Meadowlands: Analysis for Saturday 1/23

MEET STATS: 58 - 239 / $394.20 (-$83.20)
BEST BETS: 9 - 18 / $32.20 (-$3.80)
SPOT PLAYS: 4 - 18 / $75.80 (+$39.80)
BEST BET - ROCKIN THE ACES (6th)
SPOT PLAY - CHIEF ALTAWICK (5th)

Race 1 - NW4500L5/Winners Base Class NW3500 or Less Last Start Pace

(7) SWEET ROCK is one of many dropping down from the NW7500L5's in this race. He got a mile over the track last Saturday, moves inside from the ten-hole, adds Todd McCarthy, and has winning experience at the Meadowlands. I'll give him a try in this wide-open first event. (4) SADIQ HANOVER came home in 27 and change in both of his appearances since coming in from Harrah's Philadelphia and is drawn well to stalk cover tonight. (5) SEEUINNASHVILLE A didn't fire like most of trainer Darran Cassar's horses did last Saturday, but he gets some further class relief here, and did show the ability to finish third against NW11500L5's on the 2nd of January.

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Race 2 - NW2/21000LT / NW30000LT Drawn Outside Pace

(10) FULL VIEW has to overcome the outside post, but I thought he put in a very good effort a week ago at a higher level and did triumph the last time he met up with NW2's on 12-26. He should have some value. (6) UNIQUE BEACH won against NW2's in his last start in Canada. He joins the hot Nifty Norman barn tonight and gets Dexter Dunn. (9) QUAGMIRE BLUECHIP put in a solid first-over effort against the well-meant Im A Gigolo N last Friday and is another horse who has defeated NW2's before.

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Race 3 - 12500CLM Pace

(8) REGGIANO was a first-over third against $15,000 claimers at Yonkers in his last effort and closed well to finish second at the Meadowlands prior to that. He got the nod from Dunn over another one in here, and I will go with him as well. (4) FOREVERNALWAYS steps up after being re-claimed by Danielle Dacruz a week ago. He's been sharp for a while, and just missed by a nose with partnered with Todd McCarthy on 12-26. (3) MCNULTY Z TAM wound up second from first-over in a quick amateur race last Friday. I thought that was a strong performance, and he was George Napolitano Jr.'s choice in this event.

Race 4 - NW2500L5/Winners TrackMaster Rating 73 Last Start Pace

(10) WHITTAKER N drew outside tonight as he drops down from the NW4500L5's, but we've seen this horse beat better than these in the past, and I'll trust Todd McCarthy to pull another rabbit out of his hat. (3) CHANGE STRIDE N picked up a pair of checks in two appearances against the NW4500L5's, and now he slides down to the bottom level with post relief to go with it. He was rejected by Scott Zeron but wound up with Yannick Gingras instead. (1) GENERAL JOY A somehow lost last Saturday night's finale despite being given every chance to win by Andrew McCarthy. I'll use underneath only.

Race 5 - NW4500L5/Winners Base Class NW3500 or Less Last Start Pace

(6) CHIEF ALTAWICK had some luck at the draw tonight after having post eight at Freehold and the ten-hole here in his last pair. He's been finishing out his miles well, and I'll hope can take advantage of the drop in class and the improved starting spot. (4) WARRAWEE UNIQUE probably needed that start last Saturday against NW7500L5's since he had a gap in his schedule. He exits the NW7500L5's and catches a beatable group for the Gingras/Ron Burke combo. (5) INCREDIBLE SHARK gets a new driver tonight in Andrew McCarthy, and was fourth and fifth in two chances at the NW7500L5 level.

Race 6 - NW11500L5/Winners Base Class NW8000 or Less Last Start/NW6/TrackMaster Rating 87.45 or Less as of 1-19-21/30000CLM Pace *$50K GTD Pick 4 Pool*

(1) ROCKIN THE ACES wound up way too far back and traffic compromised against better last Saturday. He loses Dunn tonight, but I think he's the one to beat in here with Andrew McCarthy taking over, and will slot on top. (9) ALWAYS AND AGAIN moves over to this class after finishing second in three straight starts. I think he has enough early foot to overcome the outside post and is usable. (4) LEAR SEELSTER took advantage of a contested pace a week ago to rally for a third-place finish. I think there's a chance for similar fireworks in here, and he might offer some value underneath.

Race 7 - NW7500L5 or since 2-1-20/Winners Base Class NW6000 or Less Last Start or TrackMaster 86.15 or Less/20000CLM Pace

(7) CHEYENNE RYAN LEE faces a vastly softer group of NW7500L5 this week than he did last Saturday. I really liked his win two back, and Marcus Miller picks up a live opportunity here. (2) BICORNE HANOVER finished out his mile a week ago with some interest. I think he could improve tonight, and though the Bongiorno barn has been a bit chilly in 2021 thus far, you know that won't last forever. (9) JK WILDFIRE rallied strongly to finish second in the same event Bicorne Hanover exits. He's been lacking early speed lately, and this post doesn't help his chances.

