Meadowlands: Analysis for Friday 2/25

MEET STATS: 0 - 0 / $0.00 ($0.00)
BEST BETS: 0 - 0 / $0.00 ($0.00)
SPOT PLAYS: 0 - 0 / $0.00 ($0.00)
BEST BET - HOCKEY HANOVER (13th)
SPOT PLAY - TANGO DANCER N (8th)

Race 1 - GSY 1 Series Pace

(2) TAKEITTOTHEFACE returns to the Meadowlands after facing Preferred foes at Freehold last Saturday. He was a solid third against TrackMaster 77's at The Big M prior to that, and that makes him the one to beat, I think. (6) DOC SEMALU also comes up from Freehold for the same trainer as Takeittotheface. He won pretty handily on the half-mile oval on February 12, and driver Anthony Verruso has been doing well in the amateur events. (9) FERDINAND A usually shows that strong early speed he has, but he hasn't had the stamina to go with it as of late, so that makes him a use underneath.

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Race 2 - TrackMaster Rating 74.5 or Less as of 2-22-22/7500CLM Pace

(7) PIRATES ALLEY had to do the first-over work into a slow pace a week ago and was out-finished. His prior win off a cover trip impressed me, and I have to imagine the connections will be keen to get him that kind of journey tonight. (3) OPUS BLUE CHIP took advantage of a well-rated tempo provided by Joe Bongiorno to get the victory last Friday. He's been sharp overall as of late, which always sticks out in these low-level events. (10) CRUNCH rallied to finish second to the romping Ocean Ridge N last week. He has a good driver/trainer tandem in Todd McCarthy and Izzy Estrada.

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Race 3 - GSY 1 Series Pace

(4) ROCK TO GLORY picked up a win at the Meadowlands last year and catches a wide-open group here for Bruno and Stacy Chiodo. They had a win in the amateur races a week ago, and maybe lightning can strike again tonight at a price. (6) BUNGALOW BILL N gets out of the nine-hole this week and did rally impressively two back to finish third. (9) KEEP COMING took quite a bit of wagering action last Friday but had to settle for fifth. That was his first pari-mutuel start since 5-7-21, so there's a definite possibility he's sharper tonight.

Race 4 - Winners of 3 But Not More Than 5 Extended PM Races or NW50000 LT Trot

(6) PIVOTAL broke stride when he qualified at the Meadowlands on 2-12, but then went down to Freehold and had no issue. Almost all of the Bongiorno returnees have fired in a major way in their comebacks, and I'll take a chance that the same thing happens here. (5) TOCCOA FALLS has raced well in both of his starts since coming into Per Engblom's barn, and I think this might be an easier spot than the NW10500L5 event he was in last Saturday. (8) STAY CLOSE dead-heated for a victory in this class a week ago, and with the way the Yannick Gingras/Ron Burke duo are going, is probably a must-use.

Race 5 - TrackMaster Rating 77 or Less as of 2-22-22 Trot

(4) MARVELOUSTRIX has knocked on the door in her last couple and made up a ton of ground in the stretch last week. Maybe she can get a little more pace to chase tonight, since that's always the key to her chances. (9) CLASSIC VENTURE turned in another strong second-place effort a week ago. McCarthy has been gunning him out despite the tough draws he's had, so I'd expect him to be on or near the lead again. (2) LIONHEAD closed well after an inside trip last Friday and should have a similar journey tonight from another good post.

Race 6 - 20000-22000CLM HCP Pace **$50,000 Guaranteed Pick 4 Pool**

(1) JUST N ACE makes his second start for trainer Rob Harmon tonight. Harmon has been sending out a lot of live horses at Yonkers lately, and this 7YO has turned in some solid performances in this class. He also gets a driver switch to McCarthy. (5) MANHATTAN BEACH has two wins and a third since shipping in from The Meadows for Burke and was a determined victor last Saturday. (7) THNDRFRMTHETHRON N goes for Andrew Adamczyk off the claim here and grabbed a check in his last two outings at this level.

