Meadowlands: Analysis for Saturday 4/6

MEET STATS: 292-82-53-40 / $45.10 (-$132.90)

BEST BETS: 21-11-3-2 / $43.00 (+$1.00)

SPOT PLAYS: 20-3-7-2 / $11.20 (-$28.80)

BEST BET: MAD MAX HANOVER (9^th)

SPOT PLAY: DUDDIE’S LOR (12^th)

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

(5) MARINER SEELSTER was used to the front from post 10 and raced well in defeat last time. The road to the top will be easier this week and he may even end up sitting a good trip in the pocket behind (9) FERDINAND A, who is certainly gunning off the wings of the gate and always goes a long way. (8) YER SO BAD finally got over the top again after a couple of third-place finishes. He’s a threat with a trip but may be closing from last tonight.

[DRF HARNESS: Get Harness Eye PPs for this card]

Race 2: Trackmaster 77 (NW L2/2L4 77.5/78.80) or less - Survivor 7

(5) HOLD MY DRINK was parked every step of the mile and dug in nicely to be fourth. Here he finds a field that seems to lack early speed and Miller will hopefully elect to take advantage. (4) CONCUR brushed early in the mile and just missed last week; threat again. (1) WHIMSICAL JOURNEY closed from Newark to be third last time and may get overbet because of the visually pleasing look of the line. Keep in mind that his prior three starts resulted in thirds as well.

[DRF BETS: Wager on tonight's Meadowlands card at DRF Bets.com!]

Race 3: Non-winners 2 (NW L2/3YO 3) races or $20,000 (NW L2/3YO $34,500) life/Maidens draw inside

This is a tricky race with a number of horses coming back from layoffs. Of that group, (2) SHE’S SPICY comes from the barn that is most likely to send one out ready to roll and it is nice to see two winning qualifiers under her belt. (5) BLAZING DEO and (3) CASANOVA HALL both turned in a very nice morning effort to prepare for their 2024 debuts. Either of these “Nifty” Norman trainees could be ready but both will probably be raced conservatively.

Race 4: Non-winners 2 (3YO 3) races or $25,000 life/Maidens draw inside - Pick 8

(5) RUSH IN got a little ahead of himself and made a miscue leaving the gate last week. The break was somewhat irrelevant because he wasn’t going to be pushed hard from post 10 regardless. Three-year-old may be a bit green but he seems to be the most talented of this group right now. (2) TENACIOUS HANOVER was saved in his career debut and clearly had something left in the tank. Zeron chose the top pick but Dunn is a sweet replacement. (6) STEELY KNIFE was a decent 2-year-old and his return qualifier was good; Gingras’ choice of three.

Race 5: Non-winners $5,000 (NW 2L4 $5,775) in last 4 or $1,282 p.s. in 2023-24

(7) BOBCAT BAY drops to the level of his last victory and he takes to make his own luck with good early speed. (2) BRAEVIEW BONDI A was uncovered in his last try and scratched-sick from post 10 last weekend. He fits nicely with these. (3) BATTLEFIELD comes out of an impossible spot on March 23. He’s a major player in here.

Race 6: Non-winners $14,000 (NW L2 $15,400) in last 4 or 8 races or $90,000 life/TM 88 or less - $50K GTD Pick 4

(4) CHAPERCRAZ comes off a 2024 mile which looks ok at best on paper until you dig deeper at see that he dropped a second-and-a-half off his qualifier and was caught in a 1:50 mile. Stakes-caliber 4-year-old should give these all they can handle. (1) OH LOOK MAGIC broke in his first start for this barn before posting two wins and two seconds. He freshened up over the winter and qualified back nicely. (7) DELAYED HANOVER took a shot in his first start of the year but couldn’t sustain. The switch to the big track and having a start under his belt should help.

Race 7: Play Meadowlands Non-winners $7,601 (NW L2 $8,250) in last 4 Series

(7) DEAN B HANOVER took a serious shot first-over and held reasonably well last time. Sent out by the powerful Cullipher barn, 6-year-old only needs a reasonable trip to succeed in a close-knit group. (3) WARRAWEE XTREME isn’t the best horse in the race but seems very likely to be put in play this week after taking back from outside posts lately. I expect we’ll see a good effort at a nice price. (9) JACK’S SHADOW exits a top class at Dover and seemingly should awaken with a good performance in this class. (6) DECISION DAY picks up Dunn and might be worth a look at the right price.

