Meadowlands: Analysis for Saturday 4/22

WINTER MEET STATS: 314-83-67-40 / $530.40 (-$97.60)

BEST BETS: 23-6-9-2 / $32.40 (-13.60)

SPOT PLAYS: 23-5-4-3 / $33.40 (-$14.60)

BEST BET: TALKIN BOUT YOU (2^nd)

SPOT PLAY: WILL THE WIZARD A (7^th)

Race 1: Non-winners 2 (NW L3 3) races or $20,500 (NW L3 $30,000) life/Maidens draw inside - Pick 5

(3) GOLDIN GREATNESS was stretched out nicely while out-kicked late in a very good qualifier. Returning 3-year-old was a good third in the Kindergarten last year and he looks ready. (5) FULL SUPPORT dropped plenty of time in his second qualifier but couldn't handle the top one late. Does he show more here? (9) DUVAL STREET made no attempt to get involved in his first start of the year but did pace home very willingly. Unfortunately with the outside draw we might be looking at a similar performance. If he looks more fired up in the warm-up, maybe we'll see some early zip.

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Race 2: Standardbred Retirement Foundation 3YO C&G Trot Final

(2) TALKIN BOUT YOU was four deep into the first turn and hung until the five-eighths last week while losing by only a nose. Logic states he'll get a better trip than that tonight. (4) COLLECTOR S took advantage of the top pick's misfortune to post a shocking 28-1 victory in his career debut. Any small step forward off that mile makes him a serious contender. (7) CRAZYLAND broke trying to retake the lead most recently. Everyone will be off the bandwagon now so the price will improve.

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Race 3: New Jersey Maturity 4YO Mares - Survivor 7

(6) TREACHEROUS DRAGON did nothing wrong in her lone qualifier and this barn tends to send them ready to roll. (4) SWEET TREASURE seems to enjoy The Meadowlands more than Yonkers. She'll be placed on the lead and sitting a good trip. (5) NIKI HILL is a quality mare that I expect to race conservatively. Could she win from behind? Yes. Will she win? I'm leaning against.

Race 4: $20,000-$30,000 Claiming Handicap

(8) TAM MAJOR A has won two straight at this level and was even claimed back for a higher price by his previous connections. We know he's going to the front and as long as the pressure isn't intense, he looks like a gate to wire winner. (4) LACHIE MAGUIRE N is the other certain leaver in the field and he should be sitting a sweet trip behind the top pick. (5) GOOD ROCKIN has been racing better of late and now switches barns. His best is good enough to win.

Race 5: Non-winners $2,000 (NW L3 $2,555) in last 5/TM 77 or less

(9) MASTER MIKI takes a monster class drop. When last seen at this track he was facing $25,000 claimers and was competitive. Although his form looks poor you can expect a wake-up to occur. (5) BOBCAT BAY dropped to this condition last week and got caught in a very fast mile. He's worth a second chance. (2) ITS ROCKIN RANDY has also been facing better and deserves some consideration.

Race 6: Standardbred Retirement Foundation 3YO C&G Pace Final - $50K GTD Pick 4

(5) ANTS MARCHING was very impressive in his first start of the year and he followed that up with another fine effort to remain perfect in 2023. My gut says he's slightly better than these and the price should remain fair with Fonseca doing the driving. (1) ALL ALONE owns a fine record of his own this year and notice he changes barns now after being purchased via Ongait for $87,500. Expecting a big effort. (3) SHEER TERROR has lost to both #1 and #5 already this year but has room to improve. (7) FOR ONCE INMY LIFE sprinted home in 25 3/5 in his one start so far. The concern here is that he may have to close from last.

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

(1) WILL THE WIZARD A went a credible mile in his first U.S. start and really had no chance from post 10 regardless. He moves inside now and along with a few qualifiers has a nice foundation under him. We should see what he's worth tonight. (7) ROCKIN THE ACES dropped to this class last week and raced well in defeat. (5) DE LOS CIELOS DEO is a capable horse who doesn’t always show up. If he seems fired up a bit in the warm-up, consider using him.

