Meadowlands: Saturday 11/24 Analysis
Best Bet: MCWICKED (12th)
Spot Play: DUPLICATED N (1st)
Race 3 - $25,000 Guaranteed Pick Five Pool
Race 8 - $50,000 Guaranteed Pick Four Pool
MEET STATS: 43 - 132 / $262.90 (-$1.10)
BEST BETS: 4 - 11 / $10.40 (-$11.60)
Race 1
(1) DUPLICATED N looked like the real deal at Dover last time. Connections of super-mare Shartin seem to have another potential standout. (6) GEEZ JOE comes off a monster performance. Can he possibly do it again? (3) OCEAN COLONY has the early speed to get positon and trip-out to an on-the-board spot.
Race 2
(4) CELEBRITY RUTH gets her second chance with a catch-driver this week in a short field. I think she is good enough to upset and there are no excuses here. (3) EMOTICON HANOVER is the clear one to beat and may even get away with soft fractions. (2) HANNELORE HANOVER reportedly trained nicely for this. Can the 2017 Horse of the Year turn it around?
Race 3
(3) ROGER MACH EM ships in for a hot barn and reunites with Tetrick, who steered him to a solid score in October over this surface. (2) BILBO HANOVER was racing at a higher level when last seen here. Inside post gives him a big shot. It would be great to see (7) FOILED AGAIN win at The Meadowlands and he is certainly sharp enough, but this field looks to be slightly tougher than what he has been facing.
Race 4
(1) VICTORYDAZE WILWIN seems to be a bit sharper than he looks on paper and we know he steps up from time to time. Against a lackluster group, with the inside draw, he could perk up. (7) GRAND THEFT has some form, but the outside post means he’ll be at the mercy of the pace. (10) NEWBIE has shown early speed at times. If McCarthy fires off the gate anything is possible.
Race 5
(1) SHARTIN N looks to put the finishing touches on a history-making season in the TVG final. She’s dominated this division all year long and there is no reason to think tonight will be any different. (2) CAVIART ALLY has a clear shot to pull off the upset but won’t offer that much value. (4) BLUE MOON STRIDE finally gets a decent post to work with this week. Five-year-old is more than capable of getting into the exacta at a price. (8) PURE COUNTRY was sharp without hobbles last week. Spectacular mare calls it a career after this race and will certainly leave it all on the track.
Race 6
Breeders Crown winner (1) WARRAWEE UBEAUT was well within herself in that fifth-place qualifier, so don’t be fooled by the placing. She draws well and should close out a stellar year with a win. (5) ZERO TOLERANCE was second behind the top pick in the Crown. She’ll likely be leaving here and will have every chance to turn the tables. (7) PRESCIENT BEAUTY went a huge mile to be third in the Crown final from post eight. The seven-hole here is a better spot.
Race 7
(1) SONNET GRACE showed some heart in her neck defeat to When Dovescry in the Matron. If that mile is any indication, trainer Ron Burke finally has her ready to roll. (3) PRINCESS DEO continues to show her talents on the track but is at the mercy of the pace. (7) STELLA JANE blasted off the gate to win the Kindergarten. Similar tactics give her a big shot. (10) EVIDENT BEAUTY has ability but a bad post; she’ll have to be huge.
Race 8
(6) MAC’S POWER closed a ton to just miss in the elimination. Son of Somebeachsomewhere is getting better and better each week and has the versatility to race from on or off the pace; at a price. (2) CAPTAIN CRUNCH will win this race if he can work out a decent trip that isn’t on the lead; inside post helps. (5) BLOOD MONEY is likely to be on the front here and that makes him the one to beat; very capable.
Race 9
(8) WARRAWEE ROO brings a solid effort to the track every week but just hasn’t been in the best spots from outside posts on smaller tracks. It is likely he’ll need to pass the entire field, but you’ll be rewarded with a healthy price. (3) TACTICAL LANDING has been even better with Sears taking over the lines. The talent is there, though he won’t be able to boss around this group. (6) SIX PACK should be on the engine here and you can’t deny that he is the fastest horse in the race; mucho respect. (9) MARION MARAUDER has a tall task ahead from the outside post. If he can find an early tuck and work out a cover trip, the triple millionaire can win.
Race 10
(7) SEVEN HILLS rebounded nicely from the break with a strong elimination effort. With that flat line on his card, Callahan can be more aggressive now. (8) FORBIDDEN TRADE raced great considering he was chasing a slow pace and had missed five weeks of action; very dangerous. (2) HUDSON RIVER should sit close and be an exotics player.
Race 11
This could be the most wide-open race on the card and of course it lands in the final leg of the Pick 4. (2) WARMINSTER A finished willingly with no shot in his lone stateside qualifier. Six-year-old had a good record overseas and seems to fit with this class. (1) MCTHRILLER continues to race well week after week. Inside draw is a plus this week. (9) BILLS FELLA might’ve been the favorite from a better post. Still, he’s capable of sweeping this field with the right setup. (5) BRUCE’S MAGIC is technically getting a bit of class relief.
Race 12
It’s difficult to make a case for any horse outside of (1) MCWICKED. He’s the current leader in the Horse of the Year race and on paper has no equals in this field. (6) FILIBUSTER HANOVER has put together a strong campaign but needs to find another gear to beat the top one. (2) WESTERN FAME should leave hard and sit a close-up trip.
Race 13
(5) HUNDIE N raced steadily in a very fast mile last week in his first start since July. Jimmy Takter trainee should be tighter in his second start on these shores. (4) THREEOFTHEBEST A & (3) DREAMFAIR MESA step up in fine form and either could keep rolling. (1) BARIMAH A & (2) WHATORSE have class and just enough form to pull off an upset.