WINTER MEET STATS: 349-101-57-47 / $597.40 (-$100.60) BEST BETS: 22-9-8-0 / $42.00 (-$2.00) SPOT PLAYS: 25-6-3-3 / $22.00 (-$28.00) BEST BET: AINTNOHOLLABACKGRL (12th) SPOT: BBC SPORTSBOY (3rd) Race 1: Meadowlands Amateur Drivers Club 1 Pace - Pick 5 (8) WEONA SIZZLER A isn’t going to be on many tickets and that’s exactly why I want him. He won easily at Monticello last time in his fastest time since last May when he was racing three classes higher. Barns only two wins this year have come in the last two weeks. (1) TRANSFER THE ERA has some early speed and pylon position. He’s probably the most obvious horse in the race to be a contender but remains winless this year. (3) MOONWARDS HANOVER comes off his best effort in some time and perhaps is finding his groove. (4) EXCITING TIMES A is likely going to fire off the gate and perhaps she can get away from the field. [DRF HARNESS: Get Harness Eye PPs for this card] Race 2: Trackmaster 68 (NW L2/L4 68.5/69) or less (1) BETTER THAN SOME is a basic handicapping selection as he moves from a barn than rarely wins to one that is hitting at 15% during the meet. He also picks up the top driver at the track and faces an abysmal field. (5) INCREDIBLE BADGER went an even mile two weeks ago, which actually qualifies as a good line in this field. I could see him finishing second. (10) BIG BAD BILL would probably take plenty of money from a better post. He’ll be about 10-1 here and at least you’ll get paid if he brings his best. (8) URBAN RENEWAL took some air last time and couldn’t sustain. He’s a win candidate with the right trip. Race 3: Trackmaster 71 (NW L2/L4 71.5/72.05) or less - Survivor 7 (8) BBC SPORTSBOY was acting up behind the gate with an amateur driver in the bike and his day ended early in his debut for this barn. Five-year-old won multiple times over the big track at Mohawk and could be ready to turn things around in a hurry tonight. (5) WINNERESS has been a victim of circumstance in his last couple of starts here. He’s a lock in my mind to hit the exotics and a threat to win with the right trip. (7) HURRIKANE WILLIE G has early speed and shows good consistency in this class. Race 4: Trackmaster 71 (NW L2/L4/L9 71.5/72.05/73.01) or less (6) DUCK INTO THE NITE is the sharpest horse in the race from where I sit and she only needs a reasonable trip to have a big win chance. (7) PHELGON picks up Beckwith this week and deserves respect if you can stomach the potential short price coming because of the leading driver’s presence. (8) POWERED BY MACH could be the last of the early leavers to make the front and the short field this week helps her chances. (2) BETTE TINA improved in her last start and draws well again. (3) SMOOTH DEBATE N was toasted in a fast early pace a week ago. That said, she has some ability and wouldn’t be a shock in this spot. Race 5: Meadowlands Amateur Drivers Club 1 Pace (7) FRAZIER HANOVER was a well meant winner last week that disqualified for drifting out into #4’s lane in the stretch. Anything close to a repeat performance makes him a major contender on the win end. (2) JONAH changes barns but more importantly gets a driver upgrade. Don’t be surprised if this guy steps up his game. (4) SEIZE CONTROL sat last, moved into the outer flow and was flying home in the late stages last weekend; using. (9) ROCK ON LINE gets major class relief but may need to close from last. I could take a positive view at the right price. Race 6: Winners over $12,500 in last 4 or $50,000 life - $50K GTD Pick 4 (7) LEXUS KODY is without a doubt the fastest horse in the field and he won over this course many times. He does break at times and we are getting a new driver in top Australian James Herbertson, but I’m hoping he’ll give this guy his head tonight and allow him to wire the field at his comfort level. (5) OUTSIDE THE FIRE has been racing very well but will likely need the top pick to break in order to win. (1) SWANS EYE has gone some good miles including a 1:52 2/5 victory here last year in NW10000; needs misfortune from others to win. (6) CELEBRITY BAMBINO returns from a bit more than three months on the sidelines. His qualifier was ok but I’m going to take a stand against him. Race 7: $7,500 Claiming (9) AS ALWAYS improved on the claiming price reduction in his second start back in the Engblom barn. In a field without much form, I’ll take a shot with a horse that a year ago would’ve destroyed this group. (1) HES A SWEETHEART tired in the pocket after chasing a runaway