Meadowlands: Friday 1/25 Analysis
Best Bet: CHILLIN IT DE VIE (7th)
Spot Play: DRY CREEK GIN (2nd)
Race 1 - $25,000 Guaranteed Pick Five Pool
Race 8 - $50,000 Guaranteed Pick Four Pool
MEET STATS: 136 - 387 / $773.10 (-$.90)
BEST BETS: 12 - 31 / $39.20 (-$22.80)
Race 1
(3) HAVEONEFORME added trotting hobbles for her last qualifier and finished up willingly behind Misslarose, who is in race three tonight in one of the higher condition races here. Against a weak field, she seems worth a shot. (6) HAMMER CREEK has been fairly consistent and may be the favorite, but his 1 for 25 record sticks out. (5) NO DRAMA DE VIE has some go if Berry can time his move correctly. (2) AB’S ROYAL PUNKIN comes off two decent efforts yet is winless in 20 career starts.
Race 2
(4) DRY CREEK GIN has been done in by outside posts since moving into this barn. Four-year-old mare is every bit as fast as any in here and new driver Yannick Gingras can shake her up. (2) PARKIN IN HEAVEN rallied from a tough spot in her return to the U.S. and should enjoy the inside post this week. (6) LULU DE VIE was just even in her first try for the Fusco barn after more than two months on the sidelines. Don’t be shocked if she gets better now.
Race 3
(5) JUST FOR YOU marched down the road last week and now has posted consecutive solid efforts for a barn that could finally be coming out of a lengthy slumber. Mare faces a better group but may be up to the task. (1A) MISSLAROSE won as she pleased in her qualifier and I don’t expect the month off to be an issue. (6) TWO AM is stuck with an outside post again and that will likely mean an exotics finish is his max.
Race 4
(2) ICOMMANDMYSPIRIT tends to wake up when down in class. Her form looks sketchy but she has the class to awaken. (10) TEARFUL OF HAPPY is the clear horse to beat if she can overcome post 10. Some may also be scared off by the five weeks of inactivity but that is almost definitely due to the barn facing a short suspension. (7) NORTHERN SWIFT is another moving down the condition ladder. She really looked to be in a good spot last week and finished third, so my confidence in her has deceased.
Race 5
I have zero confidence in any of these horses and if I play a Pick 5, this race will be an ALL on my ticket. (5) MAGIC N SPICE sprinted home well in his first start up from Florida for a new barn. Any small step forward makes him a contender. (1) ALVISI HANOVER finished just ahead of the top pick last week after seven weeks on the bench; could show more. (6) CREDIT FRAUD is the clear horse to beat after a sharp score last time, but do you really feel confident in her? (3) PENNANT SEELSTER moves into a new barn, one which posted a pair of second-place finishes last weekend here.
Race 6
(5) CASH FOR GOLD seems to be stepping up in class but this race plays more like a NW5000 than a NW8500. With any reasonable trip, he can pick up a victory. (4) BLITZ VICTORY always seems to be a huge price and tends to race well. It’s time to give this guy more credit. (2) SHADY MCCOY returned to form in a big way last week. A repeat performance would make him tough.
Race 7
(2) CHILLIN IT DE VIE and (2A) BELIEVE IN ME form a strong entry with good credentials. The former was the victim of a difficult trip last time and the latter is getting clear class relief. (1) FAMILY ROLL CALL returns to action for Burke at a reduced level. (5) NARCIAN JEWEL has recent form and could get into the exotics.
Race 8
(4) DI OGGI came uncovered and picked up a win in his first qualifier for new trainer Ake Svanstedt, who is adept and bringing horses back ready to fire from layoffs. (8) RESITA gets class relief for top connections but comes with a propensity to break. (3) CASINO CUTIE IT was a solid second behind a runaway winner last week.
Race 9
(5) EYORE HANOVER got class relief last week and now gets a good post to work with as well. He couldn’t ask for an easier spot at The Meadowlands. (2) DAWSON SPRINGS gets away from Derf Hanover and drops way down in class; must use. (8) CANT U SPELL rallied nicely last week and might be at the mercy of the pace again.
Race 10
(3) URBANITE HANOVER double drops in class to a new claiming low for his career. Runner-up in the 2013 Little Brown Jug almost has to wake up in this spot, right? (2) ROCK ON THE HILL steps down one notch on the claiming ladder and tends to do well for this tag. (9) WALTZACROSSTHEWIRE comes off a win in this class, though that race did not feature catch-driving regulars.
Race 11
(9) PHOTO KING is stuck in post 10 but is way better than any safe horse in the field and still capable of beating one of the usual breakers if they behave. (3) BELL A CHICK has good recent form and should be in the number. (4) SERGEANT SEELSTER, (1) IRON DOME & (1A) MONTALBANO BI are all coming off breaks and that is par for the course for them; wager at your own risk.
Race 12
(5) ROCK OF CASHEL returns to the Big M at a reduced level and should flex his muscles. (7) SEVEN IRON switches hands after the sale on Monday and is now owned by former NBA player Sam Bowie. Perhaps new driver Gingras can wake this guy up. (4) PIERCEWAVE HANOVER was in over his head in the Preferred; contender here.
Race 13
(8) SPANISH ART is back at the $7,500 claiming level and in a good spot to succeed despite the outside post. (1) IDEAL ROMANCE moves to the inside of the gate and should have an easier time sticking close to the top. (9) ABBEYLARA is certainly a contender but losing his main driver and the outside post are major negatives. (4) SPORTS COWBOY has gotten nice checks in this class recently.