Meadowlands: Analysis for Friday 5/12

CHAMPIONSHIP MEET STATS: 28-10-3-5 / $40.90 (-$15.10)

BEST BETS: 2-2-0-0 / $6.50 (+2.50)

SPOT PLAYS: 2-1-0-0 / $6.80 (+$2.80)

BEST BET: BOILER MAKER (6^th)

SPOT PLAY: SCIROCCO PATRICK (2^nd)

Race 1: Meadowlands Amateur Drivers Club - Pick 5

(6) DEERFIELD BEACH took a tour of the track near the back last time in a race he clearly needed. He should be much tighter this time. (5) WIGGLE MY COOKIE took plenty of air and kept battling last Friday. She gets a better post now and could get even more aggressive. (4) HARRY HANOVER rolled down the road in this class two starts back. (3) MV OK PALACIO BR seemed to get healthy at Plainridge. Can he carry it over to the big track?

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Race 2: Trackmaster 74 or less

(6) SCIROCCO PATRICK did the heavy lifting and held well for third in his second start for this barn. He seems to be getting better and could be sitting on a big mile. (5) BOASTER COASTER is likely to be setting the fractions and could go a long way if left alone. (7) CONGRESS HILL EVA rolled past most of these last time after the top pick helped set up his late rally.

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Race 3: Non-winners 2 (NW L3 3) races life/Maidens draw inside - Survivor 7

(1) SEVEN SINS was fanned out four-wide into the first turn and wound up trotting a 55-and-change half before understandably tiring. Chapter Seven colt won't have to work as hard early this time and seems to have caught the right group as many are coming off just qualifiers. (7) HEAVEN HANOVER qualified willingly and hails from a barn that tends to send them out ready. (5 STRONGERWITHLINDY has been chasing a better foe in Pretender lately; Lasix added.

Race 4: Non-winners $3,000 in last 5/TM 77 (NW L3/2L5 77.5/78.40)/NW5000L5 draw outside

(3) BEYOND ORDINARY dropped to this class and broke last time. That miscue could lead to nice value here as he faces a mostly formless group. (7) DISTANCE LEARNING took some air and tried last time versus better. This is certainly a winning spot if he fires his best. (4) FOOLISH MONI stayed flat last weekend. Is that a sign of better things to come? Her 'A' game plays here.

Race 5: Non-winners 1 (NW L2 or non-starters in 2023 2) race life

(2) GIGI HANOVER was a sharp second behind a nice filly in Blonde Bombshell last time and chased home recent Miss Versatility winner Fashion Schooner before that. This is a great spot for her to shine. (7) WILDER DAYS can certainly mind her manners with hobbles added just as (3) WAY OFF BROADWAY could be a much better horse without them, as she showed a nice mile sans the equipment.

Race 6: $20,000-$30,000 Claiming Handicap - $50K GTD Pick 4

(6) BOILER MAKER overcame post 10 last time and has won his last three starts for this claiming tag. He isn't a lock but will take a ton of beating. (5) MAGRITTE probably should've won last Friday at first glance but the track bias was against him. Only one horse - a 1-5 shot - was able to win on the engine during that card. (4) AS ALWAYS edged ahead of #5 last time in his first start for this barn.

Race 7: Meadowlands Amateur Drivers Club

(3) BETTOR B SAWYER flashed early speed to work out a pocket trip and got the job done a week ago. There is no reason things won’t work out the same this time around. (7) ROCKABILLY CHARM has been racing better in recent weeks and may just have a shot here with the right trip. (4) JONAH has been the victim of bad trips in his last two. He's dangerous if left alone on the lead. (5) TAKEITTOTHEFACE hasn't missed the board in some time versus amateur company.

Race 8: Non-winners 2 (NW L3 3) races life/NW4 (NW L3 5) draw outside/Maidens draw inside - Pick 6

(3) IT’S MY SHOW was quite impressive in his 3-year-old debut. With any improvement he'll prove tough to beat. (7) BET A BUNDLE chased home perhaps an even more impressive Command last time. Four-year-old should be ready for a peak effort here. (4) ALL CLASS has speed and is getting away from stakes company, though this field isn't much easier if at all.

Race 9: Meadowlands Amateur Drivers Club

(5) LYONS PRIDE rallied very nicely in his first start for the new barn and seems to have found a field with some early zip to set up his late move. (9) TEXAS TERROR N keeps motoring along at age 15 and put in his typical solid performance last Friday. Calabrese joins the team this week and he gets along nicely with this guy. (1) LITTLE HONEYBADGER remains sharp and actually draws inside for a change. The last time that happened the result was a win.

Race 10: Non-winners $12,500 in last 5/TM 85.5 (NW L3/2L5 86/86.5) or less - $50K GTD Pick 4

(6) TWO PROUD has certainly been very impressive versus softer competition. The one time he stepped up to this class he really wasn't given much of a chance to shine. Hopefully Miller will give him a fair opportunity here. (3) JODY will be firing to the top and is the one to beat in my book. (1) HOT MESS EXPRESS took some air and bested a softer field most recently from a bad post. She obviously figures here but likely won't be worth the price at post time.

Race 11: Non-winners $3,000 (NW L3 $3,300) in last 5/TM 77.5 (NW L3/2L5 78/78.75) or less

(4) BEACH CRAZY has a start under her belt now that she clearly needed and also gets quite a bit of class relief as well tonight. I'm not 100% convinced she is ready to fire her best but we should see a pretty good mile. (2) TRUE BLUE HANOVER drops out of stakes competition and should be very competitive. (8) TOP HONORS got stretched out on the big track last weekend and that should only help her cause in her second go-around. (3) ULTIMATE LONG SHOT deserves some consideration off a solid effort where she paced past #8.

Race 12: Non-winners $7,500 (NW L3 $8,250) in last 5 or 4 (NW L3 5) races life/TM 83.5 (NW L3/2L5 84/84.5) or less

(3) VALAR DOHAERIS has been facing two of the best pacing mares in the sport, so it is understandable that she couldn't make a dent in those races. She is clearly the horse to beat now. (2) MISS CHANTILLY N kept her act together and finished nicely last weekend. Another step forward will give her a big win chance. (4) HUNTRESS has speed and form; always a dangerous combination.

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Race 13: Winners 3-7 races or $85,000 life/NW5 draw inside

(2) IMMANUEL K S qualified very well when you consider that he faced Bella Bellini and Venerate. He's an unknown factor but we are all aware that Svanstedt is very capable of having a horse ready off the bench. (4) BALENCIAGA returns for his 5-year-old debut with Lasix added. His connections have been playing the long game and perhaps it will pay off in 2023. (1) SQUARED AWAY raced well in his first start of the year and does add Lasix here. It will be interesting to see how he fares against older competition.

Race 14: Trackmaster 74 (NW L3/2L5 75/75.5) or less/Opt. $7,500 Clm.

(7) JERRYTONE dealt with some traffic trouble and finished up with some late pace when clear last time in a very fast mile for the class. At 0-for-10 on the year he hardly inspires confidence, but the rest of this field laves much to be desired. (6) GETAWAY was on the rim trying to gain in the fastest part of the mile at Philly last time and he held well late in the race. Here's another winless horse that could get off the schneid. (3) FINAL JUSTICE comes out of the same race as the top pick and he dealt with a bit of traffic in the stretch as well. (2) BRAZEN BRAZILIAN actually shows a win last time, though that was in an amateur race.