Race 8 - NW7500L5 or since 2-1-20/Winners Base Class NW6000 or Less Last Start or TrackMaster 86.15 or Less/20000CLM Pace

(7) PEPPER GUY hails from a barn in Paul Stafford's that's off to a hot start this year, and this horse has won at the Meadowlands during his career. I'll hope they mix it up in front and he can come pick them up in the lane. (3) JOESSTAR OF MIA A continues to search for a winning level. He was put in play last Saturday but then got shuffled back and lost all chance. (4) HEZA REAL DIAMOND is probably the one to beat in here, but he hasn't won since that 1:48 4/5 blowout victory late last year, and might face some pressure on the front-end.

Race 9 - NW11500L5/NW6 or 80000LT/30000CLM Trot

(9) GET LEGS will have to pass another test tonight as he steps up and moves outside, but he's looked like a star in the making for Andy and Julie Miller, and I think has more in the tank. (4) BUCK DANCER ships down from Canada off three straight impressive wins. I find trainer Carmen Auciello's horses a little tough to guess on, but I'll include underneath. (5) LION SAFARI AS came back around with a romping win over NW7500L5's on 1-8 and should have picked up some confidence as he begins his rise up the class ladder.

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Race 10 - NW15000L5/Winners Base Class NW12500 or Less Last Start or 50000 in 2020-21/NW8 Pace *$50K GTD Pick 4 Pool*

(5) NO EASY DAY advanced from tenth to third with a 26 1/5 final panel in this class last Saturday. I thought it might be a tough spot for him, but he proved otherwise, and gets a chance with Gingras tonight. (3) WESTERN FAME isn't a horse we get to see at the Meadowlands very often. He finished up his mile in the Open at Yonkers in 27 2/5 on 1-11 and lands in a winnable spot. (10) VETTEL N looks like the better of the two Bongiorno pupils in here, especially since Joe drives him. He has another outside post to deal with, but was able to overcome the nine-hole to finish in the runner-up spot a week ago.

Race 11 - NW7500L5 or since 2-1-20/Winners Base Class NW6000 or Less Last Start or TrackMaster 86.15 or Less/20000CLM Pace

(6) JK WILL POWER didn't have much go right last Saturday as he started slowly and then wound up with excess cover. I'll hope Andrew McCarthy can get a smoother trip for him tonight. (7) THNDRFRMTHETHRON N has picked up his game since being partnered with Dunn on 1-2. He has won two straight and kept Dexter over others tonight. (10) FLYINGEVENBETTOR N moves over to this class after an improved performance last Saturday where I thought he got interefered with on the last turn (the judges felt otherwise). Simon Allard picked off, so Corey Callahan gets a shot with a live Tony Alagna starter.

Race 12 - NW4500L5/Winners Base Class NW3500 or Less Last Start/15000CLM Pace

(6) SOMETIMESAWINNER passed a number of horses in the last quarter a week ago, and he may have needed that start with the sick scratch prior to that resulting in a gap in his schedule. He gets another chance with Napolitano Jr. tonight in a wide-open race. (2) FOX VALLEY NEMITZ turned in another strong try last Saturday and was tough to pass in the lane. He gets some post relief to work with tonight. (9) SAILBOAT HANOVER drops tonight but hasn't been very consistent. If he could repeat his performance two back where he was second to My Pal Joe he'd probably clobber these, but I can't guarantee it, so I'll try and beat him.

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

(6) STORMONT CZAR A stayed flat last week, which was probably the goal in the race, and should be a price in this completely wide-open event. If he could get back to one of those performances from over at Harrah's Philadelphia in November and December, that might be enough. (3) TOPVILLE OLYMPIAN is probably the one to beat in here as he makes his third start off the shelf and moves inside, but by no means is a lock. (1) ROCK N TONY remains in search of a wake-up call of his own as he hasn't been closing out his miles very well since that trip up to Saratoga on 11-24. He gets Marcus Miller back again, and Marcus is the king of bringing in price horses in spots like this.

Race 14 - 10000CLM Pace

(7) BAYONET drew into this race off the also-eligible list when another one scratched. He was second against $10,000 claimers two back at Harrah's Philadelphia and was compromised by broken eqiupment last Saturday. Trainer Mike Russo had one fired up to win a low-end claimer a week ago, and I'll hope maybe lightning can strike again here. (10) KATHYS SON A drops down from the $17,500 claimers at Dover, and maybe he just out-classes these. (1) HAYMITCH looked better when he slid down to the $10,000 optional claimers in the amateur race last Friday and gets reacquainted with Marcus Miller.