Meadowlands: Analysis for Friday 10/16

MEET STATS: 91-23-14-16 / $184.40 (+$2.40)
BEST BETS: 7-4-1-1 / $11.40 (-$2.60)
BEST BET: PIERCEWAVE HANOVER (5th)
SPOT PLAY: WHAT CHAPTER (11th)

Race 1: GSY Amateur Series - Pick 5

(9) ROLAND N ROCK is a classy veteran who gets to land in this cheap spot because of a long string of fair lines. He's been on the east coast many times before and had plenty of success. (3) WATCHMENEIGHNEIGH was racing well at Running Aces and this barn was 6-for-28 here earlier in the year. (7) DONTDOUBTTHELAKERS seems to be making a pit stop in New Jersey before his annual trek to Cal Expo. He's a veteran who knows his way to the winner’s circle. (2) CAPTAIN CUT THROAT has the early speed to stay close.

Race 2: Reynolds Memorial

(4) CAPTAIN COREY is the best 2-year-old trotting colt in the country and even if he is short having missed six weeks of action, it shouldn’t matter. (3) LINDYSMUSCLEMANIA was perfect before the miscue last time. (5) CAPSTONE has never finished worse than second; exotics threat.

Race 3: Fall Harvest-NW2500 Last 5-TM Rating 75.5 or less - Pick 6

(1) ROSE RUN REANNA has been making breaks on the half lately. Switch to the big track and addition of Gingras could make a huge difference. (8) CHIPLOSIVE comes off a sharp mile and now gets to drop in class for a barn that was red-hot on Saturday. (9) TRIXIE DUST is as good as any of these horses but drew poorly. At 8-1 or so, he's a viable option.

Race 4: Non-winners 2/3 races or $25,000/$30,000 life

(4) GROSSETO AS took too much air last time and paid the price. He's got a good post and should have every chance to succeed. (6) MISTER WALKER & (7) BEYOND ORDINARY both have early speed and either could head to the front and never look back.

Race 5: Fall Harvest-NW2500 Last 5-TM Rating 75.5 or less

(3) PIERCEWAVE HANOVER is a classy 8-year-old in a cheap spot where I'd be shocked if he wasn't blasting off the gate. (2) BROADWAY PROMISE could be a major player if he can actually trot the mile. (10) BROADWAY BRUISER is another who seems likely to be sent hard from the gate. With the right trip he could be a player. (5) MARTZ STICK will need a slow race to have a shot at the top spot, but rain is in the forecast for Friday night, so maybe that helps.

Race 6: Fall Harvest-NW4500 Last 5-TM Rating 78.5 or less - Pick 4

(4) SKYWAY KON MAN comes off a pair of decent tries at Philly versus better foes. Four-year-old is perfectly spotted to get over the hump tonight. (5) WISHYOU'DTELLME gets some post relief and only needs a reasonable trip to threaten. (2) CAPTAIN KRUPNIK is another who has been stuck in bad posts of late. He should be leaving strong off the wings tonight. (8) OMAHA OMAHA came out with hobbles on last week, was forced to take them off and won anyway; that’s a first. A repeat mile makes him a contender.

Race 7: Non-winners $7,500 in last/TM Rating 81 or less

(5) THUNDER has a few starts under his belt now this year and seems to have found a soft spot. Four-year-old should rain down on the field. (6) FOR A DREAMER has early speed for a hot barn; dangerous. (8) INFINITI AS is the fastest horse in the field. If he behaves, watch out.

Race 8: Non-winners $7,500 in last 5/TM Rating 81 or less

(4) BE BEST drops back down to a winning level. Her last try in NW7500 here was a solid second-place finish. (1) CLEAR IDEA also makes a return to The Big M in a slightly reduced class. (6) TWINSBURG doesn't excite but does own a win and a second in this class in her last three starts. (9) AMERICAN EMPRESS N got unlucky at the draw but is fast enough to win with a decent trip. (2) PRAIRE EASTER gets a catch-driver this week and deserves some consideration.

Race 9: Non-winners $20,000 in last 4 - Pick 5

(4) WHEN DOVESCRY drops out of stakes action and should dominate via the gift AE entry into the race. (3) FELICITYSHAGWELL S has big speed off the gate and looks like the only potential upsetter. (1) PRINCESS DEO should stick close. She has some ability if able to find her best.

Race 10: Non-winners $14,000 in last 5 or $85,000 life - Pick 4

(8) TROLLEY might not be the horse he once was but even his "B" game should be good enough to handle this field. (10) JUSTLIKEHIM has been very successful in the top class at Running Aces and while shippers from that track don't usually entice, this one looks like a good fit. (9) ALL CHAMPY is probably getting away last. That said, there are a bunch of early speed types in here and a couple who could easily make an early break, so that should work in his favor. (5) GOTWUTEVERITTAKES stayed flat when Zeron was in the bike for a qualifier. He can be competitive if he minds his manners.

Race 11: Fall Harvest-NW4500 Last 5-TM Rating 78.5 or less

(1) WHAT CHAPTER hasn't been very reliable this year but faces a sad-looking field tonight. As long as he minds his manners, he almost has to win. (8) DISCUS HANOVER rallied well last time and as a 3-year-old, he could still be getting better while the rest of these are who they are. (5) CAUFIELD returns here for the first time since March 2018. He was always competitive in the lower levels at the Big M and I expect we'll see early speed. (6) CYCLONE MAXIMUS also has some early zip but needs to find more staying power. (4) KATKIN AND COKE adds Dexter Dunn this week and a wake-up mile is within the realm of possibility.

Race 12: Fall Harvest-NW2500 Last 5-TM Rating 75.5 or less

(8) FRIEND OF NATURE S has found himself since moving into the Derue barn and really catches a soft group here. (1) BIGBOY ROSCO brushed and crushed most recently at Pocono and seems like a fit with this group. (6) SHADY MCCOY knows how to win here and his recent form isn't bad; chance.

Race 13: Trackmaster Rating 73.5 or less

(5) STREAK THE LAWN raced well in this class last time and now gets a major driver switch to Dunn. (9) SUMMER ROCK returns to The Meadowlands in good form and has raced very well here in the past. (6) PATANJALI N drops in class and should perk up at least a bit. (7) SPECIAL ACHIEVER closed well here last week.