Meadowlands: Analysis for Saturday 12/14

2024 STATS: 39 - 178 / $237.30 (-$118.70)
BEST BETS: 7 - 13 / $28.60 (+$2.60)
SPOT PLAYS: 2 - 13 / $10.60 (-$15.40)
BEST BET - DISTANT DRUMS (12th)
SPOT PLAY - REIGNING DEO (13th)

Race 1 - MADC 2 Pace ***Pick 5***

(5) WOODMERE HARRIET takes on mostly male foes here, but she was competitive last time against $50,000 claimers at Yonkers, which should have her poised to contend in this event. (2) JUST PLAIN LOCO won a MADC 2 tilt back on 11-1 and comes in off two solid efforts in claiming races at the Meadowlands. He also gets significant post relief. (9) WARRAWEE YANKEE drew poorly again this time but closed with plenty of pace last Saturday and hit the board three straight times in MADC 2 action prior to that.

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

Race 2 - TrackMaster Rating 77.5 or Less as of 12-10-24 / NW Starters This Class Last Start Pace

(5) ALWAYS A LOOK went on a speed mission last week and tired in the lane. I think he takes softer company tonight and hopefully that front-end effort will have tightened him up for a good performance here. (7) HYPEBEAST finished second twice against TrackMaster 74.5 company and was also the runner-up in one appearance in this class back on November 2. (3) ROSE RUN ZEKE qualified well for his debut for these connections and I will toss him in underneath.

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

Race 3 - Winners of 2 but not more than 4 Ext. PM Races LT / NW50000LT Pace

(1) RHYDS SUPERFLY GB raced very well in a third-place effort in his U.S. debut a week ago. He starts from post one again and I'll bank on some improvement coming tonight. (8) FOR ONCE INMY LIFE gets away from the red-hot Oakwood Heymiki tonight after ending up second to him two weeks in-a-row and did finish ahead of my top selection last Saturday. (4) ZEPPOLE HANOVER exits stakes company for a barn sending out lots of live horses right now.

Race 4 - NW5000L4/NW1500 Per Start in 2024 Pace

(4) IGNATIUS A has been racing in higher classes over at Yonkers and gets to stretch out on the mile track tonight. He also moves in on the gate after he started from post eight in his last try across the river. (2) TAM MAJOR A drops and slides in a couple of notches after he was sixth with a solid final quarter in a NW7500L4 test last Saturday. (8) LUCAPELO A qualified well at The Big M a week ago and makes his U.S. debut here for a hot stable.

Race 5 - NW12500L4 Trot

I'm going to go with (3) LEXUS KODY and hope he trots like he did on 11-15. He's the fastest horse in here if he minds his manners. (5) OUTSIDE THE FIRE held on to dead-heat for a win in this class a week ago and is probably the one to beat again if my top pick blows up. (6) RITSON hit the board twice against NW20000L5 company over at Yonkers and has had plenty of success on the bigger track up at Woodbine Mohawk Park in the past.

Race 6 - F&M Open 2 Handicap / TrackMaster Rating 86.5 or Less Drawn Inside Pace ***$50,000 Guaranteed Pick 4 Pool***

(5) TURN THE PAGE N was a solid third in this class last Friday despite racing on the rim throughout and can hopefully find a smoother journey tonight. (8) KOBE'S GIGI romped when last seen at the Meadowlands on 11-9 and won in the top class at Yonkers after that. Add in her second in the Breeders Crown, and she should be the one to beat. (4) BEACH COWGIRL picked up a check in the FanDuel Championship against Twin B Joe Fresh and gives Ron Burke a 1-2 punch to go along with KOBE'S GIGI.

Race 7 - 15000-20000CLM HCP Pace

(7) LUKE MCGOOK is going to get another chance from me tonight as he flew home in the stretch last Saturday after getting shuffled. I expect he'll be favored but merits top call. (2) HE'S HALF NAKED picked up a pair of checks despite difficult trips over at Harrah's Philadelphia in his last two outings and moves inside on the gate. (4) HURRYMIKI HANOVER was the runner-up in this class on 11-29 and is another horse who got shuffled (and interfered with) in the same race my top pick exits from a week ago.

