Meadowlands: Analysis for Sunday 1/22

2022 STATS: 28 - 111 / $172.80 (-$49.20)
2022 BEST BETS: 4 - 8 / $14.20 (-$1.80)
2022 SPOT PLAYS: 1 - 8 / $14.60 (-$1.40)
BEST BET - GREG THE LEG (7th)
SPOT PLAY - BEACH BAY BEE (9th)

Race 1 - 7500CLM Pace

(5) SOUTHWIND DREDGE drops out of higher claiming classes at The Meadows and Dover in his return to Chuck Crissman Jr.'s barn and catches a field with no obvious standout. (3) BRIGADOON is the only horse in here with a recent victory at the Meadowlands and wound up having to do the first-over work last time out at Freehold. (8) RISKY BUDDY got a check last Friday and paced a solid final quarter at Freehold in an effort prior to that.

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Race 2 - NW2/20000LT Trot

(2) PRETTY INTERESTING makes her third start back after some time off and finished a solid second in this class on January 6. (7) A NEW LEADER got rebuffed after making a first-over charge as the favorite last time out and had to settle for third. Perhaps he'll offer a better price this time around. (9) MALONE was third in a NW3 event at Harrah's Philadelphia two back and then gained spots and ground in a subsequent effort over that oval.

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Race 3 - 8000-10000CLM HCP Pace

(7) FEHERTY comes up from Dover where he was racing against $12,500 claiming company and looks like he packs plenty of gate speed. (8) SETONCRUISECONTROL moves down from the $15,000 claiming level here and over at Yonkers, and that could be all it takes for him to get back into contention. (5) NIGHT EXPLORER closed from fifth to third in the final quarter of his race last Friday and won in a $7,500 claimer here at the Meadowlands on 12-10.

Race 4 - NW3000L5/TrackMaster Rating 76.5 or Less as of 1-18-23 Trot

(1) BET BIG ON BLUE pulled off a big upset the last time he faced NW3000L5 company on 12-9, and I will look for lightning to strike twice this afternoon. (4) MASSIVE MATTER hit the board in both of his opportunities at this level back in December and has post and class relief today. (7) LOUIS is another horse sliding down from the NW5000L5's and shows a pair of thirds over at Harrah's Philadelphia last month.

Race 5 - TrackMaster Rating 74 or Less as of 1-18-23 Pace

(3) SOMIKI scored two back but then didn't have the best of trips last Saturday as he ended up first-over. I think this TrackMaster 74 class is softer than the one he's been in thus far in 2023, and I'll give him a chance. (2) FERDINAND A is very sharp right now and packs that strong early foot that helps him get good position. (8) COOKIEMANSMANHARDT has hit the board in both of his races in this class since coming off the half-mile ovals and has shown some versatility as well.

Race 6 - NW20000L5 or 2 Races in 2022/NW11 Ext. PM Races LT/Winners Base Class NW14000 or Less Last Start Trot

(6) LEXUS KODY broke in the Open at Dover last time out but has gone two-for-two at the Meadowlands since joining the Ron Burke barn, and I will look for a quick rebound. (8) DELAYED HANOVER landed another outside post today, but at least it isn't the ten-hole like it was on January 14, and he's been racing well. (4) WESLYNN QUEST one win in 2022 came at the Meadowlands, and she was second in an Open Handicap here on December 10.

Race 7 - NW2/20000LT Pace

(5) GREG THE LEG has a barn change to Per Engblom today, and I'll look for him to build on that third-place finish in this class on December 30th for the new connections. (2) THIRD PILLAR closed well to hit the board in both of his appearances down at Dover so far in 2023 and probably has room to further improve as he's made just three lifetime starts. (8) SUNNY ZIP led throughout and defeated NW2's at Dover on 1-10 and makes his second start back after some time off.

Race 8 - Preferred Pace - Pick 4

(6) BELMONT ROYALE N owns a three-for-three record at the Meadowlands thus far and I think might offer some value due to the presence of (4) CRUNCH TIME A, who is also undefeated at the Meadowlands since coming here from Down Under. What concerns me a bit about the latter is the sick scratch at Yonkers last time out, so I'll try and beat him. (3) NANDOLO N finished a gaining second in the Open at Yonkers on January 16 and took his 2022 mark at the Meadowlands.

Race 9 - NW3000L5 Pace

(3) BEACH BAY BEE didn't show much last Saturday but gets significant post relief and is making his second start back after a layoff for a trainer who can have one ready to fire. (6) EMBLAZE HANOVER gives NW3000L5 company a second shot today after fading following a first-over journey on January 14. (4) KASEY JOHN A was racing in much higher classes than this to close out 2022 and has a qualifier up at Monticello under his belt.

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Race 10 - F&M NW3000L5/TrackMaster Rating 76.5 or Less as of 1-18-23 Pace

(5) BULLVILLEKARLA returns after making one start at Monticello and looks to be in a winning spot against bottom level rivals if she can duplicate her performances in the fall against NW5000L5's here. (8) GOTTALOVEMYSHADOW has finished second in her last two efforts at the Meadowlands and battled hard before finishing second on January 13. (4) BONTZ N made no impression from the ten-hole on the 30th of December but trainer Gary Levine has won several races already this meet, and this veteran mare has significant post relief.

Race 11 - TrackMaster Rating 74 or Less as of 1-18-23 Pace

(2) MAJOR DESIRE meets up with TrackMaster 74 foes today and appears to have been facing tougher company at Monticello and Yonkers lately. (3) GUYS IN THE BAND qualified well over the track on January 7 and won his last start of 2022 on December 18 at Harrah's Philadelphia. (4) LINDYTHEFOURTEENTH had a winning streak in December at Freehold and was in against TrackMaster 77 rivals the last time he appeared at The Big M.