WINTER MEET STATS: 126-34-16-13 / $222.60 (-$32.40) BEST BETS: 9-2-3-0 / $7.80 (-$10.20) SPOT PLAYS: 9-1-2-0 / $4.00 (-$14.00) BEST BET: SALEM SEELSTER (11th) SPOT PLAY: LUKE’S BAR (5th) Race 1: Meadowlands Amateur Drivers Club 1 Pace - Pick 5 (1) URBAN RENEWAL moves to the inside of the gate where his early speed will play and I don’t see that much of it in this field. He should be sitting pretty in striking position. (2) IAMMRBRIGHTSIDE N missed four weeks and now has missed three more. Is one start in seven weeks enough to keep a 15-year-old sharp? Maybe the gaps in his lines help bump up the price at post time. (7) HEARTLANDSBANYSBRO went way too fast on the engine last time. New driver Yogi Sheridan should have him forwardly placed again in a field that seems to lack early zip. (10) SUNSHINE’S FINEST took advantage of the pace in a great spot last time. He’s sharp enough to overcome post 10 but I’d want 4-1 or higher to even consider playing him. [DRF HARNESS: Get Harness Eye PPs for this card] Race 2: Trackmaster 68.5 (NW L2/2L4 69/69.5) or less This condition breeds longshots and (6) MARE OF THE CITY should fit that bill. She really hasn’t had a chance lately due to pace, post or class. This spot suits her nicely if the trip works out. (2) THANEEYA has been caught in some faster miles of late. I’m inclined to ignore her last dull mile and expect a rebound on the class drop. (1) SHES A BULLVILLE has been consistent in this TM68 condition and you have to expect she’ll be close to the pace. (5) JUST MY MAMA is in the best form of this group and I fear that means she’ll be the chalk. She could win but I’d need at least 3-1 to play along. Race 3: $7,500 Claiming - Survivor 7 (9) BETTER THAN SOME went nowhere last time while up a level in claiming price from an outside post. He gets a new driver now and I believe we’ll see him handled much more aggressively. (3) I’M BURLINGTON N has some early speed and form; very playable. (5) SHORE OF HIMSELF plunges three levels on the claiming ladder while adding Lasix off a trio of ugly efforts. Your guess is as good as mine whether he awakens. I’ll probably watch him score down and see what he looks like. Race 4: Meadowlands Amateur Drivers Club 1 Pace (5) BARGAIN SHOPPER has been in some tough spots lately and now tries the amateur ranks while picking up a good pilot. Barn has won a couple of races this year here and despite that this guy should offer some value. (2) FEELIN AMERICAN has been here a couple of times recently without much success but I do believe he’s better than he’s shown. Hopefully with the inside post tonight Morris will keep him in play. (4) HES A SWEETHEART has the early speed to fire to the front but falls a bit short on form; awakens? (1) YER SO BAD is very consistent in these amateur races but I fear he’ll be the favorite. I’ll probably fade him and hope things don’t go his way. Race 5: Non-winners 2 (NW L2 3) races or $20,000 (NW L2 $30,000) life/Maidens draw inside (4) LUKE’S BAR did all the heavy lifting on the lead and just got nipped at the wire by (1) ROCK MY UNIVERSE last time. Considering Luke was making his first start in 18 months, more can be expected in his second start back. The latter certainly responded to the addition of hobbles and is a clear contender. Unfortunately he’ll be odds-on with Miller taking the lines. (7) STRIKING TACTFUL and (6) CHUCK are both contenders on their best but the former will offer a much better price despite having raced just about as well or better recently. (8) THEOBALD shows a bunch of lines that would make him very competitive versus this group; needs a trip. Race 6: Non-winners $3,000 (NW L2 $3,300) in last 4/TM 77.5 (NW L2/2L4 78/78.5) or less - $50K GTD Pick 4 (8) SHEZAFREAKLIKEME had pace at the end of her mile last time when clear in the stretch and she gets to drop a notch tonight. Chiodo is very capable of firing out here in a very winnable spot. (1) YOU BEDA ROCK was second in this condition a week ago and the inside post should keep him close to the action. (3) SPROUT is a very competent horse if she decides to bring her “A” game. (7) BIG CITY DAISY went a big mile three starts back. Can she find that effort again tonight? (9) SWEETEST BELLE is a bit of an unknown because he was completely taken out of the race last time by dead cover. Will she improve in start two since August? I’ll probably use her on some tickets. Race 7: Trackmaster 71.5 (NW