MEET STATS: 42-9-10-8 / $70.10 (-$13.90) BEST BETS: 3-0-0-2 / $0.00 (-$6.00) SPOT PLAYS: 3-0-1-0 / $0.00 (-$6.00) BEST BET: SHELTER IN PACE (11th) SPOT PLAY: BATH BOMB (8th) Race 1: Meadowlands Amateur Drivers Club 1 Pace - Pick 5 (3) FINAL JUSTICE drops back down into the basement amateur conditions and finds a field with enough early speed to set him up nicely from just off the pace. (6) UNCLE COZ returns to the big track after picking up some confidence at Freehold. Driver has been doing good work in this series. (1) ATTA BOY DAN picks up Yogi this week and could be firing out. His last mile was a bit better. (10) IN NEVADA N is the other class dropper in the field, but post 10 presents some issues for a horse that tends to come from behind. [DRF HARNESS: Get Harness Eye PPs for this card] Race 2: Trackmaster 72.5 (NW L2/2L4/2L8 73/73.5/74) or less - Survivor 7 (1) POWERED BY MACH has excuses for her recent failure up North in the way of a fast race, fast pace and outside post. She arrives her for a barn that’s had a decent meet and might just wake up in the Trackmaster basement. (4) BULLVILLEKARLA and (5) PHELGON are both moving down a notch on the class ladder. The former is arguably one of the sharpest horses in the field and the latter raced better last time after a short spell away from this track. Race 3: Trackmaster 72 (NW L2/2L4/NWL10 72.5/73/73.76) or less/Opt. $7,500 Clm. (4) WHAT THE LUCK perked up for new trainer Sodano at Freehold and he’s won here before. Seven-year-old should fire off the gate and sit a good trip. (8) BAILEYS ROCK N has a trio of second-place finishes since the beginning of April when in regular overnights. (2) VALLERYAN SEA was doing good work at Miami Valley and now this 3-year-old ships east and finds a soft spot. Is he ready after missing more than three weeks? (1) SKYWAY BILLY has been win-shy over the last couple of years but is certainly capable of an exotics slot at this level. Race 4: Non-winners $3,000 (NW L2 $3,300) in last 4 or in 2024/TM 77 (NW L2/2L4 77.5/78) or less - Pick 6 (1) SHINKANSEN put in a better effort last time but more importantly for me he moves into the Mark Silva barn. He is excellent at reviving horses to previous form and this guy could certainly awaken. (5) MONEY MATTERS comes off a win and is very comfortable at this level, assuming he doesn’t break. Speaking of making breaks, (4) GOTWUTEVERITTAKES is always 50/50 to jump it off, but he is also capable of taking this field to task. Maybe new driver Gingras can figure him out. Race 5: Meadowlands Amateur Drivers Club 1 Pace (2) LINCOLN BOULEVARD went a big mile last week and seems worth following. (8) SELECT FRIDAY moves into the amateur ranks this week and fits very nicely here. New driver Yogi Sheridan loves to fire them off the gate, so new tactics may be coming. (5) ROCKABILLY CHARM has early speed and form but hasn’t won in a little while. (6) MY WISH CAME TRUE rallies well each week but may not get the right pace scenario here. Race 6: Non-winners $5,000 (NW L2 $5,500) in last 4 - $50K GTD Pick 4 (2) STELLAR YANKEE went a very long mile and held his ground very well last week. With plenty of early speed to his outside I see a more patient steer coming here. (5) MAD MAX HANOVER might not be the horse he was at one point last year but he’s clearly racing much better since adding Lasix and is a big threat to win. (7) KOLBY TWO STEP looks like a classic Cullipher horse that drops in class with no form and could be overlooked at a price. Race 7: Play Meadowlands Series for starters at $12,500 Claiming or less/Opt. $12,500 Clm. (1) STOP STARING lost to an odds-on favorite last time at Yonkers while missing second by just a head at the wire. He takes a clear drop in claiming price and should come to play. (4) SHRIMP AND GRITS is in career form right now and I expect it will carry over to this track from Philly. (3) ROSE RUN URIAH was used hard early and paid the price upon arrival. The trip has to be better tonight; clear threat. Race 8: Winners 1-2 (3YO 3) races life/Maidens draw inside - Pick 5 (6) BATH BOMB got a couple of easy wins to start her career and then went out to Ohio where she put in a strong effort to just miss in Sire Stakes company. Lather Up-sired filly should be firing out here and have a big shot. (7) FLAWLESS qualified very impressively here and then went to Pocono to pick up a nice win in the slop; respect. (1) TARRIFIC finished well in her lone qualifier but seems destined for an easy trip in her 2024 debut. Race 9: Meadowlands Amateur Drivers Club 1 Pace (10) WAY TO CLOSE went a bit too fast and got beat by a horse that saved all the ground and got a perfect trip last time. The outside post isn’t ideal but he is best. (2) SUNSHINE’S FINEST gets a cozy inside post that will allow him to sit just off the pace and potentially pounce if the pace is hot. (6) ROCK JAGGER has proven that he can win in this class given a decent setup. Race 10: Winners over $10,000 in last 4 or $50,000 life or 6 races or $14K in last 4 - $50K GTD Pick 4 (7) LEXUS KODY has dominated this class for a few starts now and there is no reason to believe it won’t continue. (6) STABLE GENIUS should fire out and chase from the pocket, but even if those aren’t the tactics, he has closing speed as well. Todd McCarthy opted off to #4, but that was to be expected. (2) DIRE STRAITS is a horse that is capable of a 1:51 mile but won’t take too much money at the windows. Race 11: Trackmaster 76.5 (NW L2/2L4 77/77.9) or less/NW 2 races in last 6 (4) SHELTER IN PACE double-drops in class off a very poor effort. As bad as that mile looks, her previous two tries were good and there is every reason to believe she’ll rebound. (2) TESLA POWER hasn’t missed the board in quite some time; using underneath. (6) UPTOWN LADY N gets the same class drop as the top pick; capable on best. Race 12: Play Meadowlands Series for starters at $12,500 Claiming or less/Opt. $12,500 Clm. This race is a complete crapshoot as there are many variables to consider in terms of driver changes and whether horses fit. (3) BETTOR AT HIGHTIDE has been racing rather well and gets Tetrick this week. (4) TOTO HANOVER also owns good form and gets a driver change to Zeron. (8) LACHIE MAGUIRE N broke in his last start with Beckwith but certainly he’s learned from that experience. 14-year-old is certainly capable. (1) APERTIF drops in claiming price and picks up Dunn. [DRF HARNESS: Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter] Race 13: Winners 1-2 races lifetime (1) IT WASN’T ME has a pair of nice qualifiers under his belt and draws into a good spot where he should come away in close order. (6) DEVASTATE was loaded with trot in his last qualifier. If Zeron sets up shop within striking position at the head of the lane, watch out! (5) STORMCLOUDFASHION adds Lasix tonight and you have to like that he owns early speed. Race 14: Winners 1-2 races lifetime or $500 in 2024/Maidens draw inside (2) INTERNATIONAL MODEL has been doing good work in the morning and seems to have caught a soft group to begin her 2024 campaign. (1) GRACEFUL DESIGN is a clear player here. She got unlucky in her first start to get caught in a pretty quick mile. (10) GO FOR GAAGAA NO hails from a barn that figures to want her to be forwardly placed despite making her first attempt of the year.