leader last time. His prior effort was much better and I expect he’ll return to that form. (8) LOVIN ON YOU spent half the stretch searching for room and gained mildly late in his most recent race. I can see using him at big odds here. (4) TREY ROCKETTE takes a clear drop in class but should still offer value due to his driver. Race 8: Meadowlands Amateur Drivers Club 1 Pace - $5,569 Pick 6 Carryover (8) GOOD ROCKIN gets a key driver change here after the last guy had some trouble keeping him on gait. Let’s expect him to be firing out and sitting no worse than a pocket trip. (9) ROJAN’S WAY bottomed out a cheaper field last week; threat again with a repeat effort. (10) LYONS LIBERTY was unlucky at the draw, but he’s capable given a smooth trip. Race 9: Trackmaster 74.5 (NW L2/2L4/Not 3rd L6 75/75.5/76.1) or less (6) FEARLESS SHELIA tucked, attacked with all she had first over and tried as she tends to do late. Six-year-old is sitting on a win if she can just work out the right trip in this class. (3) MONEYMAKESHERHAPPY moves up off a convincing win but she only went a 59 1/5 back half in that victory. If she steps forward off that mile another win is very possible. (4) QUEEN SUN RYSER goes for her fourth straight win and is an obvious contender. (2) GOING AWAY has been sharp for some time; another clean trip threat. Race 10: Non-winners $7,500 (NW 2L5 $8,250) in last 4 or since 5-1-24/TM 83.5 (NW L2/2L4 84/84.55) or less - $50K GTD Pick 4 (6) DISTANT DRUMS didn’t do much in this class last time but that field was much better than tonight’s collection of trotters. Six-year-old is versatile and can race from on or off the pace. (9) LITTLE EXPENSIVE has missed a bit over a month. His last two starts in this class were second-place finishes in this class, but he tends to get overbet. (4) INTERVIEW FRA A was my top pick despite the year-long layoff last time against a softer group. I can see him needing a start after what I thought was just an ok qualifier, albeit versus much better foes. (5) GO LONG has proven capable of putting up a winning mile against horses like this when he is feeling good. Race 11: Non-winners $3,000 (NW L2 $3,300) in last 4/TM 77.5 (NW L2/2L4 78/78.5) or less/Opt. $15,000 Clm. (5) ON THE MONEY GB has raced poorly on paper in her last few starts and sports plenty of gaps in her lines with only three starts in seven weeks. Both of those issues are concerning but if you look closer at her last line here she was just unlucky to get caught in a 1:50 4/5 mile. I’m expecting her to perform much better. (8) DARLIN’S DREAM took a shot in her first start of the year and raced well to be second best. Four-year-old has every right to improve. (3) BOLOGNA N is an underneath play only for me. She has big early speed and the ability to hit the exotics. (7) CHILLIN BYTHE POOL posted a lifetime mark two starts back after sitting a golden trip. She’s a contender on best. Race 12: Trackmaster 68 (NW L2/L4 68.5/69.15) or less (4) AINTNOHOLLABACKGRL finished willingly when clear from far back last time. Notice that Beckwith chooses here over (5) EA MUSHU, who has won her last three starts in this class. Last weekend Beckwith chose this barn a couple of times and won both. (1) HOLD MY TIARA showed last week that she can sit and pounce with a clean trip. (9) THANEEYA has the speed to get position and enough form to be part of the lower exotics. [DRF HARNESS: Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter] Race 13: Trackmaster 74 (NW L2/2L4/Nw2 since 12-1-24 74.5/75.10/76.45) or less Connections try something new with (9) MIGHTY DEO by removing Lasix and bringing him to The Meadowlands. Four-year-old was second in a NY Excelsior division timed in 1:54 at Vernon last year and certainly can beat these if the changes work. (3) GOOGOO EYES just kept coming last week in a victory one class lower. That was the type of performance that said he could handle more. (6) JAYDENS PRIDE owns a win and a second in this class back in March. Race 14: Trackmaster 71 (NW L2/L4/L6/L8 71.5/72/72.35/72.65) or less (4) EVER M wasn’t bad in his first two starts upon arrival for a new barn but threw in a dud last time. It’s worth seeing if he perks up in a big way exiting the amateurs and picking up Herschberger. (3) HOMESTRETCH WES and (7) STONE COLD SAVAGE are both dropping a level on the Trackmaster scale and either could show more. (6) ROCKIN STANDO also leaves the amateur races. He got caught in a fast mile in his last regular overnight event.