WINTER MEET STATS: 239-55-39-32 / $396.60 (-$81.40) BEST BETS: 17-7-3-1 / $26.00 (-$8.00) SPOT PLAYS: 16-6-3-4 / $54.00 (+$22.00) BEST BET: SHE STINGS (7th) SPOT PLAY: ALMOST KAREN (9th) Race 1: Meadowlands Amateur Drivers Club 1 Pace - Pick 5 (6) DUDDIE’S LOR was left with too much to do last week when dropped into the amateur ranks. If the new driver can keep him closer and maybe even show early speed (Yogi can fire one up), his chances improve greatly. (2) MARSHALL ZHUKOV should get around #1 easily enough and sit second or third with a fair chance to get a big piece with a clean path in the lane. (3) THE OPENER was racing well before getting used hard from an outside post most recently. The move inside provides more tactical options. (7) HASHTAG MONEY won last time but is unlikely to get away with such soft fractions. [DRF HARNESS: Get Harness Eye PPs for this card] Race 2: Trackmaster 68 (NW L2/L4 69/70) or less (4) MISS YOU JOANN arrived here last weekend and wasn’t treated very kindly. She was sting to the front and faced heavy third-quarter pressure before giving way to be third. In a field with no killers and not much early speed to her inside, she deserves another shot. (3) GIRL ALMIGHTY was stuck in all kinds of stretch traffic last time and I fear that could lead to her being overbet. At 1 for her last 36, she hasn’t exactly been a win machine over the last year-plus. (6) CENTURY LEXUS didn’t race great at Mohawk earlier in her career. Maybe things have changed now. This barn was red hot last weekend and Beckwith did choose here over #s 4 and 10. Race 3: Meadowlands Amateur Drivers Club 1 Handicap Pace - $108,452 Pick 8 Carryover (8) TRICKY CAPTAIN N took a big shot in his first start for Hernandez and it didn’t go as planned. Last time he elected for a more conservative approach and fell victim to a 1:00 1/5 middle half. Five-year-old lands in a somewhat softer amateur field and should be back to speed tactics. (4) FRAZIER HANOVER has been looming often but not getting the job done. This is certainly a winnable spot and I’ll be using him on at least one Pick 5 ticket. (2) SEIZE CONTROL moves to the inside of the gate and that helps. Still, I’d want at least 4-1 again to play him. Race 4: Trackmaster 71 (NW L2 73) or less (9) BEE POSITIVE doesn’t land the ideal post but doesn’t exactly face the best group of trotters. Three-year-old comes out of a fast mile and finished as well or better than anyone in the stretch. I can see early speed being put on display in start two. (1) MUSCLE SPASM has won at Mohawk previously and moves to the big track tonight. (2) BACARDI should race well in a spot like this one but has been off form. I’ll pass but I can see taking a shot at the right price. (6) MR GRANT split foes in a decent try last time. Race 5: Meadowlands Amateur Drivers Club 1 Pace (1) ROJAN’S WAY lands in the perfect spot this week. Hernandez should fire out to secure a pocket or three-hole and have enough in the tank to get the job done versus a win-shy bunch. (6) ROCKABILLY CHARM lands in the amateur series this week and should fit nicely. If I use a second horse in the Pick 5 it will be him. (8) FERDINAND A will be firing out as usual and most likely will hold on for a lower exotics slot. Race 6: Non-winners $5,000 (NW L2 $5,500) in last 5/TM 80.5 (NW L2 83.61) or less - $50K GTD Pick 4 (2) HOWLINGATHEMOON DK went a nice steady mile with no real shot after chasing in a 58 half last time. If you dig deeper into his pps you’ll find his last race in this NW5000 class (1/23) resulted in a win. (6) TRAVOLTA HANOVER made no mistakes and raced well with something left on the end of the mile. The ability is there with continued progression and Herschberger chose him over five others. (1) MR CONTESTANT overcame an early break to pick up a win. I respect his chances but wouldn’t want to bet him as the chalk. (4) NOVEL returns here at a higher level but does have the early speed needed to make some noise. Race 7: Non-winners $5,000 (NW L2 $5,500) in last 5/TM 80.5(NW L2 82.55) or less (6) SHE STINGS was racing very well here in December. After a three-month vacation she returned at Yonkers and broke while trying to pace full speed on the final turn. Notice that she also displayed speed at the start of the