Meadowlands: Analysis for Friday 2/17

WINTER MEET STATS: 151-35-26-23 / $229.40 (-$72.60)

BEST BETS: 11-1-5-2 / $3.60 (-18.40)

SPOT PLAYS: 11-1-2-1 / $5.00 (-$17.00)

BEST BET: YAYAS HOT SPOT N (5th)

SPOT PLAY: ULTIMATE LOULOU (3rd)

Race 1: GSY 1 Pace - Pick 5

(1) VINTAGE GAL picked up some confidence last time at Freehold and while the inside isn't the best post, it works nicely in this field since I don't see a ton of early speed signed on. Seven-year-old mare gets a weak default call in a lackluster group. (7) STOLEN ART raced evenly from behind last time and lands a slightly better post this week. I wouldn't be shocked if Clark fired out and took a shot here. (3) TAKEITTOTHEFACE has been fairly consistent here and seems worth a look at least underneath. (9) MV OK PALACIO BR would possibly be the horse to beat with an inside post. That said, he's a closer stuck outside.

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Race 2: Non-winners $3,000 (NW L3/9 $3,300/$3,470) in last 5 or in 2022/TM 77.5 (NW L3/5 78/78.5) or less

(3) GOES DOWN SMOOTH had a bit of late life last week. Was that a sign of a reversal of form? I'm not excited to bet him but at least the price should be good. (5) SEVENSHOTSOBOURBON picks up a new driver and should be tighter in his second start back from a break in action. (7) LOUIS has the early speed to gun to the front and this seems like a soft enough field that he could wire them.

Race 3: Non-winners 2 (NW L3 3) races or $20,000 (NW L3 $32,150) life/Maidens draw inside - Survivor 7

(3) ULTIMATE LOULOU put in a very useful qualifier where the winner was untouchable and Gingras seemed reasonably content to chase for third. Burke tends to send them out ready and I don't see any killers in here. (6) TRANS MEANIE chased in a pretty fast mile last time while debuting for Bongiorno and making her first start since November; improvement very possible. (1) SUPER GIRL proved with a break last time what Macdonald has been saying and that is she is still very green. She has the talent to win. (8) ALWAYS BEACHY is second-time Lasix and has the speed to make the front. Dunn chose her over #1.

Race 4: Non-winners 2 (NW L3 3) races or $20,000 (NW L3 $30,151) life/Maidens draw inside

(4) HEADOVERBOOTS AS gets away from a better field and while he hasn't won in a while, this looks like the perfect spot. (3) BIG CHRISTIAN sat a perfect trip and got the job done in his career debut as a 4-year-old. He's certainly one to consider as improvement is very possible. (5) SENNA is very capable of winning if he decides to behave tonight.

Race 5: GSY 1 Pace

(6) YAYAS HOT SPOT N was raced conservatively against perhaps slightly better last time in his first start since November. Veteran can fly off the gate and could be looking to wire the field. (3) BANK SEA tends to race well for quite a few starts when he gets good and he is coming off a very nice win. (1) ALWAYS A PANTHER and (2) CLAYTONS BETTOR N are both sharp and logical contenders who will take their share of tote action.

Race 6: Non-winners $5,000 (NW L3 $5,500) in last 5/TM 80.5 or less/Opt. $15,000 Clm. - $50K GTD Pick 4

(4) GAITWAY GAL raced well in her first appearance here and wasn't bad in start two either when she charged home from the back with no shot. At this point I don't know how good she is and the price should be good. (5) PEARL HARBOUR N didn’t turn into a new horse with Lasix but maybe she'll be better having that medication in her system for a few weeks. (2) ONECROOKEDLEG also came home nicely last time with no chance and in her prior effort she was stuck in post 10; don’t ignore. (7) KAITLYN N has the speed to make the front and the form to get a nice check. (6) LADY ROCKNROLLA A has been racing well. Does she keep her form or even improve for the new barn? I'm not sure I want the shorter price.

