FINAL FALL MEET STATS: 328-101-65-39 / $743.20 (+$87.20) BEST BETS: 25-10-3-3 / $32.20 (-$17.80) SPOT PLAYS: 25-8-4-4 / $44.80 (-$5.20) BEST BET: PISCES RISING (4th) SPOT PLAY: WARRAWEE YANKEE (3rd) Race 1: Trackmaster 71 (NW L2 73.05) or less - Pick 5 (10) DEFAMATION was racing very well against mostly 3- and 4-year-olds at The Meadows. While she tackles older now and has drawn outside, this isn’t the toughest group in the world and she does possess early speed. I’d be willing to take a shot here as she changes barns. (1) SPROUT should be pushing away hard from the inside. I don’t love her as a top pick but respect her chances to get a big piece of the exotics. (6) SWEET SANDY is another with some early speed. She’s been third in consecutive starts in the class. (3) CATNAP gets post and class relief tonight. (8) GUMBELL has won on the big track at Hoosier and it would be no surprise if she raced well here at a price. [DRF HARNESS: Get Harness Eye PPs for this card] Race 2: Winners 2-4 (NW L2 5) races or $55,000 (NW L2 $60,000) life (7) EXQUISITE TASTE returned from a couple of months on the sidelines with a solid effort at Philly from off the pace. Four-year-old can win and stay in the class, so I expect a strong effort from a mare that was third in the Ontario Super Final in October at Mohawk. (5) SUNBRUNT SILVERADO has won more than 50 percent of his starts and did pick up a win in his second try here. This guy may just have the tactical edge with his early speed. (6) NET WEIGHT came back from a long break with a win at Philly and would be no surprise in here. (8) KANON LASER DK won at first asking for Engblom on Christmas Eve at Philly and is another contender in a nice race. Race 3: Meadowlands Amateur Drivers Club 1 Pace - Survivor 7 (3) WARRAWEE YANKEE won multiple amateur races here in 2025 and the comeback qualifier with a 27-second final quarter shows he’s ready. Silva trainee doesn’t land in the best field and should be close to the action. (1) MUSCLE FACTORY A enters the amateur ranks but more importantly faces a much softer group than in his most recent races; using in the Pick 5. (7) THE OPENER doesn’t have too much early speed to his inside and could fire out for a good piece. Race 4: Non-winners $5,000 (NW L2 $5,500) in last 5/TM 80.5 (NW L2 82.5) or less (3) PISCES RISING really has no chance last time against tougher from an outside post in his first start since August. Ron Burke-trained charge is every bit as fast as any in here and certainly seems likely to be aggressive with some sluggish foes to his inside. (1) BANK ON ME has some ability and may finally be able to get back on track now that hobbles have been added. I wouldn’t take a short price but could back him at 4-1 or higher. (5) LOVE THIS BAR comes back to The Meadowlands where he won in this class on October 18. (6) STAMPED BY LINDY was second in this condition last time. Race 5: Non-winners $7,500 (NW L2 $8,250) in last 5 or 5 (NW L2 6) races life/TM 83.5 (NW L2 85.5) or less (1) TIE THE KNOT couldn’t pick up a win at Dayton in races where she had to do too much work. She’ll likely make one early brush to the front here or race from behind and either trip would give her a shot moving back to the big track. (6) SS SUPERSTAR has only one career start on a big track and that came over two years ago. Mare had some form when last seen and it will be interesting to see if she picks up her game on the bigger oval. (9) ABSOLUTE POWER comes off a pair of show finishes in this class and she certainly has the early zip to get into the race from the outside post. (4) TWIN B SUNKISSED was good two starts back but awful last time. It’s hard to say she has no shot but even more impossible to feel confident about her chances. Race 6: $17,500-$20,000 Claiming Handicap - $50K GTD Pick 4 (6) OAKWOOD DYNASTY IR seems to be better suited to bigger tracks judging by recent results. Driver change this week can make a difference as well. (4) ODDS ON SARA SARA drops in for a tag for the first time since October and this represents a new low price for her as well. Sharp 5-year-old is clearly the one to beat. (8) IDEAL SKIES also dips down into a lower claiming condition. Slightly better post this week is also a plus. (5) BOUT DAMN TIME A lured Beckwith off my top pick. Race 7: Non-winners $5,000 (NW L2 $5,500) in last 5/TM 80.5 (NW L2 82.5) or less (3) CHANCEOFLIGHTNING tries the mile track with Yonkers closed and it’s worth noting that his one big track start last year was a solid second at Vernon timed in 1:52. While this barn has started off the meet slow, this gal seems to be in a good spot to get them off the donut and in the win