Meadowlands: Thursday 12/20 Analysis
Best Bet: NEXT SUCCESS (6th)
Spot Play: VELOCITY LANA (5th)
Race 2 - $25,000 Guaranteed Pick Five Pool
Race 7 - $35,000 Guaranteed Pick Four Pool
MEET STATS: 83 - 229 / $471.70 (+$13.70)
BEST BETS: 7 - 19 / $20.00 (-$18.00)
Race 1
(2A) MONTALBANO BI Just needs to stay trotting to win, but that is admittedly a big question. You get a solid two for one here on an entry from a strong barn. (4) ONE FINE LADY should offer some value here in a field with many potential breakers. She tends to mind her manners every week. (3) SERGEANT SEELSTER figures to be overbet with Miller taking the lines and this guy broke last type that Hall of Famer was in the bike. (1A) IDLE BONES N drops down for a barn that was hot last weekend.
Race 2
(2) ABOUT THE BENJAMNS had no shot from an outside post last time. Two starts back he raced well from post 3; upset chance. (5) IDEAL ROMANCE has won four of five starts at this level yet something tells me to avoid him. I can’t fault anyone who singles him in the pick 5. (7) WESTERN REDHOT was buried in traffic last week. He’s another potential upsetter given the right trip.
Race 3
(2) TECH TITAN closed well from a tough spot in his second start for this barn. The inside post tonight should help. (4) CAN’TCUTTHATCHIP took a shot and weakened last time out; clear factor. (7) TWO HIP DIP switches to David Miller and will take plenty of tote action. He’s capable if flat throughout the mile.
Race 4
(3) SHE’S MY ROCK raced well in her one start from an inside post recently. Barn heated up last weekend with two wins and she might just be live at a price. (6) MAC’S SECURE arrives for a good barn and has plenty of early speed. (7) CHEAP THRILLS is down in class but this barn is winless in five starts at the meet.
Race 5
(1) VELOCITY LANA arrives off a win at Yonkers for a barn that has been on fire here. Six-year-old mare has some back class and can handle this group. (4) TEARFUL OF HAPPY has been racing very well since dropping to this claiming level. (3) HEPBURN HNAOVER & (6) LIVINGTHEDREAM are an uncoupled duo from the Nick Surick barn. That outfit won a few races last week here.
Race 6
(3) NEXT SUCCESS gets a huge amount of class relief tonight and should prove tough to beat. (1) SI SEMALU arrives here from Philly and seems to be in a decent spot to chase the top pick for second money. (8) QUALITY BUD was hopelessly trapped last week and will likely be overbet because of it. His form isn’t good enough to accept playing him as anything close to the chalk.
Race 7
(8) SPORTS VISION visits the basement condition off an easy win and should get another trip to the winner’s circle. (2) DANCIN HILL gets a driver change. Veteran tends to do well in these cheap spots. (4) MAJOR WAR has a good history here of putting up a fast mile at times and faces a soft group.
Race 8
(2) IDEAL CANDIDATE is a classy old guy who loves to win but hasn’t been able to get over the top lately. He drops into an easier spot this week and perhaps the new set of hands behind the lines will make a difference. (1) TERRORS PRINCE has a chance to stick close to the action from this post; barn won twice last weekend. (4) DANCING RUSTY drops back down to the level where he posted consecutive second place finishes. (5) E L DARTSMYBOY should get a piece of the exotics.
Race 9
(5) LADY OF HEAVEN seems to be sitting on a win as she looks to pick up her first of the year. The switch from claimers to the basement condition could be just what the doctor ordered. (1) PERSUASIVE HANOVER & (2) AMERICAN IMAGE has early speed and inside position to use it; both capable.
Race 10
(8) SPANISH ART has the misfortune of drawing an outside post once again but does get a key driver change to Brett Miller. Maybe he can fire this guy up. (9) ABBEYLARA beat a sharper overall group last week with a late surge; post is only issue. (6) SMOOTH MOCHA was locked in the pocket last week and could be overbet. (10) MEDOLAND JATE also had traffic trouble in the G Notes final a week ago and is sharp.