WINTER MEET STATS: 155-28-26-25 / $193.60 (-$116.40) BEST BETS: 11-4-3-1 / $14.20 (-$7.00) SPOT PLAYS: 11-2-2-4 / $13.20 (-$8.80) BEST BET: INTERVIEW FRA A (5th) SPOT PLAY: COVER THE CROWN (9th) Race 1: Meadowlands Amateur Drivers Club 1 Pace - Pick 5 (8) BIZYS BEATLE may not have form that jumps off the page but he’s definitely racing well enough to win a race like this one. Trainer/driver Hernandez can usually recognize a winning spot and I wouldn’t be shocked if he coaxed some early zip out of this guy. (1) PACK YOUR BAGS finally draws on the inside of the gate after a long run on the outside looking in. His last couple of races have been better. (4) FLYING TIGER seems to be in a somewhat softer spot and I wouldn’t be surprised to see him show early speed. [DRF HARNESS: Get Harness Eye PPs for this card] Race 2: Trackmaster 71 (NW L2 73) or less/Maidens draw inside (2) BIG NUDGE wasn’t very sharp after missing almost six weeks and then last time was stuck outside chasing very slow fractions. While it is hard to be confident about a horse with just two wins in 25 starts last year, this is a soft field and he seems like a legitimate play moving inside. (7) MY BIG KADILLAC hasn’t been seen much over the last year and won his last race in December 2024. That said, he’s very likely to take the money on the driver change to Boyd and his best plays here. (1) WHITESTONE EXPRSWY wasn’t bad at all in his first start in nearly two years. Some improvement is likely and Lasix is added. (4) IMPRESSIVE LANDING gets barn and driver changes; maybe. Race 3: Trackmaster 74.5 (NW L2 76.69) or less/Opt. $10,000 Clm. - $72,337 Pick 8 Carryover This is a fairly evenly matched group with a number of mares signed on that could step up. I’ll roll the dice with (6) NEIL’S DIAMOND in the hopes that Lasix perks her up as she (like many others) drops slightly in class and will be a nice price with Herschberger choosing elsewhere. (2) SWEET SANDY was geared up to leave the gate last week but Ahle seesawed the bit in her mouth and got her to settle in at the back. She wound up blindswitched and in mild stretch traffic while pacing home ok. Speed tactics likely tonight. (1) HOLD MY TIARA comes off a toss-out mile from post 10. She can show more this week. (5) ALWAYS B CITY was used through a 55 2/5 half and paid the price last week. Race 4: Meadowlands Amateur Drivers Club 1 Pace (8) MIDNIGHT LIGHTNING left half-heartedly, was used to make the top around the three-eighths and hounded by (1) JONAH once gaining command. The trip was far from ideal and a better plan of attack and smoother journey can produce better results. The latter is clearly a threat but hard for me to back as the chalk. (5) BIONIC switched back to the amateur ranks and rallied well from an impossible spot last week. His best is certainly good enough. Race 5: Non-winners $5,000 (NW L2 $5,880) in last 5/TM 80.5 (NW L2 82.5) or less (1) INTERVIEW FRA A gapped cover in an uninspiring effort last time. That said, many of the horses from that race would be favored in this spot. Drop and pop this week. (8) ROCKET MAN HILL gets away from pylon position and seems likely to revert to an early speed try. There doesn’t appear to be much gate speed to his inside. (3) MASSIVE MATTER came away well but got shuffled back and didn’t fire in the slop late. His prior form was fine. Race 6: Meadowlands Amateur Drivers Club 1 Pace - $50K GTD Pick 4 (2) HASHTAG MONEY put up a 55 half last week and you have to give him credit for being able to hang around to be a good second. Inside post this week should ensure a better trip. (5) LOVETHEWAYYOULIE was flying home last week in what could be a sign of life. He’s far from reliable but seems worth consideration if you can get double-digit odds. (9) THAT DOG WILL HUNT was used hard three deep on the first turn to eventually make the top before yielding to the favorite. Six-year-old turned in a big performance and is hard to ignore as a win player. Race 7: Non-winners $7,500 (NW L2 $8,300) in last 5 or 7 races life/TM 83.5 (NW L2 86.81) or less/Opt. $22,500 Clm. (4) FARAH TRIO IT was super in her first start for Engblom but blew up at the start for no reason at Pocono. The surface can be a bit different there so maybe that was a factor. Her best can get the job done versus these. (6) ROYAL COMET