Meadowlands: Analysis for Saturday 1/2

MEET STATS: 43 - 194 / $317.20 (-$70.80)
BEST BETS: 6 - 15 / $23.20 (-$6.80)
SPOT PLAYS: 4 - 15 / $75.80 (+$45.80)
BEST BET - KING ALPHONSO (2nd)
SPOT PLAY - STELLENBOSCH (8th)

Race 1 - NW7500L5/Winners Base Class NW6000 or Less Last Start/20000CLM Pace *$150K GTD Pick 5 Pool*

(6) MACINTOSH N managed to finish fourth from post eight against a higher class over at Harrah's Philadelphia in his most recent appearance and gets a shot with Dexter Dunn tonight against a wide-open group. (7) ALBERGO HANOVER couldn't scratch into the win column in 2020, but he has a good history here, added Lasix before going on the shelf, and qualified fine behind his runaway stablemate. (1) MACHIATTO A raced well here on 12-12 in the fog, finishing third, and then had a no-chance trip over at Freehold. He packs some good speed from the pole position.

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Race 2 - NW4/50000LT Trot

(2) KING ALPHONSO looked ready in the qualifier on December 19, winning impressively, and he's in the upcoming Mixed Sale at the Meadowlands, so the connections might be looking for a strong performance heading into that to help his value. (8) PRESIDENT rarely wins but does enter with second-place efforts in four of his last five against NW5's at Harrah's Philadelphia and switches pilots to Scott Zeron. (7) LOOK IN MY EYES was a solid second to the razor-sharp Get Legs on the 18th of December and gets another opportunity with Yannick Gingras.

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Race 3 - 12500-14000CLM HCP Pace

(8) TODDLER TANTRUM has been facing better claimers lately, including optional $20,000 foes the one time here on the 28th of November. He gets a chance to partner with George Napolitano Jr., and I'll anticipate some value. (4) HAYMITCH had to scratch last Saturday, but he's right back in the box tonight, so I'll trust everything is well. He races out of a high-percentage barn, was a dead-heat winner on December 12, and has an ideal post for a similar cover trip here. (10) FOX VALLEY NEMITZ wired them a week ago for Joe Bongiorno, and he's back in the bike tonight. He moves out to post ten, but I expect similar aggressive tactics.

Race 4 - F&M NW7500L5/Winners Base Class NW6000 Or Less or TrackMaster 78 Last Start/20000CLM Pace

(1) JUXTA COWGIRL drops again tonight and hopefully will be ready to show some early speed, since that when she usually performs at her best. She gets a chance to have Todd McCarthy pilot her for the first time, and that's picked up some other horses as of late. (3) ROCKIN THE BOYS A makes her second start back after a freshening and was a strong, rallying second against NW10000L5's at Harrah's Philadelphia on 12-23. (4) ROSE RUN TONI was handled conservatively in her debut for the Bongiorno barn last Saturday but gets to start from a much better post this week, and that might help put her back into contention.

Race 5 - NW7500L5/Winners Base Class NW6000 or Less Last Start/20000CLM Pace

(1) WHITTAKER N draws an inside post this time after having the nine-hole in his last pair. I'll hope that means a more forwardly-placed effort is coming, and the horse did show the ability to win at this level on Halloween. (2) BLOOD LINE might be the one to beat in here after the sharp qualifier on 12-12 and then a race over the track against better a week ago. (8) FIZZING N was rejected by Dunn but has raced tough foes and slides down in his second start after a bit of a layoff.

Race 6 - NW4/50000LT / NW75000LT, NW of a Race Since 2/1/20 Pace *$50K GTD Pick 4 Pool*

(6) FULL VIEW hikes up a notch tonight off a win last Saturday. Maybe he'll find these too difficult in his first try, but he should continue to have some value, and the Scott Blackler barn is sending out live horses right now. (3) LOU'S SWEETREVENGE is in sharp form for Ron Burke right now and rallied impressively from eighth to third in his most recent try at Harrah's Philadelphia. (10) DUDDIE'S LOR showed some talent late in 2019 and early in 2020 but had to go on the bench after January. I liked both of his qualifiers, but he has post ten for a low-percentage barn, and I'll try and beat him.

Race 7 - NW11500L5/Winners Base Class NW8000 or Less Last Start/30000CLM Trot

(6) MONEY MAVEN is the veteran in this group as he makes career start 269 tonight. He finished with some interest against NW14000L5's at Harrah's Philadelphia on Christmas Eve and lands in a class here where I think he can compete. (3) NEW HEAVEN won in his last try against NW15000L5's at Yonkers and was a rallying second against NW14000L5's when last at the Meadowlands on the 11th of September. (5) SWEET CHAPTER won at the Meadowlands in the summer of 2020 and has probably been facing tougher than these in her last two at Woodbine Mohawk Park.

