Meadowlands: Analysis for Friday 4/12

MEET STATS: 320-89-64-43 / $492.70 (-$147.30)

BEST BETS: 23-12-3-2 / $49.60 (+$3.60)

SPOT PLAYS: 22-5-7-2 / $19.80 (-$24.20)

BEST BET: WHATS THE WORD (11^th)

SPOT PLAY: INTERVIEW FRA A (9^th)

Race 1: Meadowlands Amateur Drivers Club 1 Pace - Pick 5

Absolutely formless group going here in the opener. (6) TIDAL SHARK is the one horse getting a class break even though it seems like he’s been facing the same horses as the rest on paper. Kleinhans should put him in play. (7) FINAL JUSTICE had some bad equipment issue as he made a sharp right hand turn on the backstretch and fell way out of it. His prior try in this class was fine. (2) STOLEN ART moves to the inside of the gate and that should provide him with a fighting chance if the trip is reasonable.

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Race 2: Trackmaster 74 (NW L2/2L4/NWL7 74.5/75/75.34) or less - Survivor 7

(3) PRIVATE SCOTT returns to The Big M, gets class relief and faces a very soft group. It is hard to imagine him not going down the road. (2) TEXAS MIKI picks up a catch-driver here and should be forwardly placed. (5) XMARKSTHESPOT wasn’t going very far from post seven at Freehold after missing a few weeks. He’s had some success in this condition and might offer some value underneath.

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Race 3: Trackmaster 77.6 (NW L2/2L4 78/78.6) or less Series

(6) QUEEN SUN RYSER raced ok from a tough spot at Freehold last time and the driver change this week is interesting. Mare hasn’t had success here but does catch a good spot. (2) SHAKE IT TWICE is likely going to be the chalk here but hasn’t been the most reliable sort with just 3 wins from her last 38 starts. It is hard not to use her in the Pick 5 but also hard to love her as the chalk. (7) WINDSUN MOJITO is more than fast enough to beat these if she minds her manners and Miller can get her a decent trip from the outside post.

Race 4: $5,000-$7,500 Claiming Handicap - $2,873 Pick 8 Carryover

(7) SOUTHWIND DREDGE is back in the same barn that won with him for a higher claiming tag on February 24. Seven-year-old should be firing towards the front. (2) LACHIE MAGUIRE N was a solid second when last in for a claiming tag. (3) PINEBUSHDRAGONROLL won convincingly for a higher claiming price two starts ago.

Race 5: Meadowlands Amateur Drivers Club 1 Pace

(1) ROCKABILLY CHARM does his best work nowadays when he can settle off the pace and attack with a big late rally. This post should get him off somewhere in mid-pack and he just needs an honest pace to give him a big shot. (10) DANDY IDEA and (6) BIONIC are both down in company slightly and each has good gate speed to gain position early in the mile.

Race 6: Trackmaster 77.6 (NW L2/2L4 78/78.6) or less Series - $50K GTD Pick 4

Tough race here to kick off the Pick 4. (2) LAZIN ON THE BEACH returns here off another solid win at Freehold and this time she lands a good post to work with. Miller should have her moving forward early and hopefully sitting no worse than a pocket trip. (6) ABUELITA HANOVER is capable of firing off the gate and I’d give her a big shot if Boyd chose those tactics. (7) CHARMING VIXEN has arguably been keeping the best company over at Yonkers; trip player since she lacks early speed. (3) CORSINI A comes off a victory and now gets a better post this time.

Race 7: Trackmaster 71 Series Final

(2) ROLLINWITDAPONYZZZ did the heavy lifting on the engine into the wind and couldn’t quite last until the wire. Moving inside this time perhaps he can sit the pocket or just off the pace and turn the tables. (3) JUST A ROCKET MAN has yet to lose since moving from father to son on the training ledger; big threat again. (10) COIN FLIP was dealt a difficult post but has enough speed to figure out a trip; good form.

Race 8: Meadowlands Amateur Drivers Club 1 Pace - $8,332 Pick 6 Carryover

Virtually impossible race to have any confidence in to start this Pick 6 carryover. (6) WHAMMER JAMMER has put together back to back sharp efforts. It all comes down to whether he gets a reasonable trip, though he can take some air. (5) WARRAWEE YANKEE gets some key post relief here and I wouldn’t be shocked if Silva elected to leave hard. (9) ROCK ON LINE is completely at the mercy of the pace, but given how wide open this race seems on paper, he may just get the setup he wants. (2) CAMLACHIE CHROME seems to turn in a good effort every week and there is no reason why he can’t be the horse that gets the winning trip.

Race 9: Non-winners $7,500 in last 4

(3) INTERVIEW FRA A is clearly the sharpest horse in this field and while he moves up in class on paper this isn’t the toughest group in the world. (1) JL CURZE is probably far removed from being able to wire a field at The Meadowlands but he does get some class relief here. The “King” might be able to awaken with a smoother trip behind an escort. (6) AMADOR has raced well each week and seemingly could be heading to the front this again.

Race 10: Trackmaster 83 (NW L2/2L4 83.5/84.64) or less - $50K GTD Pick 4

(6) GANDOLF THE BLACK came up with a lifetime best performance last weekend and I wonder if we’ll still get a decent price as people remain uncertain if he can do it again. (2) AIR GUITAR has four seconds in his last five starts. (8) EL YERNO rallied nicely for the victory last time. Can he find the right trip to win from the outside post this week?

Race 11: Play Meadowlands NW $3,000 (NW L2 $3,470) in last 4/TM 77 (NW L2/2L4/2L6 77.5/78/78.80) or less

(3) WHATS THE WORD has two career starts on bigger tracks and he crossed the wire first both times. In 2023 he set a lifetime mark at Vernon and way back in 2017 he won a qualifier over this surface. He comes off a decent mile from an outside post off a layoff and should be tight and ready tonight. (9) STONE MASON didn’t fire from a bad post at Pocono after missing five weeks prior to that start. Five-year-old has a bit of ability and should bring a good mile to the track against this field. (2) I’LL OWE YOU ONE has been racing well and keeps Miller over a couple of others including (6) THE AMERICAN EAGLE, who fired out and lacked a late kick last time. Speed again tonight?

Race 12: Trackmaster 73.5 Series Final

I wasn’t a believer in (4) PAIGE PERFECT last week but she proved me wrong with a powerful late kick to win going away. Many people will chalk that win up to a fast pace that set her up but it seems to me that she’s found herself as a 4-year-old. (5) MISS ITALIA is going to need the right trip to have a win chance but she raced well last time and should offer good value. (9) RAGS TO RICHES went a big mile in defeat in her Engblom barn debut. The post hurts but she seems very capable.

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Race 13: Play Meadowlands NW $3,000 (NW L2 $3,470) in last 4/TM 77 (NW L2/2L4/2L6 77.5/78/78.80) or less

(6) MONEY MATTERS jumped it off on the half at Freehold for new connections and I have to believe they learned something from that performance and will have her right in this soft spot. (8) C YOU AGAIN DK has a serious breaking issue of his own but does get a new pilot tonight. Maybe he can right the ship. (10) HOLY BEING was freshened up down south. His best effort puts him in contention and the price should be more than fair.

Race 14: Non-winners $3,000 (NW L2 $3,300) in last 4

(9) ERA OF LOVE was never clear in the stretch last time so you can ignore the seventh place finish. She’s capable of making the top and only needs a reasonable trip to have a chance. (8) KATHY’S MOMENT comes in sharp and she may enjoy stretching out her legs on the big track. (6) ANNA’S WISH drops down and is worth consideration.