some pace help.

Race 12: Non-winners $2,500 (NW L2 $3,281) in last 5/TM 76.12 or less

(6) STORM THE COURT put up the fractions and came up just short last time. Still, it was a big effort considering he hadn’t raced in 40 days. Now he comes back in less than two weeks and should be ready for a peak performance. (10) MOVING ON OVER has some excuses since the trainer change in that he missed four weeks before the first start and got caught in a 1:48 3/5 mile last time; big class drop now. (9) CHALK HANOVER is another one of the droppers and he raced well last week. Post and lack of obvious early speed are the main issues. (4) A LITTLE KICK gets major post relief while facing much better; underneath is probably his limit.

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Race 13: Non-winners $5,000 (NW L2 $5,630) in last 5/TM 80.5 (NW L2 83.72) or less/Opt. $17,500 Clm.

(3) HOUSE BLEND has been knocking on the door lately and this looks like the spot she’s been waiting for to walk on into the winner’s circle. (4) MISS DOTTIE MAE figures to fire to the front versus this field and at worst come away in the pocket. (5) COCCO PUFF POWER owns two wins in her last five starts while the rest of the field has none. There is no doubt she is facing tougher but at least she has some early speed to get into tactical position.

Race 14: Trackmaster 69 (NW L4 69.15) or less

(2) GIRL ALMIGHTY raced well on the engine last week and perhaps she can work out a pocket trip here and pounce in the lane. (3) WOODMERE LEAH was visually flat but in reality wasn’t as bad last time because it was the result of a 57 1/5 half that kept her from advancing. (9) SHEISHUNGRY was a winner when last in this condition two starts back.