Meadowlands: Saturday 3/11 Analysis
Best Bet: MAJOR WAR (12th)
Spot Play: SI SEMALU (8th)
Race 1 - $25,000 Guaranteed Pick Five Pool
Race 3 - $25,000 Guaranteed Pick Four Pool
Race 7 - $50,000 Guaranteed Pick Four Pool
MEET STATS: 143 - 462 / $730.60 (-$193.40)
BEST BETS: 21 - 39 / $81.80 (+$3.80)
Race 1
(5) HYWAY MARCUS hasn’t been very good lately, but that can easily be attributed to facing better foes which have made him sour. Seeing this group should bolster his spirits. (3) GWALLY gets a major driver change in his return to The Meadowlands. (7) OPENING NIGHT isn’t the horse he once was but should play a role in the outcome at some point.
Race 2
(3) BEACHCHIP HANOVER was green in his qualifier but paced home strongly. It appeared he had trouble with the faster pace in pari-mutuel action and the heavy rain also did him no favors. I can see him being tighter now and ready to step up, though it is disconcerting to see Bongiorno choose off a Burke horse. (5) TIMCAT HANOVER looks like a legitimate 3-5 shot by his pp lines, but the four weeks off is somewhat concerning. (10) CLASSY DRAGON got the job done in a perfect spot to start his year off right. Post 10 tonight presents some issues. (6) STIRLING ENSIGN has been fairly consistent of late.
Race 3
(7) LUCKY MAN has paced six consecutive miles between 1:52 1/5 and 1:52 3/5; now that is consistency. We know he is leaving hard, will bring an honest effort and should get the jump on (8) PRINCE PALANI, who has won three straight; must use both on multi-race exotics. (1) JACKSON BRADY gets a better post to work with this time and shouldn’t have to work very hard to secure an early spot.
Race 4
(5) K RYAN BLUECHIP has been in tough spots in terms of competition and posts since arriving at The Meadowlands. If he has anything in the tank, this seems like the right spot to show it. (4) WAR-N-MUNN gets some needed class relief and should be driven somewhat aggressively. (1) AMERICANPRIMETIME has more pure speed than anyone in this field, but can he possibly be ready to roll off one qualifier and a Monticello tightener?
Race 5
(6) GRIFFON HANOVER was very disappointing last week but I’m not ready to write him off just yet. The switch to Brett Miller tonight is intriguing. (3) BAGGAGE CLAIM was stuck on the rim in his first start with Lasix; another shot. (7) ULTIMATE CREDIT is another who just added Lasix and he scored in his first start with the medication; this spot is tougher, though. (1) DJNORTHERNSTAR finally gets a good post to work with tonight.
Race 6
(10) BETTOR’S EDGE is the richest and fastest horse in the race. Post 10 and the brief layoff are concerning, but he did blow out a sharp qualifier the other day and Brett Miller choose him over some really good options. (5) CITY HALL has won six straight starts at this track (over the course of months) and hails from a barn sporting a 9-11 record at the meet. (9) ROCKIN RON has the ability to gun off the wings and win, though this seems like a warm-up spot for the Levy series. (2) JACKSRLUCKYTOO couldn’t get going last week as the winner was long gone. If he is in a good flow his chances improve.
Race 7
(8) PHIL YOUR BOOTS was in some pretty deep water in those races at Yonkers. With any reasonable trip he can be right there. (2) THE ROCK is the stable donkey as the only horse to lose at the current meet for the Buter barn. But seriously, the gelding drops back to the level of his last win and is very dangerous. (1) CALVIN B also drops and merits some serious consideration in the late pick four. (7) SHINOBU HANOVER exits some similar races as the top pick. I wouldn’t be shocked if he showed more tonight at a price.
Race 8
(9) SI SEMALU drops down the condition ladder for the second straight week and had absolutely no chance from post 10 last time. I’d be shocked if Callahan wasn’t motoring off the wings of the gate. (2) DREAMLANDS ART & (3) ALEXIE MATTOSIE are coming out of the same race as the top choice and look like the other players for win honors. I’ll give the edge to the former as Brett Miller made that his choice and the 10-year-old should be forwardly placed.
Race 9
(5) RING WARRIOR raced well from the back of the pack despite a four week break in his first start for this barn. I can see Carlson placing this guy on the engine tonight and going a long way. (4) SO TAKE THAT finds himself in a new barn after a couple of solid efforts. If the pace is fair and he is sitting in striking range, watch out! (3) THE FIRE WITHIN drops down for Burke and figures to be on the go at the start. (1) YOLO HANOVER raced well from off the pace in his last showing here.
Race 10
I’m really not sold on any of these and will likely be spreading very wide in this leg of the pick four. I’ll take a shot with (5) INTHEBLINKOFANEYE in the top spot. The veteran seems to be in somewhat light this week and still has a bit of life left in him. (2) ALWAYS N THE MONEY looks like the favorite but hasn’t picked up a win in a while. (4) THESEYESRCRYING ships in off a win, but 9-year-olds with a lifetime mark on a half-mile track don’t inspire confidence on one-mile surfaces. (6) CHECK’S COMMODORE has the ability if he gets his act together; new driver tonight.
Race 11
(6) DATELINE HANOVER seeks his third straight for a barn that rarely seems to lose nowadays. (5) UNIX HANOVER chased the top one last time and seems destined for a similar result. (4) AMORA BEACH & (7) LEGION OF BOOM are the other two in the race with a serious chance of making some noise.
Race 12
(9) MAJOR WAR is a fast horse that is trying to work his way back into form. The switch to Brett Miller combined with a dull collection of equine talent should perk him back up. (7) MOONLIGHT RANSOM finds an easy spot and does get a hot driver this week. (1) RELENTLESS DREAMER has been known to step up in weak fields. (4) SOME MAJOR BEACH has early speed in his arsenal that could take him a long way.
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