Meadowlands: Analysis for Friday 3/24

WINTER MEET STATS: 272-73-57-36 / $451.80 (-$92.20)

BEST BETS: 20-6-7-2 / $32.40 (-7.60)

SPOT PLAYS: 20-4-3-2 / $27.40 (-$12.60)

BEST BET: C IS FOR COOKIE (12^th)

SPOT PLAY: DREAMONHIGH (6^th)

Race 1: GSY 1 Pace - Pick 5

Here's a field without a reliable horse and plenty of potential early speed players. With that said, (1) STOLEN ART is a dead closer who already has a win in the series and could get a favorable setup. (3) ALWAYS A SHARK certainly needed that qualifier after missing six months of action. Nine-year-old gets a barn change and a wake-up isn't out of the question. (2) HUNTS POINT broke in start one for this barn but was better last time while having no shot from an outside post; more on the big track?

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Race 2: Non-winners $3,000 in last 5

(4) BOBCAT BAY should have an easy road to the front and in the short field this week should be in prime position to win. (7) REVOLVER N was competitive against much better at one point. The four weeks off is a question but the ability is there. (1) ROLL WITH JR double-drops out of claimers and into a winnable spot.

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Race 3: TrackMaster 77.5 (NW L3/2L5 78/78.51) or less - Survivor 7

(4) JJ FLYNN hails from a barn that has seen plenty of success at the meet and this guy picks up Tetrick here. Veteran performer should bring a top effort. (1) BRUSHING UP got the Izzy wakeup call a week ago and certainly is very capable of repeating. (7) CHEYENNE REIJANE has a hint of early speed if needed and decent form for this group.

Race 4: Non-winners $3,000 in last 5/TM 77 (NW L3/L5 77.5/78) or less

(1) MASSIVE MATTER was parked every step last week and eventually broke, something he's done before. Let's give him another shot here moving to a post where he can settle in and make one move. (2) HOROSCOPE improved greatly last time but remains far from reliable as the likely chalk. (9) BET BIG ON BLUE certainly has enough form to menace if he's put in play at the onset. (10) GOLDEN CROSS STONE got locked in too long a week ago. Interesting that Bongiorno chose her from post 10 over #1.

Race 5: GSY 1 Pace

(1) CHIEF OF STAFF was a convincing winner in this class last week and really doesn't lose anything on the driver change here. (2) ELRAMA N chased home the top pick most recently and might be destined for a similar fate here. (3) ROCK TO GLORY is always trip dependent. He draws nicely here and is capable with a smooth journey.

Race 6: Winners 4-7 races life/NW 4 (NW L3 5) draw inside - $50K GTD Pick 4

(7) DREAMONHIGH was wide into the first turn and raced big in defeat in his first start with Lasix added. A similar effort would make her tough. An improved effort makes her a sure winner. (6) BETTERINPINEHURST took a bad step early stretch but quickly settled down and trotted home willingly. Four-year-old could certainly show more in start two for this barn. (5) A NEW LEADER bested the top two off a clean trip while all out last week; threat again.

Race 7: TrackMaster 74.25 (NW L3/2L5 74.75/75.25) or less

(7) ALWAYS BE TRUE dropped to this class last week and closed well while the victim of pedestrian fractions. Perhaps new driver McCarthy will put her in play here. (9) UNSTOPPABLE HALL comes off a nice performance and does add Tetrick. (1) SWEET GISELE raced well from behind in each of her last two starts. Win-shy mare is a trip threat.

Race 8: Non-winners $3,000 (NW L3 $3,350) in last 5/TM 77.5 (NW L3/2L5 78/78.75) or less - Pick 6

(7) LITTLE HONEYBADGER perked up nicely last time out and should be put in play again here. (2) WOODMERE HARRIET drops a notch. Her past starts at this level have been ok. She's got a shot with a clean trip. (3) ALKIPPE goes for three straight but tackles a better field.

Race 9: Non-winners $10,500 (NW L3 $11,550) in last 5/TM 85.30 or less

(2) NEXTROUNDSONME took a serious shot on the rim and improved in his second start back from vacation. Another small step forward can result in a win at a price. (4) MUSCLEDOVER raced well in his first start since December and he too can improve now. His best would surely equate to a win here. (5) NYLANDER looked to be coming into form two starts back and blew out a big mile with Tetrick added last time. Six-year-old could be ready to go on a little form spree.

Race 10: GSY 1 Pace - $50K GTD Pick 4

(8) TEXAS TERROR N was used a bit too hard last time and weakened some in deep stretch. He seems to have a clearer road to the front this time. (6) GO WEST GO FAST wasn't bad in his return from a mini vacation. Notice he won 10 of 30 starts in 2022. (2) SO TAKE THAT wasn't going far trying to rally into a 1:28 1/5 three quarters a week ago. Cagey veteran is very capable.

Race 11: Non-winners $5,000 (NW L3 $5,501) in last 5/TM 80 (NW L3/2L5 80.55/81.35) or less

(3) SHINKANSEN got a bad shuffle last time and was stuck in post 10 while up in class prior to that race. This is a decent field for the class but this guy should offer fair value and is the fastest horse in the race. (1) RIVER OF DENILE moves into a very live barn. The question is her having missed more than a month of racing. (2) DEBS PRINCE HALL was handled patiently in his first start since last September. Don't be surprised if he has a lot more on display now. (10) WORKOUT GIRL has the early speed to overcome post 10 and the driver change is interesting.

Race 12: Winners 1-2 (NW L3 3) races life/Maidens draw inside

I wasn't completely sold on (6) C IS FOR COOKIE in her debut mile but boy did she shine. Anything close to a repeat performance would result in an easy win. (5) TWO PROUD couldn’t touch the top pick in her first start of the year and certainly has a right to improve. (10) WINE N DINE ME kicked in late in the mile in her lone 2023 start. The post hurts here but she's fast enough if put in play.

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Race 13: TrackMaster 74.5 (NW L3/2L5 75/75.6) or less

(4) BOASTER COASTER gets a nice post shift and also adds Tetrick. This field seems to have plenty of early speed types which could set up his late rally. (5) JARA just didn't have it last week, though maybe the competition was too fast for him. Perhaps Dunn can make the difference. (9) ILUVMYMIUMIU’S has the speed to make the front if others for some reason elect to use other tactics. Her recent form isn’t bad.

Race 14: Non-winners 2 (NW L3 3) races or $20,000 (NW L3 $30,000) life/Maidens draw inside

(9) GRIZZ WYLLIE was facing Open trotter Lovedbythemasses in his qualifier, so you can't fault him for not coming close in that mile. Three-year-old could potentially be raced "easy" here so don't unload on him, but talent-wise he's probably best. (10) SENNA improved in his second start over the track and certainly is a big threat here. (5) UNRESOLVED DEBT has been closing well and could be coming strong late if the pace gets hot. (4) MATT SO SURE hasn't been that far behind #5 lately.