Race 8: Play Meadowlands Non-winners $7,601 (NW L2 $8,250) in last 4 Series - Pick 6

This appears to be a very competitive race and we’ll try to swing for a price with (8) WHOLE LOTTA LOU. Miller figures to gun hard off the gate here and make the top, which will set up a good trip. (4) STONEBRIDGE REEF missed by only a head in leg one of this series last weekend and is clearly a threat here. (6) CAVEMAN A worked out a good trip and proved to be game in the stretch as others were certainly in with a chance to win. Veteran is feeling good and capable of grinding it out.

Race 9: Non-winners $10,000 in last 4 or 6 races life/TM 86.5 (NW L2/2L4 87/87.6) or less

(4) MAD MAX HANOVER took a useful tour of the track in his first start of the year while dropping a couple of seconds from his qualifying mile. Son of Always B Miki does his best work on the engine and Tetrick should be sending him this time. (6) STELLAR YANKEE won his last start two back at this level, though top to bottom this is a better field. I can see this guy trying to show early speed here to get into position. (1) DYNAMITE DYLAN blew out a quick qualifier to prepare. Four-year-old clearly has some ability and it will be interesting to see what he can do.

Race 10: Winners over $10,000 in last 4 Handicap - $50K GTD Pick 4

(5) BIG SKEWY N couldn’t have been prepared to be used early and go a fast 1:22 3/5 three-quarters time in his U.S. debut despite coming off a sharp qualifier. That start should serve him well and I’m expecting more now. (8) NANDOLO N is far and away the class of this field and if he brings his best the rest are in trouble. (7) MAXIMUS MIKI comes into town with loads of form while competing against some of the top horses at Dover.

Race 11: Trackmaster 80 (NW L2/2L4 80.5/81.86) or less/NW in 2024 with 10 or more starts

(1) DA DELIGHTFUL was super two starts back and basically took the week off last time from the outside starting spot. With a catch-driver this guy would be 4-5 tonight. Instead we may get 5-2 with a slightly lower chance of victory. (4) MASK ON MASK OFF and (9) JUST PLAN LOCO both have good early speed and should be in prime position to win should the top one come up short or run into trouble.

Race 12: Non-winners $3,000 (NW L2 $3,310) in last 4

(1) DUDDIE’S LOR had traffic trouble two starts back and was simply in too tough last time. He drops a notch and draw well tonight. Expect a big mile. (7) MIDNIGHT NATION exits the same race as the top pick and it was also just his first start of the year. Vallee trainee should have more on tap here. (6) INTEREST FREE A dropped to this condition last Saturday and found early speed while racing well. A Similar performance seems likely.

[DRF HARNESS: Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter]

Race 13: Non-winners $5,000 (NW 2L5 $5,501) in last 4/TM 80.65 or less/NW7500L4 draw outside

(7) SIDD FINCH double drops in class tonight and the last time he competed in this condition he won by three lengths. Expect to see early speed here. (4) SOUTHWIND FROST is another horse that is likely to leave moving way inside on the gate tonight. He’s capable of rebounding and McCarthy chose him over four others. (6) AMADOR has been fairly consistent in this condition but it was very surprising to see Miller choose here over #7. Maybe he knows something we don’t?

Race 14: Trackmaster 74 Final

(3) THE WILL TO PLAY has dominated the first two legs of this series and there is no reason to believe he won’t do the same tonight. I was concerned at first that McCarthy seemingly chose off for #2, but Miller is Estrada’s regular guy and was likely earmarked to drive now that he’s back from vacation. (1) FERRAGAMO HANOVER has a pair of placings behind the top pick and draws well again to sit and rally. (2) ITS ROCKIN RANDY was arguably better than the top pick last week since he went over a second faster. That said, he wins at only 8% for his career (106 races), so back to back seems somewhat unlikely. (9) HEART OF ROCK has the early zip to fire off the gate and if he does it this guy may get a piece of the exotics at a price.