By Edison Hatter, Meadowlands Handicapper Early Double Analysis Friday, July 14, 2023
Race 1
1 GOTTA MINUTE N Finished second last time out in a similar spot last week and will look for a repeat of that effort in this one tonight. Recent form has been pretty solid and he has been picking up checks in his recent Big M MADC starts.
2 BIONIC He’s won two of his last four now and they’ve both come when he’s been able to control the race from the front end. Draws inside tonight and will likely be looking to push off of the gate towards the front again this week.
3 MAKE IT BIG Had some breaking issues last time out down at Philly, but he did win two in a row before that here at the Meadowlands against MADC company. Draws well on the return to the big track and will look to rebound here.
4 BRAZILIAN BRAZILIAN Recent from didn’t show the most for him going into last week, but he always seems to do well against MADC company and now has a few wins in these types of races this year. Strong :26.4 kicker last week.
5 THNDRFRMTHETHRON N Picked up a nice win four back in a TM Series and posted a big win in an MADC spot two back. Couldn’t offer a lot late last week against a TM field, but will look to rebound on the return to MADC foes.
6 ROSEY TIME She’s picked up a pair of checks in her last two up at Tioga, but wasn’t particularly threatening for a win. Finished fifth three back here against similar, but did kick in :27.2 and was closing significant ground late.
7 YER SO BAD Won well last time out against similar and has now won two in a row against MADC foes. Recent form has been very sharp and he’ll look to keep it rolling here just two starts removed from his lifetime best mile.
8 SKYWAY BILLY Tough first over trip that didn’t work out three back against similar, but his recent form has very sharp otherwise against TM foes. Outside post tonight, but comes into this one fresh off of a lifetime best 1:51.1 mile.
9 CLAYTONS BETTOR N Solid second against Amateur foes down at Philly last time out and he won just two starts ago in a deadheat against similar here. Last few races have been solid, but he’ll have to prove it from an outside post again.
10 SHIP WRECK BEACH K Solid third four back against a conditioned group here and he posted a pair of wins down at Philly in recent times. However, he couldn’t get a lot going last time out from Post 9 against similar. Post 10 tonight.
Top Contenders: 7-4-5-1
Driver Choices: Jim King Solomon 2 Over 3
Race 2
1 MR GRANT Won both of his qualifiers down at Pocono and backed those up with a win in his debut just a few weeks ago. The bargain Harrisburg purchase will look to translate his Pocono success to his first try on the big track tonight.
2 BRIGHT STAR Took a step forward in his second qualifier here from the first as he took control early last time out and kicked home strongly after setting slower fractions early. Pricy MUSCKE HILL colt from Lexington last year.
3 CLASSIC LANDING Sat the pocket and was able to kick home in :27.4 to pick up a win in his debut last week in the Kindergarten Series here at the Big M. He’s shown a nice progression every time we’ve seen him on the track so far.
4 ALL TOO WELL Finished a distanced third on debut down at Pocono off of a just okay qualifier here at the Meadowlands last month. Moves back to the big track tonight, but has some lengths to find on MR GRANT.
5 POOF OF RECORD Finished second in a pair of qualifiers down at Magical Acres so far. Was beaten by CABALLERO two back, who kicked home a bit stronger. The homebred did show a nice improvement in his second Q from his first.
6 CABALLERO Won a qualifier down at Magical Acres two back and took a step forward to finish second in a qualifier here at the Meadowlands last week. Finished off his mile pretty well last week in prep for tonight’s career debut.
7 JERRERSIN The $150,000 Lexington purchase showed some talent two back down at Gaitway in his first qualifier, but he had breaking issues when seen most recently. Draws the outside post on debut and will be looking to stay flat here.
Top Contenders: 3-6-2-1
Driver Choices: None
