WINTER MEET STATS: 112-31-12-12 / $195.80 (-$28.20) BEST BETS: 8-2-2-0 / $7.80 (-$8.20) SPOT PLAYS: 8-1-2-0 / $4.00 (-$12.00) BEST BET: IDEAL SKIES (7th) SPOT PLAY: LANDIA (2nd) Race 1: Meadowlands Amateur Drivers Club 1 Pace - Pick 5 (7) SUNSHINE’S FINEST has found his form since the calendar flipped to 2025. Last time he battled first-over and raced gamely right through the wire. (10) URBAN RENEWAL spent plenty of time on the rim, tipped on the final turn and only lost to #6 off an absolutely golden pocket trip. The post isn’t ideal tonight but it also isn’t a deal-breaker. (8) MY WISH CAME TRUE has been closing too late for small pieces. He needs pace help to do better than an exotic slot. [DRF HARNESS: Get Harness Eye PPs for this card] Race 2: Trackmaster 73.5 (NW L2/2L4 74/74.5) or less (4) LANDIA shows some bad lines lately against much better competition. She drops back to the level of her last victory and figures to awaken at fair odds. (5) LEVITATION didn’t exactly get things his way early and was flat late. That can be expected after a 40-day layoff; more now? (1) FASHION CANTAB was hung out from a bad post last time. Don’t be shocked if we see a major turnaround this week. (3) SOUTHWIND BIANCA is another dropping back down to the level of her last win. Race 3: $7,500 Claiming - Survivor 7 (2) BETWEEN I N U hasn’t been seen since December 13 but did qualify back nicely at Dover. He was very competitive in this class at the end of last year. With Beckwith choosing off for (5) HURRIKANE IRONHEAD, who went down the road for new connections last time and rolls right back for the same claiming tag, the price on the top pick should be even better. (8) WISE THINKING drops in claiming price again tonight. He seemed to be on a bit of a line in his last start but his best is clearly more than good enough to win. Race 4: Non-winners $3,000 (NW L2 $3,340) in last 4/TM 77.5 (NW L2/2L4 78/78.5) or less (2) HL OLMAYA was able to earn some good money as a 3-year-old and was timed in 1:55 2/5 finishing fifth in the NJ Classic. Notice her recent starts were all from outside posts. Maybe she can make some noise here at boxcar odds. (5) HUNTING AS drops back down and hooks up with Miller, who drove him to his last win. Eight-year-old also has a right to improve in his second start back from a five week vacation. (1) GO LONG couldn’t quite get there for me last time and he does have a habit of moving too late in the mile. He’s got a big shot here but I don’t want a short price. (8) GOTWUTEVERITTAKES is always a threat at this level if he minds his manners. (3) MONEY MATTERS may be worth a look moving to the inside of the gate. Race 5: Trackmaster 71.5 (NW L2/2L4 72/72.75) or less (2) NATIONAL SPORT scratched-sick out of this class last time and perhaps that gives us a better price on a capable horse from a good barn against an awful field. (5) JOJO’S PLACE has some early speed and he’s certainly getting class relief. So what’s not to like? His last win came 60 starts ago in May 2023. (3) GAIUS CRASTINUS rallied well last time and is one of the sharper horses in the field. Race 6: $15,000-$20,000 Claiming Handicap - $50K GTD Pick 4 (5) CASANOVA HALL made his debut for this barn and we really didn’t learn much since he broke behind the gate and wound up first-over at Yonkers. That was his first trip to the track in more than four weeks and more can be expected as he switches to the big track; Miller’s choice. (9) SHINKANSEN was huge overcoming post 10 and beating (8) MONI’S HEAVEN SENT last weekend. Both horses have a big shot tonight and the former is clearly the one to beat. (4) HAVEHORSWILTRVEL N had a tough trip last time as he was very overbet. The price will go way up this time. Race 7: Trackmaster 74.5 (NW L2/2L4 75/75.5) or less/Opt. $12,500 Claiming (4) IDEAL SKIES has been racing well for a $20,000 claiming tag and now drops in for $12,500 in a spot where it is hard to see him losing. (2) WHO’S PERFECT got away slowly and