Meadowlands: Analysis for Saturday 9/26

MEET STATS: 0 - 0 / $0.00 ($0.00)
BEST BETS: 0 - 0 / $0.00 ($0.00)
SPOT PLAYS: 0 - 0 / $0.00 (0.00)
BEST BET - ATOMIC BLAST N (2nd)
SPOT PLAY - STONEDUST (6th)

Race 1 - NW2/25000LT / NW3/30000LT, NW3 Last 3 Starts Trot

(1) LIGHT BLUE MOVERS flopped as the favorite last Saturday but switches drivers to Todd McCarthy this time. I think that's a key upgrade and could swing things his way. (6) BEYOND ORDINARY draws a better post this week after closing from far back to finish third in this class. I expect him to be somewhere closer to the action. (5) QUESTICHAP took advantage of an ideal journey to win over my top two picks. She has the same post and Sears again, so she is a double-up threat.

Race 2 - NW2/25000LT / NW3/30000LT, NW3 Last 3 Starts Pace

(5) ATOMIC BLAST N drops into a very favorable spot tonight based on his efforts in Pennsylvania against similar. Bongiorno took him over a couple of others, and I will, too. (1) SOUTHWIND PETYR is at a bit of a disadvantage here as the lone 2-year-old taking on older foes, but he did win in the New York Sire Stakes program, so there is some talent here. (6) WELL DONE SON made a break last time out at Harrah's Philadelphia, but hopefully that's just a one-off. He finished with interest when last at the Meadowlands on 9-5.

Race 3 - NW2500L5/TrackMaster Rating 75 or Less as of 9-22-20 Trot

(9) MUAY HANOVER got shuffled back some behind a gapping pocket-sitter last Saturday, then rallied after getting out. I wouldn't mind seeing Bongiorno give him a chance to cut this mile, but any sort of smoother trip is fine, and I'll use. (5) BIODETTI HANOVER continues to drop down the class ladder in search of a winning spot. Maybe this is it, but he exits a slow last quarter at Harrah's Philadelphia, and I'll try and beat him. He was Dunn's choice in this race. (3) INXS finished second in this class a week ago, overcoming a two-wide trip. He gets significant post relief here.

Race 4 - NW4500L5/TrackMaster Rating 79.5 or Less as of 9-22-20/NW4601L7 Pace

(5) SOSSY'S KING KONG returns to the Meadowlands off a third-place effort at Freehold. He had pace in the last quarter in that contest here two back against $15,000 claimers and draws a much more favorable post than he had on that occasion. (8) MORE THE BETTER N probably needed that race a couple weeks ago since he'd been idle since July. He was showing a lot more early foot prior to the break in his schedule, and that might be the approach here with the tightener under his belt. (3) WHITTAKER N is likely the one to beat on the drop with Dunn returning to the bike, but the barn is struggling right now, and I am not going to take a short price on him.

Race 5 - F&M NW7500L5/TrackMaster Rating 80.5 or Less as of 9-22-20 Pace

(9) TWINSBURG ships in from Yonkers where she's been in their NW10000L5 and NW8 classes. She's done pretty well there and might appreciate getting to stretch out on the mile track, especially given her closing style. (7) MANHATTAN PLAY gave way late to Exotic Dance a week ago, but it was a quality effort, and she gets another chance to race at this level. (4) RAPUNZEL BLUE CHIP rallied well for fourth last Saturday and was Zeron's choice over a couple of others in here.

Race 6 - NW7500L5 Pace

(4) STONEDUST makes his second start off the shelf here. I thought he raced pretty well last Saturday, closing in 27 seconds, and gets a little class relief tonight also. (3) FRANCO TOTEM N isn't as reliable as he once was in a spot like this, but he did rally after getting shuffled way back when he raced at the Meadowlands on 9-12. (10) ISLANDSPECIALMAJOR qualified well and then was second to Like Clockwork on September 12. He moves down a notch from the NW10500L5 class and picks up Dexter Dunn.