Race 7: TrackMaster 77.5 (NW L3/2L5 78/78.5) or less

In a field where none of these really jump off the page, I'll try (5) WHAT THE LUCK, who moves into a new barn and perhaps they can tap into some of his ability. He did win in 1:51 3/5 over the track in 2022. (8) ITS ROCKIN RANDY turned in a sparkling mile last time and IF he can repeat it, he'll be tough. (9) FREE ON THE BEACH raced reasonably well last time out but got unlucky with the draw to be outside the speedy #8. He'll need the right trip but seems like a viable option.

Race 8: Non-winners $5,000 (NW 2L8 $5,581) in last 5/TM 80 or less - Pick 6

(3) FIX-IT-UP has clearly picked up his game with Lasix added and while this is a bump up in class, he more than fits with this crew. (6) DRIBBLING BI steps down one level as do a bunch of these. He was bottled up at the back of the pack last time and deserves a look here with the hopes of a more aggressive drive. (5) FORREST has been unable to stay trotting at Yonkers and now he moves back to the big track where that wasn’t an issue; hmmm. (7) LEVITATION is a capable horse in this class if ready to go in his first start since late November.

Race 9: Non-winners $3,000 in last 5/TM 77.5 (NW L3/5/10 78/78.5/78.75) or less

(8) SHES A SASSY BEACH didn't fire in her first start for this barn but that is understandable since she had missed four weeks of action. In a field where most of the horses succeed in the TM74 but have trouble in the NW3000, she seems like a viable option. (5) VIRTUAL SUCCESS and (6) SAUBLE DELIGHTFUL finished one-two and were separated by just a neck in a fast mile last time. If either can repeat that effort here they would prove to be a major player.

Race 10: Non-winners $7,500 (NW 2L5 $8,250) in last 5/TM 82.5 or less - $50K GTD Pick 4

(1) TAXI OUT S qualified really nicely in his U.S. debut, following cover through slow fractions and electing to stay covered up in the stretch until late in the mile. It seems to be there is more in the tank here. (2) GOTWUTEVERITTAKES drops back down to the level where he was second a few starts back; dangerous with anything close to his best. (6) CHIPLOSIVE has a pair of seconds against this company recently. (7) SERMON is possibly the most talented horse in the field, but we have to consider the long layoff, the break in his first qualifier and the rocky gait on display in his second; I'll pass.

Race 11: Trackmaster 74.25 (NW L3/5 74.75/75.25) or less

(3) MARTARITAONDAROCKS missed by just a head when last seen in this class. Her recent races have been spent chasing slow fractions while sprinting home. At 2-for-20 she doesn't look great, but this is a good spot. (6) CASIE’S BELIEVER tried to leave and couldn't get near the front last time. I'd like to see Chindano take another shot. (7) STARLITSIMPLE RIG drops to the true basement condition here and picks up Dunn. (2) BETABCOOL N closed well from far back in her one recent start over this track.

Race 12: $7,500-$8,500 Claiming Handicap

(2) CASINO BAGS ANSO drops in for a tag and really hasn't been awful lately. Veteran can certainly pop a big mile for a good barn. (7) OUR THIRD ROCK picked up some confidence at Freehold last time and is now down in claiming price. (4) SKYWAY FIREBALL was part of a quick clip early and had pace on the end despite a bump in claiming price last time. He can win!

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Race 13: Non-winners $3,000 (NW L3/9 $3,300/$3,470) in last 5 or in 2022/TM 77.5 (NW L3/5 78/78.5) or less

(1) CHIEF JUSTICE kept his act together last time which is a step in the right direction. Switching to the big track and moving into the bottom condition versus a bad field could result in a wake-up call. (2) POKER PLAY is a capable horse when he behaves; tough call. (10) ILUVMYMIUMIU'S wasn't very good in her debut for this barn, but that start was after a four-week break and she’s also adding Lasix now.

Race 14: Trackmaster 74.5 (NW L3/2L5/10 75/75.53/76) or less

(10) TITANIUM ALPHA faces a sketchy field and has one of my favorite angles - first-time Izzy Estrada barn. Getting Dunn in the bike is also a nice plus. (5) BRUCE’S MAGIC drops to the bottom Trackmaster class and gets a nice driver switch to Todd McCarthy. (1) POINTSMAN wasn't exactly great in his first start for this barn. Expecting some improvement in start two is reasonable. (4) SPECTACULAR SUNSET has been racing well in this condition.