Meadowlands: Friday 12/27 Analysis

MEET STATS: 278-83-42-37 / $380.80 (-$175.20)
BEST BETS: 22-11-2-0 / $32.40 (-$11.60)
BEST BET: MIDNIGHT ROMANCE (1ST)
SPOT PLAY: JEWEL LEHIGH A (9TH)
Race 1 – Non-winners 2/3 races or $20/30,000 Life - $25K GTD Pick 5
(3) MIDNIGHT ROMANCE won as expected in her career debut. Well-bred filly by Captaintracherous looks best despite taking on slightly better foes. (5) DARN TOOTN HANOVER just missed last time and hasn’t thrown in a bad race since returning from a year off. (4) MILIONDOLAR BEAUTY rallied well from an outside post last time; using underneath.
Race 2 – Preferred Handicap
(4) RICH AND MISERABLE came first-over and proved too tough for these last week. I’ll stay here unless the price approaches odds-on. (6) JOEY BATS proved he belongs with a strong effort on the engine. (3) SUTTON has a start under his belt now and might just be able to tap into his back class. (7) SOUTHWIND CHROME is clearly capable but has some steering issues last week.
Race 3 – Non-winners $7,500 in last 5
(3) FOR A DREAMER was used early and came up flat in the stretch last time; another shot. (9) ZAGSTER was stuck in a post outside of two other leavers last time. Surick trainee could be on the move early this week. (6) SEVEN KNIGHTS makes his third start back and might be ready for more.
Race 4 – Non-winners 4/5 races or $50/60,000 life
(3) ESA rallied well from an impossible spot in his first start over the track. That experience can go a long way to preparing him for tonight. (1) VENTURE PRINCESS was huge in defeat last Friday; hard to toss now. (7) SENSIBILITY has early speed and decent form. She’s more than capable of going down the road. (5) DEPLORABLE TOM tried hard and came up short last out; clear player but demand value.
Race 5 – Non-winners $7,500 in last 5
(2) TWIST OF FATE exits one of the top conditions at Saratoga and should be a good fit with this group. Driver Greg Merton knows her and I’d expect him to get the mare in play. (8) MANHATTAN PLAY makes her second start back from a break; more now? (4) BACKSTREET TERROR has early speed and will definitely be heard from in this race. (6) CRACKLIN ROSIE is sharp enough to potentially handle the class rise.
Race 6 – Non-winners 6/7 races or $75,000/90,000 life
I’m not sure that post one is ideal, but it is a net positive over posts eight and nine for (1) UNION FORCES. Let’s expect him to come away reasonably close and make one move to the front. (2) WARRIOR ONE switches barns off a sharp effort. Burke may actually move this guy forward. (10) MORAIRTIME has come around since arriving on the East coast and she seems to have enough early zip to get position from the tough post.
Race 7 – Non-winners $15,000 in last 5
(7) O SO EASY was used a bit and faded in the late stages while facing a classy foe last Friday. That was her first start for this barn and first in 25 days. More can be expected. (1) SAY YOU DO is more than capable of winning or breaking; dangerous to win, risky to break. (10) PAPPY GO GO came up short in his first start off the bench and drew poorly again. Don’t be shocked if he jumps up with a big mile.
Race 8 – Non-winners $15,000 in last 5 - $50K GTD Pick 4
(8) IDEAL LIFESTYLE A has been awesome since moving into the King barn and she may just be good enough to handle this group. (2) MONICA GALLAGHER rallied nicely from a tough spot last time out; moves inside now. (7) SANDY WIN beat #2 with a strong finish last week and deserves consideration.
Race 9 – Non-winners $7,500 in last 5
(6) JEWEL LEHIGH A was flat late after seven months on the shelf. Andrew Harris trainee has class and should be much tighter this week. (9) SUDDEN PASSING ships south and into the Burke barn. Four-year-old is clearly fast enough. (4) ODDS ON ST LUCIE broke in the slop last time. She has the ability to win if she minds her manners.
Race 10 – Non-winners $22,500 in last 5
It’s a bit of a roll of the dice as to whether (3) MUSCLE DIAMOND will be ready returning from a six-month vacation with only one qualifier under his belt, but we know he loves this track and there is no doubt he’s the fastest horse. (2) NOWS THE MOMENT is back at the level where he rolled down the road two starts back. (6) TWO AM rolled past an easier group last week. He can win with the right setup.
Race 11 – Non-winners $5,000 in last 5
(3) MUSCLE FASHION closed well from far back last time and gets a key driver change this week. (5) LUCKY MATTER gets some clear class relief here and might perk up. (8) FIJI was a bit disappointing on the engine last time but deserves another chance.
Race 12 – Non-winners $10,000 in last 5
(4) MAJESTIC MOMENT N was a good second behind Two AM last time. This looks like a winnable spot. (5) VERY VERY FAST drops in for a $30,000 tag and considering he won $109K this year, you have to think they’ll have him ready potentially expecting to lose him. (6) EXPLOSIVE RIDGE comes off an awful line but I’m tossing it out and expecting a return to form.
Race 13 – Trackmaster Rating 79.75 or less
(5) TANGO DANCER N has been rolling along at Philly and I’ll take the shot that she handles the big track. (3) GLORIA PIERRE is sharp now and likely to be sitting close to the action. (6) JB’S SHOOTING STAR was too far back and just missed a week ago. If they mix it up at all, watch out! (8) WOODMERE OLEKSIAK goes for her fifth straight but the post could make the task tricky.
Race 14 - $15,000/$17,500 Claiming Handicap
(5) ONE DIRECTION closed pretty well last time and has some versatility to his game. (6) MIAMI looks like the likely favorite after a win but I wouldn’t take a short price. (3) ELDORADO OF GOLD S has early speed and form; dangerous. (9) ROSE RUN SPEEDSTER and (10) BLITZ VICTORY arrive from Saratoga with some class but get outside posts due to their claiming prices.