By Edison Hatter, Meadowlands Handicapper Early Double June 23, 2023
Race 1:
1 MASTER CONRAD – Finished third last week against similar MADC company and took significant money after the last quarter he showed two starts ago from an outside post. Draws inside again this week and will be a use in this one.
2 PAN STREET USA – Big longshot in his last two against similar since shipping back in from Freehold and he just hasn’t been able to get a lot going in those starts. Does draw inside tonight, but would need to take a major step forward.
3 PRINCE ASTON – Couldn’t quite get things to work out as he finished sixth against similar on the ship in from Freehold. Has shown some solid miles this season, though, and will look to take a step forward in his second local start.
4 DRY RIDGE ACE – He had five wins last season and while he doesn’t have a win yet this year in seven starts, he has been second or third five times. Finds a tougher group here, but he’s race well as of late. I’ll give a chance here.
5 WIGGLE MY COOKIE – Finished third two back against similar as the favorite, but had to settle for fifth last time out after being parked the mile from an outside post. Draws much better tonight and should have a big chance in this one.
6 MAYBE NED – Won just four starts ago down at Freehold, but he hasn’t been able to get a lot going in his last two in the TM Series here at the Meadowlands. Did win against Amateur company at Freehold this Spring at a big price.
7 SOMESURFSOMEWHERE – Passed some rivals in the last quarter form his Post 10 draw last time out off of the sick scratch and a few weeks off. Has some upside here as he draws better and makes his second start since the sick scratch.
8 BURNING DESIRE – He just hasn’t been able to get a lot going in his last two against similar since shipping in from Maryland. Draws outside tonight and would need to take a big step forward in this one to be able to contend.
9 UNCLE COZ – Took some money three and four back, but overall just hasn’t been able to show a lot in his recent form against similar. Draws another outside post in this one tonight and looks to be up against it again here.
10 RED DIRT BOOMER – He’s gotten some checks in his recent starts, but hasn’t particularly been threatening for a win down at Philly or Freehold. Moves to the big track tonight, but will find a tough assignment from this Post 10 draw.
DRIVER CHOICES: Jacob Stillwell 6 Over 7
Selections: 5-4-1-7
Race 2:
1 KING CAST – Won five starts ago down at Freehold against Amateur company, but hasn’t quite been able to repeat that in his four starts since. Still, there’s been some okay miles in there. We’ll see how he takes to the big track tonight.
2 SWAN CAROL – Scratched sick last week from a conditioned spot and wasn’t able to get a lot going two weeks ago in a spot against similar TM foes. Draws inside tonight, though, and does show a victory against similar four back.
3 BLOGMASTER – Recent form has been very sharp for this one between Freehold, Pocono, and his last two here at the Meadowlands. Moves from Amateur races to this TM spot tonight and it appears he could fit in this one.
4 REAL MCCOY – He did pick up a check at a massive number last time out against MADC company and has now gotten checks in three of his last four. However, he is still 0-for-19 on the season and will continue to look for a win here.
5 EL MISSION GODDESS – Won well in a 32-1 upset last time out over at Yonkers against much tougher. He put together a decent mile earlier this year here at the Big M against similar. Big chance tonight against this group.
6 SCIROCCO PATRICK – Got some class relief last week on the ship in to the Meadowlands, but wasn’t able to get a lot going in a pretty even try. Draws well tonight and finds a significantly softer group than the one he saw last week.
7 IFNOTMEWHO – She made a break late in the mile two back, but she has been getting checks in her other recent Meadowlands starts. She could definitely catch a piece in this one too, but she remains winless in the past few seasons.
8 BROWNIE – Picked up a check two back on the ship in to the Meadowlands from Freehold and backed it up with a strong second while close to the pace last week at a price. Will look to keep building on those two miles in this one.
9 MOVEOUTOFMYWAY K – Tough trip that didn’t quite work out for him last time out down at Philly, but he did show a decent mile two back. Seems like he can fit here on the move to the big track, but will have to work from Post 9.
10 LANDIA – Tough one last time out down at Philly, but he did win well two back against a legitimate group down there. Certainly can fit in this one on paper, I believe, but the post gods surely haven’t been kind to him lately.
DRIVER CHOICES: None
Selections: 5-3-9-10
