Meadowlands: Saturday 2/22 Analysis

MEET STATS: 25 - 67 / $184.70 (+$50.70)
BEST BETS: 3 - 5 / $10.10 (+$0.10)
SPOT PLAYS: 2 - 5 / $43.40 (+$33.40)
BEST BET - JESSE DUKE N (5th)
SPOT PLAY - MUSIC IS ART (9th)

Race 1 - TrackMaster Rating 74.5 or Less as of 2-18-20 - *$25K GTD Pick 5*

(4) IOWA NEIGHTIVE was second two back against similar and receives some class and post relief tonight. He also gets Gingras to drive again. (6) SPORTS VISION got an aggressive steer from Ginsburg last Friday and showed some improvement to finish third. He took his seasonal mark last year at the Meadowlands, so that's a positive as well. (2) TEST RIDE couldn't gain after a pocket trip in the same race Sports Vision is coming out of. He drew inside again and should be able to have another rail journey.

Race 2 - NW3500L5/10000CLM Pace

(5) CAPTAIN MULZAC came up half a length shy of the win last Saturday as the favorite and drops again tonight, so I think he should be used again. He does lose Dunn tonight, but Gingras is a very solid replacement. (1) BORN OF FIRE was both post and trip compromised a week ago, but he shifts back to the pole position here and returns to the level where he was the runner-up two back. (10) ROUGH ODDS ended up challenged during the middle-half of that qualifier, so he did well to finish fourth behind an open-type foe in Rockin Ron. He kept Dunn and makes his second pari-mutuel start on Lasix off the layoff

Race 3 - NW4/50000LT Pace

(1) ACTOR HANOVER appears ready off that qualifier as he stormed home from well back. He was in good form before going to the bench for a bit. (5) WESTERN EXPOSURE had every chance to deliver as the public choice a week ago, but was out-finished again. That seems to be a trend with him as of late, so while he remains dangerous, I'll try and beat him. (9) GOOD ROCKIN turned in another solid effort last Saturday, finishing second from first-over. He does get a negative post change tonight, but can probably float and find a seat somewhere.

Race 4 - TrackMaster Rating 79.5 or Less as of 2-18-20 Pace

(6) SAPPHIRE CITY raced better on the switch to the Harris barn last Saturday night. He does move up in class slightly, but I think catches a beatable group. (7) JUSTIN CREDIBLE takes another shot at this TrackMaster level tonight. He seems to be in a pattern where every other race is a good one, so if that holds he'd be ready to perform well. Gingras takes over the drive. (9) WESTERN REDHOT finished up his mile well a week ago but couldn't chase down Duckies Dynasty. He normally races from off-the-pace, so I'll use underneath with the thought he'll close again but might be too far back to reach.

Race 5 - Leap Year Series Final Pace

(6) JESSE DUKE N hasn't done anything wrong since coming to the U.S. as he rallied strongly in the qualifiers and has done the same in his two pari-mutuel starts. He should get some pace to chase and I expect him to mow them down again. (5) AMERICANFIREWATER wound up first-over last week and held well to finish fourth. His rally off cover two back was very good, and he may get a similar journey this time. (1) INCREDIBLE SHARK performed well both weeks of this series and has the pole position off the win last Saturday. I think he'll be stalking the pace again.

Race 6 - NW15001L4/NW 8 or 110000LT/50000CLM Pace - *$50K GTD Early Pick 4*

(2) MCTHRILLER works his way down to his favorite level tonight and looks logical with McCarthy taking over in the bike. Watch for him to try and wire this group. (6) STONEDUST forged his way into the lead from first-over against the NW22500L5's last Saturday but couldn't sustain the bid. He's raced well in this class previously, including that sterling 1:49 mile on the bottom of the page. (3) BELL I NO doesn't navigate the far turn the best right now, but once they get into the lane, he picks it back up like he did last Saturday. He should be in the hunt again tonight.

