Meadowlands: Analysis for Saturday 12/17

2022 STATS: 24 - 96 / $150.20 (-$41.80)

BEST BETS: 3 - 7 / $11.80 (-$2.20)

SPOT PLAYS: 1 - 7 / $14.60 (+$0.60)

BEST BET - DUKE OF CORNWALL N (5th)

SPOT PLAY - DOCTOR BUTCH (12th)

Race 1 - 3&4YO 25000-30000CLM HCP Pace

(5) DYNOMITES PEAK finished fourth last time out at Yonkers despite a tough trip where he was bothered and forced wide and finished a solid third at the Meadowlands prior to that. (9) YS DO IT RIGHT rolled to victory in this class from first-over a week ago and will likely be the one to knock off again tonight. (3) LONE WOLF AMERICAN had two tough draws down at Dover, and I think he was in against harder competition. He landed inside on the gate here and posted a third-place finish at the Meadowlands on November 12.

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Race 2 - TrackMaster Rating 74 or Less as of 12-13-22

(10) THNDRFRMTHETHRON N rallied from last at the half to third at the wire against TrackMaster 77 foes a week ago and gets to drop back down to the TrackMaster 74 level where he has a win and a second in his last two appearances. (3) ITS SHOWTIME makes his third start back after a layoff here and has hit the board against TrackMaster 74s in his last two efforts. (2) DUDDIE'S LOR came up sick on 12-9 and didn't get to race, but was second in a GSY race at The Big M on the first of December and has a good local history.

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Race 3 - NW3000L5 Pace

(6) SERIOUSLY HANOVER ships in from Harrah's Hoosier Park, and while his form doesn't look great and he's just one-for-13 in the win column as a 5-year-old, he's now with Travis Alexander and won at the Meadowlands in 1:48 and change a year ago. (7) BUTTER UP closed well to finish third on December 3 and makes what looks to be a lateral move from the TrackMaster 77 class. (5) TWIN B EAGLE is making just his third start of the year here and has gained spots and ground in the last quarter in both of tries so far in 2022. Perhaps he's ready for a more aggressive try tonight.

Race 4 - 20000-30000CLM HCP Pace

(4) TEXAS TERROR N stayed on the inside a week ago and closed well to finish second. He's been sharp outside of that one result on 12-3 where he got used hard, and hopefully the 14-year-old can get the job done tonight. (5) BOILER MAKER ships over from Harrah's Philadelphia and posted an easy victory in his last try on that five-eighths-mile oval. (9) A BETTOR BEACH was overtaken in the stretch last Saturday after turning for home first but was victorious two and four starts back.

Race 5 - Winners of 2 But Not More than 4 Ext. PM Races or NW50000LT Pace

(6) DUKE OF CORNWALL N was conservatively handled in his U.S. debut a week ago and had to settle for fourth after closing well. I would expect different tactics tonight, especially since this is a bit of class relief. (3) STONEBRIDGE REEF was fifth in the same race my top pick comes out of and finished second at this level two and three back. (4) QUICK SNAP rounded out the trifecta on both 11-26 and 12-3, and I will use him in that spot again tonight.

Race 6 - TrackMaster Rating 86 or Less as of 12-13-22 Pace **$50,000 Guaranteed Pick 4 Pool**

(6) THE BIRD DANCE N came up half a length short of victory at this level on 12-3 and meets up with a beatable group tonight. (8) PRAIRIE PANTHER moves to an outside post tonight but closed in 26 and change last Saturday and certainly knows his way to the winner's circle as he's posted 15 triumphs in 2022. (5) HIGH BALLER moves up from the TrackMaster 83 class but tallied a week ago after a brush-and-crush move.

Race 7 - NW7500L5 Pace

(3) LEON DAVID has burned some money in his last two attempts, but I think he could offer a better price tonight since he's moving up in class, and I'll give him a shot. (1) TWIN B HEART THROB owns four on-the-board finishes since coming into Jeff Cullipher's barn and performed well at the Meadowlands back in early November. (2) THE WALL continues to work his way down the ladder and paced a 26 and change last quarter to grab a fourth against NW10500L5's in his most recent appearance.