column. At the very least we’ll get a fair price with the trainer in the bike. (1) TH RIZZO came first over and was a good second behind the horse she escorted into the race on her back. She seems to fit nicely in here. (4) MANHATTAN PROJECT raced very well here in this class two starts back. Race 8: Trackmaster 77.5 (NW L2/2L4 79.52/77.90) or less - Pick 6 This is a tricky race and one where I’ll go deep in the Pick 4. It plays more like a TM74 on paper and (6) SHANGRI LA HANOVER has been in that class once before when finishing second. I can see her picking up her game back on the mile oval. (1) DELITFULCATHERIN N was backed into last time and considering how she finished, maybe she choked down. Either way, an improved mile seems likely. (4) CINDY’S FAITH and (5) JUST ROSAS LUCK are both making their Meadowlands debut. Either one seems capable of winning given a smooth journey. Race 9: Non-winners $12,500 (NW L2 $14,000) in last 5 or 9 (NW L2 10) races life/TM 86.5 (NW L2 88.5) or less (8) BUSY MAKING MONI hasn’t raced on a larger track since his 3-year-old season in 2023 and won multiple races back then in 1:54. He kept good company in limited starts last year and if he is ready at first asking for a barn that typically sends them out ready, we should get paid with Beckwith going to #7 and Smith in the bike. (6) SUPER DUPER COOPER was too far off the gate last week and got away slowly. While he worked out a good trip and came up flat, I’m inclined to give him another shot. (5) AARDIEBYTHEHILL N seems to be past any breaking issues now; clear threat. (1) BE DIFFERENT posted a promising effort from post 10 last time. My only hesitation is that he may be overbet off that mile. (7) FINITE is certainly capable but very risky due to his breaking issues. Race 10: Non-winners $12,500 (NW L2 $13,750) in last 5 or 9 (NW L2 10) races life/TM 86.7 (NW L2 88.5) or less - $50K GTD Pick 4 (9) TICK A LOCH A dropped a few tics and sprinted home in 26 seconds to capture her second qualifier on these shores. Import lands in a high class but seems worth a shot as long as she isn’t bet off the board. (5) LAURIE LEE raced conservatively last time when in against a 1-5 shot that was dropping in class. She’s not as bad as she looked last time. (2) PRESSURE COOKER got stretched out a bit last time in her first Meadowlands start since 2023. Don’t be surprised if she steps up with a solid mile. Race 11: Non-winners $7,500 (NW L2 $8,300) in last 5/TM 83.5 (NW L2 85.5) or less (1) IWON’T BACKDOWN AS was better when last seen a few weeks ago and if he’s anything close to on his game the rest of these are in trouble. (5) ROCKET MAN HILL is always a dangerous horse when he can sit close and not be on the lead. If he works out that trip and the top one doesn’t show up, watch out. (4) HAT TRICK MARLEAU wasn’t going anywhere from post eight last time. Veteran should be going to the front this week and get a check but the big track hasn’t been his ideal setup. Race 12: Non-winners 2 (NW L2 3) races or $20,000 (NW L2 $30,000) life/Maidens draw inside (10) COVER THE CROWN faces a very soft group and could provide some value from the far outside post. Chisholm should fire out and put her in position. (2) HOUSE BLEND is probably going to be the favorite here but still remains 1-for-21 in her career. (7) DREAM SHOT is technically the fastest horse in the field. She can improve on her last effort versus older foes. [DRF HARNESS: Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter] Race 13: Non-winners $2,500 (NW L2 $3,100) in last 5 (3) ROMA AMOR raced much better on the class drop last time and moving in a few spots on the gate might be just the slight edge she needs to get over the top versus a blank field. (9) PAIGE PERFECT takes the same drop as the top pick took last week. She has the speed to overcome the outside post and turned in two of her best races in 2025 in January over this track. (7) INTENSE LADY won a ton of races in 2025 but comes with the uncertainty of a four-week absence and limited big track experience. Race 14: Trackmaster 68 (NW L4 69) or less I’m not really excited about any of these and thus I want to land on a horse that should be a fair price. (5) TARGARYEN EMPRESS won in this class five starts back and has been fairly competitive of late. I’m hoping she sits just off the pace and has a chance to pounce off cover. (6) MISS YOU JOANN owns the best form with four on-the-board finishes in her last five starts. Still, it is hard to get excited about betting her. (3) PHELGON has been off form but is certainly capable in this condition. (1) EXCITING TIMES A looks awful on paper but is getting a nice driver change.