Meadowlands: Analysis for Saturday 11/14

MEET STATS: 156-39-22-22 / $265.20 (-$46.80)
BEST BETS: 11-6-1-2 / $18.40 (-$3.60)
BEST BET: PASSA-GRILLE BEACH (4th)
SPOT PLAY: SAVE ME A DANCE (12th)
Race 1: Non-winners 2/3 races or $25,000/$30,000 life - $50K GTD Pick 5

(3) ROCKIN MEDICINE was rather close to a quick pace last week and still finished reasonably well. Four-year-old lands in a soft spot here and has no excuses. (5) ATOMIC BLAST N finished just ahead of the top pick last time in an improved effort; getting better? (6) ROCKIN ROCKO was a convincing winner in this class two starts back and hails from a hot barn.

[DRF HARNESS: Get Harness Eye PPs for this card]

Race 2: 2-Year-Old Colt Pace

(6) CAVIART LOTUS remains winless in nine career starts but has been very close to the best in the division in his last three starts. With others likely to take more pari-mutuel action than warranted, I'll roll the dice here and hope for a decent trip. (1) EXPLOIT is much better than his line shows last week; can rebound. (3) ALWAYS A MIKI gets away from the best in the division and might show early speed now.

[DRF BETS: Wager on tonight's Meadowlands card at DRF Bets.com!]

Race 3: Trackmaster Rating 73 or less - Survivor 7

(7) MAJOR JESSE tried to leave last week but had company to his inside and wound up getting a brutal overland trip. I'll give him another shot if the price climbs to 5-1 or so. (3) NA NA NA BAATMAN raced well at both ends of the mile last week and might be coming into form. (2) OUR ART AND HEAVEN was used through fast fractions and paid the price last Friday. A smoother trip could result in a better showing.

Race 4: Non-winners $2,500 in last 5 or 1 race in 2020

(9) PASSA-GRILLE BEACH drops to the basement condition while facing a sketchy group. I have to think he'll be primed for a big effort. (1) APEX SEELSTER moved to the big track last week and showed some late life. (4) EGOMANIA hopes to see similar improvement as #1 on the switch to the mile oval; not impossible.

Race 5: Non-winners $7,500 in last 5

(4) GRIFFON HANOVER brushed and crushed last week after finally drawing a good post. He moves up the condition ladder here but has the class and form to score again. (8) PRIMO GIOVANNI gets a change of scenery and moves into a new barn. He's worth a long look in the post parade. (7) GINGER TREE MARTY ships in from Philly in fine form for the top team of Gingras/Burke. (1) SOLO STORY, (2) ROCK N TONY and (3) DEALER’S TABLE are all trip threats in a close-knit field.

Race 6: Non-winners $10,500 in last 5 - $50K GTD Pick 4

(9) GEEZ JOE hasn't been quite as sharp in recent starts but does take a meaningful dip in class this week that should encourage driver Marcus Miller to get aggressive. (1) BILLY BADGER N is at his comfort level and should be able to stick close from the inside post. (4) GOOD ROCKIN does well over this track and has a huge closing kick; tested for class here. (10) ANOTHER DAILY COPY takes the same class drop as the top pick but is stuck outside him and that could hurt his chances.

[DRF BETS: Wager on tonight's Meadowlands card at DRF Bets.com!]

Race 7: 2-Year-Old Fillies

(5) BLUE DIAMOND EYES is perfectly drawn in the middle of the gate and needs to be sent to the front here. If Miller "goes for it" I believe she’ll put up a solid mile. (2) NOTORIOUS PINK was done in by the outside post in the Breeders Crown. Back on the inside of the gate here, she should be near the lead with a big chance. (10) JK ALWAYSBALADY is the filly to beat but there is no way I'm taking a short price on her from post 10 against a solid field.

Race 8: Non-winners $10,500 in last 5 - Pick 6

(8) SOMEBADDUDE got a mystery "I" for interference last week when he had a clean trip and finished strongly in the stretch. Classy 5-year-old was sharper than expected after missing four weeks of action and I expect a strong performance from him with that start under his belt. (2) ANGERS BAYAMA was on his way to victory last week when he took a bad step and jumped it off. He's clearly the horse to beat here but hard to stomach if the price is short. (5) HEZA REAL DIAMOND has some early speed in his arsenal and a pair of seconds in this class recently. (1) ROCKIN THE ACES came charging home in his first start for a barn that has been sending out sharp horses left and right.

Race 9: Non-winners $14,000 in last 5 or 8 races life/$50,000 Clm.

(1) GROOVY JOE was overmatched last week and too far back in his previous start. Three-year-old takes on older here but is every bit as fast as any of these and likely to get sharp in a hurry dropping into a conditioned race. (4) ROCK THE DEVIL drops back down to the level of his last win and figures to find some early speed this week. (8) DE LOS CIELOS DEO never lifted a hoof last time for some strange reason. We all know he can motor when feeling his groove. (10) MANTICORE is a very capable sophomore who was unfortunate to draw post 10. If the trip works out, he can win.

Race 10: Preferred Handicap - $40K GTD Pick 4

(7) FILIBUSTER HANOVER drops out of stakes company this week. The last time that happened he won. The time before, he won. You get the idea. (3) FRANCO TOTEM N looked like he's still sharp enough to give these a tussle with a reasonable trip. (9) ANA AFREET N could give the top pick a real tussle if he can somehow get to the lead easily from the outside post. (4) WES DELIGHT had things go his way last week and delivered a knockout punch in the lane. He seems like an underlay off the win.

Race 11: Non-winners $4,500 in last 5 or $6,500 in last 9

(3) OLLIE'S Z TAM was used hard last week and paid the price. Burke trainee drops in class and should perk up. (2) THNDRFRMTHETHRON N finished ok in his qualifier versus some top-level competition. He's worth a look in the warm-ups. (4) LOVE THE BLUES N faced a pretty good field last time and now drops down the ladder.

Race 12: Non-winners 4/6 races or $50,000 life

(6) SAVE ME A DANCE actually rallied well in the Breeders crown last time and has been keeping much better company all year. He's supposed to take this field. (4) RUTHLESS HANOVER looked very good winning here last week and there is no reason he can't build off that effort in only his 10th career start. (8) PUT TO RIGHT faced a former Little Brown Jug winner last time, so the loss is understandable, and Andrew McCarthy chose here over my top pick and two others. (5) ACES ROCK couldn't be sharper, though this field is much better in terms of quality than his recent foes.

Race 13: $10,000/$12,500 Clm. Hcp.

(7) IMAGEOFAROCKER has been a dead closer but a sharp one. There is ample early speed lined up in this field to set him up for a big rally. (5) CENTURY FERRARI went fast on the engine and tired in his first start for this barn. Four-year-old deserves a second chance. (9) SHATTERED GLASS and (10) RUTHLESS DUDE are sharp, have some early speed and will have to negotiate tough posts. If either gets a decent trip they are dangerous.