Meadowlands: Analysis for Saturday 10/31

MEET STATS: 13 - 52 / $76.20 (-$27.80)
BEST BETS: 2 - 4 / $5.00 (-$3.00)
SPOT PLAYS: 1 - 4 / $9.40 (+$1.40)
BEST BET - MAY I CRUISE WEST (2nd)
SPOT PLAY - PALOMAR (9th)

Race 1 - NW2500L5 Pace

(8) THE MOONSHADOW N responded to the switch from Yonkers last Saturday with an improved performance. He drops again here and I'll use. (5) DEALER'S TABLE was favored over NW4500L5's two weeks ago but tired after trying to bottom them out. I think he's a play-against for win, but I respect his back-class and connections. (1) FRANCO TRISTAN N was Napolitano Jr.'s choice of three and finished second against NW45000L5's two back at The Big M.

Race 2 - TrackMaster Rating 73 or Less as of 10-27-20 Pace

(1) MAY I CRUISE WEST got parked in his debut for trainer Izzy Estrada over at Freehold but was victorious in this TrackMaster class at the Meadowlands on 10-10 and was Allard's choice of two. (9) MARVALOUS ONE picked it up when he switched pilots to Todd McCarthy a couple weeks ago and won comfortably. He does move outside here, but he can probably land a seat since he looks like a live horse to follow. (5) GRANDPA DON closed from far back to get his second straight runner-up finish on 10-17. He gets to start from a mid-pack slot tonight after having the ten-hole most recently.

Race 3 - Horses That Have Raced in a $10,000 Claimer or Less L3 Starts Pace

(2) COLE PORTER N finished with late pace after getting around two foes who hooked wheels on the far turn last Saturday. He should offer a square price and I'll give him a shot. (3) SHATTERED GLASS certainly looks like the one to beat after destroying that field a week ago. He'll be heavily favored here. (4) SHARKNADO gained several positions in the last quarter in the event won by Shattered Glass, and I think horses from this barn could improve this week with a race over the track.

Race 4 - NW2/25000LT / NW3/30000LT, NW Last Start Pace

(5) ATOMIC BLAST N went very fast to catch up to the gate prior to the start when last seen, so it was not surprising that he tired. He picks up Todd McCarthy here and will hopefully offer more value than he did on 9-26. (3) ROCKIN ROCKO defeated NW2's on 10-10 and then tired after having to do the first-over work in a subsequent start. Vinnie Ginsburg takes over the drive, and he may try to send him. (7) CLAYTONS BETTOR N keeps knocking on the door but has had to settle for second or third in his local appearances, and I'll slot underneath again.

Race 5 - TrackMaster Rating 78 or Less as of 10-27-20/NW of a Race in 2020 Pace

(1) SCIROCCO MISTYSAID gunned out from post ten last Saturday but got parked. He shifts all the way to the pole position this week, and that should result in an easier trip. (5) SWAGASAURUSREX came up empty last week, but that was a very competitive mile against better two back, and he should be a better price tonight. Maybe he just doesn't like cover trips since his one bad race in Minnesota has a similar look to it. (6) ASTOR found his form over at Freehold and kept it going with a solid second-place effort a week ago. Watch for Ginsburg to put him near the front again.

Race 6 - NW7500L5/TrackMaster Rating 82.5 or Less as of 10-27-20 Pace

(3) GO WEST GO FAST left well and closed well last Saturday against better and drops a notch tonight. (7) PADUKA N finished with interest in the same event my top pick comes out of. He might have needed that race after the sick scratch on 10-3 and though he wasn't Marcus Miller's choice, McCarthy did well with him at Harrah's Philadelphia in September. (6) GLOBALDOMINATION N looked like he appreciated getting to race on the mile track a week ago after making all his recent appearances at Yonkers before that one. He steps up a notch but is capable of handling it.

Race 7 - F&M NW4500L5/TrackMaster Rating 77.5 or Less as of 10-27-20/15000CLM Pace

(7) AMERICAN EMPRESS N retained Allard over another contender in here and held on for a check last Saturday against tougher foes after ending up first-over. (1) PRAIRIE EASTER came up just a nose short of beating NW7500L5's two back. She draws a much better post after having the eight-hole a week ago and was Napolitano Jr.'s choice of three. (4) EXOTIC DANCE had to settle for third as the favorite last week but has shown the capability to beat the optional $15,000 claimers on many occasions, and Mitchell Cushing might want to make a good impression handling the Bongiorno trainee.

