Best Bet: SHARTIN N (1st) Spot Play: I’M SOME GRADUATE (11th) Race 3 - $25,000 Guaranteed Pick Five Pool Race 8 - $50,000 Guaranteed Pick Four Pool MEET STATS: 89 - 348 / $598.10 (-$97.90) BEST BETS: 10 - 27 / $35.90 (-$18.10) Race 1 (6) SHARTIN N is perfect since arriving from Down Under and everything I’ve heard says she has potential to be a stakes mare this year. Against mostly mid-level conditioned foes, she looks formidable. (3) INITTOWINAFORTUNE makes just her second start since January. She should be tighter now and we all know she has a decent history here. (1) MONICA GALLAGHER couldn’t handle the step up in class last time and now bumps up the ladder again. I just can’t endorse her on top at what could be an underlay with Gingras in the bike this time. Race 2 (6) BROADWAY PROMISE has been versatile, racing well from near and off the pace since returning from vacation. Now in his third start back, I’m expecting potentially a career best mile. (4) DERF HANOVER has won two straight but couldn’t retain the services of Brett Miller who went to the top pick. (2) NOBLE PRIZE romped by seven lengths last time and now adds Gingras for a red-hot Burke barn. I just don’t see him as a sensible play stepping up in class as the potential favorite. (3) IRON DOME has a scratched-sick line and a break recently but his prior form was fine; tough call. (5) ACES AND EIGHTS shows breaks in his last three starts. In my mind he should be qualifying. Race 3 (2) ANNIHILATION posted an extremely nice qualifier in the first charted line of his career. I’m slightly concerned that he’ll be handled conservatively, but other than (6) YO APOLLO CREED, this field is suspect enough that it might not matter. The latter left well for position but tossed in a break over a sloppy surface after four months off. He did recover to rally nicely and has displayed talent in the past; must use. (3) LONG BEACH will figure out what it means to be a racehorse eventually. Maybe the addition of Tim Tetrick will help. Race 4 This claiming race provides quite a handicapping puzzle. I honestly don’t have a strong opinion expect that I want to be on a longshot. With that in mind, (6) WHATAORSE ships in from Freehold with OK form but a history of being able to score at The Meadowlands, with 4 wins in 32 starts during 2016-17. (7) TERROR OF THE NITE was over-driven in his first start after the claim. He remains sharp and could be interesting at a nice price. (3) JOJO JOVE comes of a win but faces a tougher group now. (2) MASTER OF PUPPETS is capable of sitting chilly and charging home for the win; needs racing luck. Race 5 (1) TWINCREEKS JESSE looks overmatched in this class after a quick look at his recent lines, but those were with a less accomplished driver in the bike. I’ll take the 15-1 morning line and hope for a pocket trip. (6) CHIP WALTHER was used hard and came up empty late as the favorite last time. More patient handling could change the end result. (4) WICK N comes off a good second in this class; chance if the trip works out. (8) IWILLMAKEYOUSAYWOW had a pretty good trip and lacked the punch I was expecting last time; not giving up hope in him yet. Race 6 (6) P H KENNY has turned his fortune around since joining the Andrew Harris barn and I see no reason not to ride the wave. (5) RATHER SWELL just missed as my top pick at 10-1 last week. He fits well with this group. (8) DURANT has been sharp for some time and enters a very live barn. (4) ROCKIN THE HOUSE recovered impressively from an early break last time and has plenty of back class. Race 7 (5) WESTERN JOE was somehow ignored in the wagering and pulled off a 14-1 upset last time. With him likely on or near the lead and overlooked again, I’m sticking here. (6) CHRISTEN ME N is the one to beat but I can’t help but think he’ll be stuck first-over with #4 & #5 likely flying off the gate. (7) ROCKIN RON was a sharp winner in his qualifier while driven out. I’m pretty confident he is ready to roll but I don’t like the fact that he might have to come from last. Race 8 This is a strange mix of horses, with half the field moving up in class and the other half dropping down. I settled on (6) STARZNHEAVEN, who was used hard in the slop last time before tiring against much tougher. Gingras is back in the bike now and they hooked up for a big upset two starts back. (3) SWEET BEACH finished well from post 10 last week. He should get a better trip now. (8) HUG THE WIND N & (9) AWESOMENESS are dropping out of the Preferred just like the top pick and either could find the winner’s circle with a smooth trip. (5) MAKE A STATEMENT A broke in his lone U.S. start and seems like a mystery horse that could potentially step up. Race 9 (7) ELRAMA N came up with a big effort despite losing by a half-length last Saturday. On the class drop this week he should prove tough. (2) BLAISE MM HANOVER was used hard from post 10 in a higher class when last seen here. Coming off some even efforts at Yonkers from outside posts, I’d expect a solid showing at a price. (1) JACKSRLUCKYTOO has been closing well lately; inside post might keep him closer to the action. Race 10 (6) HILLBILLY HANOVER raced evenly after a three month break last weekend. Near millionaire should be tighter now and Tetrick in the bike is also a big plus. (2) COPPER COAST A was stuck with bad posts against some sharp claimers in recent starts here. He is clearly the one to beat in this spot. (4) DAVID’S DREAM gets post and class relief along with a positive driver change; all good angles. (1) BIG TOP HANOVER steps up off a nice win. Race 11 (3) I’M SOME GRADUATE took a conservative route in his first start since October. I’m expecting more from him this week. (8) ROCKNROLL WILDCATS stayed flat the last time Gingras was in the bike. Maybe he can work some magic again. (1) MEETYOUATMIDNIGHT finally draws well and has the speed to get good position. Race 12 (7) WALKS OF LIFE has won four straight and faces an abysmal field tonight. (2) DANISHDUJOUR is back at the level of his recent claim; chases for second money. (9) FOX VALLEY LEO has recent form, which is more than I can say about most of these horses. Race 13 (2) PEPPER GUY has been on a roll and should continue the good times. (3) BET THE DRAGON finally gets a good post to work with this week. (9) ROLLING SEA made amends last time and looms a threat. (4) ROCKIN MACHINE raced OK in his debut for this barn. They hit at a high rate and could wake this guy up fast. [DRF HARNESS NEWSLETTER: Sign Up for the FREE DRF Harness Newsletter. Fresh content and insights delivered each Thursday.]