Meadowlands: Saturday 1/5 Analysis
Best Bet: STRATOCASTER (1st)
Spot Play: OCEAN COLONY (6th)
Race 1 - $25,000 Guaranteed Pick Five Pool
Race 8 - $50,000 Guaranteed Pick Four Pool
MEET STATS: 106 - 305 / $609.50 (-$.50)
BEST BETS: 8 - 25 / $22.80 (-$27.20)
Race 1
(3) STRATOCASTER returns to The Meadowlands at his comfort level in terms of conditions and should perk up in a hurry. (9) NOBLES FINESSE drops down a level for a good barn and could easily wake up. (6) MYIDEALSON N took a shot and tired late last time. A better trip could produce better results.
Race 2
(6) DECLAN SEELSTER came back from a break to win two starts back and closed from last to just miss last time. Four-year-old seems to be moving in the right direction. (1) SURFING TIDE rallied nicely to win off the bench last week. He doesn’t race much but can put up some nice miles. (3) ALTA SHELBY N has lost my faith after losing two straight when he should’ve won.
Race 3
(6) JOE’S BID should be tight after rolling on the lead last time. Switch to the basement condition should help this January 21 sale-bound 5-year-old. (9) PARKLANE EAGLE is down in class and adding Gingras to the team. (4) BIG STRETCH MARK raced well from an outside post after a layoff. He has early speed and is very capable.
Race 4
(3) MAGNUM MIKE could provide some value coming off a break and having missed a few weeks. I don’t see any reason why he won’t be live. (9) CHEYENNE REIDER & (7) BAY RUM are two solid $10,000 claimers that tend to bring good efforts even when up in class. (1) DRUNKEN TERROR arrived here last week and raced well.
Race 5
(3) SISKEL came up short last time after four weeks on the sidelines. Gelding drops in class now for a barn that started to heat up last week with two wins and two seconds in eight starts. (9) MCCLINCHIE N also makes his second start off the bench and gets a major driver change to Gingras. (5) QUALITY BUD & (4) TWINCREEKS JESSE has early speed and just enough form to get a nice piece.
Race 6
(1A) OCEAN COLONY is down in class and despite the outside post, he has no excuse for failure this week. (4) DREAMFAIR MESA is another class dropper in here that did well when last at this level. (5) BUSHWACKER has speed and form but can’t seem to get over the top. (9) ASLAN moves down a notch and Gingras seems likely to get aggressive.
Race 7
(5) IDEAL JIMMY showed some late life in his first start after a year on the sidelines. Six-year-old doesn’t race often but has plenty of class to call on for a barn that seems to excel with horses coming back after missing time. (1) TUXEDO BAY was hampered by an outside post and did his best last week; moves inside now. (3) TACT TATE N has burned enough of my money. Down Under import is a bit too erratic on the track for my liking. (9) CASTLE FLIGHT has been racing well since coming in from Hoosier for the Cullipher barn. (10) MIGHTY MR SHARKEY N won 12 of 38 in Australia and his last qualifier was good.
Race 8
(6) BELL I NO is one of the sharpest horses on the grounds and the jump to this Preferred condition is a logical one. With him slated to sell at The Meadowlands on January 21, I’m expecting another strong performance. (1A) NEW TALENT got back on track versus a slightly easier field last week from post 10. He’ll certainly be put in play tonight and comes with a capable stablemate in (1) STONEDUST, who has been tackling better foes like I’m Some Graduate and Geez Joe lately. (3) MINDTRIP is another sharp horse slated to sell in a couple of weeks.
Race 9
(3) DUBIOUS CLAIM turned into a new horse with Lasix added and seems like the one to beat of the three major contenders. (4) GRIFFON HANOVER has early speed and form, but he’s been nipped for win honors in each of the last two weeks. (2) THAT’S MY OPINION woke up as expected here and now has five wins in 14 starts at the Big M since the start of 2017.
Race 10
(2) ITSNOPROBLEMMAN posted a lifetime best mile off the claim by Jennifer Bongiorno. Gelding steps up in claiming price now but should prove tough with a repeat performance. (5) SPORTS VISION has climbed the claiming ladder in a hurry and seeks his fourth straight win. (8) OBSCENE BLUE CHIP has been racing well and only needs a smooth trip to threaten. (9) PICKLED PREACHER is in for the highest tag allowed in this claiming handicap. His form is ok but he doesn’t seem to have any early speed.
Race 11
(4) RUFO moved into this barn and put in a decent mile. He could step up in his second start. (3) BIG TOP HANOVER gets class and post relief; using. (1) BRUCE’S MAGIC will be firing away from the inside. Perhaps new driver Callahan can get a better result from him. (10) NASCAR SEELSTER drops two classes but has no form and drew post 10.
Race 12
(10) ODDS ON LAUDERDALE raced well after nearly two months off. Post 10 is an issue but the price should be right. (9) WISE IMAGE will be odds-on and you can’t fault his form. (7) JK MUSICMAN gets a bit of post relief; another sale-bound horse.
Race 13
(3) SEEL THE DEAL N is back at the level where he just missed three starts ago. There are multiple horses getting class relief but I’m settling here because of expected value due to the lack of a regular top catch-driver. (5) BETTERLATETHNNEVER gets a huge class break as he exits the claiming ranks. He’s a must use in all bets. (9) BETTOR’S WESTERN drops for a good barn but drew poorly. (1) PRETTY BOY HILL should flash some speed from the inside post and get into the exotics.