Meadowlands: Analysis for Saturday 11/18

MEET STATS: 125-36-17-21 / $165.90 (-$84.10)

BEST BETS: 9-9-0-0 / $32.10 (+$14.10)

SPOT PLAYS: 8-1-1-1 / $4.20 (-$11.80)

BEST BET: NEWSROOM (4^th)

SPOT PLAY: BELMONT ROYALE N (9^th)

Race 1: $15,000-$20,000 Claiming Handicap - Pick 5

(1) HASHTAG WATCH ME is first time Izzy, an angle I always love. He’s back on the big track this week and raced well on the seven-eighths at Mohawk. (8) ROBBIE BURNS N has been racing very well and could offer value from the outside post. (4) DESIRE’S CAPTAIN has been racing well from off the pace at Yonkers and perhaps with a good trip The Meadowlands - which was very much favoring closers last weekend, especially on Saturday - he can get over the top.

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Race 2: $15,000-$20,000 Claiming Handicap - Survivor 7

(6) VEL MR NICE GUY is capable of putting up a big mile and notice the barn change here. In a field that seems to lack early speed I can see Chindano taking a shot. (9) NOB HILL FLASH won in this class last week and is certainly a repeat threat. (8) HEREITTIZ is another moving into a new barn. Can he work out a trip from the outside post despite his lack of early speed?

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Race 3: Goldsmith Maid Elim

There really is no benefit for (2) SOIREE HANOVER to go “all-out” to win this race being that she’ll get a good post just finishing second. That said, she’s lengths better than this group, should be able to grind these down first-over and can’t afford a loss in her quest for divisional honors. (4) HONEY’S SWEET blew up at the wrong time last week but should be forwardly placed and deserves another shot. (8) PIZZELLE gets a barn change and there is talent here.

Race 4: Governor’s Cup Elim - Pick 8

(7) NEWSROOM looks to have lost his mojo but really hasn’t gotten much slower, the others just got faster. Here he faces a much, much softer group and should have every chance to get right in a hurry. (4) TOTAL STRANGER had absolutely no excuse for failure in the Kindergarten final as he hung late. It is hard to back him to win at 0-for-10 but he remains a horse in with a chance. (5) T H TYSON can sprint with any of these for a quarter and I wouldn’t be shocked if he raced well at huge odds.

Race 5: Goldsmith Maid Elim

(8) DATE NIGHT HANOVER has taken some time off after the Breeders Crown and now shows up with a new driver in the hot seat. Melander tends to send them out ready off the bench and the price should be fair off the break last time. (4) PAULINA HANOVER has been chasing slow fractions with nothing to show for it lately. Maybe she gets put on the engine here? (5) R MELINA rated and got the job done at Dover. She looks like the favorite but not a horse I want to play as the chalk.

Race 6: Governor’s Cup Elim - $50K GTD Pick 4

(4) MAGNIFICO HANOVER took a shot first-over and got beat by two fresher horses from behind in a fast-paced race. This gelding’s lines don’t look as nice as they did a month back but he’s most definitely a contender here. (3) MAXIM HANOVER easily swooped past the top pick last time in the Matron and certainly deserves some respect. (5) NUCLEAR tends to go off at big prices and gets into the number; using underneath.

Race 7: Three Diamonds Elim

(5) MY GIRL EJ won the Breeders Crown and vaulted herself into the divisional honors picture. Burke always has them ready to roll and the post is perfect to race from on or off the pace, though I expect early speed. (4) SARASOTA HANOVER has proven to be a very good trip horse and if she can settle in second or third and shake free, watch out! (1) CAMERICAN chases with the best of them and should be pushing away from the inside to stay close. She’s 11-for-12 this year with on the board finishes.

Race 8: Valley Victory Elim - Pick 6

(6) MOSQUITO went first-over into Karl last time and couldn’t make much headway. The competition today is much easier overall and he seems worth a shot at fair odds. (4) WILD TICKET didn’t race well at Hoosier but most of the Melander horses weren’t great there either. He has early speed and could be in good position in a race where there might not be much of a flow. (1) FLYING KRONOS S certainly has a big shot but will be overbet on the driver change.

Race 9: Non-winners $14,000 in last 4 or 6 races life/TM 89.5 or less

(3) BELMONT ROYALE N was stuck behind bad cover while chasing soft fractions against better foes last week. This is the perfect spot for him to shine. (9) DRAGONONTHEBEACH drops out of Open company at Philly where he was tackling some salty foes. He should be capable despite the bad draw. (2) NANDOLO N has been getting better as he drops in class and we all know what he can do at his best.

Race 10: Non-winners $20,000 in last 4 or 10 (NW L2 11) races life/TM 93.01 or less - $50K GTD Pick 4

(7) ABUCKABETT HANOVER is in need of new tactics and a wake-up call and this is the type of field where he should be able to take charge. (4) TAURASI gets the same class break as the top pick and would be no surprise. (8) I DID IT MYWAY has proven he can go with these on his best and it will be interesting to see what he does for new connections after the purchase in Harrisburg.

Race 11: Non-winners $14,000-$20,000 in last 4/TM 88-91 or less

(6) INAMINUTE HANOVER returned from an extended vacation with a solid qualifier and he certainly should feel right at home in this class. (9) DELAYED HANOVER has every right to win dropping from the Breeders Crown into this overnight class, but I wouldn’t accept a short price. (7) TOCCOA FALLS has been good here in back to back starts. If the top pair doesn’t show up he’ll have a big say.

Race 12: Winners 2-4 (NW L2 5) races or $50,000 life/$50,000 Claiming

(3) JK’S ON THE MOVE had no shot last week moving to the outside of the gate. Despite the post he closed willingly and remains sharp. (1) THIRD PILLAR was racing well on the big track before recent failures. Four-year-old is one of many making the move to this barn and if the others are good his stock moves up. (6) BB LUCKY BOY has big speed and can crush these if feeling good today.

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Race 13: Non-winners $7,500 (NW L2 $8,250) in last 4/TM 83.5 (NW L2/2L4 84/84.5) or less

(2) MARCUS SEELSTER took a tour of the track from an outside post following a two month absence from racing. He should be put in play here with a big chance to win. (1) BETTOR NOT TALK lands in a decent spot as he ships in from Philly with some form. (3) CONTROL HEAVEN showed signs of life on the class drop and did lure Tetrick off the top pick. (5) MINDTRIP got 10 lengths faster on the drop in class last time. Veteran campaigner is certainly a player if he can repeat anything close to that mile.

Race 14: Non-winners $5,000 (NW L2 $5,500) in last 4/TM 80.5 or less

(1) STRAIGHT TALK took care of business on the engine as the chalk when last seen in this condition. (9) TITO ROCKS has no form but gets a meaningful class break. (3) ALTA BLUES A has been racing well and is clearly a trip threat.