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: I’LL HUNT YOU DOWN (12th) SPOT PLAY: BACARDI (13th) Race 1: Meadowlands Amateur Drivers Club 1 Pace - Pick 5 (5) ROJAN’S WAY has been placed in impossible spots in his last two amateur starts from outside posts. This is a sharp barn that will recognize the winning spot and do everything they can to have this 10-year-old ready to roll. (9) HASHTAG MONEY & (8) SHORE OF HIMSELF are two interesting horses with the potential to show early speed in a race that appears to be lacking that quality. If either one finds a clear shot at the front they can get a big piece of the pie. [DRF HARNESS: Get Harness Eye PPs for this card] Race 2: Trackmaster 68 (NW L2/L4 69/70) or less (4) PHELGON took a big shot at the 3-5 pacesetter and battled valiantly in defeat last time. She’s as playable as anyone in this class. Maybe we can get the Hernandez barn double home. (8) JUST MY MAMA lacks clear form but owns five wins in this TM68 class last year and has a 6-3-2-1 record in her last six starts in the condition. (3) POWERED BY MACH gets post and class relief as she also makes her third start back from a break in action. Improvement is certainly possible. Race 3: Meadowlands Amateur Drivers Club 1 Pace - $61,232 Pick 8 Carryover Unlike race two, this one seems to be filled with potential early speed players and that could benefit (3) JONAH. He actually left the gate well in his last amateur start but got shuffled back to third. Most recently he closed well to be second. He has the ideal post to work out the right trip with one of the better amateur drivers in the bike. (7) SELECT FRIDAY has been sharp for some time but was done in by post 10 in recent tries. Yogi gets in the sulky and should have him in play. (1) THE OPENER will come away close and Race 4: Trackmaster 68 (NW L2/L4 69/70) or less (5) SPEED WRITER came to town with two consecutive wins (as many as the rest of the field combined this year) at Saratoga and wound up in a bad flow while pacing home evenly late. Mare deserves a more aggressive try here. (2) CENTURY LIBERTY was bet down to favoritism last time despite never winning in under 1:59 3/5 and coming off a two-month break in action. The start should do her some good and she can be better now. (10) CUTTING HUMOR can be fast off the gate and if that strategy is used and there aren’t many obstacles in the opening quarter, she can compete for the exotics. Race 5: Non-winners $2,500 (NW L2 $3,350) in last 5/TM 77.5 (NW L2/2L6 79.55/80) or less/Opt. $12,500 Clm. (1) SWIFT SARABI isn’t a world-beater but she’s more than capable of the 1:52 or 1:53 mile it will take to win this race. She had pace in the stretch of the return qualifier and maybe can get this barn off the o-fer at a decent price. (5) PAPI’S DREAM did a good job in her pari-mutuel debut keeping up with a nice winner. Anything close to that mile gives her a big shot. (8) TURN UP THE MUSIC has finished second in consecutive starts in this class and certainly merits some consideration given her early speed. Race 6: Non-winners $5,000 (NW L2 $5,500) in last 5/TM 80.5 (NW L2 83.80) or less - $50K GTD Pick 4 (2) JORDANNA HANOVER had everything go her way and came up short to the favorite last time. While often I’d want to avoid a horse like that when she’ll likely be the favorite, it was her first race in two months and she’s almost guaranteed to be sitting first or second in this short field. (3) MISS DOTTIE MAE & (4) GOING AWAY are both capable mares who can sit and pounce when feeling good. I’ll likely key the top pick in the Pick 4 but will have a backup ticket with this pair. Race 7: Trackmaster 77.5 (NW L2 79.60) or less (5) B MO has two clean qualifiers sandwiching a break when he left hard from post 9 and was six deep into the first turn. I can excuse that start and expect a real chance to see a wire to wire victory against a soft field. (3) AARDIES PEAK N is a capable horse when she decides to bring her “A” game. (1) HOOFBEATS DE VIE is plenty sharp and just missed in this condition two starts back. Race 8: Trackmaster 74.5 (NW L2 76.60) or less - Pick 6 (3) QUEEN SUN RYSER really wasn’t bad from off the pace last time and the move inside could be key this week to keeping her in contention. Mare has a big shot here at good odds. (2) ALWAYS BE CITY was used hard and held very well last weekend. She has a big win shot but could be chalky again with Kelly choosing her over the top pick. (8) SWEET SANDY has early speed and form; dangerous. Race 9: Non-winners $7,500 (NW L2 $8,300) in last 5/TM 83.5 (NW L2 86.04) or less (8) ROYAL COMET made the front but was quickly in the four-hole last Friday and finished admirably to close for second. The outside post isn’t ideal but he’s capable from any position. (5) TOM SWIFTY can certainly push to the front here and sit a good trip. (6) GOO FOR BROKE went slower last time but that was to be expected on the sloppy track. It is hard to fault her first two starts for the new barn. Race 10: Trackmaster 71 (NW L2 73.05) or less - $50K GTD Pick 4 (7) ALMOST KAREN dropped to this class last weekend and made two moves only to find herself in the pocket. The trip just didn’t work out and we might be able to take advantage at a better price tonight. (5) SAULSBROOK FEISTY started from a bad post and dealt with a touch of stretch traffic in her last start. I think there is more in the tank than what we saw in that effort. (6) DUCK INTO THE NITE finished ahead of both of the top picks with a big late rally. She’s certainly a win threat with a decent trip. Race 11: Trackmaster 74.5 (NW L2 76.50) or less/Opt. $10,000 Clm. (6) LIBERTY’S WILDCARD is an interesting play this week. On one hand he had the easiest trip sitting along the pylons and finding clearance, but on the other hand the way he finished up wasn’t just average; he had very good trot. Making his second start back from vacation and down to speed on the big track, I can see him showing more. (2) FABULOUS FREDDIE is another making his second start back and he really didn’t have much of a chance at success from post eight at Pocono in his first start of the year. (4) REMARKABLE DE VIE is clearly sharp enough to compete at this TM74 level. Race 12: $7,500 Claiming (5) I’LL HUNT YOU DOWN has six career starts at the $7,500 claiming level and has never tasted defeat. That includes winning four straight last winter. (3) SWIFTY LAZAR drops his claiming price by 25% and is immediately eligible to improve. (2) LOORRIM LAKE A is a capable horse that has been just even lately. Perhaps the move to the inside of the gate will make the difference. [DRF HARNESS: Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter] Race 13: Trackmaster 71 (NW L2 73) or less/Opt. $7,500 Clm./Maidens draw inside (8) BACARDI has lost his last two starts by 17 1/2 lengths and now gets a key class drop. Last year a similar situation occurred (lost last two by 20 lengths and dropped) and the result was a win by more than seven lengths. (2) DROP THE MIC was a winner in this condition two starts back and was in a bad spot last time where he rallied rather well. (5) MY BIG KADILLAC & (7) CHASING CRYSTALS are both exotic candidates. Race 14: Trackmaster 68 (NW L2/L4 69/70) or less It is difficult to get excited about any of these horses. (1) WISHIN FOR KISSES should have no problem coming away near the front in a field that lacks much early zip. We get the leading driver and just have to hope she’ll drop time moving to the big track. (5) KITALPHA moves into a new barn and gets a new pilot. Stable has done well at the meet but I suspect this mare will be overbet. (6) DULCIBELLA could be interesting if she fires off the gate and makes the top in something like 28 4/5 and 57 4/5.