Meadowlands: Friday 11/22 Analysis

MEET STATS: 130-42-20-20 / $196.60 (-$63.40)
BEST BETS: 10-7-1-0 / $20.30 (+$.30)
BEST BET: ROOTIN TOOTIN (5th)
SPOT PLAY: ZLATAN (8th)
RACE 1 – GSY Amateur - **$25K GTD Pick 5**
(4) WISE IMAGE broke in his return from a long layoff and now gets the trainer in the bike, which is a plus. This guy is as fast or faster than these when right and could be a good price tonight. (6) JOHN DALLY tries his luck in the amateur ranks while in good form. (2) MAKE IT BIG finally lands an inside post and could get more aggressive.
RACE 2 – Non-winners $3,500 in last 5
(2) LASA DIVA LADY was done in by a bad post last time and broke in her prior start. Before that her form was pretty good and perhaps she can score at a price here. (8) ARAGORN HOSS FI put in a big mile in this class two starts back. (7) MAX VOLO scratched in his second start back from a break, which is never good, but he is right back in the box seven days later. He’s a good fit here. (3) ALVISI HANOVER wasn’t bad last time after chasing slow fractions; barn is hot. (4) KABU was Miller’s choice over two others including my top pick.
RACE 3 – Trackmaster Rating 83 or less
(2) MESSI N moves inside and will certainly be forwardly placed for a trainer who has started off the meet with good stats. (4) WINNING LINC faces slightly tougher, but still projects to be on the engine and in a great position to win. (3) BORN OF FIRE is a capable horse who only needs a clean trip to threaten.
RACE 4 – Non-winners $6,500 in last 5
(3) FRENCH MONI was used hard while up in class last time and paid the price. New driver joins the team now and perhaps we see more with a better trip. (2) U NEED STONES is clearly the horse to beat after watching him best a softer group. That said, there are other on the outside of the gate with early speed like (8) LUCKY SHEILA who could cause him some issues. The latter has left and gotten a big check just about every recent start. (7) CARRICK arrives from Pocono and drops in for a tag. I wouldn’t be shocked at all if he came ready to rumble.
RACE 5 – Non-winners $3,500 in last 5
(6) ROOTIN TOOTIN visits the basement condition here at The Meadowlands and should dominate against this soft group. (2) FRANKIE ROCKS A went crazy-fast on the engine last time. Perhaps an equipment change or something can make a difference; check the changes. (1) ALEPPO HANOVER returns here at a reduced level and it’s not impossible to think he awakens. (3) HIGHLANDBEACHYCOVE closed well last time, though a very fast pace gave him that chance.
RACE 6 – Non-winners $6,500 in last 5
(5) THISBEACHRIGHTHEREA toured the track from the back last week and went too fast in his prior start. Ideally, he may be a better fit down in class, but this field is far from tough for a NW6500 and he could be very live. (1) SISKEL arrives in form for a very competent barn. (3) NEAT was too far back after starting from an outside post last Saturday; form is fine.
RACE 7 – Trackmaster Rating 86.70 or less
(1) BARIMAH A scratched out of post 10 last time due to sickness and it all worked out because he returns from post one. He seems to be way up in class but has the ability to handle this kind if on his game. (5) NASCAR SEELSTER & (3) BIG BAD BILL both show recent winning miles in this condition. (9) ALL IT TAKES is plenty sharp, maybe enough to step up and win from the bad post.
RACE 8 – Non-winners $10,000 in last 5 - **$50K GTD Pick 4**
(1) ZLATAN is clearly rounding into form and gets lucky to face a light NW10000 division tonight. Unless one of these pop up out of nowhere with a big effort, I’m expecting him to score and I may even key him in the Pick 4. (8) EXS AND OHS doesn’t look very good on paper but is a capable horse that should offer very good value. (2) LUCKY MATTER should flash some early speed and be close enough to threaten if feeling good.
RACE 9 – Non-winners $6,500 in last 5
This is certainly one of the tougher races in the Pick 4 sequence. I’m going to roll the dice with (10) AMERICAN SARA, who was used to the front last time and came up flat late in her first start in over a month. Now in her second try for this stable, maybe we see more. (2) GLORIA PIERRE finds a decent spot upon arrival from PA. Her last try from a good post resulted in a win. (1) ROCKNROLL ANNIE exits stakes action and notice her non-stakes races were all from outside posts on a half-mile track.
RACE 10 – Winners over $10,000 in last 5
(7) OCEANIA comes to town sharp and if you recall, she has done good things here in the past. (2) PONDER THE ODDS came up short having missed a few weeks after a scratched-sick line. Three-year-old filly is a fit with this group. (1) BROOKLYN LILACS has plenty of form and wouldn’t be a shock on the win end here. (6) SHELLIE DE VIE continued her good form in Saratoga and did very well here in October.
RACE 11 – Non-winners 4/6 races or $50,000/$75,000 life
(8) SMOOTH ACELERATION drops out of stakes action and should be aggressively handled despite showing breaks with Gingras in the bike. (9) GETTING MESSI responded in his second start for this barn and who knows what his ceiling is at this point. (10) GALIXTON comes off two big miles and is clearly fast enough to play with these. (1) DEPLORABLE qualified back ok and can compete if he behaves.
RACE 12 – Trackmaster Rating 77 or less
(8) CLEARLY BETTER comes down from Mohawk where she was facing better company overall. I’ll give her a try. (6) PARKIN IN HEAVEN could improve in her second start on Lasix. (1) JB’S SHOOTING STAR is capable if she is tight off the bench. (5) MAJOR MAID has decent form and plenty of in-the-money finishes.
RACE 13 – $7,500 Claiming
(5) BIG CC’S ROCK has won his last two starts for this claiming price and picks up a hot driver in Dexter Dunn. What’s not to like? (9) PREPPY ART has early speed and form as he seeks four straight wins. (3) CC BIG BOY SAM didn’t have a shot in his first start for the new barn. Moving inside gives him a fighting chance. (6) WALK OF LIFE is 30 of 45 first or second the last two years; using in exotics.