Best Bet: THUNDER (7th) Spot Play: SWEET LUCY LOU (3rd) Race 2 - $25,000 Guaranteed Pick Five Pool Race 7 - $50,000 Guaranteed Pick Four Pool FINAL CHAMPIONSHIP MEET STATS: 95 - 273 / $457.50 (-$88.50) BEST BETS: 17 - 25 / $51.60 (+$1.60) Race 1 (3) JK AMERICAN BEAUTY finally picked up her first win in 10 career starts while never finishing off the board. Sometimes all it takes is that one confidence-builder to get a horse on a roll. (6) ALKIPPE has early speed and shows consistency. She seems as quick as any in here. (4) LOVE AT FIRST BITE is another who has been racing well in this field; reunites with McCarthy. Race 2 (2) LANDONFITZ has seen plenty of Amateur competition and does pop up with some good efforts. This is a great spot for the 8-year-old to show early speed and work out a winning trip. (5) ROCKIN REDFORD we’ve seen Marohn do some good things here and despite recent breaks this guy is more than capable of putting in a big performance. (7) URIEL has the early speed to make some noise and does hold on from time to time. (10) DANISH DURANGO gets huge class relief but is stuck with an outside post. Race 3 (5) SWEET LUCY LOU has been stuck in some huge miles of late and may be in better form than it seems against this group. (2) WHAT A FOX has proven to be a good finisher and the big track may only help in that area. (1) ROCK N MCROLL has early speed and should get a decent slice. Race 4 You have to look far back but (3) SOVEREIGN DEO was second behind top 2YO Green Manalishi S back on July 20.There is more here than meets the eye and the price will be right. (7) NO DRAMA PLEASE has early speed and the ability to take this field down the road if he behaves. (8) SUPER SCHISSEL seems like the favorite off his Red Mile win, but let’s take his time with a grain of salt. Race 5 (2) SISTER’S PROMISE was racing quite well until her last two starts. A much weaker field this week should help her cause. (4) MAGICAL BELIEFS finished worse than second for the first time in her career in her latest race. I’ll give her the benefit of the doubt and expect a return to form. (6) BIG WEEZY has yet to miss the board in her career but only has one win. Race 6 (2) AMERICAN KRONOS has only one loss on her card when a tough trip led to a break. Julie Miller trainee should make her presence felt. (1) STELLA JANE figures to push away from the inside and provide some competition for the top choice. (4) SOUTHWIND PERCY has made a habit of hitting the bottom of the exotics. Race 7 (2) THUNDER would’ve been the king of New York if not for the presence of the undefeated Gimpanzee. Conway Hall-sired colt should roll. (9) CHAPTER FASHION is a tricky read after consecutive breaks; prior form was great. (6) COTTON TO YOU came up short after a long break and could be tighter now. Race 8 (6) BATTENBERG gets some major class relief in this spot and lures Callahan off (8) SEVEN HILLS. The latter is undefeated in two starts and will get tested a bit in this spot. (5) LUCKY WEEKEND has won two straight and three of four. Race 9 (2) SOUTHWIND OZZI has been racing very well and should only be helped by the addition of Tetrick in the bike. (6) REIGNING DEO came up with a big effort in the NYSS final but has no mile track experience. (7) MAC’S POWER shows some decent lines in Canada and new trainer Mark Silva can make one go. (11) MEYER ON FIRE has been killing it in Illinois. I’m not sure what to make of him here. Race 10 (3) OUR ELS DREAM N has some decent form of late and should be able to get into contention early. (7) GIVEMEYOURHEART comes off a good try at Freehold and did set her lifetime mark over the track earlier in the year. (9) BAD NIGHT MARE drops in for a claiming tag and could be live. (5) DAENERYS HANOVER is another with a lifetime mark here in 2018; Tetrick joins the team. [DRF HARNESS NEWSLETTER: Sign Up for the FREE DRF Harness Newsletter. Fresh content and insights delivered each Thursday.]