Meadowlands: Analysis for Saturday 3/9

MEET STATS: 196-54-35-26 / $303.10 (-$88.90)

BEST BETS: 14-6-3-1 / $24.80 (-$3.20)

SPOT PLAYS: 14-3-5-1 / $11.20 (-$16.80)

BEST BET: PRINCE MCARDLE N (11^th)

SPOT PLAY: THIRD PILLAR (13^th)

Race 1: Meadowlands Amateur Drivers Club 1/2 Pace - Pick 5

(4) PARKLANE TERROR seems to be dropping into the perfect situation as none of the MADC 2 foes are much to write home about. (8) YAYAS HOT SPOT N beat a few of these last time and you know Yogi will be firing out. (1) WHAMMER JAMMER rallied well in two of his last three starts and was hung out in the other one; player with right trip.

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Race 2: Trackmaster 77 (NW L2/2L4 77.5/78.60) or less/NW $1 last 4 - Survivor 7

(3) NATIONAL SPORT is more of a ‘vote against the field’ selection than a vote of confidence. The time off could’ve done him plenty of favors and his best would certainly win this race. (4) OH COFFEE BEAN is back at The Meadowlands with a clear shot of making the front and going a long way. (1) ABEL DE VIE has no shot chasing slow fractions last time. He could have more in his second start back.

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Race 3: Non-winners $7,500 in last 4 or 4 races life/TM 83 (NW L2/2L4 83.6/84) or less

(5) DYLADMAR was bottled up along the pylons and finished with good trot when he shook free. Four-year-old is likely to get a conservative steer in his first start since October but he does look best on paper. (7) DRIBBLING BI couldn’t be in much better form. (2) CALL ME DANI is off a win and he has the early speed to work out a trip.

Race 4: Play Meadowlands Non-winners $10,501 (NW 2 $11K) in last 4/TM86.55 or less Series - Pick 8

(7) CAPTAIN COWBOY never seemed comfortable over the sloppy track last time, though it wouldn’t be the first time he’s made a break in his last five starts. This is a field he can handle with a top effort. (5) TRENTE DEO is the sharpest horse in the field by a mile. (1) LOORRIM LAKE A sat at the back and gained mildly late last Saturday. He should be closer this time. (6) IT’S IN THE STARS was McCarthy’s choice for a barn that has been hot and able to get them ready off the bench.

Race 5: Non-winners $7,500 (NW L2 $8,250) in last 4/TM 83 (NW L2/2L4 83.5/84) or less

(4) BB LUCKY BOY was facing some serious competition when last seen here in January. Gelding has high speed and seems likely to fire to the front, meaning less trouble during the mile in a field of less active drivers. (9) WRY ships down from Canada sharp and lands perhaps the top female driver in the field. This barn has been so sharp that the month off shouldn’t matter. (3) EXOTIC SAND has been stuck outside in his last two starts but was racing fine before that. He could be a sneaky player in here. (1) ALTA BLUES A is well-classified in this field and a trip player.

Race 6: Play Meadowlands Non-winners $10,501 (NW 2 $11K) in last 4/TM86.55 or less Series - $50K GTD Pick 4

(8) A FAIR OL DANCE N was racing in the Open at The Meadows when last seen almost a year ago, so you know the class is there. The time missed is a slight concern but this barn tends to bring them back ready and the qualifier looked good enough to build on. (5) IDEAL FEELING worked out a nice trip and won last weekend. This is another decent spot for him and I’d have to use him in my Pick 4. (7) WARRAWEE TOTAL blew away weaker last time with his second consecutive lifetime mile. Has he found the Fountain of Youth at age 9?

Race 7: Non-winners $7,500 (NW L2 $8,250) in last 4/TM 83 (NW L2/2L4 83.5/84) or less

(9) BATTLEFIELD has been keeping better company than most of the competition and this barn was firing with everything last Saturday. (5) NOCH TEN has the early speed to make his own trip and the form to make it happen on the win end. (8) SHOOBEE DOO A moves into the Estrada barn and that’s always a good angle here. (4) BEACH VIBES can sit off the pace and pounce if the race gets wild.

