WINTER MEET STATS: 113-21-22-17 / $112.40 (-$113.60) BEST BETS: 8-3-2-1 / $11.20 (-$4.00) SPOT PLAYS: 8-2-1-2 / $13.20 (-$2.80) BEST BET: LYONS LIBERTY (6th) SPOT PLAY: ABSOLUTE POWER (7th) Race 1: Trackmaster 71 (NW L2 73) or less - Pick 5 (4) IM THE MUSCLE hasn’t been seen in 33 days but that isn’t uncommon for this field which has dealt with a number of weather-related cancellations. He’s won his last two starts in this class and could very well be odds-on. Gelding is difficult to love at that price but it is just as hard to find another appealing option. (7) JULA TACTICALSON stayed trotting in his second go with hobbles added. Perhaps the time off helped him. (2) CASINO MAGIC wasn’t very good in her return from four months on the sidelines. She can build off that mile. [DRF HARNESS: Get Harness Eye PPs for this card] Race 2: Trackmaster 74.5 (NW L2 76.81) or less (3) DUCK INTO THE NITE was pretty sharp when last seen and was racing well from difficult posts. Mare has missed five weeks but trainer/driver Hernandez should have her ready from a rare good starting slot. (1) ALWAYS BE CITY wasn’t much of a threat first over last time but did hold her ground very well to be third in that mile. While she may be better off a level lower, you can say that about many in here. (9) TWIN B EMPRESS brushed to the front and lost to the horse on her back last weekend. She’s certainly a threat but one that will have a tougher time from the outside post. (5) ALMOST KAREN and (6) CATNAP are both capable with a smooth trip. Race 3: Meadowlands Amateur Drivers Club 1 Pace - $40,684 Carryover Pick 8 (4) THE OPENER was in what I consider to be the tougher amateur division last week and seems to have landed in a softer spot now. Six-year-old is versatile and lands a perfect post to race from on or off the pace. (8) ROJAN’S WAY returns to the amateur ranks and it would be no surprise to see Hernandez fire off the gate. (5) FLYING TIGER has been pretty good from off the pace and this field does have some early speed players on the outside of the gate to potentially set up his rally. Race 4: Non-winners $7,500 (NW L2 $8,326—drawn outside) or TM 83.5 (NW L2 85.5) or less (7) SOFT LANDING has missed some time but that isn’t usually a big issue for this barn, which is finally starting to awaken after a long dry spell to start the year. Notice his last try here was his best recent mile. (4) TOM SWIFTY is as good as any in here if he decides to trot tonight. (3) AARDIESBYTHEHILL N drops down but did have to settle for second as the chalk in his last appearance in this class. (5) YANK MY HALO is the stablemate of the top pick. He was super last time and could be a handful if he can drop more time. Race 5: Trackmaster 77.5 (NW L2 79.60) or less (8) SOEUR MARY has been super since switching barns and while this is another bump up in class, I don’t see any reason to jump ship since the price should remain reasonable. (7) CRAZY SUPERSPORT gets an interesting driver change this week and really wasn’t bad back in December. (4) SHORESY gets a barn change that will be sure to attract tote attention. The qualifier looks nice on paper but I wasn’t thrilled with his gait and if asked he may’ve made another miscue. (1) VELOCIRAPTOR is a capable horse and I wouldn’t be shocked if he raced well at a price. Race 6: $7,500 Claiming - $50K GTD Pick 4 (3) LYONS LIBERTY gets out of post 10 this week and will surely have an easier road to the front. Veteran should be in play early. (1) LEAVE AND ROLL is perfect in three starts since the claim. He remains in the same class and is hard to ignore. (5) LOORRIM LAKE A didn’t do much in the qualifier and was impeded and uninvolved before that. Those two lines could lead to a nice price on a horse that is far from impossible. (9) ROCK JAGGER has the early speed to get into play and seems worth using underneath in the exotics. Race 7: Non-winners $7,500 (NW L2 $8,250) in last 5 or TM 83.5 (NW L2 85.5) or less (6) ABSOLUTE POWER wasn’t put in play last time and got hung up in all kinds of traffic while having sneaky late pace. I can see a tactical adjustment coming here and big early speed on display. (8) FEARLESS BETTOR was hung every step last time and didn’t even have a chance to relax on cover because they were going so fast to the half. Any decent trip would make her a big threat. (7) CHANCEOFLIGHTNING was used very hard while hung out to dry in her last appearance. She’s another who could win if things go more smoothly. (4) GOING