Meadowlands: Analysis for Saturday 3/18

WINTER MEET STATS: 248-64-51-32 / $408.00 (-$88.00)

BEST BETS: 18-4-7-2 / $27.60 (-8.40)

SPOT PLAYS: 18-4-2-2 / $27.40 (-$8.60)

BEST BET: SOUTHWIND GENDRY (10^th)

SPOT PLAY: DOUBLEAGENTMAN (1^st)

Race 1: $12,500-$15,000 Claiming Handicap - Pick 5

(4) DOUBLEAGENTMAN got stuck in posts seven and eight at Dover recently, so you can toss those miles. Notice he's been going off as the chalk and doing well in 12500 claimers while stablemate Southwind Dredge was a longshot and also-ran in the class before winning for 12500 here. Tetrick joining the team is also a plus. (10) I'M BURLINGTON N rallied well from post 10 last time and perhaps McCarthy tries to get him into play this time. (5) SOUTHWIND DREDGE already has a pair of wins in this class. (9) LACHIE MAGUIRE N has been racing well and enters a live barn this week.

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Race 2: Non-winners $5,000 (NW L3/10/2L15 $5,500/$5,631/$6,001) in last 5

(4) PARMESAN N drops again in start three off the bench and should prove very tough on the engine. (3) KING JAMES EXPRESS wasn't spectacular in his qualifier but wasn’t bad either. Burke trainee seems ready to pop up with a strong mile. (6) MAJOR FERNCO N is another class-dropper. He can definitely make some noise in this field.

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Race 3: $20,000-$28,000 Claiming Handicap - Survivor 7

Last week seemed like the right time to avoid (8) BIZYS BEATLE as the price wasn’t going to be right and there were plenty of viable options. While this isn't a weak field, it looks like a better spot for him to make an early move to the front and controlling the action. Even if he doesn't there should be live cover at closer to 2-1 than 6-5. (4) TAM MAJOR A was used too hard on the engine and paid the price last time. A smoother road to the front seems likely here. (7) BOILER MAKER won at first asking for new connections last time and certainly has a big chance again. (1) BETTER THAN SOME has the early speed to stick close; exotics must.

Race 4: Non-winners 4 (NW L3 3) races life

(1) BIRTHDAY chased a legitimate top Open pacer in his lone comeback qualifier. That should have this stakes-level 3-year-old from 2022 ready for action. (4) TWIN B JAMMER has missed a few weeks and now finds himself south of the border and in the Burke barn. With a small amount of improvement he should be right there. (7) HP LIS SHADOW rallied well late after the early miscue last time. His best is probably not good enough but a board finish is in his scope.

Race 5: TrackMaster 77.5 Final

(4) DENMARK SEELSTER wasn't quite as sharp last week as two starts back but I have every confidence in this final that he'll bring his 'A' effort. (8) MARCUS SEELSTER bested the top pick out of the pocket last time and is perfect in this mini-series; clear threat. (2) SPECTACULAR SUNSET is worth a look on the switch to Tetrick, but he’ll need to pick this guy up to have a shot.

Race 6: Non-winners $14,000 (NW 2L5 $16,260) in last 5 - $50K GTD Pick 4

(3) ULTIMAROCA ran into a wall of horses two starts back and was simply overmatched from a difficult starting spot last weekend. Five-year-old is sharper than he looks on paper and worth an upset try. (8) CARBINE drops to a level where he is supposed to awaken with a big effort. (7) MIKE'S Z TAM was super on the barn/driver change last time out; threat. (9) MY PAL JOE has been racing well and adds a catch-driver this week.

Race 7: TrackMaster 86.5 (NW L2/2L5 87/88.10) or less

After a tour of New England and upstate New York, (6) VEL MR NICE GUY returns to The Meadowlands where he scored last June in NW14000, his only appearance over this oval. Five-year-old is sharp and should offer a good price on the board. I'm somewhat concerned that Stratton chose off his brother's horse for #5 but at least we get Dunn. (10) IT'S IN THE STARS was dealt a bad hand with post 10 and there is the three-week layoff to consider, but the barn and driver changes are intriguing. (1) DUDDIE’S LOR has been sharp for some time and only needs a reasonable trip to menace.

