Meadowlands: Thursday 12/7 Analysis

Best Bet: ENGAGEDATLEXINGTON (5th)

Spot Play: AXIOS (3rd)

Race 1 - $10,000 Guaranteed Survivor Pick Ten Pool

Race 2 - $25,000 Guaranteed Pick Five Pool

Race 3 - $25,000 Guaranteed Pick Four Pool

Race 6 - $40,000 Guaranteed Pick Four Pool

MEET STATS: 24 - 74 / $137.10 (-$10.90)

BEST BETS: 5 - 6 / $16.30 (+$4.30)

Race 1

(3) SOUL TRAIN is as classy and fast as any in this field. Nice to see a win with Joe Lee in the bike less than a month ago. (6) WILD SMILE set his career mark here earlier in the year and arrives in form. (1) ROCKIN REDFORD hasn’t been able to get an easier trip in some time. Perhaps post one will help the cause. (8) STONEBRIDGE IDOL is more than capable of Kleinhans can work out a trip from the outside post.

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Race 2

(3) SPILLING THE BEANS hasn’t been very good lately, but I’m hoping the drop in claiming price and driver change will make all the difference. (1A) ALWAYS FLASH-N & (1) NOTEBOOKANDTABLET form a powerful entry that will likely go off at 3-5 or lower. I just can’t accept that price as my top pick but will include on my pick 5 ticket. (7) ROCKERS ALLEY has the early speed to make noise and I wouldn’t be shocked if he got a big piece.

Race 3

(6) AXIOS missed over a month and didn’t fire in his two starts at Saratoga. That said, he set a lifetime mark over this track in 2016 and raced well at Vernon. Perhaps he is simply better over a big track. (2) GOLD MEDAL SWAN drops down and figures to show more. (3) WILDFLOWER has displayed some trot when she stays flat; bigger track helps?

Race 4

(4) HEY DALI arrives from Dover in fine form and seems to have the ability to take a bit of air; narrow edge. (3) ISE THE BY BOY & (2) GREEN OLIVES come in from Freehold off solid efforts. Either could race well but the former was racing for a higher claiming tag.

Race 5

(6) ENGAGEDATLEXINGTON had been racing well before getting stuck in post 9 last out. Barn clicks at a 22% rate over the last five years and driver is hardly an amateur in experience as he has 242 career wins and a 16% win rate over the same span. (1) TOSS CARTWRIGHT is a solid horse heading out for one of the better amateur drivers; worth using on multi-race tickets. (4) CELEBRITY STIMULUS is capable of heading down the road when feeling right; hard to love his form. (2) WINNING PRINCESS qualified well but will likely need to drop a second off her career best to win this.

Race 6

(6) CAM’S LUCKY SAM has plenty of good performances over bigger ovals and is certainly fast enough to play with this group. Barn has hit at a 16% rate over the last five years. (4) WHATAORSE is one of those hard-knocking veterans that you have to love. Driver change to Allard is interesting here. (8) NORTHERN ASSASSIN A was Napolitano’s choice over three other horses. I guess that says something. (9) WE THINK ALIKE has form and hails from a barn that does well here; post is the only issue.

Race 7

(6) RU READY TO ROCK was inexplicably empty last time. Since his prior form is fine, I’m inclined to offer a second chance. (7) CRUZING HILL gets a trainer and driver change here; could improve. (4) ALWAYS A DIAMOND has been used hard in consecutive starts. He should get an easier lead this week.

Race 8

(2) MASTER OF PUPPETS beat most of these last week. Why not again? (6) SOUTHERN SPORT finds a field with plenty of outside speed signed on. If they mix it up too much this guy could be charging home. (9) ESPRIT DE KAYJAY A has early speed and a four-race winning streak. (1) PAN GRAD gets a big driver change here to Brett Miller and is instantly worth a look. (7) FOX VALLEY CADET couldn’t be much sharper for a barn that has started the meet off right; another worth using.

Race 9

(3) PANCAKES has been racing very well up at Saratoga despite the lack of a win. This looks like a good spot and I like the 10-1 morning line. (4) AARIN HANOVER faced a better group last week and still raced well. (5) PURITY would destroy these if on her game. (9) DRAG N SAND is at a winning level but the bad post seems likely to hurt her chances.