would’ve been my top pick had the listed Colin Kelly been here to drive. As it stands, this 4-year-old has found too many ways to lose with the status quo. He can win but I’d need 3-1 or higher. (9) YANK MY HALO is a capable horse when he decides to trot the entire mile. Race 8: Trackmaster 74.5 (NW L2 76.54) or less - Pick 6 (4) FABULOUS FREDDIE made a very slow move to the front, faced immediate heavy pressure and dug in nicely to be second behind the chalk last weekend. He’s clearly the one to beat now. (2) CUSTOM FIT will benefit from moving to the inside of the gate but he doesn’t win enough to trust as a win player. (8) REMARKABLE DE VIE owns some early speed and form; using in the exotics. Race 9: Trackmaster 77.5 (NW 2L5 79.85) or less (3) COVER THE CROWN could be worth a roll of the dice on the value front. She dropped and scored two starts back and was bottled up in traffic last week. The dull-looking line could bring value. (8) ANIMATION was a bit flat off cover in that same race. I can see her being sent to the top this time. (7) SUNBURNT picked up a win and a second in her last two starts versus similar. There seems to be enough early speed signed on to set up her rally. (4) TURN UP THE MUSIC was disqualified last week and I’m not so sure it was warranted. Regardless, she turned in a big mile and is a threat again. Race 10: Winners Over $12,500 in last 5 or $50,000 life/NW $13,250 L5 draw inside - $50K GTD Pick 4 (5) RESOLVE TO WIN will certainly be heading to the front and in the short field should be able to work out at worst a pocket trip. I wouldn’t take under 2-1 in this competitive field, but he’s got a clear win chance. (8) SUPER DUPER COOPER just missed to the top pick at Pocono last time and also to (7) HIGH SPEED SWAN in the start prior over this track. Five-year-old is very sharp and may finally offer a fair price. The latter seems to be on an every other week win pattern lately and this is the “on” week. Race 11: $7,500 Claiming (3) LOORRIM LAKE A was mounting a rally and looked to have a big win chance when he made a break last weekend. Despite the mistake, I’m going to take the hint of late energy as a sign he is sitting on a win. (4) CAMCO LUCAS certainly hung last time but let’s give him some credit for dropping eight seconds from his previous start; more now? (1) LYONS LIBERTY is probably the favorite here as he moves into a new barn. Not sure I want him as the chalk. (2) MR JOE COOL didn’t gain in his first start back from a two-month break; improves? Race 12: Trackmaster 71 (NW L2 73.55) or less (3) BACARDI was three wide into the first turn and parked until getting the front passing the three-eighths. He then battled with a fresh challenger and turned in a strong mile to be third, beaten a length. Eight-year-old lands in the same class and should have a big shot. (1) IM THE MUSCLE has three wins and a second in his last four starts in this class. Herschberger chose here over my top pick; obvious contender. (8) BRO OAK is 20 for 24 lifetime but remains a bit of an unknown on this bigger stage. The qualifier was just ok in my opinion and I’m typically inclined to watch a start with this barn before firing. That said, if he looks great in the warm-up, I’d be ok backing him. (2) GOOGOO EYES was an easy winner in his last start in this class. [DRF HARNESS: Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter] Race 13: Trackmaster 71 (NW L2 73.05) or less/Opt. $7,500 Clm. (4) YOUCANCALLME DAISY returned from five months away with a sharp in-hand qualifier. This barn has been hot all meet and picked up a win and a second last weekend from two starters. (7) PINK LUMIERE had good cover and couldn’t quite get there returning from a layoff herself. Four-year-old could be sharper in her second start back. (6) SAULSBROOK FEISTY took her shot first over and raced very well to just miss. A similar effort will make her a contender again. (9) AMAZING WISH lured Bongiorno off my top selection. Race 14: Trackmaster 68 (NW L2/L4 69/70) or less (3) JOB CRUNCH is down in class and facing a very soft group. Mare should really take charge this week. (1) ALWAYS BE AN ANGEL moves to the inside of the gate and might show some early speed. (5) SQUANKUM LADY didn’t fire in her first start since September. Three-year-old is very capable in this spot.