MEET STATS: 171-65-40-26 / $293.40 (-$48.60) BEST BETS: 18-12-3-0  /$32.00 (-$4.00) SPOT PLAYS: 18-4-5-2 / $36.20 (+0.20) BEST BETS:   #2 BUEBIRD CRUSH  (9th Race) SPOT PLAY:   #7 WILD AS HER (2nd Race) Race 1: F&M TrackMaster 68.5 (4) PRINCESS GLYDANA has just four wins in 76 starts in 2023-24 but she has been caught in some fast races the last few, cashing checks in seven of her last eight, including a win at this level five back on 10/18 in 1:58. She has the fastest TrackMaster rating and she consistently shows the fastest last quarters in a group like this. She just needs a good trip in here to find the winner’s circle. (1) CUTTING HUMOR has good early speed and should be on the lead or in the pocket here. Three back on 11/1, she went wire-to-wire from the pole at this level with Mark Herschberger. (2) LIFE’S ILLUSIONS has hit the board in four consecutive races. She’s a bit camera shy with just three wins in 45 races from 2023-24 but she is well positioned to make some noise. [DRF HARNESS: Get Harness Eye PPs for this card] Race 2: F&M NW1 with Allowances (Pick 4) (7) WILD AS HER had as an adventurous of a first career start last week as you will see. She left and never saw the rail. She went three wide around the second turn, then ducked back into cover, floated three wide a bit out of the third turn, was three wide around the final turn and still had pace in the lane, finishing third in a game effort. Sure she’s not the most likely winner here, but she should have value and the late blooming 4-year-old seems to have some talent. (3) BROWNSVILLE got a perfect view of an early battle last week from the pocket and then exploded around the 3/4 mark and won easily at this level as the 2:5 favorite. She has hit the board in four of her eight career starts and looms a short price again. (8) BELL OF LAZARUS is an intriguing wild card. This 2-year-old has hit the board in all four career starts out of town including an impressive third place finish at Saratoga in her first career start in 1:57 3/5. (1) T H MRS MCMURRY struggled for a long time at this level with just three exacta finishes in her first 29 races but she has been a different horse of late. She has hit the board four consecutive times including a win two back at 8:5. [DRF BETS: Wager on today's Freehold Raceway card at DRF Bets.com!] RACE 3: TrackMaster 68.5 (Trot) (5) KING CAST went wire-to-wire at this level two back on 11/8 at 9:5 and meets a field void of early speed. He has hit the board in four of his last seven and has cashed checks in six of those starts. He really should be able to set a tepid pace and go down the road. (2) LIMERENCE has been battling in the Amateurs of late but when last seen in condition, he was battling at a one level higher than this. On 10/4 at a higher level, he tried to take them down the road but got nailed late, settling for third. The 10-yeard-old veteran has a bit of back class and he is a clear second choice. (8) CLASSIC PLAYTER is 0-14 on the year and draws horribly again but he has some back class and ability. Last week he left from the outside, tucked and then came uncovered and put in a solid effort for fourth. Things will really need to go his way in here but he easily could hit the ticket. Race 4: F&M TrackMaster 68.5/Optional Claiming $5,000 (4) WESTERN ROSIE remains a bit of a mystery. She has three wins and two second place finishes in her last seven races. However, her last two races were a bit disappointing. Last week at 1:20 odds at this level, she was a distant third. She is being dangled again for a $5,000 tag. Will there be any takers? She is vulnerable, but I expect her to be on the front end and there are really only two other contenders in here.  (5) SHAKE IT TWICE was also disappointing last week finishing a non-threatening second at 1:5 odds at this level. She has a ton of back class including a win at the Meadowlands earlier this year in 1:51 4/5. (2) SWEET FEAR moves inside and was a winner three back at this level on 11/1. She also won here on 10/3 in 1:56 1/5 and she could sit the pocket here. Race 5: F&M TrackMaster 72.5 (Pick 5) (2) ALMOST KAREN doesn’t show much recently on the form but has been facing far better in some fast races. Today she meets five horses moving up in class and draws well and she has the best TrackMaster in the field. She has back class and also won earlier here this year in 1:56. (7) GIRL ALMIGHTY has been super of late with three wins in her last four and has hit the board in six of her last seven. Three back on 11/1 she won at this level with a masterful drive by Mark Herschberger at 30-1 from the same seven post. Can she do it again? (4) LYONS SHELBY has been a bit disappointing this meet but she went wire-to-wire her last start at a lower level going the second time for leading trainer, Izzy Estrada. Improvement is expected. Race 6: TrackMaster 72.5 (Trot) (Pick 4) (4) PETER’S ROYALTY won here at this level on 10/11 and followed it up with a strong second place finish on 10/18 when he tried to go wire-to-wire but got nailed late, losing by a neck. He picks up Jimmy Marohn, Jr. and is a real threat despite just one win in 33 starts in 2024. (5) PARODY meets the weakest field he has met in quite awhile and should be a factor. (3) HOLD ME CLOSER has broken stride in four of her last five pari-mutuel starts but stayed flat last week in her qualifier, chasing a runaway pacer. She has three wins here this meet, including a 1:59 mile and if she minds her manners, she is a major factor. RACE 7: F&M NW $2500 L5/TrackMaster 75.5 (5) MADDY N MAGGIE moves up a notch and goes for her fifth straight victory for Izzy Estrada. She has been dominant in all four wins, going wire-to-wire at odds ranging from 1:9 to 2:5. There really isn’t much early speed in here and she should be able to find herself on the front end again at low odds. (4) CORSINI A has hit the board in 16-36 tries this year and usually makes a good account of herself. She has finished second four times in her last seven races. (7) GAITWAY GAL has been facing tougher much of the year and has the class to overcome the bad draw. She was a solid third last week to the top choice here despite a difficult trip. (1) BELIKETHIS is an intriguing 3-year-old joining the barn of a sharp trainer, Doug Dilloian. She had been racing at Hoosier and comes in off a sharp qualifier. [DRF HARNESS: Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter] Race 8: TrackMaster 68.5 (4) BOURBONS COURAGE moves inside after two consecutive seven posts and has had a bunch of excuses of late between bad posts and uncovered trips. He meets a weak field here and just needs a decent trip or change in tactics. (5) MISTER GODRO has 52 career wins and some back class and faces a fairly weak group. He makes his fourth start off the bench and should be able to make an impact in here. (8) REASSURANCE is a complete wild card. The three year old goes first time for Kelly Lancaster-Dailey. She was competing in some minor stakes races in the Prince Edwards Islands in Canada and shows some pretty impressive and fast lines. (3) GAIUS CRASTINUS won here at even money two back at this level and drops back down after one try at an elevated level. However, his miles lately haven’t been overly impressive, as is evidenced by the second lowest TrackMaster rating in the field. Race 9: F&M TrackMaster 68.5 (2) BLUEBIRD CRUSH finally draws back inside after five consecutive bad draws. She won at this level back on 9/27 in 1:57 3/5, a mile which would likely crush this field. Between facing tougher and bad draws, she has a myriad of excuses and she’s a major player here against an abysmal field, which is the easiest she has faced in months. (4) MYSTIQUE GIRL has earned checks in six of her last seven but has just one win in 48 career starts. I don’t expect anyone to beat my top choice here so this Joe Martin trainee is a legitimate candidate to round out the exacta. (7) UNNREAL won at this level on 10/11 and displayed some solid final quarters here in October. She’s been a bit roughed up lately but could find her way on to the ticket here.