TRI’s Picks December 29 Meadowlands

Meadowlands Racetrack Pick 4, Races 7-10, Saturday, December 29, 2012

Last night, we had one winner, Chief Karen ($13.40). If you bet any horse on our ticket that were 4-1 or up and the ticket itself, you would be down $9.60. After an odd night of $100 winners and one favorite on the 12 race card emerging victorious, we move on to a likely harder night of racing this Saturday.

$2 Play: 2,6/2,4/5/3,8 = $16

Analysis:

Race 7- (2) Four Starz Trace ships to the Big M and moves into a class against some of the best pacers at the mile oval. He is coming off of a second place finish against $50,000 Claimers at Yonkers, but has won against that same class before. He should be around mid-pack for most of the mile and find some cover to take advantage of a somewhat closing bias at the Big M. (6) Village Beat is competitive when he needs to be competitive. His most recent start was unlike him, sitting far off the pace and not getting into the race. He can leave the gate fast and travel a first over trip if needed, but he won’t get parked tonight. He should be close to the pace and find some route to take in order to reach the winners circle.

Race 8- (2) Top Of The Mark has raced two valiant miles after qualifying at Yonkers. Both miles he made some attempt to take the lead, except in his first start off of a layoff he was parked and quit badly. There is some speed in this race, so if Top Of The Mark clears the lead he’ll have some challengers. He will get shuffled back but some kind of seam should open up for him, either to the outside or inside of him, and he can storm home. (4) Go West Lucky Cam has been sharp lately. In his last start from post 6 at Yonkers, he rode the pylons and closed to finish fourth. In previous starts, he has won going wire-to-wire, finished second sitting off of the pace and third as he dueled for the top. Since there is a lot of pace in this race, he is our backup horse as he has shown success from on and off of the pace. However the race plays out, he will be somewhere on the board.

Race 9- (5) Voice Of Truth has shown consistency in his racing style. He tends to stick with the pace or is rarely sitting somewhere mid-pack. He stormed home in :27.4 in his last start to finish third to three-year-old underdog Escape The News. Before that, he tried to take the field wire-to-wire in the slop and broke on the lead at Yonkers before that. He is also an aggressive pacer, he can bare a first over trip. He has won first over against non-winners of $13,000 at Harrah’s Philadelphia. He should get away around mid-pack or attempt to take the lead. If he takes the lead, he should rate and try to steal it. If he gets away mid-pack, he’ll find some way into the cover flow and use his late kick to win.

Race 10- (3) Sonic Raider has marched his way up the claiming ladder. In his most recent start, he battled for the lead against $25,000 Claimers, where he emerged victorious. He should be a menace to many foes in this mile and will likely close from mid-pack. (8) Dinner Guest is coming off of three good miles against $40,000 Claimers at Yonkers. He’ll likely attempt to set the pace and will have a strong say in this mile.