Meadowlands: Analysis for Saturday 1/14

WINTER MEET STATS: 28-5-4-4 / $33.60 (-$22.40)

BEST BETS: 2-0-0-1 / $0.00 (-4.00)

SPOT PLAYS: 2-0-0-0 / $0.00 (-$4.00)

BEST BET: I DRAINTHESWAMP A (13th)

SPOT PLAY: DELAYED HANOVER (5th)

Race 1: Non-winners $10,500 (NW L3 $11,500) in last 5 - Pick 5

While I wouldn't accept a short price, if every horse in the field brings their best it is likely that (2) CARBINE will win. Five-year-old qualified sharply and should be ready with only five weeks since his last start. (8) WHITECOOKIE raced in this class here three times in 2022 and picked up a pair of seconds. He's certainly a big threat here and likely to be firing off the gate. (7) UNDRTHSOUTHRNSUN hasn't been quite as sharp as when he put up some big miles last year but he does reunite with Bongiorno tonight.

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Race 2: MLK Pro/Amateur $15,000-$20,000 Claiming Handicap

(3) ILLINI DUKE takes a giant step up in class but won so convincingly that he might just be able to handle the condition hike versus just an average field. (4) SPORTS ADVISOR drops in for a new low claiming price and figures to show everything he has in the tank. (1) SOMIKI has good form and can be coming late if he gets a clean trip.

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Race 3: Non-winners $5,000 (NW L3 $5,500) in last 5 - Survivor 7

Driver Andrew McCarthy was listed on half the field including my top three picks and chose (1) TORONTO. The lightly-raced 5-year-old came up short last time but is capable of big miles. He'll likely try to come away close and make one move to the front. (8) ADAM CROCKER A double drops in class and there is really no excuse for a lackluster effort. (4) FLYING ART A showed some improvement last time; another step forward now?

Race 4: MLK Remembrance $20,000 Claiming

(4) KEYSTONE STEAM does his best work from behind and he seems to be in a field with plenty of early speed, not to mention that these type of races can get a bit wild. Nine-year-old wasn't good last time, but he had an outside post in a rather quick race. (1) DENMARK SEELSTER has missed some time but seems to be well-spotted as he drops in claiming price. (8) CAPOZZO raced well out of the pocket last time and a repeat performance would make him tough.

Race 5: Non-winners $20,000 in last 5 or 10 races life/TM 84.25 or less

(10) DELAYED HANOVER is simply the best horse in the race. While post 10 isn't ideal, Gingras can probably float away and rate on the rim if he chooses. (2) BIRDMAN is a nice little trotter that is capable of some big miles; qualifier says ready! (7) RICH AND MISERABLE is a classy 8-year-old who is more than capable of besting this group (perhaps outside of the top pick) with anything close to his best. (3) CHIPLOSIVE lured Miller off #s 8 & 10, which definitely surprised me. Maybe he knows something I don't.

Race 6: Non-winners $14,000 (NW L3 $15,400) in last 5/TM 88.5 (NW L3/5 89/89.51) or less - $50K GTD Pick 4

(1) ARIO HANOVER was super last time and anything close to a repeat performance should get the job done again. (6) MYSWEETBOYMAX showed his class by rolling up on the rim and finding more to pull off the upset last time. If trainer DePinto has him right, this guy can string some wins together. (5) AS ALWAYS was really good two starts back and was done in by the eight-hole last time at Yonkers. Burke trainee is more than capable in this spot and over this track.

Race 7: $25,000-$35,000 Claiming Handicap

(6) DONTLIKEITLEAVE made two moves and rolled down the road impressively last weekend. (7) BOILER MAKER has been sharp for some time and he only needs a decent trip to have a big shot. (3) LENDA HAND MAN was headstrong in the pocket but empty when pulled. Perhaps he chocked down? I'd give him a second shot here.

Race 8: Winners 2-4 (NW L3 5) or $50,000 (NW L3 $60,000) life/Opt. $50,000 Claiming - Pick 6

(5) KATIES BET came first-up into a killer and did well to hang on for second. Getting away from that foe, he should be the one to beat. (1) PICK A GENRE and (2) LUC ROCKS both come off legitimate excuse lines. The former was simply too far back in a slow mile and the latter was trapped too long on the pylons and finished with some late pace.

Race 9: TrackMaster 86 (NW L3/2L5 86.5/87.25) or less

(6) CHASER HANOVER was used hard leaving from the outside and had way too much company. While he eventually landed in the pocket, he lacked a big late kick and was just even. The road to the front should be much easier this time. (3) REVOLVER continues to race well with a win and a third recently in this class. (8) ARRHYTHMIC SURGE seems worth a look picking up Brennan this week.

Race 10: Non-winners $14,000 (NW L3 $15,400) in last 5/TM 88.5 (NW L3/5 89/89.51) or less - $50K GTD Pick 4

(3) MY PAL JOE takes a significant drop in class. While he wasn't very good last week, the fact that we'll get a decent price (due to the driver change) despite facing easier is intriguing. (5) BOBCAT BAY keeps motoring along with good efforts and seems to stay off the radar of bettors. (1) MULLINAX is another sharp horse and one that posted a 1:49 1/5 win over this track last year. (8) STAG PARTY raced evenly last out after many years on the sidelines. I'm inclined to give him one more start but do expect to see more here.

Race 11: TrackMaster 83 (NW L3/2L5 83.5/84.16) or less

(6) BUCHANNON HANOVER is the rare Mark Ford-trained horse which gets Gingras in the bike. His addition along with Lasix being added could push this guy over the top versus a so-so field. (5) ST LADS BEAT IT has come to form at Philly and could be a big factor in here. (1) GENERAL MONTANA N was part of a fast pace last time and only missed a head; dangerous.

Race 12: $25,000-$30,000 Claiming Handicap

(2) PARK OFFICIAL is a bit of a reach on paper as he shows little recent form, but he was parked the mile last time when a bunch of others left to his inside. Now the connections drop him in claiming price and land a much better post. (4) URBAN RENEWAL shook free late and paced home very nicely in his first start for a new barn; don't sleep on him. (1) STATEMENT MADE A was racing well at Philly and joins a good barn while luring Brennan. The main concern is that he likes to be near the front and there is some outside speed that could get in his way.

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Race 13: TrackMaster 80 (NW L3/L5 80.5/81.31) or less

(9) I DRAINTHESWAMP A was raced conservatively and wound up behind a dull foe that had him gapped out from the front pack. He made up good ground to catch the group but was flat late. That was really the perfect second start in the country and a good acclimating mile over this surface. I'm expecting a breakout mile. (7) DEAL THE CARDS fired out and raced very well last time. (4) ROLL WITH JR gets what some people would consider to be a negative trainer change but sometimes any change is a good change; using underneath.

Race 14: Non-winners $3,000 (NW L3 $3,300) in last 5

(5) WHOLE LOTTA LOU completely lost his action on the far turn but found another gear in the stretch in what was a strange effort. Assuming the issue is resolved this week, I'd expect Macdonald to put this guy on the engine and try to wire the field. (4) NOCH TEN double drops in class and gets a much better post; obvious contender. (1) EMBLAZE HANOVER and (2) SIMPLE KINDA MAN also get some class relief and either could awaken.