Meadowlands: Analysis for Saturday 1/8

BEST BET: WRAPPERS DELIGHT A (11th)

SPOT PLAY: CHASER HANOVER (9th)

Race 1: $30,000 Claiming - Pick 5

(4) ROGERTHAT BLUECHIP has been caught in fast miles in both recent starts here and now catches a slower field overall that should play better into his grinding style. (5) AIR GUITAR gets a key driver change to Gingras and hopefully he'll get aggressive and try to shake this guy up. (2) AMERICAN REBEL hasn't done much lately from outside posts at Dover. This looks like a decent spot. (7) WILSONS VINNER picks up Brennan and it wouldn't be a surprise if he woke this guy up.

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Race 2: Non-winners $4,000 (NW L3 $4,400) in last 5/TM 82 (NW L3/5 82.5/83)

(10) DE LOS CIELOS DEO has never been the most reliable horse but gets a key class drop tonight. The last time he raced in the class he went from dull lines to a win on the engine. He's going to be leaving here and looking for a big mile ahead of getting sold in the mixed sale on January 17. (3) DOGFIGHT gunned to the front, got shuffled into a tough spot where he dealt with traffic and finished evenly. It was a decent effort. (9) THE DOWNTOWN BUS hasn't been awful at Yonkers and you know the class is there.

Race 3: Non-winners $7,000 (NW L3 $7,700) in last 5/TM 85 (NW L3/5 85.5/86) - Survivor 7

(7) DECISION DAY dropped to this level and put in a game, aggressive effort in defeat last time. The NW7000 condition is his comfort zone and you can expect another big performance. (6) BOBCAT BAY comes with the major question mark of a five-week layoff but certainly fits with this group. He's one to watch warm up and score down before making a determination. (5) THE MOONSHADOW N plunges in class and actually raced well in that $50K claimer from a bad post. He should have a shot here but still needs to prove himself. (9) PASSPORT TO ART rallied past the top pick last time. Can he get into the race from post 9?

Race 4: $20,000/$25,000 Claiming Handicap

(1) WAY TO CLOSE is clearly sharp right now and he could offer some value on the trainer change angle. This barn is perfect with one previous claim. (7) BNGS EXPRESS also changes hands. Auciello has two wins here since the start of November and both have come in this class. (8) BANK SEA raced well for this claiming price last Friday and should offer plenty of value. (2) COOL BLUES MAN moves into a barn that is capable of waking one up.

Race 5: Winners 2-4 (NW L3 5) races or $50,000 (NW L3 $60,000) life

(6) TRUFFLE DOG has been racing well versus better in his last two and while he shows dull lines in this class previously, the competition was much tougher in November. MacDoanld should be firing off the gate and have a big shot. (1) TWIN B FIGHTER came to play in his second start with Lasix and certainly looks formidable again. (2) AS ALWAYS can win with a top effort and get into the money with just an average one; in mixed sale Jan. 17. (9) PERFECTBOY HANOVER comes off a win and his only downside is the outside post.

Race 6: Non-winners $20,000 (NW L3 $25,000) in last 5/TM 89.5 or less - $50K GTD Pick 4

(4) PATRIKTHEPIRANHA A has arguably been facing the best competition of this group in his recent races. With the "no tucks allowed" racing and speed to his outside, the trip could work out nicely. (3) FATHER NUNO has been closing well of late at Philly. He'll be a big price here despite the good form. (2) WALKNAFTER MIDNITE takes a monster step up the class ladder but that 1:49 4/5 mile last week certainly sticks out. (5) TWIN B TUFFENUFF has also kept good company but seems likely to be one of the favorites.

Race 7: Non-winners $14,000 (NW L3 $16,351) in last 5/TM 89 (NW L3/5 89.5/90)

(8) AB'SATTITUDEEXPRESS blew out an impressive qualifier in preparation for this and should be able to flaunt her class tonight. (4) ALL THE TRUTH takes a giant step up the class ladder but has looked spectacular. (7) KINGS COUNTY has the ability but can't seem to put it together. He's in the sale on the 17th and you know his connections would love to see him put in a big mile. (2) HILL OF A HORSE has been in tough company at Yonkers and the addition of Lasix is interesting.

