Meadowlands: Analysis for Saturday 4/15

MEET STATS: 16 - 81 / $93.20 (-$68.80)
BEST BETS: 5 - 6 / $17.20 (+$5.20)
2022 SPOT PLAYS: 0 - 6 / $0.00 (-$12.00)
BEST BET - ANTS MARCHING (6th)
SPOT PLAY - JJ FLYNN (5th)

Race 1 - TrackMaster Rating 83.5 or Less as of 4-11-23 Pace

(3) IMAGINARY LINE has been racing well against NW9000L5 and NW12500L5 foes over at Pocono since starting his 5-year-old season. I think he gets to face a beatable group here and I'll use. (8) LACHIE MAGUIRE N moves over from claiming company into this TrackMaster rating contest but is in good form with four straight top-three finishes, one of which was a win on 4-1. (6) I'M BURLINGTON N had a difficult time clearing to the front last Friday in a quick half and paid the price in the final quarter. He had been racing well prior to that, and I will include in the hopes of a smoother journey tonight.

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Race 2 - Standardbred Retirement Foundation 3YO C&G NW2/35000LT as of 1-1-23 Trot

(3) FLAMING ROADS rebounded after breaking two weeks ago with a solid third-place result and a 27 and change final quarter last Saturday. Trainer Per Engblom is having an excellent season on the East Coast, and hopefully he has this son of Tactical Landing ready to fire. (6) TALKIN' BOUT YOU is two-for-two in this series thus far with a couple facile front-end wins. He does move to the outside post, but given it's a short field, I don't see that being an issue. (5) KINGPIN HANOVER moved up to challenge TALKIN' BOUT YOU from first-over on the far turn last week but lugged out in the stretch and had to settle for second. It was still a miscue-free race, though, and perhaps he can build on it.

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Race 3 - NW2/20000LT Pace

(4) GIRLDAD showed some flashes of talent as a 2-year-old, including making the Governor's Cup final, and although he was chased down in his qualifier after cutting the fractions, I expect trainer Ron Burke will have him on 'go.' (7) LOUS THE ATTITUDE downed NW1 rivals at Harrah's Philadelphia on April 6 to pick up his first career victory, and trainer Chris Ryder is toting around his usual high percentage. (2) GAZOO has closed well to finish third and then second in his last two outings, but his apparent lack of early foot has put him in positions where he's had too much work to do. Perhaps that'll change here.

Race 4 - NW7501L5 or in 2023/TrackMaster Rating 82.5 or Less as of 4-11-23/Winners Base Class NW5000 or Less Last Start Trot

(10) ARCHERY SEELSTER is stuck outside on the gate but drops in his second start back off the shelf and closed from seventh to third in the final quarter in a NW10500L5 tilt last Friday. I'll bank on Tim Tetrick working out some kind of smooth trip for him and give him top call. (7) BEYOND ORDINARY shows some breaks, but when he's stayed flat he's gotten checks against NW10500L5 company here and NW15000L5 foes at Harrah's Philadelphia. (3) DELICIOUSSTONE DK rallied from tenth to second in the back-half of his mile when he was last in against NW7500L5's at the Meadowlands back in mid-March and returns to the big track tonight after racing at Pocono.

Race 5 - TrackMaster Series Final/Top Money Winners from the TrackMaster 80.5 Series Pace

(4) JJ FLYNN didn't fire from the back of the pack last Friday but moves inside on the gate tonight, and I think he'll probably be handled differently as well. His win in this series two back from first-over was quite impressive. (6) OAKWOOD VEGAS IR will try and polis h off a series sweep tonight and has won three in-a-row overall. (5) BANK SEA put in a good performance on April 7 against OAKWOOD VEGAS IR as he came up just a neck shy of victory. He's hit the board in three straight outings in total.

Race 6 - Standardbred Retirement Foundation 3YO C&G NW2/35000LT as of 1-1-23 Pace **$50,000 Guaranteed Pick 4 Pool**

(4) ANTS MARCHING appears to have come back much handier and looks like a serious contender not just in this event but going forward against Grand Circuit types as well. He showed the ability to cut the fractions and win in leg one of this series, and I anticipate he'll do the same thing tonight. (2) CAPTAIN PLANET is a stablemate to ANTS MARCHING and was third to him two weeks ago. I will slot him underneath again. (1) LIVONJAXANDQUEENS makes his second start of his 3-year-old campaign here and finished fourth with a 26 second final quarter last Saturday.