Race 7 - GSY 1 Series Pace

(5) NOTABADGAME prevailed the last time he raced in the GSY Series on January 21, and he should appreciate returning to that event here after facing better in his last two tries. (9) DREAM OUT LOUD N delivered in his second try for driver Tony Beltrami and trainer Williams Hernandez last Friday. Expect him to be handled aggressively again. (3) STELLAR BB has been plagued by outside posts so far this month, but he gets some relief in that department tonight and shouldn't be trying to close from far back.

Race 8 - F&M TrackMaster Rating 84 or Less as of 2-22-22/Winners TrackMaster 79 or Less Last Start Pace

(7) TANGO DANCER N shows back-to-back 27 and change last quarters coming into this race, so I think she has some form. She's won at the Meadowlands in the past as well, and I'll gamble that she's capable of getting the job done tonight. (5) A BETTER GAME went a huge trip from first-over to win in a lifetime-best clocking two back in this class and returns to it tonight after facing tougher mares last Friday. (4) FILLY closed in 26 3/5 to just miss by a nose a week ago and adds the returning Dexter Dunn in this event.

Race 9 - F&M TrackMaster Rating 79.5 or Less as of 2-22-22 Pace

(1) FLIRTY FORTY won at the Meadowlands on January 21 and then backed that up by getting a check against NW8's over at Yonkers. I think the inside draw will help her work out a good trip, and driver Corey Callahan has been doing well. (9) SHES A SASSY BEACH is a first-timer for Burke and was the one of the two he has in here that Gingras ended up on, probably signaling that she's live. (11) BREAK THE DEAL has hit the board in her last two outings at this level, and she can likely just follow my top pick away from the trailing post.

Race 10 - NW14000L5 or 100000LT/NW20000L5/TrackMaster Rating 90 or Less as of 2-22-22/Winners Over 50000LT Drawn Outside Trot **$50,000 Guaranteed Pick 4 Pool**

(8) GOTWUTEVERITTAKES was in the Preferred when last seen in mid-January. He often does his best work when teamed with McCarthy, and they reunite here. Trainer Ricky Bucci is also having an excellent season thus far at Yonkers. (4) NEXTROUNDSONME finished a rallying third against NW20000L5's at Yonkers two back and then was hampered by an outside post in a subsequent effort. (6) YANKS DUGOUT tossed in a clunker down at Dover on 2-15 but had won two straight editions of their Open prior to that.

Race 11 - NW10500L5/TrackMaster Rating 84.5 or Less as of 2-22-22 Trot

(3) MEADOWBRANCH RICKY never seems to take any money in the betting, but he's not in bad form outside of the one dull performance on January 15. Let's take a shot with him. (1) HL REVADON hooks up with a softer group in this class tonight than he faced last Saturday, and I think Steve Smith's patient style will fit him well. (4) STORMONT VENTNOR moves up from the NW7500L5's but does so off a confidence-boosting win.

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Race 12 - F&M NW2500L5/TrackMaster Rating 75 or Less as of 2-22-22 Pace

(6) BULLVILLEKARLA slides down to the bottom level at the Meadowlands after racing NW7500L5's in her last two tries at Yonkers, and she also adds Gingras in the bike. (1) PAPPY ROCKS makes her second start of the Edwin Quevedo barn tonight, and she gained positions in the back-half of the mile a week ago. (8) MILLENIUMS GIRL made an uncharacteristic break at Saratoga last time out, but she does know how to win races and hails from the capable Dale Lawton barn.

Race 13 - NW7500L5/TrackMaster Rating 81.5 or Less as of 2-22-22 Trot

(10) HOCKEY HANOVER continues to work his way down the class ladder tonight, and he's shown the ability to leave quickly in the past. He also gets Dunn to hang around to the last race to pilot him. (7) TRIXIE DUST might be as sharp as she's ever been right now, and everything Alek Chartrand is sending out seems to be live. (1) ZLATAN has made up a ton of ground in his last two appearances to hit the board. The inside post might keep him closer to the front this week.