Meadowlands: Analysis for Saturday 1/16

MEET STATS: 55 - 224 / $381.80 (-$66.20)
BEST BETS: 8 - 17 / $28.60 (-$5.40)
SPOT PLAYS: 4 - 17 / $75.80 (+$41.80)
BEST BET - SOME CHAPTER (1st)
SPOT PLAY - PATERNITY SUIT A (6th)

Race 1 - Winners of 3 But Not More Than 5 Extended PM Races LT/NW75000LT Trot

(7) SOME CHAPTER went a big trip last Friday to just miss despite racing with broken equipment, and I think he gets to meet up with a softer group tonight. (1) GODSPELL HALL broke two back but has been sharp other than that, and his last win was quite eye-catching. (3) SWAN IN MOTION ground out a hard-earned victory from post nine a week ago. That should have been a confidence boost, and he receives significant post relief here.

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Race 2 - 12500CLM Pace

(10) RUFO has the best driver in this Martin Luther King Remembrance Pace as he gets Montrell Teague's services, and that will lead me in his direction despite the negative post. (3) CANDELL returns to the Meadowlands on a two-race win streak at Freehold and Yonkers. He did make one appearance here on 11-28 where he got shuffled back, and that hurt his chances. (5) MASTER CONRAD ships in from Northfield into the Edwin Quevedo barn, and that will probably draw some attention. He tossed in a clunker in his last in Ohio but had been racing well prior to that.

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Race 3 - NW4500L5/Winners Base Class NW3500 or Less Last Start Pace

(1) LIKE CLOCKWORK gets a driver change to Yannick Gingras tonight and moves inside. This horse seems long overdue for a win, and I'll put him on top. (3) ON ACCIDENT never got involved last Saturday, but he switches pilots to Dexter Dunn this time and raced well at Harrah's Philadelphia in December. (6) ALBERGO HANOVER was overbet in his return on 1-2 and wound up sixth. He gets some further class relief tonight, but I think you have to try to beat him given his lack of recent victories.

Race 4 - NW4500L5/Winners Base Class NW3500 or Less Last Start Pace

(6) SWEET N FAST N responded to the hot hands of Todd McCarthy with a strong, rallying third-place performance a week ago and is drawn ideally for a similar journey tonight. (5) PASSA-GRILLE BEACH has won at the Meadowlands before and gets some class relief after facing NW7000L5's at Harrah's Philadelphia when last seen. (2) THNDRFRMTHETHRON N steps up after a victory over NW2500L5's on January 2. That was with Dunn driving for the first time, and he has Dexter back again here.

Race 5 - NW11500L5/Winners Base Class NW8000 or Less Last Start/30000CLM Pace

(10) LYONS STEEL owns plenty of early speed to overcome the outside draw, and a driver like Dan Dube who knows how to use it seems like a perfect fit for him. (2) CHASER HANOVER continues his march up the class ladder having won three straight. David Miller is off to Florida, so Simon Allard, who won with him back on 12-26, is back in the bike. (9) PYRO aimed pretty high last Saturday and wasn't a threat, but he drops here and is in the Mixed Sale on Monday, so the connections might want a strong performance heading into that.

Race 6 - NW11500L5/Winners Base Class NW8000 or Less Last Start/30000CLM Pace *$50K GTD Pick 4 Pool^

(6) PATERNITY SUIT A drops back down to the level of his victory on 12-26, gets reacquainted with Todd McCarthy, and I think will get pace to chase in this event where several horses look logical. (3) MINDTRIP looks like he's in a more reasonable spot tonight as he slides down from optional $50,000 claiming company by entering for a $30,000 tag. He finished up his mile in 26 seconds last Saturday. (1) YACHT SEELSTER got an acclimating mile over the track a week ago for a normally sharp barn, moves inside, and retains Dunn.

Race 7 - NW7500L5/Winners Base Class NW6000 or Less Last Start/20000CLM Pace

(6) SOHO WALLSTREET A was driven aggressively from post ten a week ago and gave way in the last eighth. He does move up a notch, but this is a wide-open race, he gets a chance with Dunn, and gets some post relief. (5) AMERICAN BOY N weakened late after leading through a quick middle-half last Saturday. He was Andrew McCarthy's choice over my top selection. (3) INCREDIBLE SHARK faces a softer group of NW7500L5's this time after he was in against the likes of Decision Day. I would expect him to be on or near the lead.

