Meadowlands: Friday 2/14 Analysis

MEET STATS: 158-32-33-30 / $195.80 (-$120.20)
BEST BETS: 12-5-1-0 / $22.00 (-$2.00)
BEST BET: VERY VERY FAST (7th)
SPOT PLAY: MISSLAROSE (10th)

Race 1 - $7,500 Claiming - **$25K GTD Pick 5**

(9) THAT’S MY OPINION tends to do very well over this track and we saw that last week when he was second from an outside post despite missing a few months of action. He remains in cheap this week and should have a big chance. (2) SWEET COLT OF MINE drops back down to the level of his last win and still figures to offer some value. (5) MATEO blew away my top pick last time in an impressive performance that seemed to come out of nowhere. I’ll play against a repeat.

Race 2 – Non-winners $6,500 in last 5

(6) CAVIART JANE is a 3-year-old filly returning to action very early in the year, but she was lightly raced in 2019. Nancy Takter trainee qualified back very impressively and might just be ready to roll off the bench. (5) UPTOWN LADY N finished with a big 26-second kicker in her U.S. debut. She could certainly show even more now. (4) EXOTIC DANCE has won two straight and is clearly a player. (3) MANHATTAN PLAY raced well two starts back when she drew an inside post.

Race 3 – Non-winners $7,500 in last 5

(8) CRAZY ABOUT PAT was written into this race under a NJSO Trackmaster AE condition, so he better take advantage. Ten-year-old gets some serious class relief here and has a big shot with a decent trip. (7) PRESIDENTIAL ZETTE drops out of the same race as the top pick and finished way ahead of him last time; obvious player. (9) LASA DIDA LADY hasn’t been as sharp lately but he is down in class and capable with the right journey. (4) TYSON was super two starts back. A repeat mile puts him in contention.

Race 4 – Non-winners 6/7 races or $85,000 life – Pick 6

(7) SWEET CHAPTER is a nice 4-year-old mare finding her way as she starts tackling older foes. She’s come back from winter break in good form and might be up to the task while stretching out to the mile track. (5) WARRIOR ONE looks like the one to beat at a quick glance for co-owner/driver Gingras, but he hasn’t raced in five weeks, which is concerning. (4) RONNIE GOLDSTEIN has been ultra-consistent and while he seems better on the bottom of tickets, he should hit the exotics somewhere.

Race 5 – Leap Year – NW3500

(3) CRITICAL MASS has come back strong after a couple of months on the sidelines. This is a tight-knit race, but as long as we are getting at least 3-1, I’ll side here. (6) NAMJE was overbet and used hard last time in defeat. Do we get off-the-pace tactics this week like what proved successful two starts back? (7) KEYSTONE ORION has early speed and form, plus he was super last time out of the pocket. That said, he’s riding a four-race winning streak and won’t offer much value. (5) MUSHANA won in round one of this mini-series and is clearly a threat. (2) DULUTH has gone some nice miles with Dunn in the bike and I can excuse the dull start last time since he missed three weeks.

Race 6 – Non-winners $10,000 in last 4 - **$50K GTD Pick 4**

(9) TERROR AT NIGHT has plenty of class and comes off a no-shot mile at Yonkers. Previously she was tackling some salty Open foes at Dover. The last time she raced here the result was a win in NW17500. The defection of Dunn to #3 means we’ll get good value on the toteboard. ](1) MAGIC FORCES has a similar profile to the top pick but her Open classes were at The Meadows; contender. (8) LILY HAMMER is up in class but might just have the form to overcome. (2) JB’S SHOOTING STAR is capable with the right trip.

Race 7 – Non-winners $15,000 in last 5

(1) VERY VERY FAST faces much easier and gets a better starting spot. Andrew Harris charge should take control early in the mile and coast to victory. (5) MY LINDY WINNER perked up versus a cheaper bunch at Pocono. Perhaps he is ready to post that big mile we’ve been waiting to see here. (2) UNCLE HANOVER raced well last time after three months on the sidelines. (3) RESITA also missed three months and looked good winning last Friday. This is a tougher spot but his best puts him right there.

Race 8 – Non-winners $10,000 in last 5

(1) EXPLOSIVE RIDGE qualified back well enough that the month on the bench doesn’t concern me. He’s down in class tonight at the level of his last win. (8) TOP FLIGHT ANGEL broke as the favorite in his first start in two months. The price will be better now and this field is softer. (3) OBRIGADO displayed some life last time. Perhaps this classy millionaire is ready to fire a big one. (9) THE BIG MUSCLE has yet to lose in six starts this year but finds himself in a difficult spot.

Race 9 – Leap Year – NW3500

(5) MAX VOLO was ok from a tough post last time. He moves into the perfect post and is in a good spot in terms of competition. (1) ICINGON DE CUPCAKE has won three straight including in round one of this series; threat. (4) CAMPBELLINI has early speed and form but can’t seem to get over the top lately. (8) EGOSNATTITUDES has proven more than capable of putting up a solid mile in this class.

Race 10 – Non-winners $22,500 in last 5 – Pick 4

(1) MISSLAROSE gets away from some killers and really didn’t finish that far behind them the last few weeks. This is a perfect spot for her to shine. (4) WINNING LYRIC showed what he could do here four starts back, but he’ll need some pace help. (8) SAY YOU DO is racing well but has some early speed to his inside that could hurt his chances.

Race 11 – Trackmaster Rating 74.5 or less

(2) WINDSUN JUNO moves into the Burke barn and likely has her sights set on the M Life series at Yonkers in March. That said, wins here won’t hurt her eligibility and she seems like a great fit in this cheap spot. (6) PRINCESS HOLLY N has early speed and form. She seems worth using underneath. (1) CINDER RITA put in a solid mile here last week. (10) DISTURBED HANOVER drops to the level of her last win but draws worst.

Race 12 – Non-winners $3,500 in last 5

(2) APOTHIC hasn’t done much at Yonkers since shipping down from Canada. Her record was solid on the bigger track at Mohawk so perhaps the change in scenery this week will work wonders. (8) RED RIVER JANE is another light raced 4-year-old moving into the Burke barn; dangerous. (5) MAJOR FROST scored at first asking on the barn change.

Race 13 – Trackmaster Rating 74.5 or less

(3) TAILGUNNER HANOVER finds a great spot to head to the front against a soft field. (7) OUR ART AND HEAVEN also has early speed in a field that seems to lack that quality. (8) ATOMIC REI lures Dunn of #7 and won in this class two back. (4) SPORTS VISION hasn’t been awful and could step up, but I’d stick with him underneath.