Meadowlands: Analysis for Saturday 12/2

MEET STATS: 167-45-21-29 / $210.40 (-$123.60)

BEST BETS: 12-9-1-0 / $32.10 (+$8.10)

SPOT PLAYS: 10-2-1-1 / $9.00 (-$11.00)

BEST BET: BLAZING BANNER N (4^th)

SPOT PLAY: ADMIRAL HILL (9^th)

Race 1: $15,000 Claiming - Pick 5

(6) FLASHY DUDE comes in from Freehold sharp and also shows big track experience. He should be handled aggressively. (4) DESIRE’S CAPTAIN won in this class last time and is probably the horse to beat now. (1) SPORTS ADVISOR hails from a barn that has gone four-for-eight at the meet and improvement is possible after an even effort last time. (3) MAGRITTE is somewhat interesting adding Gingras.

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Race 2: $10,000-$12,500 Clm. Hcp. - Survivor 7

(9) CHIEF OF STAFF continues to move down the claiming price ladder in search of his comfort zone and may have finally found it versus a field that has been mostly win-shy of late. (7) SEE YOU FRIDAY and (6) ARNIE’S ARMY have been doing a good job of getting in the number and both are win and exotic threats here.

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Race 3: Trackmaster 77 (NW L2/2L4 77.5/78) or less

(2) SEEUINNASHVILLE A goes from a string of amateur drivers to the leading money winner in the sport this year. (3) YER SO BAD also gets a driver upgrade and he beat the top pick in early November. (5) KING OF ACES drops into a much easier spot and adds a Hall of Fame driver.

Race 4: Winners 2-4 (NW L2 5) races or $55,000 life/Opt. $50,000 Clm. - Pick 8

(5) BLAZING BANNER N qualified in 1:54 3/5 at Freehold! Notice the 1:51 lines in Australia and it is hard to imagine he won’t prove tough to beat tonight. (1) BB LUCKY BOY has tons of early speed and decent form; dangerous if the top one doesn’t show up as expected. (9) ALL ALONE is very sharp and very much an exotics player.

Race 5: $20,000-$30,000 Clm. Hcp.

(9) SUGAR ME N is certainly firing to the front and doesn’t appear to have a ton of company on paper. If he gets any reasonable fractions the race is over. (2) REAL LUCKY N has a strong of third-place finishes out of town. Note that his two wins on the year both came over this oval. (6) I’M BURLINGTON N drops in for a claiming tag and could certainly awaken. (3) BANK SEA is the other most likely leaver and he should be sitting in prime position second or third.

Race 6: Winners over $10,000 in last 4 Handicap - $50K GTD Pick 4

(7) RACINE BELL was in against much tougher last week. Millionaire has a huge class edge on the field and there are no excuses for failure. (1) BEACH COWGIRL has also been keeping good company. Barn change here seems likely so she can remain on the big track since the former barn is under house suspension. (3) TALK CURDY TO ME showed up with a big mile in her first start for new connections and I’m curious to see whether she can step up here.

Race 7: Non-winners $7,500 (NW L2 $8,250) in last 4/TM 83.5 (NW L2/2L4 84/84.5) or less

(6) BUILDING BOOST raced evenly in his first start for this barn and deserves another shot on the class drop. (2) IMSTAYNALIVE was a decent second to odds-on favorite I’ll Drink To That last time. He could show even more in start two for the Burke Brigade. (9) LYRICAL GENIUS A chased Confederate in his second qualifier; that should have him tight for his U.S. debut.

Race 8: Non-winners $14,000 (NW L2 $15,400) in last 4 or since 9/15/23/TM 88 or less - Pick 6

(1) STABLE GENIUS went some big miles up at Mohawk and now makes his debut for the Cullipher barn, which has been on a much better roll this meet after slow times earlier in the year. (2) NEXTROUNDSONME is arguably the sharpest horse in the race and any decent trip would make him a serious threat. (8) INAMINUTE HANOVER scored at first asking for Harmon but does face tougher here and draws outside; McCarthy’s choice over #1. (3) TOCCOA FALLS has been racing very well. Even when he broke last week he recovered quickly to pass a bunch of horses late.

Race 9: Non-winners $10,000 (NW L2 $11,000) in last 4 or 7 races life/TM 86.5 (NW L2/2L4 87/87.5) or less

(2) ADMIRAL HILL owns the fastest mile of the year from the bunch and he gets an interesting trainer change here. (1) NUTTIN BUT FINESSE has been on this track four times this year and has never missed the board, including against tougher than he faces this week. (9) DRAGONONTHEBEACH was second best to a better foe last time and he does drop a notch on the condition ladder.

Race 10: Non-winners $14,000-$20,000 in last 4/TM 89.5 or less - $50K GTD Pick 4

(5) STONE HANOVER isn’t the fastest horse in the race but he’s very capable off cover in a short field like this one. (1) SOARING NOW reeled off a 1:50 mile last time versus cheaper. He certainly is good enough to step up. (6) SPORT SECRET comes to town in fine form; another threat.

Race 11: Non-winners $5,000 (NW L2 $5,500) in last 4

(1) PASSA-GRILLE BEACH drops to the level of his last win and reunites with the driver who took him to the winner’s circle. (7) IT’S IN THE STARS finished pretty well last time at Hoosier and he should be a fit in this condition. (9) ON ACCIDENT left hard and finished second in NW5000 a week ago. Similar tactics could produce similar results.

Race 12: Non-winners $7,500 (NW L2 $8,250) in last 4/TM 83.5 (NW L2/2L4 84/84.5) or less

(1) COLOSSAL STRIDE A is one of many in this field dropping down in class but he’s the sharpest of the group. (4) BRONX SEELSTER moves inside on the gate in his second start here and perhaps we’ll see new tactics. (3) IGNATIUS A qualified back well. He’s certainly fast enough to win if ready to roll.

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Race 13: Non-winners $3,000 (NW L2 $3,300) in last 4/3YO NW2 in 2023

(2) LYONS PEGASUS is a class-dropper that may get overlooked because of poor form, but a deep dive into his lines show a win and a third in his two appearances at NW3000. (9) SPRINGSTEEN drops for the third straight start in search of his form; dangerous. (5) IDIOSYNCRATIC didn’t deliver as the chalk last time but didn’t turn in a bad mile.

Race 14: Non-winners 2 (NW L2/2&3yo 3) races or $20,000 (NW L2/2&3yo $30,000) life

(2) BARRIER may be just 1-for-44 lifetime, but he gets a very interesting barn change and a new driver in the bike. Best of all, you’ll get a nice price with (8) CAPTAIN MAX HENRY certain to be odds-on off a blowout win at Philly and stable change to Burke. (4) THIRD PILLAR finished well on the move to the red-hot Calderone barn.