Race 8: Trackmaster 80 (NW L2/2L4 80.5/81.21) or less/NW2000 in last 4 - Pick 6

(3) MINDTRIP showed a bit more life last time and these veteran pacers tend to need a few starts to get their legs back under them. He could be ready this week but if not tab him for next time. (4) NEEDHAM HANOVER has won three straight and is hard to ignore. (8) DA DELIGHTFUL has early speed and plenty of class.

Race 9: Play Meadowlands Non-winners $5,000 (NW 2L4 $5,815) in last 4 Series

(6) KOLBY TWO STEP was perhaps a bit flat off the bench, which has been rare for this barn lately. He drops a notch in his second start since December and should have more in the tank now. (2) DUDDIE’S LOR was super in defeat last time when making multiple moves to the front. The competition is tougher here but he might be up to the task. (5) FLIRTIN JK gets a condition change and might have more in the tank than some people expect. (8) REVOLVER N is easily capable of beating this field with the right setup and the price should be right if you want to hope journey.

Race 10: Non-winners $14,000 in last 4 or in 2024/TM 89.5 (NW L2/2L4 90/90.5) or less - $50K GTD Pick 4

(1) FOUREVER BOY is the best horse in the field and the only questions circle around the missed time. The return qualifier certainly says he’s ready to go and with his next start likely 10 days from now at Yonkers, there is no reason not to try to put him in play. (6) OAKWOOD ARDAN IR proved himself to some extent last time as he took on more experienced foes but this group is another step up in company in terms of talent. He’s the likely favorite and not a lock to win. (7) ROCKIN ON VENUS is seemingly in against much tougher, but it’s not like he can’t go with these on his best and he’s certainly sharp now.

Race 11: Play Meadowlands Final for Non-winners $2,000 in last 4

(9) PRINCE MCARDLE N couldn’t have looked any better in victory last week. If he brings anything close to that mile this time they’ll be racing for second. (3) INCREDIBLE BADGER was used hard and hung in there rather well in the preliminary leg last week. Five-year-old hasn’t won in a long time but seems to be in coming into some form. (1) GLOBAL CRUSH lured Miller off #2 who has been sharp and this barn has been sending out live horses during the meet. (2) AIR GUITAR waited off a quick pace and pounced last week. He’s a viable option here if the odds rise to 6-1 or so.

Race 12: Non-winners $10,000-$14,000 in last 4 or 8 races life or TM 86.84 or less

(5) CHAPHEART looked like a horse that needed a start last Saturday, and that’s understandable considering he qualified at Saratoga and dropped seven seconds off that mile. This guy is capable of much better with the start under his belt. (9) BETTERINPINEHURST sat off a contested first half and pounced as much the best late coming off a mini layoff. He’s a threat but I’d want 3-1 or better from the tough post. (3) KING ALPHONSO shows up every week and this is the first time he’s seen the inside of the gate in a while. Maybe he’ll work out a winning trip but more likely he’ll fill out an exotic slot.

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Race 13: Play Meadowlands Non-winners $5,000 (NW 2L4 $5,815) in last 4 Series

(4) THIRD PILLAR looked like a horse that is starting to come around in his last start and the condition shirt here is a major drop in class. (1) ITS SHOWTIME returns to The Meadowlands at a reduced level for a barn that certainly excels on that move; using in Pick 4. (9) DE LOS CIELOS DEO has plenty of class but needs to figure out a trip from the far outside.

Race 14: Trackmaster 74 (NW L2/2L4 74.5/75.10) or less

(6) GOTTA MINUTE N is a sharp horse picking up a catch-driver. He makes a lot of sense in this spot but don’t accept less than 8-5 or so. (3) BETTOR’S VILLE woke up in a big way on the driver/trainer change last time at Pocono. Does that carry over here? (5) HEART OF ROCK is a smooth trip away from an upset.