Meadowlands

Meadowlands: Analysis for Saturday 3/5

Derick Giwner|Mar 03, 2022

MEET STATS: 168-37-25-24 / $221.40 (-$114.60)

BEST BETS: 12-6-2-2 / $23.60 (-0.40)

SPOT PLAYS: 12-3-2-1 / $27.80 (+$3.80)

BEST BET: CAPTAIN BARBOSSA (9th)

SPOT PLAY: HAIL CHRISTIAN N (12th)

Race 1: $20,000-$25,000 Claiming Handicap - Pick 5

(3) JUST N ACE finds a field with ample early speed and could take advantage with new driver Tim Tetrick jumping in the bike. (5) COOL BLUES MAN has a win and second in this class over his last three starts. (9) MINDTRIP is one of the early speed players and a horse that could be very dangerous if he somehow gets to the top easily.

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Race 2: TrackMaster 80.6 (NW L3/5 81/81.96) or less Series Leg 2

(2) WINNING LINC was four deep into the first turn and parked every step last time yet lost by less than two lengths. Moving inside should give him more options; Bongiorno sticks here. (8) MONTY MONO went a huge mile in his initial start for the "first-out guru" Estrada. Anything close to a repeat would make him a major player. (3) HES GONE BADDER is going for four straight but does face a slightly better field. I'd want some value to play him.

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Race 3: Non-winners $14,000 (NW L2 $15,400) in last 5 or 8 races life/TM 87.54 or less - Survivor 7

(5) SPIRIT OF DEO had a useful comeback race after a long while on the sidelines. Five-year-old has some talent and should be able to show more now in what shapes up as a weaker NW14000. (4) TWO AM is another one who was getting into shape at Pocono. Veteran can make the top and sit a good trip. (7) NEXTROUNDSONME has been trying to close on smaller tracks and that's not a recipe for success. Let’s see what he can do on the big track. (2) DAYSON is a classy veteran who reunites with Gingras.

Race 4: TrackMaster 80.6 (NW L3/5 81/81.96) or less Series Leg 2

(1) RUTHLESS DUDE lost to a very sharp horse last time and lucks-out into the softer division of this series. (5) TANNER J finished fast after some issues and a month on the sidelines trying to right the ship. This guy is fast enough if they have him figured out. (3) REAL KID hasn't been seen in a few months but did qualify well and Dunn gets the call.

Race 5: TrackMaster 77.5 (NW L3/5 78/78.53) or less Series Leg 2

Since none of these jump off the page, I'll try (5) FOURBOLTMANE at a price and see if we can get driver Trae Porter in the win column. This guy seems destined to make the front in a weak field and at the very least should be well-positioned to win. (8) UNDERTAKER was disappointing last weekend but perhaps the switch back to Zeron, who finished second with him two starts back, will make the difference. (2) JUST WAVE GOODBYE has been racing fairly well and should have options from the inside post.

Race 6: $60,000-$75,000 Claiming Handicap - $50K GTD Pick 4

(5) LYONS KING returns to The Meadowlands tonight and should be able to make the front and sit no worse than a pocket trip. In a race loaded with form I was hoping he would provide a bit of value, though Tetrick getting the drive probably puts a damper on that notion. (7) DE LOS CIELOS DEO couldn't handle post 10 last time. He's back in a claimer now and was rolling along in that class. (6) PALOMAR needs some pace help but is certainly capable. (2) WRAPPERS DELIGHT A has won three straight and now climbs the claiming ladder. Don't count him out.

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

(4) DECISION DAY was parked the mile in mid-pack last week despite a relatively soft 27 4/5 opening quarter by the leader. At the end of the race he had some pace left. With five horses including him dropping in class this isn't an easy spot, but he's certainly at a winning level. (8) TAM MAJOR A got off the gate well in the same race as the top pick last time but had to take back to last due to the amount of leavers. Late in the mile he was trapped and finished up willingly with no shot. (2) HEZA REAL DIAMOND is in deceptively good form now that is somewhat hidden by bad posts. He can definitely be involved. (6) ANA AFREET N hasn't been able to produce his results from previous years in 2022. Maybe Tetrick can get more out of him.

Race 8: Non-winners $10,500 in last 5 or $1,880 p/s in 2021-22/TM 87 (NW L3/5 87.5/88.30) - Pick 6

(8) TRUMP NATION finally got back in the winner's circle last Saturday. Seven-year-old is a quality horse who can certainly string together wins now that he's back in form. (6) CHASER HANOVER looked to be loaded with pace in the pocket most recently and came up flat when shown daylight. He gets regular pilot Zeron back in the bike and should be in prime position after leaving the gate. (7) VETTEL N improved on the drop and now steps another rung down the class ladder; player.

Race 9: Non-winners $20,500 in last 5 or 10 races life/TM 92 (NW L3 92.6) or less

(8) CAPTAIN BARBOSSA now has a couple of starts under his belt and I have to think this is the week where they'll fire him off the gate to prepare for the Borgata series at Yonkers. His best certainly beats these. (9) MY PAL JOE drops out of the same Preferred race as the top pick and he's another that seems likely to show early speed. (4) AMERICAN DEALER N has qualified well and the Down Under import could be any kind at this point. (5) GRAY DRAGON charged home in 26 seconds with no chance in his first start since early November. This is a tough spot but he can compete.

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

(3) LET IT RIDE N gets Dunn back in the bike tonight and more importantly lands in a short field from a good post. I'm expecting him to be in play rather than trying to rally from too far back. (6) AMERICAN HISTORY is clearly the horse to beat after his Preferred win last weekend. If he doesn't go off the favorite I'd consider him. (1) BEE TWO BEE lured Gingras off the other two Burke horses in the field. Five-year-old has some ability and the qualifier was strong.

Race 11: Winners 2-6 races (NW L3 5) or $55,000 life

(2) FIKA TIME is taking a big step up in class going from NW2 to W2-4, but I love what he's shown in recent weeks. He just might be up to the task. (9) ULTIMAROCA has big speed and form for the winning combination of Burke/Gingras. Success at Hoosier last year says he can handle the big track. (6) EMBLAZE HANOVER raced well with Lasix added in the recent qualifier and he's certainly fast enough to win. (4) MEET THE CREEPER will be closing late, likely to finish off the exotics.

Race 12: Non-winners $4,500 (NW L3 $4,951) in last 5 or $5,895 in last 7/TM 81.90 or less

(10) HAIL CHRISTIAN N was used to the front and went a big mile on the class drop last time and now he gets a bit more relief to the NW4500 level. The value should be there from the outside post. (2) ROCKEYED OPTIMIST has displayed signs of coming to form in recent starts. (5) GLOBALDOMINATION N has some early speed and decent form, though he's more of an exacta player for me.

Race 13: TrackMaster 77.5 (NW L3/5 78/78.53) or less Series Leg 2

(7) THREE DRAGONS didn't have much of an opportunity to shine in his Burke-barn debut from an outside post in the slop at Yonkers. It's a mystery how this guy will take to the big track and the new environment, but if the price is reasonable I'll roll the dice. (4) A STUD NAMED SAM was used and weakened most recently. A slightly easier trip would make a big difference. (3) ALEPPO HANOVER is another moving into a new barn and of course improvement is possible. (5) GAME OF CHANGE bested #4 and a couple of others recently, so obviously he is a contender.