L2/2L4 72/72.5) or less/Opt. $7,500 Clm. (9) LYONS MIKI faces the cheapest field in her career tonight and her form is actually pretty good. Dropping in claiming price from $12,500 to $7,500 you have to expect she’ll be hustled away from the gate. (6) GOING AWAY won by open lengths when last in the TM71.5 condition. (2) ALMOST KAREN wasn’t very good after six weeks on the sidelines. Miller joins the team now and don’t be shocked if she wakes up in a big way. (4) SEASIDE MAMA was overbet and didn’t deliver in her first start for new trainer Per Engblom; second time’s the charm? Race 8: $15,000-$20,000 Claiming Handicap - Pick 6 (10) SHINKANSEN went another big mile last week in defeat and he won the start before. The outside post is never appealing but he’s proven capable of overcoming it. (1) MASSIVE MATTER has slowly been coming into form and I wouldn’t be shocked if tonight was his night. (8) MONI’S HEAVEN CENT has big early speed and he’s back in a barn where he’s has success. Race 9: Trackmaster 74.5 (NW L2/2L4 75/75.5) or less/Opt. $12,500 Clm. (4) IDEAL SKIES had a bit of a tough go early in the mile last time and ended up losing by a head to (5) FIRSTUP. The two hook up again here and look like the clear ones to beat. (8) FEARLESS SHELIA comes down from Canada for a new barn and perhaps she’ll show more. Race 10: $15,000 Claiming - $50K GTD Pick 4 (5) GOOD ROCKIN reunites with Miller this week and the last time they hooked up in a 15K claimer the result was a going away victory. He should be firing out tonight and sitting no worse than the pocket. (1) ALLSTAR CHEDDAR has raced well in this class and he’s a clear contender. (8) APERTIF was used from post 10 last time and still came up with a nice mile to be second; the other one to consider. Race 11: Non-winners $3,000 (NW L2 $3,340) in last 4/TM 77.5 (NW L2/2L4/2L6 78/78.5/78.75) or less (7) SALEM SEELSTER saved all the ground and was a very willing third when clear last week behind a couple of horses that would be clear favorites in this spot. Four-year-old makes his third start back from a six week layoff and seemed primed for a big mile on the class drop. (9) CHIPLOSIVE showed signs of life in his last try on January 31. Was that a result of the slower race or a form reversal for a classy veteran? I’m willing to take a positive view at the right price. (3) RECKLESS REVIVER drops for the third straight week and has to awaken one of these days, right? He sat on cover last time with a two length lead on the top pick and was easily passed. Race 12: Trackmaster 71.5 (NW L2/2L4 72/72.75) or less (2) MISSISSIPPI RABBIT rallied well from the back of the pack in his first start since last October. Any forward progression off that mile would make him a serious contender. (9) CLAYTONS BETTOR N dropped and popped last time. He’s back up a level on the TM scale but has won here before as has the early speed to overcome the post. (1) THE OPENER won in this class a few starts back and only needs the right setup to have a shot. (10) PACK YOUR BAGS will probably be the value play due to the outside starting slot. Notice he has a win and a second in his last two starts in this class. [DRF HARNESS: Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter] Race 13: Trackmaster 73.5 (NW L2/2L4 74/74.5) or less (4) JAYDENS PRIDE might scare some people away due to a string of off the board finishes, but he is getting a key condition shift this week. Those NW2 races he’s coming out of typically go in 1:55 while these horses tend to hover in the 1:58 or 1:59 range during the winter months. He’s worth a flyer in here. (8) BACARDI was parked every step of the mile and three-wide the entire final turn in a narrow defeat to a pair of ground-saving horses last time. Get ready for a short price on this contender. (2) LANDIA rode decent cover and was flat as a pancake when it counted. Can he step forward off that mile? Race 14: Trackmaster 68.5 (NW L2/2L4 69/69.5) or less This field has a combined 11 wins in 309 starts dating back to the start of 2024, so it is hard to get excited about any of them on the win end. (8) SKYWAY BILLY finally gets out of the 10 hole and actually raced well despite that handicap last time. Hopefully he’s put in play tonight. (1) SARGEANT SONNY failed at 4-5 last time but deserves another shot. (3) MAKE IT BIG gets an interesting driver change this week from the 81-year-old trainer to a 30-year-old catch-driver.