Race 7 - NW7500L5/20000CLM Pace

(1) BIG STRETCH MARK stayed on the cones and faded a week ago, but he is certainly capable of doing damage in this class like he did back on the 25th of January, and he has the look of the controlling speed if primed and ready. I'll use. (2) FOREVERNALWAYS hiked up to the NW10500L5 level in his first start for Gerard off the claim and now gets some class relief. He did finish up his mile decently again and is reunited with McCarthy. (9) PARTY BOY drops and has Dunn to drive tonight. Look for him to be rallying.

Race 8 - NW15001L4/NW 8 or 110000LT/50000CLM Pace

(2) DA DELIGHTFUL kicked home full of pace after sitting in last Saturday. He enjoyed a nice 3-year-old campaign, winning multiple times at Yonkers and scoring at the Meadowlands as well, and hopefully he can click here in the second try off the layoff for his first victory of 2020. (1) COVERED BRIDGE made the Breeders Crown final last season and is now in the Bukre barn. He qualified back well and is definitely a threat. (6) DEALER'S TABLE was the runner-up to the romping Jacks Shadow N a week ago and any repeat of that performance puts him in contention again.

Race 9 - Leap Year Series Final Pace

(1) MUSIC IS ART had to do all the dirty work from first-over last Saturday after starting from a trailing post and held well for second. He gets a slot on the gate this week, so I'm hoping for a smoother journey and a strong kick in the lane. (2) JK WILDFIRE showed what he's capable of when Miller put him on the lead a week ago and he romped. He's the one to beat again. (8) HOO NIEN A wound up on excess cover and gapped a bit on the turn last week before closing again. He should be a better price this time.

Race 10 - Preferred Handicap (TrackMaster Rating 93.1 or Less/75000CLM Drawn Inside) Pace

(2) ROCKIN RON impressed me with the way he performed in the qualifier, especially since he didn't have the smoothest of trips. I guess he might need one since Gingras ends up on another Burke trainee, but there should be some value and he might be able to chase them down. (8) ENDEAVOR has raced well both from behind and on the lead this season, which gives Callahan some options from this outside post. (7) TRUMP NATION is the Burke pupil that Gingras will drive, and he won the preferred here on 2-8. He should be a player again.

Race 11 - NW10000L5/TrackMaster Rating 85.60 or Less as of 2-18-20 Pace

(4) ANOTHER DAILY COPY receives some class relief tonight and lured McCarthy off a Harris trainee. I thought that he raced well last week against better foes. (1) TACT TATE N draws a much better post this time, and I think Callahan might try and put him on the lead like he did back on February 1. (2) QUALITY BUD tired after having to work hard to get the lead in his last race at Yonkers. This is a much softer spot than he was in the last time he was at the Meadowlands, and Gingras has had success driving this horse in the past.

Race 12 - NW5000L5/NW6150L6/NW9000L10/Winners of TrackMaster Rating 79.5 in Last Start/15000CLM Pace

(4) CRUSADES aimed pretty high last Saturday and wound up first-over too, so I can excuse that effort. He drops tonight and hopefully can get an easier journey. (2) LIVE ON crunched a group of NW3500L5's a week ago and begins his ascent up the class ladder. Tetrick is not here tonight, so he lands Dexter Dunn's services. (1) DECOY has disappointed in two straight as the favorite, so I think you have to try and beat him.

Race 13 - TrackMaster Rating 74.5 or Less as of 2/18/20 Pace

(6) ATOMIC REI ended up pretty far back and was too far out of it to make an impact a week ago. He draws slightly better here and has Dunn back again. Hopefully he can sit a little closer tonight. (4) TAILGUNNER HANOVER took an easy win at this level last Saturday and meets up with another beatable group here. I can't blame anybody if they go back to him for the double up. (7) MR HEAVEN stormed home to beat $7,500 claimers on February 14 and makes what should be a lateral move into this TrackMaster class.