Race 8: Open 2-1 Handicap Trot/TM 87.6 or less draw inside - Pick 6

(8) RICH AND MISERABLE left his backers broke when driver David Miller was forced to race him last after most of the field left the gate strong and ultimately he broke into the final turn. Tonight he moves in just enough to gun to the front and do his thing . . . unless his form spree is simply over; hmmm. (2) MISSISSIPPI STORM was overbet and failed to perform last time. He deserves another shot at a more appropriate price this week. (9) HILLEXOTIC hasn't been on the track for four weeks but is more than capable if ready to roll. (4) INAMINUTE HANOVER has been very consistent and only needs a smooth cover trip to be in contention. (10) AHUNDREDDOLLARBILL is hard to dislike on paper, but the post means he'll need some luck or a huge mile to win.

Race 9: TrackMaster 89.5 (NW L3/2L4 90.15/90.99) or less/NW $10,500 (NW L3 $11,500) in last 5

(6) JIMMY CONNOR B has a couple of starts under his belt now and if there is a big effort coming you would think it would be tonight. (5) WHOLE LOTTA LOU and (7) ACTON HANOVER are razor sharp and either could score here with any reasonable journey.

Race 10: Open 2 Handicap Pace - $50K GTD Pick 4

(6) SOUTHWIND GENDRY was handled patiently in his first start as a 5-year-old. Burke trainee gets significant class relief and should be unleashed a bit. (4) LIVINTHEBEACHLIFE has early speed and plenty of form. He's one to watch if the top one comes up short for some reason. (1) TRENDY TEEN has a pair of qualifiers under his belt and should be ready for a good effort.

Race 11: TrackMaster 83.5 (NW L3/2L4 84/84.65) or less

(1) JK WILL POWER gets a bit of class relief in the TrackMaster system and seems to have as good a chance as any in a wide-open field where I'm not in love with any of them. (9) LOUIE was perhaps not ready for "big track" speed in his first go-around last weekend. At least he never tired and kept trying hard through the wire. (5) RAPTORS FLIGHT never really had an opportunity to relax during his most recent mile; clear trip threat.

Race 12: Non-winners $7,500 (NW 2L5 $8,250) in last 5

(4) LOVE YOUR WORK A appeared to improve with Lasix added last time, though it may have simply been facing softer competition that did the trick. Now he drops another level down the class system and figures prominently. (3) HIGH BALLER was wiped out last week at 1-5 and deserves another chance to shine, though demand at least 2-1. (6) KOOTENARY SANTANNA hasn't been a very good purchase thus far but is clearly fast enough on paper to go with these. (5) BETTOR NOT TALK finds a field that seems to lack early speed and notice the last time Tetrick drove he sent him to the front. (8) DE LOS CIELOS DEO is another class-dropper and one that is capable of smokin' these if he feels good.

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Race 13: TrackMaster 74.5 Final

(4) SOUTHWIND BRONN had a sweet trip and powered away to a career-best mile last week. Anything close to that performance puts him back into the winner’s circle and he seems in line for another good journey with outside speed signed on to set him up. (9) MAGRITTE turned in a spectacularly game mile last week in victory. He'll need to go faster now but has the class to do it. (6) ALWAYS A PANTHER should head to the front and be a part of the action. Is his best good enough to win? Maybe not.

Race 14: Non-winners $3,000 (NW L3 $3,300) in last 5

(1) ANGERS BAYAMA is nowhere near the horse he once was years ago but certainly lands in a good spot tonight. If the now 7-year-old can tap into any of his class he should be very competitive in here. (3) DOUBLE UP N hasn't been bad in his last two and we get class relief here along with a good post and Tetrick in the bike. (6) LIKE CLOCKWORK and (7) MISTER SPOT A are the clear early speed players and they could be sitting pretty if none of the others take a shot.