WINTER MEET STATS: 323-80-57-44 / $516.80 (-$129.20) BEST BETS: 23-10-4-2 / $34.40 (-$11.60) SPOT PLAYS: 22-8-5-4 / $61.60 (+$17.60) BEST BET: FATHER J (14th) SPOT PLAY: KARPATHIAN QUEEN (12th) Race 1: Meadowlands Amateur Drivers Club 1 Pace - Pick 5 (2) BARON CHANCEY wasn’t going anywhere from post 10 last time. While he doesn’t look very appealing on paper, he does land in a pretty good spot with this amateur event and can awaken. (9) CRUNCHY was a good second in his debut for this barn when you consider he hadn’t raced in three months. The outside post is the only negative. (7) MEET THE CREEPER is racing well but remains a victim of the pace scenario. He needs a bad field to mix it up to have a serious win chance. [DRF HARNESS: Get Harness Eye PPs for this card] Race 2: Non-winners $5,000 (NW L2 $5,500) in last 5/TM 80.5 (NW L2 83.61) or less (5) LAVA FIELD stopped badly last time on the class drop but shows Lasix added to explain the issue. I like the fact that the connections thought enough to leave with him at 92-1. Another dip in condition here can only help. (2) BULLY BOY HILL is back on the big track with a good post. His last go here in this class was a nose defeat. (7) KINGPIN HANOVER was raced easily coming off the break last weekend. Maybe we see more this time around. Race 3: Trackmaster 68 (NW L2/L4 69/70) or less - $52,425 Pick 8 Carryover Not much to sink your teeth into as far as form with this field that is 1-for-62 on the year in the win column. (6) BELLA’S DREAM gets the default pick on the assumption that she might fire off the gate and control this race with new driver McCarthy in the bike. That said, no wins since 2024 doesn’t inspire confidence. (2) LOVELY LADY MAY is certainly getting around #1 and could land in the pocket. I don’t know how much faith I have in her ending a 59-race losing streak, but it isn’t impossible. (3) MAYDAYMAVERICKHOPE took four weeks off and perhaps that will do her some good. On paper she kicks home as good as any in here. Race 4: Meadowlands Amateur Drivers Club 1 Pace (2) BIZY’S BEATLE has been facing some sharp foes in claiming races and should enjoy the return to the amateur ranks. His last start in the condition – albeit for another barn – resulted in a win. (8) MASTER MIKI hails from a barn sporting a 13-3-6-1 record in April. I’d expect to see early speed here. (9) FIZZING N is certainly capable in this spot if the trip works out in his favor; needs pace help. Race 5: Trackmaster 77.5 (NW L2 79.60) or less (7) CALDERONE just kept coming last week to win his second straight since the barn change. He gets another class hike here but seems up to the task. (4) STEELWORKERS STORY parlayed a good trip into a win in start two this year. He’s got a big shot here but not sure I’d want to be on his bandwagon as the chalk. (1) GILLYS DE VIE could push away hard from the inside and hit the exotics at a big price. (9) GERONIMO TRIO IT could be a player if he somehow clears the top without having to work hard. Race 6: Non-winners $2,500 (NW L2 $3,100) in last 5/TM 77.5 (NW L2 79.5) or less - $50K GTD Pick 4 (7) FASHION TERROR dropped last time and found herself against a possessed foe that ran off the screen. That mile is not a fair barometer of her ability to win tonight and I’m inclined to give her another chance. (2) ROMA AMOR reconnects with Borjas this week and I expect she’ll be on go from the start. (3) GOING AWAY deserves a look on the class drop, as does (5) POWERED BY MACH. The latter was sharp for a couple of starts and it will be interesting to see if she reverts to form on the drop. Race 7: Meadowlands Amateur Drivers Club 1 Pace (4) MARSHALL ZHUKOV hasn’t been the most reliable horse in 2026 but does own early speed and may’ve found a good spot to use it. Neil Glasser is an underrated amateur driver. (2) BUCHANNON HANOVER has been trying to come from off the pace at Yonkers and that is a recipe for failure. The switch to a reasonably soft spot on the big track could produce nice results. (9) JONAH has a good recent MADC 1 record and enough early speed to menace despite the bad draw. (1) ROCK ON LINE and (3) KNASTY KNUCKLES are both capable of getting into the