Race 7 - NW7500L5/NW901L3/NW5000L5 Drawn Inside Pace

(5) IT'S IN THE STARS gets some additional post relief tonight and has been ripping off big last quarters without a win to show for it yet for trainer Jeff Cullipher. I think he gets the job done here. (4) PJ LOU drops out of the NW10501L4/NW10500L5 class and has also been turning in fast final panels since returning to the Meadowlands. (2) WHITECOOKIE turned in a solid first-over effort from post eight against the well-meant South Beach Star a week ago and moves inside to the two-hole this week.

Race 8 - Open 2/Open 1 Trot

(7) IT'S ACADEMIC enjoyed a solid 2022 campaign that included on-the-board finishes in the International Trot, Breeders Crown, and TVG. He appeared raring to go in his qualifier last Friday, and I will give him top billing. (6) INAMINUTE HANOVER keeps churning out good performances, including a third with a 26 and change final quarter in the Open last Saturday at the Meadowlands. (3) DELAYED HANOVER makes his second start back after a layoff tonight and drew the best post out of the seemingly logical horses.

Race 9 - Starters for a Purse of 18000 or Less in 1 of their L3 Starts Pace

(5) A ROCKNROLL STAR continues to be one of the sharpest horses on the East Coast as he's now won four straight times, including two back at the Meadowlands. I also like the versatility he's shown as he's tallied from on the lead, stalking the pace, and off-the-pace. (4) IGANTIUS A has mainly been racing on half-mile tracks this year but had plenty of success at the Meadowlands in 2022, including his life's-best win in 1:48 3/5. (6) STONEBRIDGE REEF closed out his mile in 26 seconds flat to finish second to the sharp My Pal Joe last Saturday and has been out of the top three just once in 12 appearances thus far in 2023.

Race 10 - Open 2/Open 1 Pace **$50,000 Guaranteed Pick 4 Pool**

(6) WORKIN ONA MYSTERY trailed the field and was too far back to contend in this class a week ago, but he should only benefit from the start and gets to move in a couple of slots on the gate, too. (1) CAPTAIN CRUSADER A returns to the Meadowlands after taking the Open at Harrah's Philadelphia most recently. He was third at this level when last seen at The Big M back on April 1. (9) SOUTHWIND GENDRY has back-to-back victories but drew outside again, and I have to think that drivers will pounce on him on the far turn given his documented struggles in that bend at the Meadowlands.

Race 11 - TrackMaster Rating 80.5 or Less as of 4-11-23/Starters in TrackMaster 80.5 Series L2 Starts/NW1355L4 Starts Pace

(3) LIKE A SHADOW moves up out of the NW3000L5's but showed a 26 and change closing kick in finishing second in his Meadowlands debut last Saturday, which is obviously useful in whatever class you're racing in. (6) CURBSIDE PICKUP slides down from the TrackMaster 83.5 or Less level and made up some ground in the stretch a week ago before flattening out in the final eighth. (1) REAL LUCKY N took quite a bit of wagering support last week but never really got involved. He remains in against TrackMaster 80.5 or Less company and has significant post relief.

Race 12 - TrackMaster Series Final/Top Money Winners from the TrackMaster 83.5 Series Pace

(8) LONE WOLF AMERICAN tallied handily in leg one of this series and then came up just a nose shy of winning last Friday. I'm going to hope he gets overlooked a bit from an outside post as he's sharp and has both a hot driver and hot trainer in his corner. (1) ITS SHOWTIME went back to more aggressive tactics a week ago and it resulted in a victory. From the pole position, I expect him to push out and be on or near the front again. (3) EXOTIC SAND is riding a three-race win streak, including triumphs in both of his preliminary round races in this event. I'll include him.

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Race 13 - NW2000L5/TrackMaster Rating 77 or Less as of 4-11-23 Pace

(4) AS ALWAYS wound up third against NW3000L5 company last Saturday but gets to drop to the absolute bottom level here and should be able to beat these rivals on memory alone. (3) MIDNIGHT DAY slides down from the TrackMaster 80.5 or Less class after getting a check a week ago. (1) ODE TO GRAY suffered a brutal beat in a NW2000L5 tilt on April 7 as he cut the fractions and came up a nostril short of winning. He'll try and make amends tonight.

Race 14 - Mares NW3000L5/TrackMaster Rating 77.5 or Less as of 4-11-23 Pace

(7) KAITLYN N will get another shot from me tonight as she finished second in another solid performance in this class last Saturday and will break through soon. (6) AMERICAN JAZZ closed well to grab a third in the same race my top pick comes out of from a week ago. (5) BE BEST normally puts forth her best efforts at the Meadowlands when she races at this level and drops out of the NW5000L5's here.