Meadowlands: Saturday 1/10 Analysis
Race 1 - $30,000 Guaranteed Pick Five Pool
Race 3 - $25,000 Guaranteed Pick Four Pool
Race 7 - $50,000 Guaranteed Pick Four Pool
MEET STATS: 44 - 195 / $273.10 BEST BETS: 6 - 13 / $21.20
Best Bet: MAJOR UPTREND (1st)
Spot Play: SASSY HANOVER (4th)
Race 1
(3) MAJOR UPTREND swept the field from last to close out 2014. He moves into the Burke barn but should easily keep his form. (5) VANCE BAYAMA closed well in his first start down from Canada but he'll need to take another step forward to beat the top choice. (7) I AM WILL raced pretty well last time considering he missed over a month of action. We could show more now.
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Race 2
(3) THEY CALL ME GORDY raced better after switching to the Di Domenico barn. This field is loaded with question marks and he outdrew his main rival by a large margin. (10) TECHTOR HANOVER scored from post 10 last week and doesn't exactly face a strong group. (9) ROLL BIG has won four of five career starts; tested tonight.
Race 3
(1) JK PATRIOT has been racing well each and every week and actually gets his nose on the gate this time around. (8) COMPANY MAN ships down from Canada in fine form; major threat. (5) BRICK BAZOOKA has won five of seven career races but needs to go faster in this first leg of the Escort. (2) AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL has won consecutive starts and now moves into a pretty live barn.
Race 4
(5) SASSY HANOVER flashed speed and tired in his first start for trainer Linda Toscano. That was his first start in four weeks and you have to think he'll be sharper this time around. (3) CHEYENNE SEEBER wasn't bad last time and has the early speed to play. (1) BET THE TRUTH closed well in his first start for his new trainer.
Race 5
(9) ASTREOS FLASH has been racing very well and faces a mostly dull group. Eleven-year-old veteran gets my narrow call. (6) ROCKNROLL JEWEL drops into a claimer. The last time he was in for this tag he won. (3) EIGHT TEN EOM just missed at this level last time.
Race 6
(5) TALKING BLUES flashed speed at both ends of the mile and really had no shot after chasing a slow pace. This is a tough field but he looks as good as the rest. (8) MICHAEL'S POWER has high early speed and his form is solid. (2) SOMESIZESOMESTYLE never had an opportunity to get involved in his latest. I'd expect he'll be part of the action this week.
Race 7
(8) WAKE UP PETER is stuck with an outside post again but doesn't face the same early speed to his inside as last week. This guy has been like an ATM all year and seems to be in a prime spot. (9) BEACH MEMORIES is another who could be on the move early this time around. Even if he doesn't leave, he should be a major player. (2) ALS HAMMERED scored on the drop-down; chance with a live trip.
Race 8
(1) HURRIKANE KINGCOLE can pace with the best of them when he is feeling good. His first start since last January went pretty well. (4) IDEAL MAGIC comes off an impressive win and lured Tetrick off a couple of others. (2) SPARKY MARK drops down in class; using.
Race 9
(4) WINDS OF CHANGE is ready to win and finally finds the right spot to get the job done. (1) ABELARD HANOVER can go a big mile at times and he is certainly in the proper class now. (5) ROCKEYED OPTIMIST is razor sharp right now but is facing a higher caliber of competition this week.
Race 10
(5) URGENT ACTION raced okay last weekend despite missing two months of action. He is best in here. (3) HOT ART comes off a nice effort. (6) TINK AND TIGER has been racing well but hails from a barn that hasn't won this meet. (2) ROCK OUT has the ability but hasn't raced since August.
Race 11
(8) DRAGON'S SUCCESSOR faltered on the rim in his first try since the start of October. He should be sharper this week. (7) WHAT I BELIEVE stopped on the lead in his most recent race but is still a major threat. (5) GLORY BEACH hails from a barn that has hit the board more than 50% of the time at the Meadowlands recently.
Race 12
(1) FOUR STARZZZ Z drops in for a tag this week and should be ready to fire. (8) WINDSONG GORGEOUS continues to roll week after week; must use. (3) LENNON BLUE CHIP has been fairly consistent. (7) STORM THE BEACH has been sharp; barn change.
Race 13
(1) SEEK THE DRAGON visits the basement and draws well; narrow call. (5) A PLACE IN HISTORY could be interesting if he fires off the wings of the gate. (8) MAJOR BOMBAY should get a nice piece.
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