Meadowlands: Analysis for Friday 2/26

MEET STATS: 71 - 311 / $519.00 (-$103.00)
BEST BETS: 9 - 23 / $32.20 (-$13.80)
SPOT PLAYS: 5 - 23 / $80.20 (+$34.20)
BEST BET - CHIPLOSIVE (9th)
SPOT PLAY - WATKINS (1st)

Race 1 - NW2500L5/TrackMaster Rating 75 or Less as of 2-23-21/NW $1 L2/Mares NW2 Races in 2020-21/10000CLM Trot

(4) WATKINS took some wagering action against NW5000L5's at Yonkers on Tuesday night but had to settle for fifth after ending up first-over. He returns to the Meadowlands at the bottom level, and I'll give the veteran a chance in this wide-open start to the card. (8) ALEXANDER HANOVER has just one victory over the last two years but picked up that lone win on January 22. He gained to finish second in this class last Friday and gets another chance with Dexter Dunn. (2) SPRING IN PARIS raced decently in that two week series against better and now drops back to the NW2500L5's.

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Race 2 - F&M NW4500L5/Not 3rd L3/Winners Base Class NW3500 or Less 1 of L3 Starts/TrackMaster Rating 77 or Less as of 2-23-21/NW2 Races in 2020-21 Pace

(1) WOODMERE OLEKSIAK has a pretty good history at the Meadowlands and drops from recent efforts at Freehold and Pocono. I think there's a chance she might be able to take this group gate-to-wire. (3) RUBY ON RAILS finished with pace in that NW2 race last Friday but did drift out pretty badly. I think she can be included. (6) LOTUS SEELSTER steps up in her second start off the bench. She closed in 27 4/5 after getting shuffled.

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

Race 3 - GSY Series Pace

(2) SUGARTOWN finished second to his well-meant and well-rated stablemate So So De Vie last Friday. I think he's worth another shot in the hopes this race has some more action on the front. (5) ROCKINWITHTHEBEST raced from off-the-pace in the same event my top pick comes out of and could never get involved due to the slow tempo. He gets some post relief and will hopefully have some speed to chase. (7) ROCKIN PANDA owns a pair of recent wins and was third in his one chance against GSY foes.

Race 4 - NW2/20000LT / NW3, NW L3 Starts Trot

(5) SO LONG HANOVER gained ground in the last quarter again on Saturday night and returns to the straight NW2 class this time. (8) SCIROCCO PATRICK bounced back after a break on 2-12 to finish a good third in the same race my top pick comes out of. (4) COCKTAILS N DREAMS was a Pennsylvania Fairs champion last year and makes her debut for trainer Katricia Adams tonight. She was Todd McCarthy's choice of a few in here.

Race 5 - GSY Series Pace

(6) STATESMAN N returns to Yogi Sheridan's barn tonight after being re-claimed. The veteran finished fifth despite having post ten last Saturday and can hopefully work out a good trip from an improved draw. (2) DULL ROAR comes over to the GSY Series having won two straight against $10,000 claimers and goes for Bill MacKenzie for the first time off the claim. (9) SO SO DE VIE goes back to the outside post this week after he won on the lead a week ago. He's also shown the ability to rally, so I don't think he's a toss-out.

Race 6 - NW7500L5/Winners of 2 But Not More Than 4 Extended PM Races Drawn Inside/20000CLM Trot *$50K GTD Pick 4 Pool*

(4) ALL CHAMPY steps up in class tonight, but that was a pretty comfortable win over the NW4500L5's a week ago, and the horse got a vote of confidence as Dexter Dunn's choice. (6) DOUBLE ACCOUNT went off as the favorite against NW11500L5's but had to settle for fourth. Given his two-for-23 record over the last two years, I'll try and beat him. (5) PAPPY GO GO is in the same boat as Double Account as he continues to work down in class but didn't fire after tracking live cover.

