Meadowlands

Meadowlands: Analysis for Friday 2/18

Derick Giwner|Feb 16, 2022

MEET STATS: 142-30-24-18 / $191.40 (-$92.60)

BEST BETS: 10-5-2-1 / $20.80 (+0.80)

SPOT PLAYS: 10-2-2-1 / $25.00 (+$5.00)

BEST BET: LADY LOU (11th)

SPOT PLAY: GOES DOWN SMOOTH (6th)

Race 1: Winners 3-5 races lifetime - Pick 5

(6) CAMDEN HILLS hung a bit in his start last week, but that was to be expected after missing three months while facing a tougher foe than any he tackles tonight. (1) SPUNKIN’SROCKETMAN closed well from an impossible spot last time and all of his recent efforts have been pretty good. (7) GLACIER HANOVER was well within himself despite the declining margin of victory in his latest qualifier. Perhaps his new connections have things figured out. (3) STAY CLOSE picks up Yannick this week. Five-year-old wasn't far behind the top choice last out.

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Race 2: GSY Pace

In a field where I have no opinion, we'll try (9) CASINO BAGS AGAIN on the driver change to one of the better amateurs and the fact that this barn is hot and has won as many times during the meet (4) as the rest of the trainers in the race combined (4 for 109). (4) KINGOFTHEJUNGLE had a difficult trip last time and the road to the front will have much fewer obstacles this time. (7) MV OK PALACIO BR is certainly sharp but is always at the mercy of the pace scenario.

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Race 3: $7,500 Claiming - Survivor 7

(2) PIRATES ALLEY charged home for the win last weekend for a barn that has gone from cold to lukewarm to hot in recent weeks. There is no reason he can't take another and the price should be fair. (3) OPUS BLUE CHIP gets an interesting barn change and there is a high likelihood that he'll be on the engine through a soft half or at worst case in the pocket. (5) DL’S BIG ELVIS drops back down to his comfort zone and is hard to toss. (4) CAPTAIN'S REIGN was odds-on versus some of these last week and missed by less than a length to the top pick; factor.

Race 4: TrackMaster Rating 77 (NW L3 77.5) or less

Looking for good handicapping angles in this field is like finding a needle in a haystack. (5) PREACHER MAN hasn't seen any success here but each of those spots was much more difficult than the group he tackles tonight. Bongiorno should put him in play. (7) CLASSIC VENTURE should be able to make the top and could control the action. (6) MARVELOUSTRIX is always right there in these types of conditioned races and would be no surprise on the win end. (3) PEACEFUL MISSION NO hasn't been overly impressive at Yonkers but perhaps she'll enjoy the big track.

Race 5: Non-winners 2/3 races or $20,000/$30,000 life - Maidens draw inside

(7) UNSUNG HERO posted a 'wow' qualifier and followed it up with a very impressive first-out win, a race in which the trainer told me he thought the horse was short. A new owner joins the equation now on a horse that seems to have a high ceiling. (1) HUNT FOR CASH displayed some ability in qualifiers as a 2-year-old and he should be stretched out nicely chasing in a quick pace in the comeback qualifier last Saturday. He's worth a look in the warm-ups. (6) FIKA TIME took a nice step forward last week and now the connections call on a catch-driver; interesting. (3) CAPTAIN MY CAPTAIN completely changed tactics and paced home in 26 1/5 with no shot. Back to the front tonight?

Race 6: Non-winners $7,500 in last 5/TM 81.5 or less - $50K GTD Pick 4

(4) GOES DOWN SMOOTH did an about face with a much improved effort last time in his first pari-mutuel start for this barn. This guy has some class and if Johnson has him figured out, a win here is very possible. (7) JUSTLIKEHIM was part of the early pace and took some late air, though I still thought he should've won last week. He's capable of making amends. (5) CHIPLOSIVE picked up some confidence last time.

Race 7: GSY Pace

(2) STATESMAN N was a reach as a top pick last week from post 10, though at least we got 16-1 for our efforts. Moving to the inside of the gate he'll get away a lot closer and be able to grind his way to the front after chasing a field with plenty of early speed. (3) CLIFFHANGER took a ton of air and held well last time. A smoother journey gives him a big shot. (1) GALACTIC GALLEON N moves to the inside of the gate and should be somewhat closer to the action. (5) DREAM OUT LOUD N had plenty of company while on the engine last time and that seems unlikely to change this week. He'll probably be shorter odds and not worth a play.

Race 8: TrackMaster Rating 79 (NW L3/5 79.5/80) or less/NW $2,815 in last 5 - Pick 6

(4) UPTOWN LADY N and (3) FILLY SPEAKS were both written into the race via sub conditions. I'll lean towards the former since she hasn't missed four weeks and is getting a huge class break in terms of competition. (6) COOLNCALCULATING N clearly had a bleeding issue and thus the scratch and return with Lasix. This barn has been one of the hottest in the nation. (1) BREAK THE DEAL has been fairly sharp of late and has upset potential.

Race 9: Non-winners $2,500 (NW L3 $2,791) in last 5/TM 75 or less

In a field that seemingly lacks a ton of early speed players, (3) BE BEST should be heading to the front and sitting in a good position to win or at worst hit the board. (7) PAPPY ROCKS made a miscue last time but perhaps her new connections can get that straightened away in a hurry. (10) LITTLE SANDY TOES is the other obvious speed horse and she has raced well at this level. (5) IN THE NIGHT closed very well last time and has two straight solid races over this strip.

Race 10: TrackMaster Rating 86.75 or less/4YO Mares NW3/NW $8,500 in last 5 - $50K GTD Pick 4

(1) JM BETONSIX will likely be firing out from pylon position to secure no worse than the pocket or yielding and brushing. Either way she'll be in position to win. (5) BETTORS HEART N is clearly facing slightly tougher here but she should be tighter as well. She'll definitely be on my Pick 4 ticket. (6) DIVINE DEO sat a comfy trip and picked up the win versus many of these last time. (3) SO MIKI HANOVER raced better than I expected in the Sweetheart; contender. (8) NO WIN NO FEED A adds Lasix and might be a sleeper worth using at big odds.

Race 11: TrackMaster Rating 82.5 (NW L3/4 83/84.01) or less

(1) LADY LOU took a nice step forward last week and gets written into this class against a field she should be able to handle. (3) APRIL AVA has a bit of class to her and might just enjoy the change of scenery to the big track. (2) FILLY makes her second start off the bench and could improve in her 4-year-old season.

Race 12: Non-winners $2,500 (NW L3 $2,751) in last 5 or 2 races life/NW $4,000 L5 or TM 78 or less

(7) ZLATAN woke up in a huge way with a fast-closing mile last weekend. Perhaps this veteran campaigner is about to return to form. (6) BUZZ drops down and reunites with MacDonald; using. (4) ALEXANDER HANOVER doesn't look very enticing but this barn did pop one last week here.

Race 13: Non-winners $2,500 in last 5

(2) ROGERTHAT BLUECHIP comes with a barn change to a high-percentage outfit and a class drop. I'll take a shot. (10) STICK WITH CRAMER also moves down the class ladder and he did race better last time. Don't be surprised if Hanners guns him out. (6) BNGS EXPRESS makes his second start for a new barn and gets the same class break as the top pick. (4) RIGGINS ART is just a fringe player but one who could save ground and get third or fourth.