mile, showing that the connections are looking to win rather than baby her. (2) REMY BROWN N and (3) PRIDEFUL are two mares with early speed in their arsenals. Both were third in this class when last seen here and either could get into the exotics or more with the right setup. Remy Brown also adds Lasix. Race 8: Non-winners $10,500 (NW L2 $12,500) in last 5 or in 2025 or 8 races (NW 2L4 10) life/TM 86.80 (NW L2 88) or less - Pick 6 It is possible that (2) MADE OF DREAMS has finally figured things out with trotting hobbles added. With the equipment in place during the last qualifier she was asked for speed on the turn and was able to make a slight course adjustment in the lane without rolling into a break. Against a field that has no strong NW10000 players, this gal seems worth a shot. (6) MAXIMUM EXPOSURE has rolled to consecutive wins for new trainer Terpolilli. Is he this good or did the relatively soft fractions make him look better than he is in reality? Driver downgrade might increase the price. (1) ROCKET MAN HILL has finished in the top three 30 times in 54 career starts. She’s a nice horse to own but often comes up short on the win end without the perfect ground-saving trip. Race 9: Trackmaster 71 (NW L2/L10 73.05/73.24) or less (6) ALMOST KAREN is a very capable mare who seems to be coming around lately. Two back she took a shot at the leader and last time she rallied well from far back. (8) SPROUT has the speed to make the top quickly. Perhaps the new driver will make the difference. (3) ALWAYS B CITY drops and moves inside. She’s hard to love on top but her best is good enough to compete. Race 10: Trackmaster 74.5 (NW L2 76.50) or less/NW $20,000 life - $50K GTD Pick 4 (6) GERONIMO TRIO IT stayed trotting last time and that is a big step in the right direction. Four-year-old gets away from a hot horse and should have a chance versus this TM class. (5) YOUMEANDWHISKEY has been racing well but is tough to love on top considering his recent and lifetime win rate. (2) JULA TACTICALSON is capable of winning if he can sit the entire way and find a seam in the stretch. (8) REMARKABLE DE VIE is back in the TM74 class where he was racing very well a few starts back. Race 11: $7,500 Claiming (2) SWIFTY LAZAR drops back down to the level of the claim and you have to think an awakening is coming after a subpar performance. (5) BIZYS BEATLE was just steady in start one for the new barn. He could certainly improve for a barn that is having a good meet. (4) CAMCO LUCAS always seems to be there but has a knack for hanging in the stretch; underneath only. (6) REAL WILLEY has some questions to answer after missing a week right after returning from a vacation. He’s also 0 for 18 the last two years. All that said, he doesn’t look impossible to get a piece of this. Race 12: Trackmaster 77.5 (NW L2 79.50) or less (2) MASSIVE MATTER could possibly get away second or third in this spot and that would set him up much better then having to take air late on the rim. (4) SOUTHWIND MAC comes off a win at Yonkers in the amateur series and many of these seem to perform nicely here. (8) CHIPLOSIVE is a classy old guy that was much better with hobbles added last time. Perhaps that resurrects his career. [DRF HARNESS: Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter] Race 13: Trackmaster 71 (NW L2/L10 73.05/73.24) or less (1) HOBBY GONE CRAZY put together a credible qualifier and seems to land in a good spot tonight. Four-year-old hails from a barn that has three wins in 13 starts from layoffs of at least 30 days in 2026 here and is a solid nine for 46 dating back to 1/1/25. (2) PEARL HARBOUR N is back at the level of her last win and she’s clearly still in form. (6) AMAZING WISH has the early speed to make the top but I’m not convinced he is sharp enough to win; underneath only. Race 14: Trackmaster 68 (NW L2/L4 69/70) or less If you enjoy any semblance of form then this isn’t the field for you. I’ll take a swing with (5) LADYZAR in the hopes that the time away has helped. Her second qualifier was certainly better than her first. (8) KATIE COTTON shows a win in this class four starts back. That is the only victory posted by this field in 2026. (2) LOVELY LADY MAY is arguably in the best form in this field, but she hasn’t won in years.