Meadowlands: Analysis for Saturday 12/7

2024 STATS: 32 - 140 / $206.80 (-$73.20)
BEST BETS: 5 - 10 / $19.60 (-$0.40)
SPOT PLAYS: 1 - 10 / $5.00 (-$15.00)
BEST BET - DA DELIGHTFUL (6th)
SPOT PLAY - TOTO HANOVER (14th)

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

(6) SAULSBROOK RAPTOR finished third in this class on 11-23 and gets reunited with Tony Beltrami tonight. Beltrami won with this horse the last time he drove him in an amateur event at Harrah's Philadelphia on Novemb er3. (7) LOVETHEWAYYOULIE has won three of his last four outings in Pennsylvania, including a romp by over seven lengths most recently. (3) PAT STANLEY N is probably facing softer company here than he has been over at Yonkers and gained ground in a fourth-place result across the river on the 21st of November.

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Race 2 - TrackMaster Rating 77.5 or Less as of 12-3-24/NW Starters This Class Last Start Pace

(5) DANCE IT OUT was fifth in his first start back after a lengthy layoff at Harrah's Philadelphia on 11-7, and I'm going to hope that has him ready tonight as he has had success at the Meadowlands before. (8) ALWAYS A LOOK rallied from last to fourth in the back-half of a TrackMaster 77 or Less race on November 22 and gets to move in a couple of notches on the gate after he had post ten in that effort. (10) LOUIS LITT N landed the ten-hole here but is riding a lengthy streak of on-the-board performances and just needs some pace to chase.

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Race 3 - F&M NW5000L4/NW1500 Per Start in 2024 Pace

(4) FADE OUT tallied once at the Meadowlands earlier this year and exits the NW7500L5 class at Harrah's Philadelphia where she was fourth from a bad post on Sunday afternoon. (2) SANTAFE'S APPETITE put in a better effort last week than she had in her prior two tries, and she has had plenty of success over this oval in the past. (5) SUGAR BRITCHES drops and makes her second start back after a layoff for Ron Burke.

Race 4 - Winners of 2 but not more than 4 Ext. PM Races LT / Winners of 4 but not more than 7 Ext. PM Races or 90000LT Drawn Outside Pace

(10) OAKWOOD HEYMIKI IR starts from post ten but is undefeated in the U.S. thus far, and I expect he'll fire again this time. (7) FOR ONCE INMY LIFE finished second to my top pick when they hooked up last Saturday and has a post edge on him again. (9) CENTURY KOMODO has been out of the top three just once in his last four starts and was third when my top pick scored on November 1.

Race 5 - Winners of 2 but not more than 4 Ext. PM Races or 50000LT Trot

(2) TANDEM HANOVER defeated NW5 company in his most recent outing on 11-21 at Harrah's Philadelphia and recently added Lasix for a stable that's hot right now. (1) PROMINENCE scored decisively in this class last Friday and moves in from post nine to the pole position. (3) ORDAINED was second to PROMINENCE most recently and won back-to-back at Pocono prior to that.

Race 6 - NW7500L4/NW1786 Per Start in 2023-24/TrackMaster Rating 83.5 or Less as of 12-3-24 Pace ***$50,000 Guaranteed Pick 4***

(1) DA DELIGHTFUL performs best when driven aggressively, and I have to think that's going to be the strategy tonight as he drops and gets an inside post for the first time since back in mid-October. (2) MAC'S MARVEL takes a second crack at this class after he finished a gaining second to a well-meant foe last Saturday. (5) BONNIPRINCLOUIS N comes in from Plainridge where he was racing at the top level and is back in the Burke barn.

Race 7 - 15000-20000CLM HCP Pace

I'm going to give (6) LUKE MCGOOK a second try after I used him last Friday. He did have some pace in the stretch and makes his second start out of this stable tonight. (10) CELLMATE starts from the outside but has a win and a third in this class and I think might be facing slightly softer rivals. (3) HURRYMIKI HANOVER finished a solid second to a well-meant rival at this level last Friday and gets a bit of post relief here.

