By Meadowlands Handicapper Edison Hatter, Saturday, March 18
Race 1:
1 BEACH BABY BEE – He’s been taking on GSY and NW3,000 foes here at the Meadowlands so far in 2023 and things just haven’t been going his way. His last few miles show a bit of improvement, but he still seems up against it here.
2 INCREDIBLE EVAN – Not a whole lot going for him in the Monticello form lately, but he put together a decent mile at Pocono last week to finish third against slightly easier claimers. Let’s see how he takes to the big track in this one.
3 RISKY BUDDY – Won well off a big move in the outer flow last time out at Freehold and was a solid second five back against claimers here at the Meadowlands. Couldn’t offer much three and four back here at the Big M, though.
4 DOUBLEAGENTMAN – The last two trips haven’t worked out for him from outside posts down at Dover, but he shows good lines three and four back against similar. Has a chance in this spot if he can get a trip to work out.
5 SOUTHWIND DREDGE – He has three wins and a second in his last four starts here at the Meadowlands against claimers. Draws well tonight and is clearly the one to knock off here. He’s in razor sharp form at the moment.
6 CONCUR – There isn’t a whole lot going for him in the recent form, but he did win in 1:54 from Post 10 here earlier this year and he has been facing tougher lately. I’ll use underneath in this spot tonight on the drop in claiming price.
7 FOX VALLEY CARLIN – He has put together some decent miles here this meet and he did just miss three back. However, there have been inconsistencies in his form at times and he does remain just 1-for-31 in the last two years.
8 GOTAFOOLISHDESIRE – Worked hard early when leaving last week on the ship over from Yonkers and tired a bit late to finish fifth. Shows some okay lines in the recent form, though, and a case could be made to use him in exotics here.
9 LACHIE MAGUIRE N – Recent form has been solid enough down at Freehold and he raced pretty well last week when closing a lot of ground in the back half of the mile from an outside post. Starts for the Sodano barn here off the claim.
10 I’M BURLINGTON N – Comes out of the same race as LACHIE MAGUIRE N and closed a lot of ground in the back half of the mile as well when finishing third. Has a chance in this one, but will need another trip to work out from Post 10.
DRIVER CHOICES:
Tim Tetrick 4 Over 1
Selections: 5-4-10-6
Saturday Race 2:
1 LEON DAVID – In his last four starts, he has two solid lines against easier and two races he couldn’t really get involved in against these types. As a result, I’ll take a pass on him tonight and wait for a better spot for him.
2 LYONS PEGASUS – Picked up a win four starts ago at Yonkers against similar and has a few breaks and a tough trip against tougher since then. He is just 2-for-22 in the last two years, but went 1:49.4 at Vernon in 2022.
3 KING JAMES EXPRESS – Just missed against similar two back, but he DNF’d back on February 11after pulling up after the half and hasn’t been seen since. Q looked very sharp last week, so hopefully all issues are resolved with him.
4 PARMESAN N – He raced very well from the front end last time out to finish third when beaten just a length against tougher. Gets another drop in class tonight in his third start off the bench. Appears to have a big chance in this one.
5 LETSGOTOBRAZIL A – He has plummeted down the class ladder and he finally found friends down at Freehold last time out when winning by a large margin. Moves well up in class, but should have some confidence from last week.
6 MAJOR FERNCO N – He is another one that has been steadily working his way down the class ladder. There isn’t a whole lot going for him in the recent form, but this is the lowest he’s been seen at in a while. Won in 1:50.3 in 2022.
7 ANDRES HANOVER – Shows a solid mile five starts ago against a TM group here at the Meadowlands, but hasn’t gotten too much going since. He’s been racing more recently than others in here and the class drop should help.
8 PATERNITY SUIT A – Form has been okay between the Meadowlands and Pocono as of late, including last time out when he finished third and was beaten less than two lengths against similar at a big number. I’ll use underneath here.
9 CHIEFS BEACH – He has been getting checks lately and has shown steady improvement against similar over at Yonkers in recent times. He’ll look to translate his form to the big track here, but he does have to work from this outside post.
DRIVER CHOICES:
Yannick Gingras 3 Over 2
Andrew McCarthy 6 Over 7
Selections: 3-4-7-8
