Meadowlands: Saturday December 22 Analysis

Race 1

(1) CAPTIAL ACCOUNT basically kept up and paced home nicely in those qualifiers. This field came up very soft and the Brittany Farms homebred looks formidable. (10) NITROS WIGGLE has plenty of early speed and has proven faster than these so far. (6) JUST GOT PAID raced well in his first start for Toscano; threat.

Race 2

(6) BOILER BOB THE QB couldn’t be any sharper right now; clear edge. (2) CANE RIDGE has a ton of early speed and those big miles he went here in the Rags To Riches series early in the year still stick out for me. (7) NATURAL HABITAT drops down one level and has done well over the bigger track at Woodbine.

Race 3

(3) DULL ROAR has some ability but hasn’t been able to put it on display versus some much tougher foes. Tonight looks like his night to shine. (2) MINDSET tends to perk up when he finds softer spots like this one. (9) NEUTRAL DATA has displayed some ability on the Maine Fair circuit. Mystery horse is worth taking a look at on the track. (10) TALKING BLUES has early speed and solid connections.

Race 4

(3) ESPRIT DE KAYJAY A switches back to a catch-driver and knows the way to the winner’s circle at the Meadowlands. (2) VOLO has been done in by outside posts lately. (1) WESTERN TSUNAMI was David Miller’s choice over #2; interesting.

Race 5

(6) VALIDUS DEO didn’t have the best of trips last time while a decent second versus better foes. (9) BIG GAME HUNTER has done well at Hoosier and now debuts for Team Miller. Only question here is the six week layoff. (5) DOVUTO HANOVER scored in his first start for new trainer Cassar. This guy has ability and should be able to handle the bump in class.

Race 6

(4) DIAL OR NODIAL was entered to race last week and that means he might be healthy for a change. He really wasn’t bad last time despite a seven week hiatus. Gelding has the speed and class to take this race. (7) ALEXIE MATTOSIE was used hard last time and understandably tired. With the majority of early speed to his outside, he should make the top without too much trouble this week. (8) OUTRAGEOUS ART ships in for Burke off a nice score at Yonkers. (2) TOWNSLIGHT HANOVER & (3) BAKIN ON THE BEACH are two more contenders in a wide open race on paper.

Race 7

(1) CHICAGO HANOVER is one of those horses I can see being overlooked on the tote board. His last race from post eight at Yonkers is a throw-out mile and his previous form is fine. (5) CODE WORD is fast off the gate and returns to the Meadowlands at a reduced level. (6) CASHENDASH HANOVER seems to have one nice move in his tank and used it early last time. With a smoother trip he can compete. (10) HYPNOTIC BLUE CHIP would look like a major player from a better post.

Race 8

(6) PANESTHETIC has picked up his game in terms of time in each of his trips to the track since returning from a layoff. One more step forward should get him to the winner’s circle. (1) LONG LIVE ROCK faced a fierce group in his last try here. This bunch is much easier. (8) FLIGHT ELAL has early speed and comes off a win.

Race 9

(3) ERLE DALE N raced very well at this level three starts back. Let’s give him the narrow edge in a race that could swing many ways. (4) SANTANA ONE seems to be a 3-year-old with some ability to be a conditioned horse. (1) MORGAN SHARK & (2) VOICE OF TRUTH are both capable of being formidable foes but haven’t started since June.

Race 10

(9) MAJOR TIPPER qualified back well and really doesn’t face much tonight. (4) PEMBROKE DEWEY raced well for trainer Mark Ford despite missing five weeks of racing. Any step forward would make him tough to beat. (1) SONIC DANCER comes off a sharp score.

Race 11

(4) VERDAD looks to be off form on paper but something tells me he may improve on the switch to the mile track. (1) ROAD UNTRAVELED comes off a nice score and has enough speed to stay close from the pylons. (6) SILENT SWING should be motoring off the gate and is hard to completely ignore.

Race 12

(5) K-LEES SHAKENBAKE has finished second or better in 14 of 16 starts this year and seems versatile.I’ll give him the slight edge over (1) BURKENTINE HANOVER, who has plenty of early speed and tons of form. This gelding has only missed the board twice in 15 career starts. (10) CRUIJFF comes down from Canada showing a couple of good lines. (4) RING LEDA might do better on the big track. His career best was as a 2-year-old at Lexington.

Race 13

(1) ON THE RADAR draws inside this week against a dull-looking group and should get an aggressive steer. (3) HANGON COWBOY looks playable if you ignore the break last time. (6) GIDDY UP BLACKFLY raced better when dropped to this level in his last start.