Race 8 - F&M NW17500L5/NW9 LT or 50000 in 2020 Pace

(8) STELLENBOSCH appeared to have pace in the pocket last Saturday but could never find room. She has to step up off that performance, but she's in sharp form, gets reunited with Scott Zeron, and should be a square price. (7) SEASWIFT JOY N defeated NW20000L5's at Yonkers twice in November and is probably the class of this field. She doesn't show any lines since 11-28, but I trust the Tony Alagna barn will have her ready. (6) MARLOE HANOVER had the misfortune of running into the red-hot Alexa Skye back on the 18th of December and had to settle for second. She adds Gingras here after Andrew McCarthy stuck with Seaswift Joy N.

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Race 9 - NW17500L5/Winners Base Class NW12500 or Less Last Start Pace

(4) SOMEBADDUDE raced near the back throughout and could never get involved last Saturday. I'll hope for a change in approach with Todd McCarthy taking the lines this time since he was sharp at Harrah's Philadelphia prior to that and has a good history at the Meadowlands. (7) HEZA REAL DIAMOND turned in another good performance a week ago, finishing fourth, and I would imagine he'll be on or near the lead again. (1) FRANCO TOTEM N flopped as the favorite in the same event Heza Real Diamond comes out of after he had to do the first-over work. He does have the class to rebound, and I'm sure Dunn will be looking for an improved trip.

Race 10 - Open-Preferred Handicap Pace *$50K GTD Pick 4 Pool*

(9) LET IT RIDE N gets a new test to pass here, making his first appearance against the Opens at the Meadowlands, and from post nine to boot. He's looked absolutely sensational in the U.S. thus far, and his most recent race in the Preferred at Dover on 12-17 was unbelievably good. I'll slot on top. (4) HIGHALATOR has a post advantage on Let It Ride N and should be on or near the lead. He was no match at Dover to my top pick, finishing second after going to the point. (7) WESTERN JOE won a Preferred at the Meadowlands on 11-14 and was third when last seen locally on December 5. He should have some confidence after defeating NW20000L5's at Harrah's Philadelphia in his last effort.

Race 11 - F&M NW4500L5/Winners Base Class NW3500 or Less or TrackMaster 78 as of 12-29-20/15000CLM Pace

(5) SWEETER LULU prevailed two back at Harrah's Philadelphia with David Miller driving and then gained in the last quarter after getting shuffled in a subsequent effort there. She shifts over to the Meadowlands in a sensible spot and gets reunited with Miller. (8) DONGAL RUNDLSCRK N picked up her life's mark at the Meadowlands in 2020 and makes her second start after a short layoff tonight. Andrew McCarthy got the drive after Dunn went elsewhere. (4) BREAK THE DEAL ships in from Harrah's Philadelphia in sharp condition with two straight wins and landed Todd McCarthy in the bike.

Race 12 - NW11500L5/Winners Base Class NW8000 or Less Last Start/30000CLM Pace

(4) BECHERS BROOK A missed out on the good night the Jeff Cullipher barn had a week ago since he was idle, but he hinted he was coming around on 12-12 when he closed in 26 3/5 and is worth a shot. (1) BETTERLATETHNNEVER finished fourth in a try in this class at the Meadowlands on 11-28. That race went in 1:48 and change, which I don't see happening here, and he's reunited with Dunn. (9) PADUKA N gets to drop a notch after a second-place effort in the fog on the 12th of December. I expect him to show some early speed like back in mid-November and go from there.

Race 13 - NW2500L5/Winners TrackMaster 73 Last Start Pace

(1) PRIMO GIOVANNI worked his way up to the Open level out at Harrah's Hoosier Park and showed improvement in his second chance out of the Paul Blumenfeld barn, gaining in the final quarter. He drops down here and has David Miller to pilot again. (4) THNDRFRMTHETHRON N continues to search for his first win in the States but did kick home in 26 4/5 a week ago and gets a driver change to Dunn. (8) BABES DIG ME didn't have a very good trip last Saturday and had to settle for fifth. He swaps back to Scott Zeron tonight and lands at the bottom level after facing NW4500L5's in his last pair.

Race 14 - NW4500L5/Winners Base Class NW3500 or Less or TrackMaster 75 Last Start/15000CLM Trot

(8) LEVITATION stepped up with an improved performance last Saturday and gets to slide down a level tonight. He retained Gingras's driving services and beat NW4500L5's in mid-October. (4) EXPLOSIVE RIDGE took advantage of a weak group on 12-18 and was a dominant winner. He does have some back-class and success at the Meadowlands, so I think he's capable of handling the step back up. (2) BROADWAY PROMISE faded after having to do the first-over work when last seen on 12-11, but he moves down from the optional $20,000 claimers to the optional $15,000 claimers and showed form before that most recent appearance.

Race 15 - NW4500L5/Winners Base Class NW3500 or Less Last Start Pace

(1) CHASER HANOVER delivered a week ago against NW2500L5's. He hikes up here, but has a catch driver to steer again as David Miller gets a shot with him, and I will put on top. (8) BARBADOS gets some class relief tonight, sliding down from the NW7500L5's, and was Dunn's choice. (7) LIKE CLOCKWORK had some kind of issue on December 12 and broke stride, but he was fine in two later efforts at Harrah's Philadelphia and won here in 1:50 in 2020.