Meadowlands: Analysis for Friday 2/12

MEET STATS: 81-14-10-9 / $64.20 (-$97.80)
BEST BETS: 6-3-0-0 / $8.60 (-3.40)
BEST BET: HIPSTER K (2nd)
SPOT PLAY: ITS MESMERISE N (13th)

Race 1: TrackMaster Rating 73 or less/Opt. $7,500 Clm. - Pick 5

(4) K-LEES SHAKENBAKE finally displayed some life in his fourth start back from a long break in action. Eleven-year-old has plenty of class and if he is ready, watch out! (8) STATESMAN N double drops in claiming company, which is hardly risky considering this guy is 14 years old. His start two back versus better wasn't bad at all. (3) MAY I CRUISE WEST moves from the amateur-driving owner to Andrew McCarthy. Early speed seems likely. (7) MASTER CONRAD was disappointing last time; another chance?

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Race 2: Non-winners 0-3 races or $20,000 life

(3) HIPSTER K has demolished these types in consecutive starts and seems to be past his early issues from years past. He'd have to make a mistake to lose this race. (5) SCIROCCO PATRICK couldn’t handle the trip last time. There is some outside speed here to set him up. (6) SO LONG HANOVER comes to town off consecutive wins for a good barn and figures to be competitive and take some money. (10) BLUFFINNER has some ability and it is interesting that trainer Trond Smedshammer is reaching out to Simon Allard to drive.

[DRF BETS: Wager on tonight's Meadowlands card at DRF Bets.com!]

Race 3: GSY Amateur Drivers - Survivor 7

As with most of these amateur races, there are plenty of options here. (7) TAILGUNNER HANOVER had absolutely no shot from post 10 as a dead closer against a speed bias on January 29. Cano has teamed up with him successfully in this series on multiple occasions. (5) WALKS OF LIFE wasn't as bad as Freehold as his last two lines look. He's a player in this field. (2) PREPPY ART has been awful since the claim but was tackling better. (1) NORTHERN ROCK figures to show early speed and have a chance, at least for an exotics slot.

Race 4: Non-winners $2,500 in last 5/TM Rating 75 or less/Opt. $10,000 Clm.

(1) ICINGON DE CUPCAKE hasn't exactly been sharp, but that is the type of horse that races at the basement condition level. If he can't win in this spot, he may need a venue change. (4) STENHOUSE HANOVER is the king of unreliability, though he did show a hint of late life a week ago. (9) SHADY MCCOY hasn't been on his game in a while, but he has some early speed in a field with very little possessing that quality. Will he fire out?

Race 5: TrackMaster Rating 73.5 or less

(2) JOLLITY clearly needed the starts after a half-dozen months on the sidelines. He faces a blank field in the bottom TrackMaster condition and any improvement makes him a major player. (7) MAJOR JESSE has been racing well and moves into a barn that has been having some success. (1) AMERIMAN has some early speed and figures to be leaving hard.

Race 6: Non-winners 9 races or $100,000 life - $50K GTD Pick 4

(4) HL REVADON is as fast as any in this field when on his game and the return qualifier was strong as he waited in the pocket and only took aim late. I'll take the price and hope he's ready. (8) SOME CHAPTER has been the King of this class for some time; short price and most likely winner. (5) SWAN IN MOTION has been solid week after week but seems to be a step slower than the top pair. (7) GET LEGS was entered last Saturday at Pocono and that card got scratched. He's still developing and this is a huge test.

Race 7: Non-winners $4,500 in last 5/Opt. $15,000 Clm.

(2) WISENHEIMER is more than capable of scoring off the bench and his comeback qualifier was a good one. Classy veteran is down in class and has a big shot. (3) ALEX THE GREAT faced much tougher last time out and really should awaken versus this group, though Yannick chose off for #7. (8) BROADWAY BRUISER has been racing well at Freehold for a barn that sends out winners.

Race 8: Non-winners $4,500 in last 5

(9) MARION GONDOLIER has been facing a number of foes who would crush this field. The outside post isn't ideal here but Yannick will certainly have him forwardly placed. (1) MANNY L is certainly in a winning spot. That said, he's been plodding along a bit lately. (8) ALL AMERICAN N didn't fire in his first start for this barn after missing three weeks of action. A wake-up call is certainly possible. (10) I GOT THE LOOKS was used hard when falling to this condition a few weeks back. He is not out of this race at what could be big odds.

Race 9: Non-winners $4,500 in last 5

(2) VH PRINCESS BREA gets a barn change in hopes of waking up a horse that was awesome last year. Mare catches a weak field and seems worth a shot. (4) TELLITSASSYMAE also moves into a new barn, one that has been killing it over at Yonkers. Notice those Open lines at Dayton in his past performances. (6) FIREFLY gets a better post to work with this week but wasn’t exactly sharp most recently; demand value.

Race 10: Non-winners $7,500 in last 5 - $50K GTD Pick 4

(6) MAX rallied nicely from a difficult spot last week versus better foes. This is certainly a winning spot and you can expect to see him on the front early. (5) ALL CHAMPY hasn't been going well but apparently the barn has been dealing with some sickness. One of her trainees woke up with a win last weekend. (2) CUE HALL was used early and stopped badly last time. Veteran was racing well before that start and might reemerge here.

[DRF BETS: Wager on tonight's Meadowlands card at DRF Bets.com!]

Race 11: Non-winners $2,500 in last 5/TM Rating 73 or less/Opt. $10,000 Clm.

(3) ANURKA did nothing from post 10 in her first start on Lasix. Cross out that line and expect a much better effort versus this lackluster group. (1) SAINT ALBRAY rallied well with no shot after chasing a slow half last time. (5) BE BEST drops back down to her comfort zone but doesn’t win very often.

Race 12: $12,500 Claiming

(5) REGGIANO is a closer who catches a field that seems to be loaded with potential early speed players. (8) RUTHLESS DUDE has raced well since the barn change and seems to have some versatility to his racing style. (4) VICTORIAS MAVERICK was a very sharp winner in the amateur ranks last time; Dunn drives now.

Race 13: Non-winners $4,500 in last 5

(5) ITS MESMERISE N has been racing well from outside posts versus better foes. This looks like the spot she’s been waiting for to shine. (3) TEAM KIWI N was just ok when last at this level two starts back. I'm expecting her to show up. (2) SHELLIE DE VIE improved with class relief. If she's turned the corner, she has a shot. (7) HOTTIEONTHEHORIZON returns to The Meadowlands at a lower level and would be no surprise if she showed more.