Best Bet: ROCK ON LINE (2nd) Spot Play: IWILLMAKEYOUSAYWOW (13th) Race 3 - $25,000 Guaranteed Pick Five Pool Race 8 - $50,000 Guaranteed Pick Four Pool MEET STATS: 102 - 390 / $706.90 (-$73.10) BEST BETS: 11 - 31 / $38.70 (-$23.30) Race 1 It is rare that I alter my selection due to a driver change, but (4) HOT SUMMER KNIGHT moved up from second to first for me after Yannick Gingras was listed to drive. The 7-year-old gelding comes off a nice win versus slightly cheaper last week and is more than capable of stringing together some wins. (3) DANISH DURANGO raced well with an amateur driver last time; Pantaleano drove him to victory two starts back. (8) STAR STUDDED CAST has the early speed to gun to the front and should hang around for a nice piece of the exotics. (2) COMMENTARY was a bit better last time. Race 2 (10) ROCK ON LINE looked like a champ in his first start back at The Meadowlands and despite the perceived class rise tonight, there is no reason why he can’t dominate again. (6) JOE’S BID missed a head to a pair of Open horses in his lone qualifier. I’d say that means he’s ready off the bench. (1) ROCKIN MACHINE has been racing well and does get a good post to utilize his early speed. Race 3 (6) YO APOLLO CREED has caught sloppy tracks in both return races. While heavy rain is expected Friday, the track should have a chance to recover with a dry Saturday and give this guy the opportunity to shine. (1) LIFE HAPPENED dropped three seconds in his second start of the year and seems to be moving in the right direction. (4) UNCLE COZ also improved in his second start for a barn that tends to bring them along slowly. (5) WILLIE JOE HILL faced some killers in his qualifier so don’t hold the 15-plus length losing margin against him. Race 4 (10) ULTIMATE BEACHBOY went an even mile with a solid 27-second final quarter in his first race since December 2 last week. Career winner of $466K has his work cut out for him from post 10 but doesn’t exactly face a group of monsters. (6) SPAGHETTI EDDIE is another in his second start off the bench and he actually finished ahead of the top pick last time. Career winner of over 20% of his races should fit with these. (3) JOJO JOVE is off a win and has the tactical speed to make some noise. (8) IDEAL SHADOW is more than capable of winning, but when a horse misses a week lame and then misses three more weeks after his next start, I get leery. Race 5 (3) MAY I CRUISE WEST drops down and has plenty of early speed in a field that seems to lack that quality. (7) TWINCREEKS JESSE was a winner when last seen at the NW3500 level. (6) PARTY JAMMER & (4) ALONEINSPADES are both legitimate trip candidates. Race 6 (9) DANCINGWITHDELIGHT posted an even mile in his first start since October. He drops in for a tag against a soft group in his second start for Ron Burke and figures to bring a good effort. (4) SOUTHERN PURSUIT N has speed and decent form but can’t get over the top. (6) CHIP WALTHER gets a new pilot. Maybe Napolitano can get him going. Race 7 (5) DR J HANOVER was urged home and proved game in the stretch in his second comeback qualifier. Canadian record-holder (1:46 4/5) gets a key spot just inside the two winners last week and could use that to his advantage. (4) HUG THE WIND N hasn’t appeared comfortable on those sloppy tracks recently. If the track is close to fast his stock goes up for me. (7) WSTERN JOE has been the king of this class. Outside post tonight hurts. Race 8 This is a tough race to decipher on paper and I definitely want to end up with at least a double-digit horse on top come post time. I’ll try (3) BLAISE MM HANOVER, who understandably couldn’t sweep the field from last a week ago but raced well. It’s been a long time between good posts for this guy and don’t be shocked if he shows up at a healthy price. (6) QUALITY CLOSER ran into a powerful group while up in class last time. He should be ready for a peak effort in his third start since August. (1) BIG STRETCH MARK is sharp enough to handle this field given the right trip. (9) MR EUROMAN N qualified well but has a tough task ahead from the outside post. Race 9 (3) RAKSMACH N qualified in good order and seems to have found a good spot for his U.S. debut. (1) ALTA LEROY N has plenty of early speed and an inside post to stay close to the action. He could trip-out at a price. (10) COWBOY TERRIER is certainly sharp. Can Gingras overcome post 10? (4) TITUS SEELSTER gets some nice class relief in his second start back from vacation. Race 10 (5) ALL WEEK was glued to the pylons too long and despite a late charge couldn’t make it to the wire first. Hopefully Pantaleano will be a bit more aggressive this week. (8) ROCKNROLL WILDCATS is down in class and reunites with Gingras. (3) DUNE DUDE won when last in this condition. Race 11 (5) BEYOND DELIGHT was steady from the back in his first start since September. Against a field without a clear standout, he can step up. (4) SISKEL worked out a nice trip and picked up the win last time. Why not again? (6) BIG TOP HANOVER has some form but keeps tiring in the late stages. He moves to the outside of the gate this week and perhaps will change tactics. Race 12 (2) BETTOR’S EDGE gets away from the top class as he is written into this race on the AE condition. With many of the other contenders coming back from layoffs, he has the clear edge. (4) GREAT VINTAGE dug down deep to get up for the win in his last qualifier; Gingras on board now. (5) BEAT THE DRUM has won three straight but gets tested for class. Race 13 I’ve been waiting for the right spot to get back on the bandwagon of (1) IWILLMAKEYOUSAYWOW. This is it! He drops in class and adds Gingras for a barn that finally picked up a win last weekend. I’m expecting a big performance. (4) EVER AGAIN has some bad looking PP lines but also gets class relief and is more than capable. (6) IAMMRBRIGHTSIDE N has been closing well from the back. Can Mann keep him close enough to menace late? (2) BAGGAGE CLAIM goes from the third claiming level to the bottom condition level and could awaken. [DRF HARNESS NEWSLETTER: Sign Up for the FREE DRF Harness Newsletter. Fresh content and insights delivered each Thursday.]