exotics or maybe winning given the right trip. Race 8: Trackmaster 74.5 (NW L2 76.50) or less/Opt. $10,000 Clm. - Pick 6 (8) FABULOUS FREDDIE was scratched lame out of his barn debut and has now missed 28 days. Clearly the time away did him some good as he qualified well versus a runaway winner with no signs of any issues. I’ll take a shot. (2) CUSTOM FIT figures to get around #1 without much trouble but could get buried if a few others leave the gate. He is coming off a good effort in this class from an outside post. (5) SOUTHWIND MAC has just missed in consecutive starts and certainly merits a long look in here. Race 9: Non-winners $10,500 (NW L2 $12,500) in last 5 or in 2025 or 8 (NW 2L4 11) races life/TM 86 (NW L2 88) or less/Opt. $30,000 Clm. (6) RATTLE MY CAGE looked like a horse that hadn’t raced since 2023 and clearly needed the mile. That said, he did drop a second off his most recent qualifier and finds a field that should trot a second or two slower than Open standout Antognoni did last week. Tetrick stopping here to drive this guy. (8) CHAPERCRAZ is the class of the field with over a million on his card. He did all the work in his qualifier and there was no shame in losing to Trotter of the Year Lexus Kody; respect. (3) MAXIMUM EXPOSURE proved he could race and win in this class, though this group is tougher than the field he beat two starts back. Race 10: Non-winners $7,500 (NW L2 $8,250) in last 5/TM 83.5 (NW L2 85.5) or less - $50K GTD Pick 4 (5) MIDNIGHT MAGIC comes in from Dover in fine form and should be able to work out a favorable trip from the mid-pack post. Price should be healthy as well. (3) PLEASE BE YOU was steady last time in her first start on the big track this year. She should be down to speed now and ready to fire a better mile. (2) SPLASH OF PINK arrives from Pocono on a two-race winning streak to start the year and does show a 1:50 1/5 win on this surface in 2025. Race 11: Trackmaster 71 (NW L2 73.05) or less/Opt. $7,500 Clm. (5) PINK LUMIERE won three straight in this class before getting used hard and fading to fourth last time. He’s back in for the $7,500 tag and figures tough to beat as the chalk. (3) ALWAYS BE CITY gets a similar drop to the level of her last win; needs her best. (4) SHADOW DELIGHT made her debut on this track last weekend and wasn’t bad closing from ninth to fifth in the stretch. She can certainly build off that mile, especially since it was just her fifth career start. Race 12: Trackmaster 74.5 (NW L2/L4 76.5/76.98) or less (8) KARPATHIAN QUEEN showed some early speed to get good position upon arrival last Friday but was locked in the box and never had a chance to stretch her legs while appearing to have something left. She could be the last one to the front this time around and we’ll see what she’s made of. (1) CATNAP has a bit of seconditis lately; win and exotics threat. (3) SWEET SANDY is another big threat who has had trouble getting over the top in recent weeks. [DRF HARNESS: Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter] Race 13: Trackmaster 68 (NW L2/L4 69/70) or less (2) SKATEBOARD CHIC should be pushing away from the gate enough to be top three early. 14-year-old has seen better days but still has enough in the tank to play with a field like this one. (1) OAHU is a big tease that always seems ready to win but never gets the job done; using underneath only. (5) PHELGON just missed in this class a week ago and as mentioned earlier, just about everything in this barn is firing on all cylinders now. Race 14: Trackmaster 71 (NW L2 73) or less/Opt. $7,500 Clm. (4) FATHER J tucked, came uncovered and couldn’t quite sustain his rally in his first start since October. He likely gained something from that effort and I expect he’ll be handled with maximum aggression here. (7) LANDIA elected to go the patient route and it was game over at the half. I’m pretty sure I saw a bridle change so check the changes to see if they switch back this week. That could be a sign that he’ll show early speed again. (10) MUSKINGUM drops a notch and could be a player if he is put in play from the tough post. (5) MR GRANT has been making a good living lately getting minor awards.