Race 8 - NW7500L5/Winners Base Class NW6000 or Less Last Start/20000CLM Pace

(8) ITALIAN DELIGHT N dominated last Saturday against NW4500L5's. This is a step up in class, but he won at higher levels that this last winter, so I don't think it's a major issue. (2) LINDYTHEFOURTEENTH got the nod from Andrew McCarthy over others in here, and they had good success together in December at Harrah's Philadelphia. (6) STONEDUST never wins any more, but is definitely usable underneath given the drop and post relief.

Race 9 - NW15000L5/NW8 Pace

(2) HIDDEN DELIGHT found a tough-looking spot for his Meadowlands debut, but he ships down from Canada off a win, and horses coming from Nick Gallucci north of the border to Scott Blackler down here seem to fire first-time out with regularity. I'll try that angle here at what should be a price. (7) PADUKA N turned in a strong second-place effort behind the classy Western Joe a week ago, and there isn't anybody with that kind of back-class in this race. (9) VETTEL N charged home in 26 and change to finish third to Let It Ride N in the Open/Preferred at the Meadowlands a couple of Saturdays ago and has a good history at the Meadowlands.

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Race 10 - Winners of 3 But Not More Than 5 Extended PM Races LT/NW75000LT Pace *$50K GTD Pick 4 Pool*

(6) ALWAYS AND AGAIN keeps knocking at the door but hasn't been able to bust through yet. That was another excellent attempt last Saturday where he was second, and I'll give him another chance. (5) MY PAL JOE had to do the first-over work last week and wasn't able to get past my top pick. He was excellent two back, and I'm sure Alek Chartrand would like a smoother journey tonight. (2) FLYINGEVENBETTOR N starts from an improved post tonight after not being able to get involved from the eight-hole last Saturday. He also is back on a regular racing rotation.

Race 11 - NW7500L5/Winners Base Class NW6000 or Less Last Start/20000CLM Pace

(3) JK WILL POWER held on pretty well in the final quarter last Saturday despite getting parked the entire mile. I think the fact that he was put into the race like that means he was pretty well-meant, and he slides down from the NW11500L5 class tonight. (8) TWIN B TUFFENUFF was a gaining third when favored against NW11500L5's a week ago and picks up Gingras in the bike. (2) GOOD ROCKIN split foes in tight quarters last week and rallied to finish second to Decision Day. He gets Corey Callahan to drive and might appreciate a cleaner journey.

Race 12 - 12500-15000CLM HCP Pace

(6) WESTERN REDHOT appeared to have pace between foes last week but then hooked wheels with a rival and lost all chance. I will look for him to bounce back with an issue-free trip tonight. (8) FOX VALLEY NEMITZ is probably the one to beat in here given his last two efforts, especially his monster performance from post ten a couple of Saturdays ago. (7) POKERFACE BLUECHIP is another horse who responded when paired with Todd McCarthy, posting a 9-1 upset. He's back in the bike tonight, and I'll include.

Race 13 - NW2500L5/Winners TrackMaster Rating 73 Last Start Pace

(7) THE MOONSHADOW N qualified well on 1-2 and then backed that up with a rallying second-place effort last Saturday. I'll hope he's even a little sharper tonight with that race under his belt. (1) DREAMFAIR CHARRO slides down to the bottom level here for a high-percentage barn and also moves inside. I wouldn't be surprised if he improved. (3) ARQUE HANOVER is another Eric Abbatiello horse getting a chance to partner with Gingras tonight. He gets a second opportunity against NW25000L5's after finishing third on the 2nd of January.

Race 14 - 10000CLM Pace

(2) JUST WAVE GOODBYE started from two dreadful posts over at Freehold in his last pair. His one appearance at the Meadowlands on 12-26 was a good second against TrackMaster 73's, and the Allie Reynolds barn is off to a strong beginning to 2021. I'll give him a chance. (5) FOREVERNALWAYS just missed after rallying into the lead on the 26th of December and was reclaimed by Jamie Gerard, who won with him back on December 12. (9) DULL ROAR gets Todd McCarthy for the first time tonight, which has been a strong angle lately, has good form, and was claimed a week ago.

Race 15 - NW2500L5/Winners TrackMaster Rating 73 Last Start Pace

(2) GENERAL JOY A won in 1:49 3/5 at Woodbine Mohawk Park last year, so that shows he has some capability, and if he's ever going to wake back up, you have to think it'll come in a spot like this as he makes his second start off the bench from a vastly improved post. (5) JUSTIN CREDIBLE is just one for his last 28, but he picked up checks in his last pair against NW4500L5's and might just be able to out-foot these. (3) WINNING LINC has been victorious at the Meadowlands in the past and exits two good performances at Freehold.