Meadowlands: Analysis for Saturday 3/4

WINTER MEET STATS: 192-49-36-26 / $312.20 (-$71.80)

BEST BETS: 14-3-5-2 / $22.20 (-5.80)

SPOT PLAYS: 14-2-2-1 / $15.20 (-$12.80)

BEST BET: CHASER HANOVER (11th)

SPOT PLAY: AS ALWAYS (8th)

Race 1: $20,000-$30,000 Claiming Handicap - Pick 5

There are a number of horses on paper who can step up here and thus we'll try to find some value with (8) BIZY’S BEATLE, who moves into a new barn this week and reunites with David Miller. Gelding has a high win percentage and could awaken in a hurry for Quevedo. (3) TAM MAJOR A has won his last two starts at this level since the claim. (5) THE BIRD DANCE N drops in for a tag after another somewhat subpar effort. If he has anything in the tank we'll see it here. (6) BOILER MAKER is below the level of the claim tonight in order to get a workable post.

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Race 2: International Women's Race/$12,500-$15,000 Claiming Handicap

Do we handicap the horses or the women here? Some of these ladies have done quite well in the bike and I'd lean towards them. (9) LONE WOLF AMERICAN is a sharp horse who has seen success in this class and gets Stacey McLenaghan, who won seven races in 2022 and has 33 career victories. (2) SOUTHWIND DREDGE has won two straight and picks up a driver with 328 career wins. (5) TITANIUM ALPHA has picked up his game since moving into this barn. While Julie Walker only has 8 wins in 113 starts, I like that she was in the money 15 times in 28 starts last year.

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Race 3: TrackMaster 77.5 (NW L3/2L5 78/78.5) or less Series - Survivor 7

(8) BET THE LIMIT has raced big in both starts for this barn and I'd expect another top effort here. (4) MARCUS SEELSTER gets a trainer change tonight and lures Dunn off both #1 and #2. (1) DOCTOR BUTCH takes a baby step down in class. He was second in this condition in late January.

Race 4: International Women's Race/Non-winners $7,875 in last 5/TM 82.5 (NW L3/2L5 83/83.71) or less

(3) HARRY KNOWS IR qualified like a champion and then burned money as the chalk with a Meadowlands newbie in the bike. Co-trainer and accomplished driver Lauren Tritton takes over in the bike here. Some may worry about the break in action but I'm not. (1) TAD KRAZY HANOVER minded her manners in the qualifier and the last start. I don't know much about this Denmark driver but as a European I'm assuming she can handle a trotter. (9) DELTASUN A came back from vacation with a nice effort and goes for a trainer who has been in the bike plenty of times.

Race 5: Non-winners $7,500 in last 5

(9) BOBCAT BAY gets some clear class relief but should still offer good value after finishing 9th and 10th recently and drawing outside here. He was actually much better last week and has been pacing consistently in the 1:51 range, which puts him in the ballpark versus this group. (5) MIKE'S Z TAM could certainly improve moving into the Burke barn but you have to expect a short price. (10) HIGH BALLER is sharp and capable from on or off the pace. (1) RAUKAPUKA RULER N has been racing reasonably well and looks like an exotics player and a potential upsetter with an improved try.

Race 6: Open Trot Handicap - $50K GTD Pick 4

(2) AHUNDREDDOLLARBILL had every right to be short but actually raced very well in defeat as (3) LEXUS KODY put up a huge mile. The former can be even better here in his second start off the bench while the latter would prove tough if he can repeat that mile. (6) RICH AND MISERABLE has been like a cash machine over the years and he deserves consideration here.

Race 7: TrackMaster 86.5 (NW L3/2L5 87/87.5) or less

This race is carded as a TM 86.5 but none of these horses have a recent win (last 5 starts) in the class. (2) JK WILL POWER was just steady in this class last time but faced a better group than he tackles here. The veteran does his best work close to the front and should have the opportunity to get that position. (4) DUDDIE'S LOR just missed in this company his last two starts; clear threat. (10) ACTON HANOVER has been dealt a tough post but is capable of taking some air on the rim. (3) TRUFFLE DOG hasn't quite been on the top of his game in 2023. If Cullipher can get him 100%, watch out!

