Meadowlands: Friday 2/15 Analysis
Best Bet: CELEBRITY LOVER (5th)
Spot Play: ZLATAN (13th)
MEET STATS: 153 - 465 / $881.90 (-$48.10)
BEST BETS: 14 - 37 / $47.20 (-$26.80)
Race 1 - $25,000 Guaranteed Pick Five Pool
Race 8 - $50,000 Guaranteed Pick Four Pool
Race 1
(6) MOSCONI HANOVER has reached the basement condition for a barn that tends to have them ready in soft spots. (3) CON AIR HALL was a solid second when last seen at this level. (1) DOWNUNDERMATTER tends to do well at this NW3500 condition but didn’t perform last time. That said, this week’s group is softer than the foes he faced last time.
Race 2
(2) SUNSET DREAMER put in a decent effort from an impossible spot last week and after multiple scratched-sick lines it is nice to see him right back in six days later. Eight-year-old should be a player dropping in claiming price. (4) RATHER SWELL comes off a tough-trip second last time and was a winner in his previous start for this tag. (3) MAGNUM MIKE has a shot but needs the right setup.
Race 3
(8) JUST JEWEL gets a barn switch to Ron Burke and really doesn’t face any killers. (4) PENNANT SEELSTER broke as the chalk last time but deserves another shot. (7) LUCRATIVE SON charged home in a slow final quarter to get a victory a week ago. With a reasonable trip he can repeat.
Race 4
(6) AMERICAN RAGE ships in from Freehold in good form and actually takes a dip in claiming price. Red-hot Yannick Gingras taking over the assignment is a nice plus. (5) IDEAL CANDIDATE dropped back in for this tag a couple of weeks ago and saw immediate dividends; fits nicely. (4) SPORTS COWBOY has been leaving and coming up short late. Perhaps relaxing early and making one run will work.
Race 5
(6) CELEBRITY LOVER made a nice move from an impossible spot after seven weeks on the sidelines. Team Buter trainee can show more having drawn inside (9) JUSTCALLMERONALD this week. The latter is coming off a win and moving into a good barn. (4) ILLINIMIGHT rallied well last time but just doesn’t excite me as an option on top. (10) SWEER ROYALTY has the pure speed to win if he behaves and is ready off the bench.
Race 6
(7) ROCKIN PRALINE took a tour of the track coming off a multi-month break from post 10. She wasn’t done any favors with another outside draw but should be tighter now and does drop down the class ladder. (3) ROSY OUTLOOOK qualified back in good order for a barn that is having a solid meet with horses like Spaghetti Eddie. (1) FAMILY ROLL CALL broke last time but reunites with Gingras here. (6) STYLISH BEACHWHERE is certainly capable with the right trip.
Race 7
(3) TWO AM wasn’t going to get close from the back of the pack after chasing slow fractions last week. With a couple of legitimate early speed types signed on and him getting an inside post this time, he should have a big chance. (6) RESITA double jumps in class off back-to-back scores and might be able to handle this crew. (2) JUST FOR YOU just missed while dealing with traffic when here two starts back; clear player.
Race 8
(4) JUXTA COWGIRL caught a tough group coming off a three months layoff last Friday. She looks as good as any in this tough-to-figure event. (9) BELIEVE IN ME is back at The Meadowlands and in a very good spot. If she brings her best game, she’ll win. (5) FANCY CREEK JOLENE flashed speed here back in early January. Similar tactics could make her intriguing. (6) MILADY DENVER A has been stuck in outside posts at Yonkers and might enjoy the switch here.
Race 9
(8) ROCK OF CASHEL has been awful lately but catches a very weak field this time around. I have to think his class will shine through. (1A) FINAL DREAM rallied nicely when at this level last time. (2) CASINO CUTIE IT hasn’t bee too bad lately and perhaps Gingras can wake her up.
Race 10
(7) WESTERN REDHOT & (5) WALTZACROSSTHEWIRE are both dropping back to the $7,500 claiming level where they were victorious in January. I’ll give the edge to the former on the expectations of better value come post time. (4) ASHOK ACE has displayed the ability to save ground and rally for a good share. (1) ABBEYLARA merits some consideration might seems likely to be overbet.
Race 11
(3) SHEER TALENT is back at the Meadowlands for a reduced claiming tag and should provide good value in a field lacking a standout. (7) KEYSTONE NIKKI was competitive against the top pick at Freehold so clearly deserves some consideration here as well. (9) TEARFUL OF HAPPY returns to the level at which she was claimed but will be a big underlay from a bad post. (4) PERSUASIVE HANOVER is another value option. Ten-year-old has done well against this kind.
Race 12
(7) OHIO LARRY spent too much time on the rim last week and couldn’t close the deal. Let’s give him another shot for new connections. (1) CC BIG BOY SAM just missed after setting solid fractions last time; big threat again. (3) POP POP JOE rallied nicely for the win last Saturday and certainly merits consideration for a repeat performance. (2) SHOW ME UP draws better this time and is a trip threat.
Race 13
(4) ZLATAN seems to be back on track after missing time with sickness and injury. Drop in class should make him formidable. (8) TRY TRY AGAIN rolled in his first start for Burke and might just be able to handle a class jump. (5) MARION GONDOLIER is more of an exotics threat but was better than his line looks last time. (6) MISS RUBY takes the same class drop as the top pick.