Meadowlands: Analysis for Saturday 2/19

MEET STATS: 142-30-24-18 / $191.40 (-$92.60)

BEST BETS: 10-5-2-1 / $20.80 (+0.80)

SPOT PLAYS: 10-2-2-1 / $25.00 (+$5.00)

BEST BET: OCEAN RIDGE N (2nd)

SPOT PLAY: SHNITZLEDOSOMETHIN (4th)

Race 1: $20,000-$22,500 Claiming Handicap - Pick 5

Tough claimer to start the Pick 5 sequence. (7) WINNING LINC gets an interesting barn change back to an outfit where he won quite a few races last year, though at a lower level. Classy veteran seems worth a shot. (2) COOL BLUES MAN was burnt to a crisp last week on the engine. The trip can't possibly be that bad this time. (3) ALLGONOWHOA drops his claiming price and finally gets to start from a reasonable post. Don't be shocked if he shows more now.

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Race 2: TrackMaster Rating 74.5 (NW L3/5 75/75.76) or less

(8) OCEAN RIDGE N couldn't have been expected to keep up in an insane 1:49 2/5 mile at Dover in his U.S. debut. The fact that he dropped four seconds off his qualifier was impressive enough. Tonight he gets in at the basement level and I don't see any way he loses. (2) S MCKEE moves inside this week and should be put in play. (5) WATCHMENEIGHNEIGH gets a catch-driver back and that can only help.

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Race 3: TrackMaster Rating 80 (NW L3/5 80.5/81.41) or less - Survivor 7

(6) MISTER HAT raced very well last time and in a field that seems like a complete crapshoot, I'll take a shot that Jacob Cutting can get that elusive first Big M win. (2) GAME OF CHANGE won at first asking for new trainer Estrada as expected; can repeat. (1) SO TAKE THAT has been sharp for some time now and only needs a smooth trip to have a shot. (7) SONIC FLARE is another sharp horse for a hot barn; very capable.

Race 4: Non-winners $4,500 (NW L3 $4,990) in last 5 or $18,730 in 2021-22/TM 81 or less

(7) SHNITZLEDOSOMETHIN faced a much better field last week from an impossible post coming off a two-month break in action. Classy 7-year-old should be ready to roll now. (2) GLOBALDOMINATION N drops about 500 classes tonight but doesn't exactly own a good record over this track. He's had a number of chances (0-13) and come up empty. I'll play against at short odds. (3) FORCE N FURY won against a much softer group in this class two back. Lasix added should help but perhaps not enough to go with the top two.

Race 5: Non-winners $10,500 (NW L3 $11,551) in last 5/TM 87.2 (NW L3/5 87.5/88.70) or less

(2) PALOMAR technically bumps up in class but probably faced an overall better group last week. The inside post should help him stay mid-pack and there's also a chance that new trainer Cullipher can get more out of him in start two. (4) REVOLVER N deserves some respect getting class and post relief. (1) HIPPESTCATINTOWN raced reasonably well in his Burke barn debut; more now? (8) LEON DAVID beat the top pick last time. If he leaves and gets away soft, he could potentially win again.

Race 6: Non-winners $10,500 (NW L3 $11,551) in last 5/TM 87.2 (NW L3/5 87.5/88.70) - $50K GTD Pick 4

(2) WALKNAFTER MIDNITE finds a field with plenty of early speed to set him up and he usually offers fair value. (7) GROOVY JOE is one of those speed players. He finished just a length behind the top pick last out. (9) HAIL CHRISTIAN N is probably the best horse in the field but he sports awful form. The one plus is that if the pace is hot as expected, his game is closing.

Race 7: Non-winners $10,500 in last 5/TM 84.5 or less/NW $14,000 (NW L3 $16,131) L5

(6) BIG OIL raced better than I expected last week in a start he had to need coming back from vacation. If he's keyed up and ready now, he will win. (8) KENZIESKY HANOVER has the speed to get around the top pick but I don't think she'll beat him if he's feeling good. (4) TOCCOA FALLS takes a giant step up the class ladder after a very impressive win. How good is he?

Race 8: Non-winners $14,000 (NW L3 $15,400) in last 5 or $2,001 in last 3/TM 89.25 or less - Pick 6

(2) ANA AFREET N is back at the NW14000 level where he missed by just a neck two starts back. New hands at the controls could make a difference. (6) NO LOU ZING seems to be working his way to top form and seems like a must-use this week. (4) DA DELIGHTFUL was used and paid the price last week. He drops out of the same race as the top pick and only needs a smoother journey to compete.

Race 9: $40,000-$47,000 Claiming Handicap

(8) CURIOUS CORTEZ was clearly short last week in terms of pure speed as he had trouble keeping up with cover early, though his stamina was fine as he held his ground late. At first glance there could be concern here about a lack of early speed but he's left in 26 seconds a number of times successfully. (7) BALLERAT BOOMERANG & (5) WAY TO CLOSE have a string of good performances in this class and obviously merit serious consideration. (9) THE BOOK OF LIFE flashed speed and was backed into badly on the final turn which hurt his chances. He's a player here but one that might be an underlay off that bad trip. (2) MACHDAVID is an interesting newcomer adding Lasix. I'm guessing that the trainer change is due to the track deciding to not accept entries from the listed trainer last week.

Race 10: Non-winners $23,500 in last 5/TM 92 or less - $50K GTD Pick 4

(4) TITO ROCKS took home the win in this class last week and seems highly likely to offer similar to those 3-1 odds again. Why not stick with him even if McCarthy predictably went to #2? (2) AMERICAN HISTORY is far and away the best horse in the race if he is ready to fire. His effort last week was just ok and I wouldn't be shocked if he was still a week away. He has typically needed a few starts. (7) VETTEL N is certainly fast enough to win. It will come down to trip. (5) PUT TO RIGHT is another with recent success in this class and early speed to get position.

Race 11: Winners 2-4 (NW L3 5) races or $50,000 life

(4) TRUFFLE DOG moves into a better post and catches a softer field this week. If he is to graduate from this class, this is the week. (6) THEFLYINGROCK went a very serviceable mile in his first start for this barn and could easily move forward off that effort. (1) PRETTY RICKI goes out for a barn that has six wins in eight starts here over the last year, though they haven't sent out a horse at the Big M in months. (9) GOTAFOOLISHDESIRE is probably a stretch on the win end from this post but he's capable at big odds if things go right.

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Race 12: Non-winners $7,500 (NW L3 $8,250) in last 5/TM 83 (NW L2 83.52) or less

(5) GOOD ROCKIN was simply too far back to reach on a night where horses close to the pace dominated. In what seems like a softer NW7500 compared to last week, let's give this guy another shot. (1) PADUKA gets monster class relief here and it would be shocking if he doesn't turn in a big mile. (8) TURBO HILL has the early speed to make the front and should hang around for an exotic slot.

Race 13: TrackMaster Rating 77 (NW L2/5 77.5/78) or less

(3) P-DRIVE HANOVER was a solid second best last time and clearly catches a weaker field this time around. (6) HES GONE BADDER exits the amateur ranks as sharp as can be and looks like a fit. (2) ROCKABILLY CHARM also comes out of the GSY series and is worth at least some considering on the driver change angle. (9) UNDERTAKER moves into a new barn.