had no chance when last seen here. She can definitely make some noise tonight if the top one falters. (8) FIRSTUP has been racing well and adds Miller, but the outside post isn’t ideal for this gal. Race 8: Non-winners 2 (NW L2 3) races or $20,500 (NW L2 $30,000) life/Maidens draw inside - Pick 6 (2) LUKE’S BAR has been trying to get back to the races for 2 ½ years now and may finally have accomplished it. The qualifying line was strong as he chased fast fractions and lost to a nice Canadian shipper who was an Ontario champion at 2. I’ll take my chances with him. (7) CHUCK tried the lead and clearly didn’t like it last time. I expect he’ll float away here and try to find a different trip. (1) CHASIN’ SUNSHINE has been very consistent lately and even finished third despite a break last week. Race 9: Non-winners $5,000 (NW L2 $5,500) in last 4/TM 80.5 (NW L2/2L4 81/81.5) or less (4) PATTYCAKE MOOSS was used hard and paid the price last weekend. In her prior race she won at this level. (8) SANTAFE’S APPETITE is a horse that always needs some pace help but one that is very capable in a soft NW5000 like this one. (3) SWEETEST BELLE lands in a good spot in her return from a long time on the bench. According to Statsmaster, this barn has four wins and eight seconds in 32 starts off layoffs dating back to the beginning of 2024. Race 10: Trackmaster 85 or less/Non-winners in NW7500 or less last start - $50K GTD Pick 4 (6) TONY’S MOM seems to have a good chance to cut the mile in this somewhat abbreviated field and you’ll probably get a fair price as well. (8) MADRID is back at The Meadowlands where she was doing very good work in December. (7) TAKING THE MIKI A is another Cullipher trainee returning from a long break in action. The qualifier was solid and if she’s ready there is no doubt she can go with these. Race 11: Non-winners $3,000 in last 4/TM 77.5 (NW L2/2L4 78/78.5) or less (3) MISS CHANTILLY N tired on the lead in her first start in six weeks after a scratched-injured line. She returns to The Meadowlands now at a reduced level and stands out on paper. (4) ROMA AMOR gets post relief and figures to be put in play early. (6) SOUTHERN SUGAR has been racing well but she’ll likely need a trip to win and I’m not sure we are going to get the right price. Race 12: Non-winners $5,000 (NW 2L5 $5,501) in last 4/TM 80.5 or less (7) RITSON flashed good speed but got stuck in the three hole and was just even late in the mile last time. While the effort doesn’t jump off the page, he did drop more than two seconds off his previous race which was his first in six weeks. (8) YANKS DUGOUT is a classy veteran who may just get a flyer away from the gate. (2) HUSTLENOMICS dropped to this level and finished fast to just miss last weekend; needs smooth sailing. (3) RECKLESS REVIVER also finished second in his last try in NW5000. [DRF HARNESS: Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter] Race 13: Trackmaster 71.5 (NW L2/2L4 72/72.5) or less/Opt. $7,500 Claiming (9) ILLUSTRIOUSARDEN N has been very competitive while facing better and now slips into a soft spot due to a low Trackmaster number. I don’t love the outside post with a horse that hasn’t shown early speed since the summer, but at least I know she has that tool in her box. (5) THANEEYA has early speed and form; clear contender. (3) ALMOST KAREN hasn’t been seen since late December. That said, she is being sent out by a good barn in a spot where she can succeed if ready to roll; watch the warm-up. Race 14: Trackmaster 68.5 (NW L2/2L4 69/69.6) or less (3) CONCUR rolled in the stretch to pick up a nice win last time and there is no reason he can’t repeat versus a very soft group. (10) THE OPENER actually won in a higher class two starts back; post is only issue. (6) EASY AS THAT has a misleading line in that the leader drifted off the cones after the half and this guy was actually leading. He came up short in that race but might’ve needed the mile. After nearly five weeks off.