Race 8: Non-winners $10,000 (NW L3 $11,000) in last 5/TM 88 (NW L3/5 88.5/89) - Pick 6

(7) HURRIKANE EMPEROR was used very hard in his return race and paid the price. There seems to be less early speed to his inside and reuniting with MacDonald here is a plus. (5) I’M A BIG DEAL has been racing reasonably well out of town. Veteran should get into good position from this post. (4) ALWAYS AND AGAIN was claimed for $59K last time and drops into a slightly easier spot.

Race 9: Non-winners $14,000 (NW L2 $15,400) in last 5/TM 90 (NW L3/5 90.5/91)

(8) CHASER HANOVER has a couple of starts under his belt now after five months on the sidelines. Don't be shocked if Zeron pressing on the gas off the gate tonight. (2) TRUMP NATION as another making his third start back and his layoff was more than a year; very dangerous. (3) SONNY WEAVER N drops down for a barn that is very proficient with that move.

Race 10: Preferred Pace - $50K GTD Pick 4

Every horse in this field has a chance to win given the right trip so I'd avoid the favorites. (4) BACKSTREET SHADOW has a few starts under his belt now as he gets to the time of year when he tends to thrive. (3) LET IT RIDE N gets a better post to work with this week and he only needs a reasonable trip to menace. (6) J M MANDAMIN is as sharp as they come and you know he'll be on or near the lead. New driver this week as Bongiorno had to take #1 since he owns him.

Race 11: Non-winners $7,000 (NW L3 $7,700) in last 5/TM 85 (NW L3/5 85.5/86)

(9) WRAPPERS DELIGHT A wasn't great in his first start for new trainer Pelling, but that field he faced was light years better than this one. There were a number of class-droppers who could legitimately win a NW10000 and this race is a glorified NW4000. The driver change to Brennan means we won't get great value, but a win is a win. (10) ATOMIC BLAST N isn't a horse that excites me but he does have some ability. Picking him second is more a reflection on how I feel about the rest of the field. (3) THESPYWHOLOVEDME has the early speed to make the top and I don’t expect him to have too much company.

Race 12: Preferred Trot

(3) GET LEGS wasn't anywhere on my radar as a possible selection a month ago since I had given up on him, but he showed me something on December 17 when dealing with some traffic and finishing with good trot. In a race that seems to lack pace, he should be close to the action and perhaps can upset. (4) JL CRUZE is another horse that entices me more for the potential lack of pace. Whether he leaves or looks to pick up cover, he should be in a good position. (9) CHIN CHIN HALL is the best horse in the race right now from the worst post. If you get 5/2 or higher, I can see playing him. At shorter odds there are better options.

Race 13: $75,000/$100,000 Claiming Handicap

The difficulty level of this race comes down to whether (9) MR DS ROCK can repeat his performance from December 18. If he can, they are racing for second. I'll lean in the direction of (4) YACHT SEELSTER as the top pick. He comes out of a race where the competition was much tougher and his prior efforts with this group are solid. That he is somewhat versatile in terms of racing style add to the allure. (2) LEON DAVID comes off a solid effort and may land in a great position here as at least on paper there doesn't appear to be a ton of early speed. (8) BET NINTEEN is as sharp as any in here; hard to toss. (1) BECHERS BROOK A drops in for a tag and is eligible to come up big.

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Race 14: Non-winners $10,000 (NW L3 or FM $11,000) in last 5/TM 87 (NW L3 87.5)

(3) PAPPY GO GO wasn't put in a winning position last time. Eight-year-old should be very comfortable at this level and new driver Zeron is a big plus. (7) HAMMER TIME has needed time to get in form after more than a year on the sidelines. If he's ready to hit his best stride, he's got a big shot. (2) JUSTLIKEHIM has big early speed and an inside post to force others to look for seats behind him. (9) HOCKEY HANOVER is always on go from the start and when right there isn't a horse in the field that can beat him. Will tonight be a good night? That's hard to say.

Race 15: $12,500/$15,000 Claiming Handicap

(6) GIBUS was completely empty from post 10 last time. Versus a field with no standout, I'll roll the dice that the better post will equate to a better effort. (3) CAPTAIN HILL found a home at this level in recent weeks and should be able to keep that form for his new connections. (9) PARKLANE JET has the early speed to gun to the front and only needs to get away with reasonable fractions to have a chance. (7) CASINO BAGS ANSO raced well in his lone start here versus softer. Can he step up? Why was he scratched lame? There are questions to answer here.