Meadowlands: Analysis for Friday 2/24

WINTER MEET STATS: 165-37-29-23 / $250.80 (-$79.20)

BEST BETS: 12-2-5-2 / $16.00 (-8.00)

SPOT PLAYS: 12-1-2-1 / $5.00 (-$19.00)

BEST BET: VIOLENCE (3rd)

SPOT PLAY: SHEZAFREAKLIKEME (10th)

Race 1: GSY 1 Pace - Pick 5

(6) BILBO HANOVER was going very far from post 9 versus tougher with an amateur in the bike. Now he's back in with GSY foes and should bring a solid effort. (4) MV OK PALACIO BR seems to loom quite often but doesn't seal the deal as much as his backers would like; hard to toss or love. (5) HOWTOTRAINURDRAGON has been fairly steady of late and just needs to find the knockout blow in the lane.

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

(4) IDIOSYNCRATIC has won two straight versus this company and gets a free ride again in this class; very short price. (5) A DEAL'S A DEAL gets a better post to work with this week but wasn't quite a match for the top pick in either of the last two tries. (2) PANETTONE HANOVER could improve in his second start off the bench.

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Race 3: Non-winners 2 races or $20,000 life/Maidens draw inside - Survivor 7

(5) VIOLENCE was every bit as good as winner (7) BIG CHRISTIAN last week and should only improve in his second start of the year while offering better value. The latter is perfect in two starts and certainly deserves your respect. (1) FLAMING ROADS reportedly has more go than his qualifiers show, but this race is probably more of a warm-up for events down the road.

Race 4: Non-winners $3,000 in last 5 or in 2022/TM 77.5 (NW L3/2L5 78/78.75) or less

(7) SHES A SASSY BEACH has a few starts under her belt after the time off and really does tackle a soft group. Perhaps Gingras fires her up early? (2) TRANS MEANIE comes off a decent mile and certainly faces lesser here; big chance. (6) ONE MORE TRY exits a throw-out mile on a night where the wind was playing havoc. All of her previous tries have been good.

Race 5: Non-winners $3,000 (NW L10 $3,565) in last 5/TM 77.5 (NW L3/2L5 78.5/78.75) or less

(5) LEVITATION raced evenly in his first start since November. Eight-year-old has some GO to him and this certainly is a winning spot. (8) GOLDEN CROSS STONE looks fast enough on paper and the barn change is interesting. (3) HALLIAMA just missed in his debut for this new barn; tough to toss. (1) SEVENSHADESOFGREY plunges in class with no form; awakens?

Race 6: Trackmaster 77.5 (NW L3/2L5 78/78.5) or less - $50K GTD Pick 4

(5) TITANIUM ALPHA went a big mile in his first start for this barn. He takes a small step up in company now but also draws much better. (4) DL'S BIG ELVIS worked out a good trip and fired home strong for the win last time; threat again. (1) ITS ROCKIN RANDY and (7) ILLINI DUKE are both sharp enough to score given a reasonable trip.

Race 7: Non-winners $3,000 in last 5 or in 2022/TM 77.5 (NW L3/2L5 78/78.75) or less

(5) THE GYPSY QUEEN IR has flashed speed in consecutive starts at Yonkers and come up lacking, especially last time when she backed up through the field. Her one try on the big track in a qualifier was ok and I'm going to roll the dice here for a turnaround. (1) GOTTALOVEMYSHADOW is very capable in this class and she has the speed to protect position from the inside. (10) LOOKATMYART steps down the ladder one rung in her second start off the bench. Hopefully Ahle can find a trip from the tough post. (3) THAT'SMYTYPE is certainly sharp.

Race 8: Non-winners $3,000 (NW L10 $3,565) in last 5/TM 77.5 (NW L3/2L5 78/78.5) or less - Pick 6

(3) CHIEF JUSTICE hit the wind at the head of the lane and backed up like she was hit with a pile of bricks. I'm not letting that performance sway me away from her in a very soft field. (7) WOW LESTER seems capable of making the top and that would put him in prime position. (4) SEVENSHOTSOBOURBON looked like a winner and hung badly last week, but maybe he needed the start after missing a few weeks. (1) USURP HANOVER deserves some consideration on the addition of Dunn alone.

Race 9: GSY 1 Pace

(4) TEXAS TERROR N gets a new driver this week and that is key. Notice this 15-year-old raced much better with Calabrese in the bike two starts back. (2) SPORTS HERO has been part of the pace through some hot half-mile times lately. Horse is very capable and should be on the lead in a jiffy tonight. (6) CAPTAIN'S REIGN finally gets out of the 8-hole after a couple of decent efforts from the back of the pack.

Race 10: Non-winners $5,000 (NW 2L5 $5,521) in last 5/TM 80.5 (NW L3/2L5 81/81.5) or less - $50K GTD Pick 4

(5) SHEZAFREAKLIKEME hasn't been able to get over the top yet this year but certainly is racing well each week. She drops back down here and lands a perfect post to race from on or off the pace. (8) KAITLYN N put in another solid effort while picking up her fourth check of the year. Not sure I could use her on top but she's a great exotics option. (10) LADY ROCKNROLLA A scored in this class last time, but now she has post 10 and lands in a new barn via the claim. She's playable if the price rises above 7/2 or so.

Race 11: Trackmaster 74.5 (NW L3/2L5/10 75/75.53/76) or less

Trainer Izzy Estrada is great with newcomers to his barn, missing a head with one last week. (3) SOUTHWIND BRONN arrives from Canada with a good speed profile for this class and should prove tough. (1) ALWAYS A PANTHER is another horse getting a barn change, and the switch from an amateur pilot to Gingras is also a big plus; main danger. (5) MATTERS MOST improved when switched to the Slotoroff barn last time. Four-year-old has a chance but will likely need some pace help to set up his rally. (7) ROCKABILLY CHARM gets a new set of hands at the helm and that could make a difference.

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Race 12: Non-winners $2,000 (NW L3 $2,200) in last 5/TM 68 or less

Brand new class looks similar to a NW3000 but allows for some of the horses who have been struggling to get healthy against cheaper. (2) LIKE CLOCKWORK has plenty of class and seems likely to get very aggressive in this spot. (4) TEXAS MIKI fits a similar profile as #2 except he's a few years younger; adds Lasix! (7) BIG BAD BILL returns to the big track at a far reduced level.

Race 13: Trackmaster 74.25 (NW L3/2L5 74.75/75.25) or less

(5) SCIROCCO PATRICK has a couple of starts back now to get right and drops into the lowest TM condition here. If he has anything in the tank we'll likely see it tonight. (1) JEKYIL N HYDE double-drops in class tonight but keeps the trainer in the bike. She's capable enough in the sulky, but I'd want a much better price now. (2) IN SECRET has loads of back class and in theory his last start was a bit better. (10) JESSIES OUTLAWED hasn't won in a long time but does seem capable of firing off the gate and getting involved at what could be a big price.