Meadowlands: Analysis for Friday 4/28
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WINTER MEET STATS: 335-90-71-40 / $556.50 (-$113.50)
BEST BETS: 25-7-9-2 / $35.20 (-14.80)
SPOT PLAYS: 25-5-6-3 / $33.40 (-$18.60)
BEST BET: WOW LESTER (4TH)
SPOT PLAY: HENDERSON SEELSTER (12TH)
Race 1: Meadowlands Amateur Driving Club - Pick 5
(5) CAMLACHIE CHROME was used hard from post 10 in his last appearance here. The road to the front should be much easier this time. (2) A B COLLINS was a good second when last in the amateur ranks and this looks like a good spot for him to potentially shine. (4) MASTER CONRAD drops into the easier division of the MADC and could awaken. (10) FINAL JUSTICE rallied from the back for second last time so maybe he can overcome the bad post.
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Race 2: Non-winners 2 (NW L3 3) races or $35,500 life/Maidens draw inside
This race is a bit of a guessing game since the entire field is coming off qualifiers. (6) TACTICAL APPROACH has looked the best of the group in the morning and has two qualifiers while most of these have one. The fact that the connections reach out to Zeron is a sign of positive intent. (5) LITTLE EXPENSIVE and (7) ARI FERRARI J both showed good pure speed at 2 and each won their lone qualifiers.
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Race 3: Non-winners $5,000 (NW L3 $5,501) in last 5 or in 2023/TM 80 (NW L3/2L5 80.5/81.35) or less - Survivor 7
(1) MASSIVE MATTER has been a new horse with hobbles added and this looks like a very weak NW5000. The inside post should allow him to sit mid-pack and rally late. (5) CHAKE qualified back well and clearly fits in terms of talent. (2) BIG CHARLIE MORAN could be cutting the fractions here and if he gets away easy enough anything is possible. Still, I prefer him underneath.
Race 4: Trackmaster 74 (NW L3/2L5 74.5/75.20) or less/NW $1,500 in 2021-2023
(3) WOW LESTER drops back into the basement Trackmaster condition where he recently picked up a win and a second. Dunn joining the team will mean a short price, but this is a very soft spot. (5) HOLD ME CLOSER blew up at the start last weekend but deserves a second chance. Her prior effort was fine. (1) STRAVINSKY returns from more than a 1.5 year layoff but enters a new barn. In this field nothing would be a complete shock.
Race 5: Meadowlands Amateur Driving Club
(3) SUNSHINE’S FINEST has been a victim of circumstance in his last two starts. He moves back inside this week and finds a field that is ripe for the taking. (7) OKIE FROM MUSKOGEE looks like the speed of the race and it wouldn't be a surprise if he took the field a long way. (1) ROCKABILLY CHARM should be able to stick a bit closer to the front here is a field that seems to lack too much early speed. He hasn't been able to step up in some time but is capable.
Race 6: Non-winners 2 (NW L2 3) races or $30,000 life/Maidens draw inside - $50K GTD Pick 4
(1) QUICK E is a very well-bred filly that didn't quite have her act together as a 2-year-old but has qualified back sharp for action this year. Trainer Brett Pelling seems to have her ready. (3) ODDS ON HAIL MARY was held at bay by the top one in the latest qualifier but she's right there at this point in terms of ability. (2) DIAMONDSNPEARLS dropped two seconds in her second qualifier and now she adds Dunn.
Race 7: Non-winners $7,500 in last 5/TM 82.5 (NW L3/2L5 83/83.67) or less/NW $1,500 p.s. last 7
(2) LIGHTFOOTEDLEGEND really picked up his game on the trainer change to Cassar and seemingly is in a good spot here with plenty of early speed to chase down. (8) RIVER OF DENILE returns to the track where he posted a lifetime mark two starts back. Gingras opts to the Burke horse #9 as expected but Beckwith has been bringing in plenty of prices. (6) SHINKANSEN will be firing to the front and figures to be sitting first or second with a chance to succeed.
