Meadowlands: Saturday 10/12 Analysis

FINAL CHAMPIONSHIP MEET STATS: 120 - 343 / $593.80 (-$92.20)
BEST BETS: 17 - 25 / $58.80 (+$8.80)
BEST BET: CC BIG BOY SAM (4th)
SPOT PLAY: BARIMAH A (7th)
Race 1 – GSY Amateur Series - **$25,000 GTD Pick 5**
(9) DA MAGICIAN has been a killer north of the border winning 34 of 66 career starts. He winds up in a good barn with a driver that has seen success in this series recently. (6) BETTOR SPIRITS N has been in against some tough company at Saratoga. Eight-year-old could easily wake up in this spot. (7) PRETTY BOY SWAG comes in from the fairs with good early speed and some pretty lines for new trainer Patti Harmon; worth a look. (10) JUST N BERLANDER knows how to perform well here but the post is a big negative.
Race 2 – Trackmaster Rating 74 or less
(2) OHIO LARRY has done good work here in the past, especially when down in the lower classes. Five-year-old is in form and gets an aggressive driver. (4) I WILL DO IT came up with a big mile for new trainer Eric Abbatiello. We’ll find out if she is fast enough on the mile track here. (1) BUNGALOW BILL N has early speed and form but I’ll be using underneath only. (8) WALKS OF LIFE loves to win and has been racing well in central Jersey.
Race 3 – Non-winners $3,500 in last 5
(1) ALL IT TAKES won the last time he was at The Meadowlands at this level and he has two wins in five starts versus this kind. In his third start back from a brief break, I’m expecting a strong mile. (3) TIE YOUR SHOE ED has been in tough over at Freehold and the posts haven’t been ideal lately. (4) ASHLEY’S HUSBAND hasn’t started here yet this year but has come to town and visited the winner’s circle many times in the past; dangerous. (9) STEVE SAID moves into a new barn and picks up Dave Miller.
Race 4 – $7,500/$10,000 Claiming Handicap
(6) CC BIG BOY SAM was a solid performer at the $12,500 claiming level here earlier in the year and has proven himself here many times before. Dropping in for this cheap claiming tag should make him tough. (7) ONE TOUGH NUT has won two of three starts for a high percentage outfit and should bring a good race to the track. (1) SOMETHINGINTHEWIND finished second behind #7 last time and got the place again last week. At 1-for-24 this year I’m using him underneath only.
Race 5 – Trackmaster Rating 80 or less
(7) HEARTLAND REVENUE has been a bit flat after missing four months of action but should be primed for a big performance dropping in class in his third start back. (2) THESPYWHOLOVEDME flashed speed in some recent tries and against a soft group here, similar tactics could prove fruitful. (1) FINAL JUSTICE comes off a solid effort and seems worth consideration. (4) LUCK N ROLL K woke up with a win last time at Rosecroft and may have picked up confidence.
Race 6 – Non-winners $15,000 in last 5
(3) AFLAME HANOVER exits stakes company and we already know he is fast enough. Last time he hooked up with McCarthy the result was a PASS score in 1:49 1/5. (5) JK WILDFIRE burned a bunch of money at Harrington in his last two starts. Driver change here to Tetrick will perhaps produce better results. (8) OCEAN COLONY & (9) AMERICANPRIMETIME have early speed and class; neither would be a shock on the win end.
Race 7 – Non-winners $6,500 in last 5
(7) BARIMAH A failed from post 10 in this class when last seen here in August but posted wins in both his previous tries for NW6000. Nine-year-old is all class and will know this is a field he should beat; wake-up very possible. (6) ROCKATHON showed some signs of life by leaving and coming to the rim last time. (5) HOW ARE YEE JOHN might not get respect due to his driver but the form is fine. (2) QUALITY CLOSER had no shot last time and ignore that final quarter because it isn’t correct. (3) EVER AGAIN is capable with the right trip.
Race 8 – Non-winners $22,500 in last 5 - **$50K GTD Pick 4**
(6) GEEZ JOE comes off a throw-out race where he had no chance of succeeding once they reached the quarter. He takes a huge class drop here and should be gunning to the front. (7) DEALT A WINNER & (8) WESTERN JOE are very sharp and both have class.
Race 9 – Non-winners $10,000 in last 5 starts
(1) ROCK THE NITE gets some much needed post relief and should be in line for an improved effort. (8) SADIQ HANOVER comes in from Philly where he was facing better. You have to think he’ll get aggressive handling here. (6) POKERFACE BLUE CHIP qualified nicely with Lasix added and I wouldn’t discount these connections. (10) MY DELIGHT is a capable horse compromised by the bad post. He could be worth a look if the price is right.
Race 10 – Non-winners $6,500 in last 5
(6) FRANCO TOTEM N posted a solid debut mile after shipping in from Australia and has every right to improve. (7) ROCK LIGHTS deserves some respect coming off a blowout win at Pocono last time versus cheaper. (1) CHANGE STRIDE N has been racing well and this 8-year-old has class to him. (5) CONSTNTLYSIDEWYS A has done good things here in the past but is a long ways from the horse he was when he first came stateside.
Race 11 – Non-winners 4-6 races or $50,000/$75,000 life
(6) RESPECT OUR FLAG had no shot of passing the entire field in the stretch last time. This looks like a great spot for him to shine. (7) CAVIART ROCKLAND & (10) MAJOR DECEPTION are both dropping out of stakes action and either could perk up in a hurry. All three are serious Pick 4 players.
Race 12 – Non-winners $3,500 in last 5
(2) SOHO LEVIATHAN A wired a field at Yonkers Tuesday and gets entry into this field because he fit the conditions at the time of entry. I’m sure Vallee will have this guy ready before a looming step up the class ladder comes next time. (8) SPONDULICKS N is back in the Abbatiello barn where he had luck here last year. (4) MASTER OF PUPPETS draws well this week and has seen success lately when he gets a good post.
Race 13 – Non-winners $3,500 in last 5
(9) DEKEYSER raced ok from a bad post in his first start for this barn. Against a questionable group, I’ll roll the dice. (8) BROADWAY SISSY has been facing better from bad posts lately. She should show more here. (4) SHADY MCCOY & (3) ARRAKIS are capable sorts if they can find a good effort.