AWAY has been in form for some time and should be along for an exotics share again. Race 8: Winners over $12,500 in last 5 or $50,000 lifetime/NW $12,500 (NW L2 $14,000) last 5 draw inside - Pick 6 (2) FINITE put in a huge effort to just miss last time. If he somehow has his head screwed on straight then a win is certainly in his grasp. (7) BESTFRIEND VOLO wired the field when last seen here and there seems to be a reasonable chance he can make the top without too much issue tonight. (3) MISSISSIPPI STORM settled in and finished full of trot in his qualifier. This classy millionaire is very capable of winning. (1) HIGH SPEED SWAN was bet off the board and simply came up short last time. He might be overbet a bit because of the broken equipment but it was just a gaiting pole and it didn’t seem to affect him. (6) SUPER DUPER COOPER keeps Beckwith over #7. Race 9: $10,000 Claiming (6) SKYWAY MASTERPIECE wasn’t awful in his first start for this barn and now he’s had some time to acclimate and qualified back nicely. I wouldn’t take a short price but he’s got a big shot. (9) THE WILL TO PLAY had some equipment issues in his last two pari-mutuel starts. The return qualifier was solid. (1) SWIFTY LAZAR looks fine on paper if you ignore the break last time. (2) LOU ON THE BEACH probably picked up some confidence in that last win but this is a much tougher spot. Race 10: Non-winners $2,500 (NW L2 $3,100) in last 5/TM 77.5 (NW L2/2L6 79.55/80) or less - $50K GTD Pick 4 (5) REMI LOU A got caught in a fast mile when last seen here on January 9. I know the last line doesn’t look great but usually losses that bad are easily explainable and anomalies. (6) PUSSYCAT DOLL GB drops after being second in a higher class off a long break in action. She can definitely show more here. (3) LISA LANE took a shot last time and tired as expected. At least it was a positive move and one she can build upon. Race 11: Trackmaster 74.5 (NW L2 76.50) or less (6) CANDY BOMBER put in two nice efforts here before breaking last time returning from five weeks on the sidelines. Maybe he was just too hyped up after not racing for a while. I can see a return to form on the class drop. (5) HOOFBEATS DE VIE is another class-dropper; should be heading to the top; keeps Boyd over the top pick. (3) REMARKABLE DE VIE was a bit flat having missed 31 days prior to his last start; more now? Race 12: Non-winners $5,000 (NW L2 $5,500) in last 5/TM 80.5 (NW L2 82.5) or less (6) SHEZ THE REASON A was raced conservatively in her U.S. qualifying debut but came home strong to pick up a win. She lands in a softer spot than usual for imports and should have a chance to succeed. (4) SIMPLY PERFECT was used hard last time and stuck outside in the previous start; class drop tonight. (1) MANHATTAN PROJECT qualified back ok. He was racing well when last seen in this class. Race 13: Non-winners $2,500 (NW L2 $3,000) in last 5 or in 2025/NW 2 races life (9) B MO and (8) KING OF GREEN both arrive for new trainer Scott DiDomenico having missed some time but showing a good qualifier. Either could pick up their game on the big track and both should be a fair price. (3) GOO FOR BROKE lured Beckwith off the top two but it is for a barn he drives for regularly. [DRF HARNESS: Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter] Race 14: Trackmaster 68 (NW L4 69.35) or less (4) OAHU was put on the front again last week despite my desire to see her race from off a helmet. The road to the front should be even easier this time around and here’s hoping that she’ll finally get a pocket trip or will go so slow on the lead it won’t matter. (9) PEARL HARBOUR N is the other mare that has shown speed rather often. The post isn’t ideal but if she doesn’t have too much company the path to success is doable. (3) BABY DOLL JEN won in this class two starts back but is far from reliable. (10) GIRL ALMIGHTY drops back down to the class where she’s been comfortable; post hurts. Race 15: Trackmaster 71 (NW L2 73.05) or less (8) POWERED BY MACH drops and makes just her second start since October. I expect her to be sharper now and that Herschberger is driving means something. This feels like a spot where Brett Beckwith will place (2) RONA MAE in the perfect spot despite the class rise. Her recent tries in this class haven’t been great but they haven’t been awful either. (4) PHELGON was a winner when last seen five weeks ago. She’s as good as any in here. (3) SPROUT should get the front easily enough but rarely lasts the mile.