Meadowlands: Saturday 10/26 Analysis

MEET STATS: 4 - 12 / $15.30 (-$8.70)
BEST BETS: 1 - 1 / $2.10 (+$0.10)
SPOT PLAYS: 0 - 1 / $0.00 (-$2.00)
BEST BET - FRANKIE ROCKS A (6th)
SPOT PLAY - SIR BRADFORD (5th)
Race 1 - 7500CLM Pace *$25K GTD Pick 5*
(1) WALKS OF LIFE rallied nicely in the final quarter to finish third behind two well-meant horses last Saturday. Drawn well again here. (7) DAYLYN HORIZON gained spots in the final quarter in a race won by a runaway a week ago. Changes back to the claimers here and is reunited with Marcus Miller. Good closing third two back against these. (4) VILLAGE JACKSON exits the amateur series races and has a positive history here, including his season's mark. Cushing's choice of two in here.
Race 2 - NW4/50000LT Pace
(6) DA DELIGHTFUL bumped up to NW8 at Yonkers and hasn't been as successful, but he was a win machine against their NW2, NW4, and NW6 classes. Think he might enjoy stretching out on the big track as well. (5) VIRGIN STORM was Andy Miller's choice of several in here and comes off a strong second-place finish at this level a wekk ago. (3) INTERNET HANOVER needed that race at Harrah's Philadelphia after a long hiatus. The qualifier two back was good, and I expect improvement tonight.
Race 3 - GSY Series Pace
(2) DA MAGICIAN was favored on 10-12 but hooked wheels in the backstretch and was eliminated from contention. I'll hope for better handling tonight and a win. (1) HAPPY TRIO was racing well at The Meadows and qualified nicely here on October 18. (6) JACKAMINO put in a sustained rally to finish in a dead-heat for fourth in one of the amateur series races a week ago. Will probably be seeking live cover again here.
Race 4 - TrackMaster Rating 79 or Less as of 10/22 Pace
(7) OHIO LARRY got pinned on the rail last Saturday when an early two-wide flow developed but gained spots in the lane after getting out. Retained Victor Kirby here, and maybe he can track cover this time. (4) TOP OF THE MARK is a newcomer to the Andrew Harris barn here. Shows several good races against $12,500 claimers at Saratoga and might step up on the bigger track. (1) JUST N BERLANDER rallied from a difficult spot to finish third in an amateur race last time out. Switches to the TrackMaster rating race here and looks like a fit, especially given his success at the track this year.
Race 5 - TrackMaster Rating 74.5 of Less as of 10/22 Pace
(2) SIR BRADFORD ended up parked the whole way last week, so I can forgive that effort. Closed well from far back in the start on 10-12, and he gets class and post relief tonight. (7) IDEAL SON won on the trainer change down at Freehold and now returns to the Meadowlands. He owns a victory here earlier this season. (6) ABBEYLARA switches from claimers to the TrackMaster Rating races this week. Gained ground after being two-wide at every call a week ago.
Race 6 - NW3500L5 Pace
(4) FRANKIE ROCKS A disappointed as the favorite last Saturday, but that was just his second pari-mutuel start since coming to the U.S. He drops tonight, and I wouldn't be surprised to see more speed like in the qualifier out at The Red Mile. (2) STORMONT CZAR A weakened late in the stretch to finish third a week ago. Wasn't a bad effort by any means, and he was Tyler Buter's choice in here. (9) BARIMAH A lacked clearance from the pocket last week. He probably has the speed to overcome this post, or can maybe look for a seat and cover like he did two back.
Race 7 - NW6500L5 Pace
(6) HEAVENLY SOUND lost all chance last Saturday when he took a bad shuffle. Still finished his mile well, drops in class, and raced well two back against better. (2) BIG STRETCH MARK switches back to his preferred track this week as he has his life's and season's mark both at the Meadowlands. I'll expect Abbatiello to be pretty aggressive with him. (9) CITY HALL put in a strong speed try a week ago and will probably be doing the same here. He can be tough to pass if left to his own devices on the engine.
Race 8 - NW20000L5/TrackMaster Rating 92 or Less as of 10/22 Pace *$50K GTD Pick 4*
(1) ANOTHER DAILY COPY sprinted home well in his race last Saturday just like he did in the qualifier the week before. Won in 1:49 here this season, and I'll hope he's at his best tonight in his second start back off the brief vacation. Keeps Vinny Ginsburg as well. (3) SHNEONUCRZYDIAMND A exits some high-level races at Yonkers, including one where he was a fast-finishing third last time out. Also has plenty of winning experience here at the Meadowlands. (10) QUALITY BUD is stuck with a bad post but has also been racing well at Yonkers, owns his life's and season's mark at The Big M, and has flashed plenty of speed from outside posts previously.
Race 9 - NW10000L5/TrackMaster Rating 86 or Less as of 10/22 Pace
(3) U S CAPTAIN exits stakes company to take his chances in this overnight race. Solid fourth to Bettor's Wish two back and was a first-over third in the Messenger. (2) REBELLIOUS is sure to get plenty of attention as he drops off and moves inside off a closing effort last Saturday against better. Might be the one to beat. (4) RESPECT OUR FLAG dominated in the NW4/6 level last time out and now moves here. Finished with plenty left in that mile and shouldn't have any issue with the class change.
Race 10 - TrackMaster Rating 83 or Less as of 10/22 Pace
(3) LIVE ON has post relief tonight after a conservative effort from post nine last Saturday. He may have needed that start as well given the gap in his schedule. (4) CHIP WALTHER hasn't done anything wrong in his two efforts this fall at the Meadowlands with a win and a third. (7) PROPHET BLUE CHIP gained to finish just a length behind the winner against similar last Saturday, which was also his second straight solid performance at the Meadowlands.
Race 11 - NW10000L5/TrackMaster Rating 86 or Less as of 10/22 Pace
(3) LIKE CLOCKWORK slides inside to post three tonight after closing well from post ten last Saturday. The post relief should give Abbatiello more options tonight. (4) NO EASY DAY has to step up in class tonight but won over a strong rival in City Hall last Saturday and rallied well on 10-12 also. (5) AWESOMENESS suffered a middle-half shuffle a week ago and sprinted home well after getting off the rail. Let's see if he can get a cleaner journey this time.
Race 12 - NW3500L5 Pace
(1) WINNING LINC advanced from ninth to fifth in the final quarter last week and moves from post eight to the pole position this Saturday. Took his life's mark at the Meadowlands earlier this year. (6) SHIM made front in the lane after an extended first-over grind but tired late. I think he's better off a helmet, and hopefully Lachance will be able to find cover tonight. (5) BURNING DESIRE has a trainer change tonight to Andrew Harris, which may get him going back in the right direction.
Race 13 - F&M NW3500L5 Pace
(6) TRAFFIC JAM qualified against Shartin N and Caviart Ally, so don't let that line fool you. Was racing against much better than these this summer at the Meadowlands and gets the hot-driving Tyler Buter tonight. (2) BIG CHUTE never got involved from post ten last Friday but gets major post relief off that race. The win at Freehold two back was impressive. (9) INVERSE HANOVER is stuck outside again this time, and her 1-for-27 record this year is a major negative as she's sure to take wagering action.