Race 8: Non-winners $5,000 in last 5/TM 80.5 (NW L3/2L5 81/81.5) or less - Pick 6
(5) DBLDELITEBRIGADE N is supposed to be able to win in this class but hasn't been able to get the job done. Perhaps the addition of Dunn can make the difference. (2) LADY ROCKNROLLA A rallied nicely for second on the drop to this class last time. (3) DISARONNO HILL rolled to a nice win in an added distance race last out at Yonkers. Five-year-old fits nicely in here.
Race 9: Meadowlands Amateur Driving Club
(3) CLAYTONS BETTOR N wasn't exactly on his game last time but he is the most consistent of this group. Slendorn will put him on the lead and should be able to get a good trip. (5) LOVIN MISS DAISY N rallied wide on the final turn and finished steadily behind horses that got the jump on her. Trainer Annunziata has seen good success in the amateur races and this gal could definitely step up in her second start back after missing a week due to sickness. (2) ALWAYS A PANTHER is another with early speed that should be in play; worth considering. (10) LITTLE HONEYBADGER gets placed in post 10 again. She'll need some luck but is capable.
Race 10: Non-winners $5,000 (NW L3 $5,925) in last 5 - $50K GTD Pick 4
(5) STRAIGHT TALK could provide some interesting value here having missed six weeks of action. Notice he pulled off a 34-1 upset when last seen in this class and his qualifier should serve as a good tightener. (3) LYONS PEGASUS is coming out of some fast miles as he drops in class; wake-up candidate. (6) BAILEYS ROCK N got caught in a 1:49 4/5 mile last time and raced well to be third. Perhaps he is coming around.
Race 11: Winners 1-2 races lifetime/Maidens draw inside
(7) SOUTHWIND CHERRY has a conditioning edge on many of these after a few starts at Hoosier where she put up some good miles. (3) GIGI HANOVER returned from a long stay on the sidelines with a solid qualifier behind the Hambletonian Oaks winner while trotting a 26 1/45 final quarter. She's a must-use in the Pick 4 as a horse that may have potentially gotten much better over the winter. (9) FRIENDS AFTER SIX blew out a nice mile from the inside at Pocono and while she figures on paper, you have to wonder if they'll gun her out from post 9 here.
Race 12: Non-winners $3,000 (NW L3 $3,300) in last 5/TM 77 (NW L3/2L5 77.5/78.25) or less
(2) HENDERSON SEELSTER is probably not the same horse he was a couple of years ago but he's more than capable of handling a bottom-level group like this one. He chased steadily in a fast 1:54 1/5 mile last time in just his second start back from winter break and should be ready to fire his best shot now. (5) SCIROCCO PATRICK returns here after a failed try racing over his head at Pocono in the Game of Claims series. Barn change is interesting. (7) WORKOUT GIRL is another class-dropper and she does have the early speed to get into position.
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Race 13: Trackmaster 74.25 (NW L3/2L5 74.75/75) or less/NW $1,025 in last 5
Sometimes you find a race where none of the horses jump off the page and this certainly qualifies. In those cases I prefer a horse making some changes and (8) TOPVILLE RHONDA fits the bill. She adds Lasix for a high-percentage barn and switches to a Hall of Fame driver. (2) MIDNIGHT ZEN was a winner in this class when last seen on this oval. (4) ULTIMATE LONG SHOT gets a better post to start from this week.
Race 14: Trackmaster 74.50 (NW L3/2L5/Not 3rd L5 75/75.50/75.75) or less
(5) MARVALOUS ONE wasn't showing much when last seen back in February but did qualify very nicely under new trainer Symon Spicer, who after a slow start to the meet got a win and a third last weekend, including with a new acquisition. (3) ON DAYBOO switches conditions and should feel right at home versus this group. (10) WEST IS BEST is another getting a barn change. Four-year-old was purchased online for just $13,400 and could in fact turn into a good purchase. (6) SAULSBROOK RAPTOR has decent form and the early speed to make the front.