Best Bet: BETTOR’S EDGE (7th) Spot Play: SAMS TRIPLE CROWN (6th) Race 3 - $25,000 Guaranteed Pick Five Pool Race 8 - $50,000 Guaranteed Pick Four Pool MEET STATS: 73 - 270 / $490.30 (-$49.70) BEST BETS: 10 - 21 / $35.90 (-$6.10) Race 1 (1) ALLBLACK STRIDE N failed at 4-5 last week after missing three weeks of action. I’m going to stay with him against a competitive field as long as the price is 5 times higher. (5) ELRAMA N still looks sharp despite a fifth-place finish last time after a slow start. (2) CENTURY CHURCHILL was put in play last week and weakened after taking air. I’m convinced he can win here. (6) STARZNHEAVEN beat many of these last time. Race 2 (1) URBAN RENEWAL seems to be rounding into form and gets to stay at the basement condition level by a couple-hundred dollars in earnings. (3) SOUTHERN PURSUIT N was used from post 10 and held reasonably well last time. The path to the top should be much easier this week. (7) CRUISERWILLWIN has been closing pretty well since adding Lasix. If put in the right spot he seems capable at a price. (8) LIVE ON has displayed some early speed and is plenty fast enough if ready off the short vacation. Race 3 (2) MONTALBANO BI lacked the firepower I was hoping for while up in class but still put in a pair of even effort. Stepping down the class ladder this week he should prove tough to beat as the chalk. (1) DOWNUNDERMATTER bested a cheaper field last time but has proven capable against the NW8500 class. (5) ON THE PODIUM tends to show early speed and in this spot that could place him with a chance at an exotics finish. (10) ROUNDTOWN ROCKER is stuck in post 10 but did win in this class two starts back. Race 4 (6) STONEDUST picked up a win in his first stint here and seems as fast as any in this field. While I expect he’ll need to work out a favorable trip to score this week, the price should be fair. (2) ROLLING SEA lured Napolitano off my top pick and he has won three straight. I’m just not sure how the move to the big track will affect him. (8) BET THE DRAGON has early speed and decent form; clear threat. (1) LONG BEACH is going to pop one day; tonight? Race 5 (5) REAL ROCKER took a tour of the track in his debut for this barn after shipping down from Canada. Let’s look for more from him this week and a possible upset. (3) WORKANDPLAYHARD hasn’t been in for a $10k tag since December 1 but got the job done by three lengths that night. (2) TERROR OF THE NITE has speed and pretty good form.  (6) BAGGAGE CLAIM is another moving down the claiming ladder; capable. Race 6 (9) SAMS TRIPLE CROWN has raced fairly well here and most of the time it was against better company. In November he was racing three classes higher. Picking up Callahan I expect a wake-up call. (7) PREPARTY stopped in his first start since early October. He can better that showing tonight. (4) SOUTHWIND GENERAL has been looming in recent weeks without being able to close the deal. (5) MAJOR WAR drops a notch and has the early speed to make some serious noise. Race 7 (5) BETTOR’S EDGE raced much better than I expected in his first start since July and catches a softer group this week. I’ll be surprised if he loses tonight. (7) SWEET ROCK raced well in two appearances here and Gingras in the bike certainly doesn’t hurt. (6) AWESOMENESS moves into a live mark and had good form coming in. Race 8 (3) NORTHERN ASSASSIN A was used very hard last Saturday and paid the price. He gets a better post to work with this week and should have a better showing. (2) EVEIL DUN CHAMPION finished well when finally clear in the stretch last out. (1) SUTTON SEELSTER steps up for a barn that wins often; worth a look. Race 9 (3) JOHNNY Q appeared to be interested in showing speed last week but was taken back from the outside post. In a field with minimal form and no standout, I’d love to see Siegelman take charge here. (6) HUG THE WIND N qualified OK and now gets a regular catch-driver. He made over $330k Down Under and we’ve saw this barn do well with them last weekend. (9) DAVID’S DREAM is down in class but the post is going to cause him some problems. Race 10 I’ve been waiting for (6) DUNE DUDE to throw a big mile for months and I actually gave up quite a few starts back. Now he shows up in the Harmon barn and I’m inclined to take another stab at him against a lackluster group. (4) J T raced evenly in his debut for this barn and could show more the second time around. (2) QUALITY BUD was fried on the engine as he parked two horses a long way last time. With a ground-saving trip he can get a nice piece of this race. Race 11 (2) WINDSONG GORGEOUS has rolled in consecutive starts and now enters one of the top two barns in the country in terms of 2018 wins. I’m guessing another strong effort is in store. (3) ALONEINSPADES gets an interesting driver switch to Brett Miller and should offer good value. (6) IDEAL SHADOW should be headed to the top and will be tough if left alone, but I doubt that will happen. (8) DR C’S Z TAM stormed past the field last week; threat again. Race 12 (6) MR EUROMAN N raced well in his U.S. debut in a fast 1:50 3/5 mile. This looks like a good spot to pick up his first win here. (3) JACKSRLUCKYTOO remains at this level but from a better post this time. He is capable of waking up with a big mile. (9) K-LEES SHAKENBAKE moves into the Burke barn after a purchase in the Mixed Sale; adds Gingras, too. Race 13 (4) ART HISTORY moves into the Burke barn and he’s had a couple of weeks to work with him since the sale purchase. I’m expecting a nice improvement. (5) SPRINTER N was too far back to have any chance at winning in his U.S. debut. He’ll be a serious factor and might be the one to beat. (1) ST LADS MOONWALK qualified well enough to think he can go with these, but I’m looking at an underneath play only. (6) SPICEBOMB is down in class on paper but doesn’t exactly catch an easy field. [DRF HARNESS NEWSLETTER: Sign Up for the FREE DRF Harness Newsletter. Fresh content and insights delivered each Thursday.]