Meadowlands: Analysis for Friday 3/26

MEET STATS: 159-34-18-27 / $163.80 (-$153.20)
BEST BETS: 12-7-1-1 / $24.40 (+0.40)
BEST BET: GOTTA GO B B (9th)
SPOT PLAY: BEBOP ON THE BLOCK (3rd)
Race 1: Non-winners 2 or $20,000 life (NW L3 3 or $22,500) - Pick 5
(2) EAZY PASS hinted at some ability last year despite never reaching the winner's circle. Nifty Norman has been hot at the meet and this young lady comes off a decent qualifier. (6) GERARD is certain to be overlooked at the windows but has early speed the others lack at this point. He could make the front easily and last for second or third, as he has done 15 times in 34 career starts. (8) BOASTER COASTER finished ahead of the top pick in his qualifier and hails from a barn that usually sends them out ready.
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Race 2: $7,500 Claiming/TM Rating 70.85 or less
It certainly is hard to get excited about any of these low-level performers. (4) MAJOR JESSE gets a big driver change to Gingras for a capable barn. Will we see early speed? (1) ROCKIN RAMBARAN has been reasonably competitive versus tougher of late. The inside post should keep this 11-year-old close to the pace. (3) MASTER CONRAD raced better in his third start for this barn and certainly seems like a player in here.
[DRF BETS: Wager on tonight's Meadowlands card at DRF Bets.com!]
Race 3: $7,500 Claiming/TM Rating 70.85 or less - Survivor 7
(6) BEBOP ON THE BLOCK reunites with Andy Miller this week and looks like the clear speed of the race. I'll be surprised if he doesn’t take charge early and let’s expect him to go a long way. (7) BETTOR BB has raced well since the claim but may be at the mercy of a slow pace. (3) NOBLES FINESSE upset at 62-1 a week ago. He's got a chance again but will likely be an underlay.
Race 4: Non-winners $2,500 (NW L3 $3,000) in last 5/TM Rating 75 or less/Opt. $10,000 Clm.
(7) SHADY MCCOY stayed flat last week with hobbles added. He's more than capable of winning at this level against a soft field. (2) TT'S D-JAY scratched out of the 10-hole a week ago. He hasn't been great in 2021 but was best of this group last year. (3) CHARLIE ONA HARLEY is probably the sharpest in the field, which isn't saying much. (9) GOLD MEDAL SWAN picks up a catch-driver and is worth a look.
Race 5: GSY Amateur Final
(3) PREPPY ART overcame post 10 against similar last time out and should get a good pace to take aim at with a few early speed types to his outside. (8) TAILGUNNER HANOVER is a one-run closer with a serious late kick. If things get Western, he's going to be charging home. (5) ALWAYS A FORCE is back in the amateur ranks where he was racing very well. (1) SUGARTOWN is certain to be involved given his current form. The only question is what kind of trip he gets.
Race 6: Non-winners $4,500 (NW L3 $5,750) in last 5/Opt. $15,000 Clm. - $50K GTD Pick 4
(3) CHAMPAGNE ON ICE overcame post eight at Pocono in her first start for new connections. Four-year-old owns a 1:53 3/5 mark and shouldn't be hurt by the addition of Gingras. (1) ALL AMERICAN N gets major class relief. If he behaves, he'll be tough. (7) BEYOND ORDINARY closed well from a tough spot last week. He certainly has a shot with the right trip.
Race 7: Non-winners $4,500 (NW L3 $5,100) in last 5/TM Rating 78 or less/Opt. $15,000 Clm.
(7) WINDMEUPNWATCHMEGO gets an interesting driver change here to MacDonald for a high percentage barn. If he winds this mare up behind the gate, we might be able to watch her go a long way. (6) GOTTALOVEMYSHADOW is back at the level of her last win for a barn that sends out plenty of winners. (4) PETAL TO THE METAL has been a consistent check-getter. Maybe with the perfect trip she can get home first. (3) MANHATTAN PLAY should be close to the pace and wouldn't be a shock. (8) KAY’S DELIGHT dropped to this level last Friday and never got involved on another night where early speed was good.
Race 8: Non-winners $2,500 in last 5/TM Rating 75 or less/Opt. $10,000 Clm. - Pick 6
(6) TEAL HANOVER went a very game mile last week in defeat and anything close to that performance would make her tough tonight. (1) FIREFLY made a quick bid, got rebuffed and looked like she was going to finish last, but she came on again in perhaps a show of form reversal. (8) SO NICE HANOVER is hard to endorse off a break and a string of up-and-down qualifiers, but she is certainly more than fast enough if on her game. She is worth taking a long look at in the post parade.
Race 9: TrackMaster Rating 73.5 or less or 1 race in 2019-2021
(9) GOTTA GO B B hasn't been very good in recent weeks but gets a key condition switch back to TM classification. His last start in this class resulted in a down-the-road win. (6) CASHNCAM was uninspiring in his last start as the favorite. I guess he deserves another shot but don't take another short price. (3) ALTA JEROME N is plenty sharp. His connections are taking a bit of a chance moving him to the big track, but maybe the old guy is up to it.
Race 10: 3YO Fillies Non-winners 2 races or $20,000 life - $50K GTD Pick 4
(3) ALWAYS B DANCING battled very gamely to pick up the win in her career debut. She'll likely need to go faster here but should only get better. (2) WICKED WAYS charged home in 25 4/5 in her return qualifier and was staked-placed as a 2-year-old. (5) SO IRRESISTIBLE went a big mile here back in January and qualified ahead of #2 last Saturday.
[DRF BETS: Wager on tonight's Meadowlands card at DRF Bets.com!]
Race 11: Non-winners $15,000 in last 5/TM Rating 86.8 or less
(8) MARLOE HANOVER has no shot versus the boys last time, especially since she had missed six weeks of action. Four-year-old has already beaten older foes this year, has early speed and could potentially offer some value. (3) APRIL AVA came back from a long break to win impressively off a perfect trip. It's certainly possible that she has returned a better horse. (7) TRILLIONS HANOVER kept some good company last year and qualified back nicely; dangerous if ready. (6) BETALADY couldn't quite handle it on the engine last time. I expect she'll return to off-the-pace tactics.
Race 12: $7,500 Claiming/TM 70.85 or less
(2) MOTOR CITY MARCO moves into a new barn and gets a monster driver change. It is concerning that he was just claimed for $10,000 and is in for $7,500, but that's even more motivation to pick up a win to make a small profit in case he is claimed again. (8) SOSSY'S KING KONG was racing well for Quevedo but couldn't do anything for Stallworth. He's in a new barn now and Gingras chose him over three others, including my top pick. (5) STAR OF TERROR is another getting his claiming price slashed, from $12,500 to $7,500. If he has something in the tank I'm sure we'll see it here.
Race 13: Non-winners $7,500 (NW L3 $9,000) in last 5 or 2 races in 2020-21/TM Rating 81 or less
(3) SHE'S NUN BETTOR N gets meaningful class relief tonight and should find some form. (7) STELLENBOSCH dropped to this class last week and just missed in a good effort; clearly dangerous. (5) SWEETER LULU has speed and form but might find this group a bit too tough. (8) THE DOUBLE DEUCE was freshened up after a good run earlier this year. The qualifier says she is ready but she'll need a top effort.

