WINTER MEET STATS: 98-18-17-15 / $93.60 (-$102.40) BEST BETS: 7-2-2-1 / $7.00 (-$7.00) SPOT PLAYS: 7-1-1-2 / $4.20 (-$9.80) BEST BET: DANCING LEW (7th) SPOT PLAY: SOEUR MARY (12th) Note that post time has been moved up to 6:00 PM this weekend. Race 1: Trackmaster 68 (NW L4 69.2) or less - Pick 5 (7) OAHU isn’t one of my favorite horses after watching her previous two starts but this race might shape up better and allow her to set up in the pocket rather than on the lead. That can be very beneficial for a 3-year-old still trying to figure out her best path to the winner’s circle. (10) CUTTING HUMOR is the one to beat on paper in terms of form but I wouldn’t be running to the windows to bet her as the potential chalk. (6) RONA MAE had too many horses to pass in her last start and that has kind of been her issue lately regardless of which TM class she is in. (3) BRIGHTEN YOUR LIFE finds a field with enough early speed to set her up if she can work out a clean trip and find a seam. [DRF HARNESS: Get Harness Eye PPs for this card] Race 2: Non-winners $2,500 (NW L2 $3,100) in last 5/TM 77.5 (NW L2/2L6 79.55/80) or less (1) PAIGE PERFECT has dealt with some bad luck and bad spots of late. After taking plenty of air last time I don’t think the four week break will hamper her chances; weak call. (2) LISA LANE moves inside and takes on a softer field. Will that be the impetus that awakens her? (4) SHUTUPANDDRIVE really wasn’t bad in her return from a long time on the sidelines. Any small improvement would be enough to give her a big win chance. (7) I DREAM OF JEANIE can certainly fire off the gate and she’s a threat for the exotics at least with the right trip. Race 3: Meadowlands Amateur Drivers Club 1 Pace - $50,000 SEEDED Pick 8 (5) THAT DOG WILL HUNT was overbet a bit but it is still worth noting that he went off as the favorite two starts back in the amateur ranks. Six-year-old is somewhat versatile and lands in the perfect post to work out the right trip at a better mutuel. (3) MARSHALL ZHUKOV is another horse capable of racing well from on or off the pace. Glasser should have plenty of options. (8) ROCK ON LINE is a more one-dimensional closer, but he’s arguably the sharpest horse in a field with some suspect early speed. If the pace gets somewhat hot, watch out for this guy. (7) HASHTAG MONEY has turned in his best recent efforts from off the pace and if it is a battle of closers I’d prefer #8. Race 4: Trackmaster 74.5 (NW L2 76.60) or less (4) SHEZAFREAKLIKEME is a horse I was prepared to avoid in this class last weekend (races were canceled) because she’s failed many times before against this company. In retrospect, with the way this field lined up and having the other biggest threats to her inside, she almost has to work out a reasonable journey. (2) TWIN B EMPRESS improved as expected last time moving into a hotter barn. Her 29 3/5 final quarter doesn’t look impressive but it was one of the faster times on a night when everyone was crawling home. (3) ALWAYS BE CITY seems to have found her groove for the new barn with Lasix added. She’ll have to answer some class questions here on the bump from TM 71 to 74 but I think she’ll handle it. (1) DREAM PILLAR has early speed and is plenty sharp. While she’s done her best work down a level, the race could work out nicely for her. Race 5: Meadowlands Amateur Drivers Club 1 Pace (3) JONAH finds a great spot to easily make the top before yielding to some outside speed players that have shown a tendency to come up lacking in the stretch. Veteran has a big shot reuniting with one of the top amateurs. (2) ALWAYS A WAY was in a bit of a wild race last time. He moves inside here and picks up a driver who usually gives his horses a fair chance at success. (10) FRAZIER HANOVER can certainly gun to the front from this outside post. The problem is that he has been coming up short lately even after rating the pace. Maybe Silva will play “catch me if you can” and put the pedal to the metal. (4) SIEZE CONTROL has done his best work with Neil Glasser in the bike; only needs a smooth trip to threaten. Race 6: Trackmaster 77.5 (NW L2 79.60) or less - $50K GTD Pick 4 (1) HOOFBEATS DE VIE gets a key move to the inside of the gate after being stuck on the far outside in consecutive starts. Notice he won in this class on 11/21 from a decent starting slot. The time off (35 days) is a bit of a question but it is one most of these also have to answer as cancellations have hurt their chances of racing. (3) MASSIVE MATTER is in the same boat as #1 in terms of the time off. New driver Herschberger won with him the last time he did the steering. (5) PISCES RISING hasn’t been racing particularly well but does land in a spot where it is conceivable that he can make an easy lead. (7) HEY DUDE might turn people off after a lackluster performance for the new barn but it is worth noting that he had missed 44 days prior to that try. Don’t be shocked if he wakes up at a decent price. Race 7: $10,000 Claiming (3) DANCING LEW rolled in this class two starts back and then raced pretty well from the far outside post while up in class last time. He should be very dangerous this week. (2) PALOMAR gets class and post relief tonight. His best effort wins this if he can turn things around. (10) ALTA BLUES A drops below the level of his claim because he’s been awful since changing barns. Even with the outside post, if they have any chance