Race 7 - NW10500L5/TrackMaster Rating 83 or Less as of 9-22-20/4YO's Trot

(4) PAT MATTERS easily defeated the NW17500L5 group at Yonkers two starts ago and then was too far back in her subsequent effort at the Meadowlands. She drew an ideal post here and gets Todd McCarthy. (2) THUNDER made a miscue last Friday, but he was favored in that race. He qualified well behind Ramona Hill prior to that. (6) HATIKVAH hasn't won this year but does enter off two second-place finishes at Harrah's Philadelphia.

Race 8 - NW4500L5/TrackMaster Rating 79.5 or Less as of 9-22-20/NW4601L7 Pace

I'm going to take a bit of a flyer on (1) DEEDENUTO A in his second U.S. start. He wound up first-over from a bad post in a field that included $2.9 million earner Mach It So at Freehold, so I like that he's drawn inside here and hopefully he can sit and pounce. He won a Group 3 race in Australia earlier in 2020. (2) SOLO STORY drops in class tonight and gets significant post relief. Callahan chose him, and he's probably a big threat. (6) SEEING EYE SINGLE slides down a notch for Burke and changes drivers to David Miller.

Race 9 - NW14000L5/NW3700PS in 2020, NW Last 2 Starts/NW$1 in 2020 Pace

(1) RESPECT OUR FLAG has finished with pace against better in his last two at the Meadowlands but has been stuck outside and too far back to make an impact. This is a better spot for him both post and class-wise, and I expect him to be in the hunt. (5) ROCK THE DEVIL was a strong second to U S Captain last Saturday and was victorious in the corresponding class to this one at Harrah's Philadelphia two back. (6) DA DELIGHTFUL comes in from the Preferred level at Freehold. He was unable to threaten in his last pair, but did win earlier this month and was sharp against similar to these in Pennsylvania in August.

Race 10 - NW20000L5/NW10 Pace

(10) HIGHALATOR overcame this post to win at a huge price earlier this year, and I won't miss a chance to back him here, though I'm not expecting the 42-1 you got on him that time. He's got plenty of class and speed, so I think he can either make front or get a seat. (2) JESSE DUKE N put in some quality performances at the Meadowlands through the spring and summer, including a second in the Sam McKee Memorial consolation. (1) IDEAL FEELING was third to a couple of Grand Circuit foes in the Open at The Meadows most recently. He won at the Meadowlands before that and kept Tetrick over others tonight.

Race 11 - NW10500L5/TrackMaster Rating 85.5 or Less as of 9-22-20/NW11850L6 Pace

(1) DE LOS CIELOS DEO rallied from the parking lot to win two weeks ago. That was his second straight 25 4/5 final panel, and though he steps up a notch, I like that he kept David Miller and his back-class that includes Grand Circuit success. (4) THE FIRST STEP could make it a Burke 1-2 in this race. He drops down from the NW20000L5 class and was the runner-up in a NW14000L5 on the 5th of September. (5) PALOMAR won with a strong closing kick in a NW7500L5 a week ago. He moves up, but should get pace to chase and has Dunn back, too.

Race 12 - F&M 15000-20000CLM HCP Pace

(6) EXOTIC DANCE goes for her fourth straight win tonight, and I think she can get it. She has a better post than she had last Saturday, and her strong early speed should allow Bongiorno to cut it or blast and yield. (8) CAY'S BLESSING should be a fit against these coming out of the Open at Saratoga. Nickerson's horses are normally ready when they ship south. (4) CHARMS LITTLE SIS finished second as the favorite in an optional $15,000 claimer a week ago. You should get a better price on her tonight if you give her another chance.

Race 13 - 12500-15000CLM HCP Pace

(3) WHATSTROUBLNUROCKY posted his one win in 2020 at the Meadowlands during the winter months with Corey Callahan driving, and he's reunited with him tonight. This horse comes in off a second and a third against straight $15,000 claimers at Harrah's Philadelphia. (9) LYON'S IMAGE made front from this post a couple weeks ago but tired in the lane. I'm going to anticipate he leaves strongly again. (5) IMAGEOFAROCKER was the winner here on the 12th of September and was Pat Berry's choice.