Meadowlands: Analysis for Saturday 1/28

WINTER MEET STATS: 70-14-14-13 / $79.00 (-$61.00)

BEST BETS: 5-0-2-2 / $0.00 (-10.00)

SPOT PLAYS: 5-1-1-1 / $5.00 (-$5.00)

BEST BET: LADYFORD DOLLAR GB (11th)

SPOT PLAY: PASSA-GRILLE BEACH (1st)

Race 1: Non-winners $7,500 (NW L3 $8,300) in last 5 or $1 in last 2 - Pick 5

(4) PASSA-GRILLE BEACH was stuck behind a wall of horses and lost all chance last time. Eight-year-old drops a notch here (while facing a good group) and looks like a serious player at fair odds. (5) BURNHAM BOY N doesn't show flashy qualifiers but did sprint home in 26 3/5 with no shot last time. Also, look at that mile rate in Australia of 1:49 4/5. There could be a horse here if he's on 'GO' to start his North American career. (3) UNDRTHSOUTHRNSUN N has speed and form but couldn't get past a stubborn leader last time.

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Race 2: Non-winners $5,000 (NW L3 $5,500) in last 5

(5) PLUMB stayed flat and raced reasonably well last week. With that start under her belt perhaps we'll see a bit more tonight. (6) SKYWAY KON MAN drops out of a MUCH tougher race and he should be able to go a big mile versus these, but the barn is 0-for-24 on the meet. (7) HALL IT OFF exits the same race as #6 and should be better value on the board.

Race 3: Non-winners $5,000 (NW L3 $5,500) in last 5 - Survivor 7

(6) PJ LOU finished very nicely in his qualifier to prepare for this race. While the connections may give him an easy race here, I'd take a shot with this guy if the price is right. (10) MISTER SPOT A and (9) LEON DAVID are both getting to take a big dip in class and either is capable despite the bad draw.

Race 4: $15,000-$20,000 Claiming Handicap

(8) THANOS just missed last time against many of these. He should be the last to the front tonight and end up sitting no worse than a pocket trip. (7) GOTAFOOLISHDESIRE finished just a length behind the top pick last time and now he adds Zeron! (4) LONE WOLF AMERICAN has won two straight in this class but did have a golden trip last time and barely got up.

Race 5: Non-winners $12,500 in last 5 or 4YO NW $1 in 2023/TM 84.5 or less

(7) DON'T FENCE ME IN was conservatively handled in her first start since early November but paced home willingly. With the start under her belt, this looks like a spot where she'll be forwardly placed. (3) ROCKN PHILLY was bet like a winner and proved dominant last week. Seven-year-old has some class and can hike up the condition ladder here. (8) TRICK OF THE LIGHT is another who made her second start after a rest last weekend and can improve.

Race 6: Non-winners $1,500 (NW L3 $11,500) in last 5 or $51,051 life/TM 86.50 or less - $50K GTD Pick 4

(6) DECISION DAY was sneaky good last week with a decent final quarter. He could be sharper than we think and seems like a good price try. (8) DE LOS CIELOS DEO has come back to the races in good form and you know he has the class to climb the ladder. (7) WATER SPORTS TEEN didn't step forward as expected a week ago; more in third start back? (4) BAILEYS ROCK N just missed in this class last time and is another I expect to offer fair value.

Race 7: Winners 2-4 races life/$50,000 Claiming

(1) DONTLIKEITLEAVE is on a serious roll right now with three straight wins to start the year and while he isn't a lock, I'm not sure which horse will step up to beat him. (10) STONEBRIDGE REEF is as consistent as they come in this class and starting from post 10 might provide some value on him. (2) LUC ROCKS has the early speed to stick close and would be no shock on the win end with the right trip.

Race 8: Non-winners $14,000 in last 5/TM 88.5 or less - Pick 6

I thought maybe (1) CAVIART LUCA would blast out last week but instead he raced from behind and closed nicely. Moving to the inside and adding Gingras, let's look for him to be much closer to the top. (3) MY PAL JOE was a complete toss from post 10 last time but should be put in play here moving back inside. (6) MYSWEETBOY MAX is certainly sharp but needs to prove he can handle this class. (4) THE BIRD DANCE N qualified back well and adds Dunn.

Race 9: Trackmaster 86 (NW L3/2L5 86.5/87) or less

(6) STRETCH THE LINE was a good young horse that wasn't quite as good as a 3-year-old. New trainer Ricky Bucci seems to have him firing on all cylinders judging by the recent 1:55 qualifier at Yonkers. Dunn picks up the drive versus a field without a standout. (4) PICKUP MAN HANOVER is clearly racing well now but needs to pick up a slightly better trip to score. (7) DANCE IT OUT has the big early speed needed to make the front and he seems sharp enough to handle the class jump. (8) REAL PEACE finished willingly in his qualifier and is worth a look moving to the Burke barn.

Race 10: Non-winners $20,000 (NW 2 since 7/17/22 $22,000) in last 5/TM 91.5 or less - $50K GTD Pick 4

(3) WHITECOOKIE is not the best horse in the race but he seems to have a decided advantage as the likely pacesetter with little to no early accompaniment in the first half of the mile. Yes, he has lost his last two, but he gets away from the sharp Carbine. (7) IGNATIUS A is an Open-type pacer when feeling good. It's hard to say how sharp he will be off the break in action, but his best beats these. (1) BIG CHIC MAGNET ships in sharp and has had past success here. He should be sitting a cozy pocket behind the top pick.

Race 11: Non-winners $7,500 (NW L3 $8,250) in last 5

(6) LADYFORD DOLLAR GB was allowed to enter the conditioned system here at the bottom level and won for fun while appearing to have something left. Right now the class hike seems irrelevant. (4) ROCKEYED OPTIMIST was never put in play last time from an outside post. He should be put in play this time. (3) DEALER’S TABLE drops down for a winless barn; wakes up?

Race 12: Trackmaster 83 (NW L3/2L5 83.5/84) or less

(3) LITERL LAD HANOVER picked up his game nicely last time and his best made him a decent horse at one time. This looks like the right spot for his first win of the year. (4) SERIOUSLY HANOVER is as erratic as they come but capable if he decides to play nice. (9) RESTAURANT BULLY is the stablemate of #4 and he's coming off a solid effort; needs a trip from outside.

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Race 13: $20,000 Claiming

(4) CAPOZZO comes off a complete throw-out line last time without a catch-driver. He should be headed to the front here. (5) BETTER THAN SOME has decent form and joins a barn that won with one off the claim recently. (1) CONCUR has come back to the races after a brief break with two solid tries.

Race 14: Trackmaster 80 (NW L3/5 80.5/81.31) or less

(5) ROLL WITH JR went a nice mile last time from a difficult post and the trip should work out much better this week. (6) THNDRFRMTHETHRON N is arguably the sharpest horse in the race. (4) HEAVENLY SOUND moves into a new barn and could perk up. (2) MELANIE'S NICK stays in the same class he couldn't handle last time but does move to the inside of the gate.