of getting him to show what he’s capable of, now seems like the time. (1) SWIFTY LAZAR was good at Philly when last seen a bit over a month ago. He should push away from the inside and be close enough if sharp enough. Race 8: Non-winners $12,500 (NW L2 $14,000) in last 5 or 9 races (NW 2L4 11) life/TM 86.5 (NW L2 88.5) or less - $7,802 Pick 6 Carryover (9) FINITE picked up the only win of the meet for trainer Ron Burke two starts back when he went a career-best 1:52 4/5 mile. Last week he was in against much better and wasn’t comfortable sitting the pocket, ultimately breaking. He should take charge here and hopefully he’ll trot the mile. (4) HIGH SPEED SWAN went a big mile in his second start back from vacation and for the new barn. Just age 4, he has every right to be this good and perhaps better. (3) SKY BOX put in a decent mile against some sharp foes last week; moves inside here. Race 9: Non-winners $7,500 (NW L2 $8,300) in last 5/TM 83.5 (NW L2 85.5) or less (7) ROYAL COMET was quite the winner on the fair circuit and has carried over that talent to pari-mutuel action at The Meadows. If he drops time moving his game to the big track than this group will have their hands full with him. (6) MONI MAN displayed the ability to get down to the 1:53 range here during the warmer months. Debuts for a new barn now after a three month layoff and if he is ready there is no doubt he’s a contender. (3) HOWLINGATTHEMOON DK is out of the same barn as the former. He scored on the switch to this oval last week and only needs to drop a little time to compete. (4) BIG LIMO is a capable horse when feeling good and perhaps the return of Herschberger in the bike will improve his performance. Race 10: $7,500 Claiming - $50K GTD Pick 4 (10) LYONS LIBERTY took a big shot last time and tired after an impossible trip. Barn change here is interesting and the price should remain reasonable due to the poor post. (6) MOTIVE HANOVER comes in from Monticello in decent form and there just might be enough early speed in the field to set him up from off the pace. (4) DANCININMYSOCKS is another moving into a new barn and he is certainly eligible to improve. (7) DROWNS THE WHISKEY drops in claiming price tonight and could show more; early speed? Race 11: Non-winners $5,000 (NW L2 $5,500) in last 5/TM 80.5 (NW L2 82.5) or less (7) ROCKET MAN HILL broke on the small track last time and perhaps it was a mistake bringing him there. While I’ve never been a big fan of his because he tends to stop when on the lead, this looks like a great spot for him to gain control easily and perhaps sit the pocket behind the one of the inside horses making an early brush. (1) BANK ON ME has burned a bunch of money in his past two starts and I’m a bit gun-shy now. Maybe the new set of hands helps; obvious threat. (2) AARDIES PEAK N is a capable horse that comes with the uncertainty of whether he’ll remain trotting. (4) HERMOSO REY won two straight before reaching this level and finding his rally insufficient. Maybe the pace will work in his favor here. Race 12: Trackmaster 74.5 (NW L2 76.50) or less (8) SOEUR MARY has been good since the barn change. She did come up short last time but maybe had an excuse since she hadn’t raced in 30 days. (1) BRUHA was used early and paid the price last time. With a smoother trip I could see him getting a nice piece. (5) MODIGLIANI S sprinted home in 27 and change in his return qualifier. Maybe the time off did him some good. Race 13: Non-winners 2 (NW L2 3) races or $20,000 (NW L2 $30,000) life/NW $22,500 life draw outside (9) ALWAYSBPUFFING IR went to Yonkers for her pari-mutuel debut on these shores and chased a 1-5 shot in the pocket before making a break, which seemed to be caused by Gingras pulling the earplugs at the head of the lane. After the miscue she caught on fine and paced home willingly. (7) RASPALIA N only has one qualifier since coming over but it was a nice one. She sat behind a gapper and gained very willingly while never allowing the horse to her outside to gain an inch on her. Five-year-old could have some ability. (10) YOULLFINDOUT was written into the race courtesy of the AE condition. She blew away slightly cheaper last time and is clearly a big threat despite the 10-hole. (3) PAPI’S DREAM was on hold for much of her qualifier and was just ok when asked for speed. She can build on that mile. [DRF HARNESS: Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter] Race 14: Trackmaster 71 (NW L2 73) or less (3) BROTHER LOVE gets a trainer change to Burke and a new driver as well. He’s a horse that figures to improve but not one I would back at a short price due to the barn’s slow start; also gelding is just two for 46 career in the win column. (4) NOVEL returns from a long stay on the shelf and he’s in a new barn as well. The qualifier was solid. Is he ready? (1) POKER PLAY and (7) CHASING CRYSTALS both have a history of getting good checks in this class. Race 15: Trackmaster 71 (NW L2 73.05) or less (4) JOB CRUNCH was absolutely awful last week and usually when that happens there is a good reason. Notice her prior start was actually pretty good. (3) SWEET SANDY can certainly fire to the front here and wind up sitting the pocket. (2) DEFAMATION hasn’t been bad in her three starts here and even missed by just a head once; using underneath along with (7) SPROUT, who likes to head to the front but doesn’t exactly close out her miles.