Meadowlands: Friday 2/23 Analysis
Best Bet: SING ALONG (5th)
Spot Play: INITTOWINAFORTUNE (8th)
Race 3 - $25,000 Guaranteed Pick Five Pool
Race 8 - $50,000 Guaranteed Pick Four Pool
MEET STATS: 93 - 364 / $648.50 (-$79.50)
BEST BETS: 10 - 29 / $35.90 (-$22.10)
Race 1
(7) GOLD MEDAL SWAN has kept his form reasonably well over the last six weeks and only needs to stay within striking distance of the early speed to his inside. (5) HERE COMES NUMBERS seems likely to be pointed down the road once again and is clearly a threat to keep going. (9) DANISH DURANGO perked up versus cheaper last week; has class. (1) LANDONFITZ is capable versus this group and the good post should keep him in the mix.
Race 2
(6) MOONSTAR MISSION couldn’t stay with the winner in his first qualifier for new trainer Pelling, but that foe is an Open-caliber trotter. Overall it was a good effort and this is a decent spot. (8) MISSLAROSE has won three straight and is clearly the one to defeat again at a short price. (4) PRICELESSPOSSESION has proven fast enough during her career to get involved versus this bunch and Abbatiello has been able to get them ready off a qualifier.
Race 3
In a race without a standout, (2) ANALYZE takes a monster step down in class from a mid to upper level NW5000 to a mid to lower level NW3500. This is a winning spot if she has any firepower on Friday. (7) SAGE N finished just behind the top pick last week and had post 10 that night; post favors the top pick again. (9) SPILLING THE BEANS seems like a lock to fire off the gate but has been very disappointing in the stretch at short odds lately.
Race 4
(2) CAUFIELD has been flat lately and this barn is stuck in a 2 for 27 slide in February, but this 6-year-old drops to the basement here and might be too classy to deny. (5) STITCH IN TIME closed reasonably well two starts back and took a shot on the rim last time. He is clearly starting to cycle in the right direction. (1) JINAH BLUEGRASS moves into a high percentage barn and can certainly awaken.
Race 5
(3) SING ALONG hasn’t been able to take a picture lately while facing much better competition. This is a great spot and a victory seems highly probable. (2) WILD NITE TINA ships in sharp from The Meadows and seems to be fast enough to compete. (9) PETAL TO THE METAL posted a win in this class two starts back.
Race 6
ALEXANDER HANOVER gets the class relief he needs to possibly step up. I’m not overly confident but I’m giving him the edge. (3) FREDDIE MAC is back at The Meadowlands in what seems like the right condition to make some noise. (10) WAITING ON A WOMAN should destroy this field in theory. Post 10 and poor recent form have me questioning him.
Race 7
(6) DW’S REVENGE closed well after a four month break to lose by just a neck last week. Four-year-old is a career 13-time winner who has every right to be much tighter in his second start back. (3) ANOTHER CHAPTER has burned me plenty lately. I respect his chances but can’t say I’m excited about using him. (2) NEEDNORESTRICTIONS IS ANOTHER FROM THE Hite barn arriving from The Meadows on quite a roll. (5) IRON MINE JOHNNY climbed the ladder successfully last time and tries to do it again.
Race 8
(7) INITTOWINAFORTUNE was in a tough spot on a track that was in bad shape last week. Eight-year-old mare is loaded with class and likes it here. (3) OK HEAVENLY comes out of the same race as the top pick and takes the same class drop. I was torn between (4) SUDDEN CHANGE N & (5) CAVIART CARI ANN as my third pick. Interesting that Napolitano chose the former over the Ron Burke trained latter.
Race 9
(6) MY CHERRY PIE charged home from the back to miss by just a head last week at 57-1. This is a good spot for her but the odds will be much shorter. (7) IT REALLY MATTERS wired the field gamely last Friday and is capable of doing it again. (1) WILDFLOWER stays in the same class as last week but catches a softer group.
Race 10
(8) JUSTIFIED was simply second best last out. Overall this field is even weaker and there is no reason why this guy can’t gun down the road. (3) QUALITY BUD gets class and post relief this week. He doesn’t inspire confidence but seems like a fit. (6) LODI MACHETTE MAN switches to the big track and might enjoy the change of scenery.
Race 11
(5) MISTRESS VALENTINE didn’t show up in her first start off the claim and now lucks-out into a double class drop with an AE condition allowing 9-year-old mares; I’ll bite. (9) HOT SUMMER KNIGHT gets a much needed break from NW5000 to NW3500; using. (7) CAPER K COURT won’t be on the top of any of my tickets but seems like a fit in the third and fourth spots. (1) COMMENTARY has fallen into a malaise with the rest of the barn but is clearly capable. If others in the stable wake up tonight, maybe give this guy a chance.
Race 12
(4) PHYLLIS JEAN came up short last time when placed on the engine. I’m expecting off-the-pace tactics this time. (8) MISQUED returns to The Meadowlands at the proper level and only needs a clean trip to menace. (2) BLUSH HANOVER displayed some signs of life in defeat a week ago.
Race 13
(5) REAL ROCKER sees his claiming price dip for the first time since arriving from Rideau Carleton and faces a field lacking much form. (6) ENERGY SHAKES gets away from the $7,500 claiming king Walks Of Life and should have a big say, likely as the chalk. (1) FLY’N WITH ROYALTY could be interesting here if Cushing fires him up from the cones. (9) DANISHDUJOUR is back at the level of his recent claim.
[DRF HARNESS NEWSLETTER: Sign Up for the FREE DRF Harness Newsletter. Fresh content and insights delivered each Thursday.]