Race 8 - NW12500L4/TrackMaster Rating 87 or Less as of 12-10-24 Pace ***Pick 6***

(8) MAD MAX HANOVER scored decisively the last time he raced in this class back on 10-26 and has been facing tougher competition since then. (4) BRUTALLYHANDSOME A went down the road to win in a NW7500L4 contest a week ago and also shows a second at this level on November 23. He moves in on the gate from the eight-hole to post four tonight, too. (3) STONE HANOVER enters this event off two on-the-board finishes against NW12500L4 company at the Meadowlands.

Race 9 - TrackMaster Rating 80.5 or Less as of 12-10-24 Pace

(2) JK WILL POWER cruised to a win last time at Plainridge and is now in a stable that's always capable of having one ready to fire. This horse has had success at the Meadowlands before as well. (7) MAGNIFICO HANOVER was third against what are probably tougher NW5 rivals last time out at Harrah's Philadelphia and just missed by a head at the Meadowlands back on November 9. (6) IMSTAYNALIVE was the runner-up in a claiming event at the Meadowlands most recently, and I think this should be a softer spot than that.

Race 10 - Preferred Handicap / NW20000L4 Draw Inside Pace ***$50,000 Guaranteed Pick 4 Pool***

(7) RUTHLESS HANOVER remains in action despite stakes season being over, and he should be able to wire this group. (6) MAXIMUS MIKI is a stablemate to RUTHLESS HANOVER and hasn't missed the board once this year, so he's a must-include. (4) BRUE HANOVER continues to turn in good performances and was a closing third in the same event MAXIMUS MIKI comes out of from last Saturday.

Race 11 - NW7500L4/NW1750 Per Start in 2024/TrackMaster Rating 83.5 or Less as of 12-10-24 Pace

(9) KOMODO BEACH makes his third start back after some time off tonight and went a long way on the lead in the Open at Saratoga before he ended up second most recently. He also shows a fourth against NW30000L5 foes at Yonkers in early September. (8) CENTURY KOMODO was third at this level back on 11-23 and owns a victory at the Meadowlands on November 30. (6) CALIBER closed with pace in a NW7500L4 event last Saturday and won three straight amateur tries at The Big M prior to that.

Race 12 - NW7500L4/NW1750 Per Start in 2024/TrackMaster Rating 83 or Less as of 12-10-24 Trot

(3) DISTANT DRUMS faced tougher competition last week and is making his second start back off the bench here. He was also locked in through the stretch drive in that try. (6) CASSIUS HANOVER finished in the runner-up spot to a well-meant winner a week ago and was facing NW12500L4's here and at Pocono prior to that. He also gets a chance to partner with Yannick Gingras. (1) MAY BABY slides down from the NW12500L4 level and also moves inside on the gate. She was competitive in higher classes over at Pocono and may have needed her start a week ago since she was coming off a sick scratch.

[DRF HARNESS: Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter]

Race 13 - NW3000L4/NW1250 Per Start in 2024 Pace

(4) REIGNING DEO gained ground in a fifth-place effort at Saratoga most recently. This is his second try back off the shelf and he's in a stable that's capable of having one fire off a big mile. (5) GAITWAY GUY won in this class on 11-23 and was a good second against tougher NW5000L5 company on 11-30. (7) DUDDIE'S LOR has a similar profile to GAITWAY GUY as he was victorious in a NW3000L4 event on November 29 and then took on NW5000L4's a week ago where he tired in the lane after he wound up first-over.

Race 14 - TrackMaster Rating 74.5 or Less as of 12-10-24 Pace

(5) EL PARRANDERO Q endured another difficult journey last Friday and tired, but the one time he had a good trip on 11-22, he was a good third against tougher TrackMaster 77 or Less rivals. (4) FERRAGAMO HANOVER has faced better foes in his last two outings over at Yonkers and had success at the Meadowlands earlier this year. (7) NATIONAL SPORT defeated TrackMaster 71.5 or Less competition on December 6 and I think he catches a softer group tonight than he did in his one try at this level on the 22nd of November.