Race 8: Non-winners $10,500 (NW 2L5 $11,601) in last 5/TM 88.65 or less - Pick 6

(3) AS ALWAYS gets some major class relief here after facing Jimmy Freight, My Pal Joe and others recently. I'd be surprised if he didn't bring a big mile. (1) WHOLE LOTTA LOU found the winner's circle last weekend as this barn started to heat up. While he moves up in company, at his best he's very capable of winning and Miller chose here over the top pick. (8) MARKET BASED was a stakes-level horse at times in 2022. The qualifiers were just ok; needs a start?

Race 9: TrackMaster 90.65 or less/NW $14,000 (NW L3 $15,400) in last 5 or in 2023

(4) MY PAL JOE went a gigantic mile to be second last time. This group as a whole is probably more talented but they also have questions to answer, specifically my second and third picks who are returning from layoffs. (7) SOARING NOW has a 1:48 1/5 mark last year that jumps off the page. I do think he'll come from behind here, so the pace scenario will decide his chances. (5) BB LUCKY BOY has raw speed for sure. Is he ready to pop a big mile?

Race 10: Open 1-2 Pace Handicap - $50K GTD Pick 4

(10) JIMMY FREIGHT should've finished second in his 2023 debut yet he found a way to get the job done. Post 10 provides an obstacle tonight but he’s simply better than these. (9) CARBINE had no excuse for defeat versus the top pick on February 18. Could he turn the tables? Yes. Will he? Maybe with some luck. (8) BELMONT ROYALE N could conceivably come away last here, which isn’t ideal, though there is enough early speed in the race to set him up; first-time Lasix! (5) CAPTAIN CRUSADER A couldn’t have raced any better last time when he charged home to just miss versus the top two. I fear he'll be on a lot of people's "bet-back" lists and won't offer anywhere near fair value for a horse that has never won a race in faster than 1:52 1/5.

Race 11: Non-winners $5,000 (NW L3 $5,500) in last 5

We'll stick with the class-droppers here while putting most of our eggs in the basket of (7) CHASER HANOVER. This 7-year-old has been racing much better in his last two starts as the barn has turned around a 2-for-39 start by going 4-for-13 over the last two weeks. Down the road! (1) GOOD ROCKIN just missed two classes higher than this race two starts back. For him it isn’t about the competition as much as it is about him. (5) HOPNROLL HEAVEN continues to drop in class while looking for his form. This guy is one of the few from this stable not racing well.

Race 12: TrackMaster 80.5 (NW L3/2L5 81/81.5) or less

(6) ITS SHOWTIME paced out of his skin last week with a monstrous lifetime-best mile. Anything close to a repeat performance will result in another winner's circle appearance. (1) WHAT THE LUCK responded nicely to the trainer change. He bumps up the class ladder slightly but still fits nicely. (5) RAPTORS FLIGHT N burned money as the chalk last time after taking plenty of air on the rim; needs a better trip.

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Race 13: TrackMaster 74.5 (NW L3/2L5/L10 75/75.53/76) or less Series

(3) ALWAYS A PANTHER put in a nice mile to defeat (8) SOUTHWIND BRONN last weekend and those two figure to be tough again wheeling back in the same class. Let’s give the edge to the former due to post position. (7) SUNSHINE LOVE qualified with a strong final quarter in his debut for this barn and I wouldn't be afraid to take a shot here if the price was double-digits.

Race 14: Non-winners $2,000 (NW L3 $2,200) in last 5

(4) INCREDIBLE BADGER dealt with stretch traffic last time and was better than his line looks. (10) JOLLITY was facing much better at Dover and isn't shipping up here and waiting until the 14th race to sit last. Expect speed! (7) GEE WILIKERS also gets some class relief and should be a good price on the board; using. (3) LITERL LAD HANOVER and (2) DEALER’S TABLE are both capable horses with no form but some back class.