Meadowlands: Saturday 12/1 Analysis
Best Bet: MINDTRIP (8th)
Spot Play: WISE IMAGE (3rd)
Race 3 - $25,000 Guaranteed Pick Five Pool
Race 8 - $50,000 Guaranteed Pick Four Pool
MEET STATS: 54 - 156 / $324.90 (+$12.90)
BEST BETS: 5 - 12 / $12.60 (-$11.40)
Race 1
(7) DERF HANOVER was a solid second behind a very sharp horse last week. Making his second start since February, he can be expected to show even more now. (5) GODSPELL HALL has found himself in recent weeks and could easily continue his winning ways. (4) SWANSEA has speed and form on his side but must trot a bit faster to win here.
Race 2
(2) K RYAN BLUECHIP & (3) MUSIC IS ART caught some salty competition the previous two weeks in triple millionaire All Bets Off and Potomac Pace starter Geez Joe. Both stand out for me, but I’ll lean to the former on the slight post edge. (5) TACT TATE N qualified well and was a consistent winner in Australia.
Race 3
(7) WISE IMAGE was pacing some strong miles out at Hoosier and he moves into a good barn. Anything close to a top effort should result in a win. (3) SPEED TO MARKET raced reasonably well after taking some time off due to sickness. This is a good spot. (5) CAPTAIN AMERICA showed some speed in a good mile with Lasix added for the second time.
Race 4
(1) LIFE HAPPENED moves from older conditioned foes to more of his age group. Don’t be shocked if he perks up in a hurry. (5) BARBADOS rolled down the road in a slightly easier spot last week. (2) R BAZINGGA also comes off a win; clear player.
Race 5
(2) MAGNUM MIKE has been a new horse since the initial claim three starts back. Now in a new stable for the third straight week, I expect similar winning results. (6) CC BIG BOY SAM chased home the top choice last time and might be looking at a similar fate here. (1A) OBSCENE BLUE CHIP & (1) CREDIT RISK form a solid combination for trainer Andrew Harris, but I’m not convinced they can beat the heavy favorite.
Race 6
(2) BRUCE’S MAGIC flashed speed in his return to The Meadowlands last time and often that is an indicator of a return to form. Six-year-old drops a class tonight and should be aggressive early again. (1) BETTOR’S EDGE raced well when sent out of town and he is the classiest horse in the race by far. There may even be value here with trainer Jennifer Lappe electing to drive. (3) CONSTNTLYSIDEWYS A came back from a break with a convincing win. He may be able to handle the rise in company.
Race 7
(7) BILLS FELLA went a long mile in the slop last time. The post is slightly better here and he could rebound at a price. (4) BELL I NO didn’t do well at Yonkers but maybe he just wants a bigger track. His efforts at Philly were solid. (1A) GILLYS BOY & (1) MACH DÉJÀ VU form a good team with early speed from the Ron Burke barn.
Race 8
(5) MINDTRIP took a tour of the track in his first start in from Hoosier when caught in a blistering 1:48 1/5 mile. This field is much softer and you can expect a big performance. (1) STILL FRISKIE comes off a solid effort and sneaks in here under the back end of the AE condition. (3) DREAMFAIR MESA has looked great on the fast tracks recently and not so good when it rains. Check the sky before wagering.
Race 9
(1) CALVIN B wasn’t showing the killer desire in the stretch when last seen here and that likely is the reason Callahan jumped ship. I’ll take a shot at what should be a fair price on a horse with some back class. (2) AWESOMENESS hasn’t looked anything like the horse that was awesome here earlier in the year; another class drop. (8) QUALITY BUD seems to be rounding into form; using.
Race 10
In a field lacking any semblance of form, I guess the driver change to Yannick Gingras on (1) LEGION OF BOOM is reason enough to go with him. (8) ROCK STAR has some early speed in his arsenal and could be an interesting price play if Ginsburg uses it. (10) INDY INGOT drops down but drew poorly.
Race 11
(6) PUMPED UP KICKS has done ok at this level and now gets a new driver at the controls. Maybe that wakes this guy up. (7) CHEYENNE REIDER did very well when last seen here one class lower. (3) ROCK ON THE HILL steps up in great form and might be sharp enough to get the job done.
Race 12
(5) LARRY KARR gets one last shot for me against a somewhat lifeless group. Perhaps the switch to off the pace tactics will turn this guy around. (4) JK PARLAY added Lasix last time and sometimes it takes a start for the medication to make an impact. (1) MARTY MONKHOUSER A is down in class and drew well. (7) DASH OF DANGER didn’t rally on the class drop last time on a track that was playing to speed early; worth using.