Race 7 - 7500CLM Pace

(4) IMAGEOFAROCKER triumphed two back against $7,500 claimers and drops back down to that class here after one chance against $10,000 claiming company where he was interfered with after the start. (1) SOSSY'S KING KONG has just a one-for-29 mark over the past two years but did gain some ground late in a $10,000 claiming race won by the sharp Dull Roar on 2-13. (5) JUNIOR'S DEW came in second to the well-meant Northern Rock a week ago and has hit the board in his last two opportunities versus $7,500 claimers.

Race 8 - F&M NW2500L5/TrackMaster Rating 73 or Less as of 2-23-21/10000CLM Pace

(4) SEA CHANGE N invades from Yonkers after topping the NW5000L5 class over there, and trainer Brett Derue sent out some live-looking horses last Friday, including a winner. (10) LETME FLY LOW kept Dunn over others in this race, including my top pick. She was able to get to the lead from post ten against NW4500L5's a week ago but tired in the last quarter. She should be tighter tonight as she makes her second start after a layoff. (2) MANHATTAN PLAY hasn't found the winner's circle in a while but has been competitive in this class, posting back-to-back third-place results.

Race 9 - NW4500L5/TrackMaster Rating 84.91 or Less as of 2-23-21/15000CLM Trot

(4) CHIPLOSIVE romped to an easy win the last time he raced in this class in December of 2020. He's been racing well against better and should appreciate the drop. (2) KNIGHT ANGEL was fourth last Friday in his first start up from Pompano and with not the smoothest trip. He moves inside on the gate, too, and I'll include. (3) IT AINT THE WHISKY retained Dunn over three others and gained spots to finish third to All Champy a week ago.

Race 10 - F&M Winners Over 11500L5/NW12500L5 or 7 Extended PM Races LT Drawn Inside Pace *$50K GTD Pick 4 Pool*

(3) WINGDING HANOVER was a good third in her first start off the shelf and out of the Jeff Cullipher barn last Friday. I think there could be some improvement coming tonight. (6) BETALADY obviously likes the Meadowlands much more than Yonkers as she stormed home to win after breaking in her last two efforts across the river. She is definitely capable of another victory here. (4) TANGO DANCER N had every chance to win from the pocket but was no match for Betalady in the final quarter a week ago. When she's won, it's been off cover, so maybe Dunn will look for that kind of trip.

Race 11 - NW2500L5/TrackMaster Rating 75 or Less as of 2-23-21/NW $1 L2/Mares NW2 Races in 2020-21/10000CLM Trot

(9) BIZET doesn't have the greatest form right now, but he does drop to the NW2500L5 class and has beaten better than these at the Meadowlands in the past. I also don't mind Yannick Gingras getting back in the bike. (1) YUGE looked like he was just racing back into shape in those two chances against NW7500L5's. He gets double class relief tonight, sliding all the down to the bottom, and should be much more of a factor. (2) SHADY MCCOY was the winner for trainer Brett Derue last week that I mentioned earlier. He's in for the optional claiming tag, so he didn't have to step up.

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Race 12 - F&M NW4500L5/Not 3rd L3/Winners Base Class NW3500 or Less 1 of L3 Starts/TrackMaster Rating 77 or Less as of 2-23-21/NW2 Races in 2020-21 Pace

(1) IDEATION HANOVER kicked home in 27 and change in her last couple against NW7500L5's. She drops and moves inside tonight, making her worth a shot. (5) SHELLIE DE VIE should be able to go back to her more forwardly-placed style here after racing from off-the-pace from post nine in that series final a week ago. (3) SWEETER LULU didn't get much in the way of pace to chase a week ago and didn't fire. She seems overdue for a wake-up call, especially since she was favored against NW7500L5's two back.

Race 13 - TrackMaster 73 or Less as of 2-23-21 Pace

(4) S MCKEE rallied with a lot of pace in the stretch last Friday and should be the one to beat tonight. (2) SIR JAKE'S Z TAM exits the GSY Series and gets a chance to partner with Todd McCarthy after he took him over others in this race. (9) BRASS MONKEY loses Gingras's services tonight but picks up a suitable replacement in Simon Allard and was a gaining third against the TrackMaster 73's a week ago.