Race 8 - NW14000L5/TrackMaster Rating 89.2 or Less as of 12-13-22 Pace

(8) UNDRTHSOUTHRNSUN N took his life's mark of 1:47 4/5 at the Meadowlands earlier this year and was facing the likes of Allywag Hanover as recently as 9-4. I think he's worth a swing in the hopes he's ready off the Freehold qualifier. (2) BELMONT ROYALE N backed up his qualifier with an impressive win in his U.S. debut a week ago and probably has some room to improve. (7) SUGAR ME N comes in from The Meadows where he's been turning in some fast miles for the Burke Brigade.

Race 9 - NW10500L5/TrackMaster Rating 86.55 or Less as of 12-13-22/Winners Base Class NW8000 or Less in Last Start/NW of a Race Since 4-1-22 Pace

(3) TORONTO gets another chance at this level after closing well to finish third to Belmont Royale N a week ago. He also has post relief tonight. (5) OSTRO HANOVER comes over from Yonkers where he's been battling $50,000 and $75,000 claimers. He won a leg of the MGM Borgata Pacing Series earlier in 2022, so he's got plenty of class. (6) MAJOR FERNCO N finished fourth against NW14000L5's when last seen at the Meadowlands and then was second at Harrah's Philadelphia in a subsequent try.

Race 10 - NW20000L5/TrackMaster Rating 92.2 or Less as of 12-13-22/Higher Money Winners Drawn Outside Pace **$50,000 Guaranteed Pick 4 Pool**

(3) COVERED BRIDGE exits the Open level at Yonkers and has had lots of success at the Meadowlands in the past, taking both his seasonal and life's mark over the oval. He also drew inside tonight after having post seven at Yonkers most recently. (9) CRUNCH TIME A has passed all his tests with flying colors so far as he's undefeated in the U.S. and will look to try to keep that status here. (1) FORTIFY won the last two times he raced at this level over at Yonkers and had an excuse on 12-5 as he left quickly from the seven-hole but ended up getting parked.

Race 11 - TrackMaster Rating 83 or Less as of 12-13-22 Pace

(2) PATERNITY SUIT A moves inside on the gate tonight and meets up with a group that he can handle with a solid performance. He's been knocking on the door with a pair of thirds in his last two starts in this class. (9) EXOTIC SAND has been facing much tougher foes at Yonkers in his recent appearances and could appreciate getting to race in this spot as long as he can overcome post nine. (1) GOOD ROCKIN finished in the runner-up spot against TrackMaster 83s two back and then had little chance a week ago as he was saddled with post ten. He got the pole to aid his cause here.

Race 12 - TrackMaster Rating 77 or Less as of 12-13-22 Pace

(5) DOCTOR BUTCH fired out of the gate a couple weeks ago but ended up getting parked. He held on to finish fifth despite the rough journey, and I think it was a positive sign he was driven aggressively, too. I'll put him on top. (8) FLYING ART A makes his second start in the U.S. tonight and qualified well at the Meadowlands on 11-26, pacing a 26 second final quarter. (3) BRIGADOON steps up from the TrackMaster 74 class but cruised to victory last Saturday and doesn't catch anybody overly intimidating in this event.

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Race 13 - NW5000L5 Pace

(7) LIVINTHEBEACHLIFE qualified well at Yonkers on 12-9 with a sub 28 second final kicker and makes his pari-mutuel debut for trainer Ron Burke tonight. (6) SAYING GRACE N looms a big danger tonight as he slides down the class ladder into a very winnable spot and motored home with a 26 3/5 last quarter a week ago. (2) SOUTHPORT BEACH finished second against NW5000L5 rivals last Saturday night and is a second-time starter for Jenn Bongiorno.

Race 14 - TrackMaster Rating 77 or Less as of 12-13-22 Pace

(9) THANOS doesn't have a victory since back in his 2-year-old season but qualified well at the Meadowlands last Saturday, and I respect anything that trainer Travis Alexander sends out. There's also nobody in here that really catches the eye from a form standpoint. (4) NIGHT EXPLORER topped $7,500 claimers a week ago and has been racing well outside of that one poor performance on 11-25. (3) JK'S ON THE MOVE had to do the first-over work at Yonkers most recently and faded, but given his life and season's mark both came at Harrah's Hoosier Park this year, I think he may appreciate getting to stretch his legs out on the mile oval tonight.