Race 8: Non-winners $12,500 (NW L3 $13,750) in last 5 or 7 (NW L3 8) races life/TM 85.5 or less - Pick 6

It is hard to say at this point whether (5) HOT MESS EXPRESS will get back to the level she was at as a 3-year-old, but safe to say facing top mares on the half at Yonkers wasn't up her alley. With the main danger in here (7) MAX CONTRACT coming off a layoff and likely to be handled patiently, she seems worth taking a shot with assuming the price is at least 2-1. The latter qualified nicely and now needs to prove herself against older foes. She's very capable of winning this race even with a conservative steer. (9) JODY is going to be gunning off the gate to the front and deserves some consideration, at least underneath.

Race 9: Open 2/Open 1 Handicap Trot

(8) DELAYED HANOVER just missed last week in a good effort. He should be ready for a peak performance in his third start back and hopefully Dunn will leave hard off the gate. (3) TNT BLUE CHIP has been on some roll and now truly gets tested for class. I'd be willing to take a shot here at 7-2 or higher. (7) AHUNDREDDOLLARBILL figures to be sharper in his second start after a month on the shelf.

Race 10: 4 & 5-Year-Old Open Pace - $50K GTD Pick 4

(6) LOU’S PEARLMAN closed very well to just miss in his first start of the year. Near millionaire appears ready for a strong 5-year-old campaign and it can begin tonight. (5) SOUTHWIND GENDRY was an obvious toss from post 9 last time. He moves inside in this shorter field and should be heading to the front; must-use. (3) KOMODO BEACH is dropping time with each start. He's fast enough to win this with a reasonable trip, though the short field favors the top two.

Race 11: Non-winners $10,500 (NW L3/2L5 $11,720/$12,955) in last 5/TM 85.31 or less

(7) NYLANDER continues to race well and he gets along very nicely with Tetrick. If he can get around Shinkansen early or sit the pocket behind him, he should be in prime position as the other horses to fear the most seem to be closers that might not find the pace they need up front. (6) GOTWUTEVERITTAKES drops back down while remaining in good shape. He's the one to beat on talent but he’s not always reliable. (8) DONATO PATRIOT K is clearly the sharpest horse in the field as he's come back from the layoff with two wins. I fear he may have to close from last to win.

Race 12: Non-winners $10,500 (NW L3 $11,651) in last 4 or $11,771 in last 6

(3) MYSWEETBOYMAX drops back into the NW10000 but more importantly catches a softer group for the class and should be on or near the lead tonight. (7) IGNATIUS A finally lands in a decent spot on this track and don't be shocked if he wakes up with a big mile in a slightly abbreviated field. (5) CHASER HANOVER steps up a notch off a win but he has the early speed to make his own trip and certainly enough GO to beat these.

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Race 13: TrackMaster 83.5 (NW L3/2L5 84/84.99) or less

(4) RAPTORS FLIGHT was much improved last week when he went off at 57-1 and while that price will shrink here, don't sleep on this capable horse in an even-matched field. (3) CHIEF OF STAFF rolled down the road last time while setting a new lifetime mark and certainly deserves respect. (1) BANK SEA and (2) CURBSIDE PICKUP are both sharp enough to win given the right trip.

Race 14: TrackMaster 74.5 (NW L3/2L5 75/75.5) or less

(2) ON DAYBOO switches conditions and while he tackles older foes now, this seems like a pretty soft spot. (6) WINDSUN TITAN raced from behind and really had no shot last weekend. He gets a more aggressive driver and hopefully the early decision making will be different. (8) FERDINAND A is certainly heading to the front and he should hold on for an exotics spot. (1) MARVALOUS ONE moves into a new barn and qualified well, but why the three weeks between that race and entering?