Race 8 - NW7500L5/TrackMaster Rating 82.5 or Less as of 10-27-20 Pace

(5) IN ROCK WE TRUST returns to the Meadowlands tonight after finishing second over at Pocono in his last effort. He was second and fourth in two appearances in this class prior to that and gets a chance with Allard since Irish Joe Hanney is unfortunately sidelined with an injury he suffered in a recent accident at Freehold. (1) WHITTAKER N is usually a bigger threat when against NW4500L5's but did close pretty well last Saturday, and I think is usable from the pole position. (8) PAULY WALLY won at the Meadowlands last year and ships in from Indiana. He's now with Jenn Bongiorno and shows good lines against $15,000 claimers and $20,000 claiming handicap company at Harrah's Hoosier Park.

Race 9 - NW10501L5/TrackMaster Rating 85.5 or Less as of 10-27-20 Pace

(6) PALOMAR kicked home well on the pylons last Saturday against NW14000L5's and drops tonight. He gets Napolitano Jr. to drive and lands an ideal post for his preferred rallying style. (1) LIKE CLOCKWORK put the pedal to the metal last week but tired in the lane after putting up a hot middle-half. That should have tightened him up for this start tonight as he slides down a notch in class. (5) BILLY BADGER N has been facing some tough foes over in Pennsylvania. He was second against NW11000L5's three starts back at Harrah's Philadelphia.

Race 10 - NW20000L5/TrackMaster Rating 91 or Less as of 10-27-20 Pace

(7) FRANCO TOTEM N steps up after beating NW14000L5 a week ago. He looks like he should be in line for another covered trip and he has won at as high as the Preferred level at the Meadowlands in the past, so the class hike doesn't bother me too much. (6) ANGERS BAYAMA roared home from well off the pace last Saturday to finish third to Highalator. This horse has shown more early speed in the past, giving Ginsburg some options on how he wants to race him. (10) WES DELIGHT gets away from facing the red-hot Harambe Deo this time but is also saddled with post ten. There might be an early two-wide group in this race, and I'd expect McCarthy to be looking for it.

Race 11 - F&M NW4500L5/TrackMaster Rating 77.5 or Less as of 10-27-20/15000CLM Pace

(2) DARKRSHADEOFPALE N ended up with some luck at the draw this time after having post eight in her last two tries. She has finished off her miles well but has just been too far back. Hopefully the inside gate keeps her closer to the action. (7) STICK THAT LIP OUT beat NW45000L5's back on October 9. She was put on the front that night, and since there doesn't appear to be a lot of early speed in this race, Cushing might try and do that. (5) EDEN PAIGE N had a run nice going until post nine derailed her last Saturday. She gets out of that predicament tonight and goes to Corey Callahan.

Race 12 - NW4500L5 Pace

(10) STARVIN MARVIN demonstrated some wicked speed last time out at Harrah's Philadelphia and wound up second in their NW7000L5 class. He drops from that tonight, was Allard's choice, and was victorious over NW10000L5's at the Meadowlands on Hambletonian Day this year. (5) STONEDUST was getting close against NW7500L5's as he posted three third-place finishes and slides down another notch tonight. (3) STENDAHL HANOVER is winless in 2020 but went a big trip in his most recent try against NW6000L5's at Pocono. He took his life's mark at the Meadowlands in 2019.

Race 13 - 7500-10000CLM HCP Pace

(8) IMAGEOFAROCKER paced home in 27 seconds against better claimers when last seen at the Meadowlands. He has a bad post again, but hopefully he's ready for a sharp effort and they mix it up on the lead. (6) DEMOCRACY N has a trainer change that interests me as Richie Johnson took him back on the 9th of October. His win record over the last two years is nothing to write home about, but maybe the new barn will pick him up. (2) DONTDOUBTTHELAKERS beat $10,000 claiming handicap foes in Minnesota two back and gets the services of Mark MacDonald here after racing in an amateur race on 10-16.