Race 8 - NW12500L4 Trot ***Pick 6***

(3) BEE FOREVER missed all of last year but has won twice since returning to action, and I think he'll enjoy getting to stretch out on the big track tonight. (1) PURPLE LORD took his lifetime mark at the Meadowlands earlier this year and comes in off a winning effort at Harrah's Philadelphia on Sunday. (5) MISSISSIPPI STORM has been facing tougher foes in the MGM Grand Prix Series at Yonkers and the winners-over at Harrah's Philadelphia lately and should appreciate the softer company here.

Race 9 - 25000-30000CLM HCP Pace

(10 J M MANDAMIN will depart from the outside but drops in class compared to where he's been out of town, and he often fires when he comes to the Meadowlands. (9) HUNT FOR CASH was victorious at this claiming level last Saturday night and also scored on 11-8. He also overcame poor draws in both of those triumphs, so the fact he has the nine-hole shouldn't be a concern. (3) REVOLVER N has a zero in the win column as we're in the final month of 2024 but he has tallied at the Meadowlands before and is getting significant post relief.

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

(3) SPRING INHIS STEP A defeated Twin B Joe Fresh in that qualifier on 11-23 and then backed that up by winning handily over NW12500L4 company last Saturday. Given he shows racing in the Dan Patch and lines against Breeders Crown Open Pace champion Coach Stefanos at Harrah's Hoosier Park, I think he remains usable and will give him top call. (7) MAXIMUS MIKI starts from the outside but hasn't missed the board in 2024 and has only been out of the top three twice in his career, making him a must-include. (4) LYONS STEEL should get to do what he does best here, stalk horses and then pounce. He did that to a "T" in his win at the Meadowlands back on November 9.

Race 11 - NW7500L4/NW1750 Per Starts in 2024/TrackMaster Rating 83 or Less as of 12-3-24 Trot

(1) ABRUZZO posted a fourth-place result last Friday in his first start back after a layoff. He departs from the pole tonight, and I'll look for improvement with that effort under his belt. (8) YOU GOT IT moves out from post one to the eight-hole but was a rallying runner-up in the same race my top pick exits. (2) KEYSTONE APACHE owns a victory over NW5000L4 foes at The Big M on the 15th of November and was a gaining fifth in the same dash both ABRUZZO and YOU GOT IT come out of on 11-29.

Race 12 - 7500CLM Pace

(3) MUSICAL BOX drew inside here after he's had nothing but outside draws since he returned to action last month. He's been racing at higher claiming levels in his last two outings and meets up with a wide-open group tonight for a stable that's always capable of having one ready to fire. (6) GORGEOUS VIEW comes in from Pennsylvania and had a victory and a second against $7,500 claimers at Pocono in November. (8) LADYFORD DOLLAR GB also owns a triumph in a $7,500 claiming tilt at Pocono back on 10-28 and was third at that oval in his most recent appearance.

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Race 13 - NW5000L4/NW1500 Per Start in 2024 Pace

(4) MY PAL JOE makes his third start back after some time off here, and although he didn't show much in the Open at Saratoga, I will bank on a return to his favorite oval picking him up. (2) HAGGARD won in this class two back on 11-30 and then finished up his mile well in a third-place result against NW7500L4 company a week ago. (5) FRANKIE FRANKIE has hit the board in both of his appearance since he dropped down to this level and takes a third crack at NW5000L4's tonight.

Race 14 - NW3000L4/NW1250 Per Start in 2024 Pace

(5) TOTO HANOVER had pace in the stretch in his race on 11-23 but ran into traffic, so the line doesn't look as good as it would if he had gotten clear sailing. He slides down from the NW5000L4 class, but I imagine the switch from a catch driver will keep the price juicy. (2) HECANDANCEANDCRUISE dominated a group of NW2000L4 foes last Friday and will be tough if he's that good again tonight. (1) SPRINGSTEEN drops and moves inside on the gate after he got a check from the ten-hole in a NW5000L4 tilt a week ago.