Meadowlands: Friday 11/8 Analysis

MEET STATS: 78-24-17-13 / $117.00 (-$39.00)
BEST BETS: 6-3-1-0 / $9.40 (-$2.60)
BEST BET: MAGIC MVP (11th)
SPOT PLAY: SHEEZA GNP N (4th)
Race 1 – GSY Amateur Drivers - **$25K GTD Pick 5**
(2) JUST N BERLANDER added Lasix and raced well, though his prior efforts weren’t bad either. He picks up one of the top amateur drivers and should prove tough. (4) SCIROCCO MISTYSAID didn’t fire in his first start for new trainer Mark Silva after missing two months of racing. He tends to do well with these types of horses. (1) MAAJAACKKOBE should flash plenty of early speed from his inside post and be in with a chance. (9) REAL KID raced well last time but drew a tougher post here.
Race 2 – Preferred Handicap
(5) MANCHEGO hasn’t lost in some time and while this is more of a prep race for the TVG, I think they’ll race her hard since the stakes engagement is two weeks away and she was off two weeks prior to her last race. (2) LINDY THE GREAT will likely flaunt his speed and sit no worse than a pocket trip. (4) TROLLEY is a nice horse but he’ll need a career best to take on the top one.
Race 3 – Non-winners $3,500 in last 5
(4) LASA DIDA LADY is the only horse in the field with any recent form and she is picking up Callahan. (7) AMITYVILLE LINDY has gone some interesting miles up at Vernon and may just be a fit with this crew. Addition of the aggressive Dexter Dun is a huge plus. (1) INXS had no shot last time; prior effort was fine. (5) NEW YORK ATTITUDE has certainly needed some starts after 10 months on the sidelines. He could hit the exotics.
Race 4 – Non-winners $6,500 in last 5
(1) SHEEZA GNP N gets some class relief on her return to The Meadowlands. When last here on May 3 she visited the winner’s circle racing in this condition. (6) SAINT ALBRAY moves up the ladder while switching conditions but seems sharp enough to handle it. (3) BACKSTREET TERROR might have picked up some confidence last Friday; he’s capable.
Race 5 – Trackmaster Rating 77 or less
This is a difficult handicapping puzzle. (1) SIMONE gets a major driver change to Dunn and might just deliver against a soft field. (6) FOLLOWTHEWIND N gets a better post to work with and should be in the mix now. (7) I WILL DO IT hails from a barn that only has one win this meet but 9 seconds and thirds combined. These are the types of spots where they usually come to play. (2) JOHN’S ONE DESIRE should save ground and get into the lower exotics.
Race 6 – Non-winners $3,500 in last 5
(4) KABU ships down from Vernon in fine form and David Miller gets the call. In for a $10,000 claiming tag, he could be switching hands tonight and should be plenty live. (2) CAMPBELLINI hasn’t performed on the lead lately. This is still a good spot and maybe new tactics are coming. (1) MAX VOLO hasn’t raced since July but would be a player if he is ready. (5) LIFE WELL LIVED won off the bench last time and merits some consideration.
Race 7 – Non-winners $10,000 in last 5
(8) SILVERMASS VOLO is down in class this week as he ships in because Pocono is closing. New driver Andrew McCarthy is a plus. (6) BILLIE BLUE, like the top pick, was second in a decent class at Pocono and gets a nice driver change. (5) MYSTICAL MOTOR is on quite a roll and may be able to overcome the class hike.
Race 8 – Non-winners $10,000 in last 5 - **$50K GTD Pick 4**
I found this race to be quite perplexing and will definitely go deep in this leg of the Pick 4. (3) BROOKLYN LILACS posted a win in this class last week for a high percentage barn and seems like the one to beat now, though if the price was short I’d lean against. (7) ROCKIN THE BOYS A battled on the lead and Yonkers and succumbed. The last time she was at The Meadowlands it was in a higher class. (6) AMERICAN SARA ships down from Canada and seems to have landed in the right spot if ready after missing more than a month of action. (8) SWEET LUCY LOU, like the top pick, is a 3-year-old that is in form and facing older.
Race 9 – Non-winners $20,000 in last 5
(6) JL CRUZE drops out of the Preferred and has no excuse for failure. (2) THE LAST CHAPTER came up HUGE last time. Five-year-old may just be sharp enough to step up again. (3) MISSLAROSE does very well over this track but had no shot from post 10 most recently. (9) MUSCLE M UP comes out of the same race as the top pick and deserves some consideration.
Race 10 – Trackmaster Rating 77 or less
(10) TRAFFIC JAM improved in her second start back from vacation. Post 10 isn’t ideal but she seems to be getting close to a big mile. (9) ROSY OUTLOOK rolled down the road in her last appearance at this level. (5) THE LADY SHERIFF raced ok in her first try on Lasix; more now? (4) GLENFERRIE BRONTE N has no chance last time after chasing in a slow half.
Race 11 – Non-winners $6,500 in last 5
(5) MAGIC MVP took a tuck early and was trapped behind a wall of horses in the stretch, having to angle to the six-path to find clearance and close for third. Clearly new trainer Miriam Kraemer has this guy figured out, but I fear the price will be short. (8) LUCKY SHEILA won in this class two back and has the speed to make plenty of noise. (2) GLOIRE DREAM should be close to the action and wouldn’t be a complete shock on the win end. (7) CRAZSHANA has class but maybe not the desire to still win at this level.
Race 12 – Non-winners 4/6 races or $50,000/$76,000 life
(3) SPECTRE finally gets a good post this week and could perk up. (6) GRANDMA HEIDI has early speed and form; obvious contender. (1) DEPLORABLE TOM has ability if he stays trotting.
Race 13 - $7,500 Claiming
(8) TERROR OF THE NITE showed a bit of life in his second start back from a brief break. This barn and horse is capable of pulling off an upset and this looks like a potential spot to go for it. (6) WALKS OF LIFE has been racing well in this class. (9) CC BIG BOY SAM moves into a new barn and is eligible to show more. (2) R M BLACKHAWK also gets a barn switch. He looks bad on paper but I wouldn’t completely toss him aside. (10) PREPPY ART won for this tag last time; post hurts.