FINAL WINTER MEET STATS: 376-109-69-55 / $613.70 (-$138.30) BEST BETS: 27-13-5-3 / $57.00 (+$3.00) SPOT PLAYS: 26-7-7-3 / $31.60 (-$20.40) BEST BET: SMART SCHOONER (8th) SPOT PLAY: STORMCLOUDFASHION (2ND) Race 1: Meadowlands Amateur Drivers Club 1 Pace - Pick 5 (6) MARVALOUS ONE was coasting to an easy win when he made a break out of the blue last time. Anything close to that effort with a clean line should produce good results. (3) FINAL JUSTICE comes off a nice mile against similar and seems like the one to beat in some respects. (1) HEARTLANDBANYSBRO picks up a driver who loves to gun off the gate and those tactics seem like they could produce results if only #6 goes with him. [DRF HARNESS: Get Harness Eye PPs for this card] Race 2: Non-winners 2 (NW L2 3) races/Maidens draw inside - Survivor 7 (3) STORMCLOUDFASHION displayed some ability at 2 but didn’t fire at Lexington and they put him away to marinate over the winter. Walner colt qualified back well enough and this barn is capable of firing fresh at good odds. (6) WELLINGTON HANOVER showed no signs of a miscue with hobbles added and he already has a victory over the track this year. (1) BELLA MUSCLEHILL bided his time well off the pace and trotted home willingly in his lone qualifier. There seems to be some ability here but we are likely to see a patiently steer. (8) LINDY’S COYOTITO went an even mile in his debut and it wouldn’t be surprising to see more now. Race 3: $9,000-$12,500 Claiming Handicap (6) ITS ROCKIN RANDY was a solid second in this class last weekend and he seems to find a field here without much early zip. McCarthy should have him on the move when the gate folds and set up for success. (1) QUEEN SUN RYSER comes out of a tougher race and she drops in for a tag here. The price should be right to take a flyer with her. (5) HURRYMIKI HANOVER gets a claiming price reduction and you really can’t fault her for not succeeding from off the pace at Philly. (2) CAPTAIN TERMINATOR gets an interesting driver change to Gingras. Race 4: Trackmaster 72 (NW L2/2L4 72.5/73) or less/Opt. $7,500 Claiming - Pick 6 (4) TWO FOR TRIPPING has some big track experience and goes for the Estrada/Miller team for the first time. Against a blank field you have to figure he’ll take charge. (3) XMARXTHESPOT wasn’t bad from behind last time and now he moves to the inside of the gate. Don’t be surprised if he puts in a big mile. (8) HELLO ROCKY needs some pace help but he’s very capable at this level. Race 5: Meadowlands Amateur Drivers Club 1 Pace (1) MAGRITTE was just even at the back of the pack last time after missing four weeks of action. This veteran can pop a big mile at times and I wouldn’t be shocked if Capone fired him up behind the gate for a speed try. (7) LINCOLN BOULEVARD fired off the gate but had to settle for a tuck and then was steady while third over last time. He’s every bit as much a factor as (3) THNDRFRMTHETHRON N, who was second in that same race, but seems likely to offer better value. Race 6: Non-winners 2 races/Maidens draw inside - $50K GTD Pick 4 (1) SPY COAST has prepped nicely down south and now we see her with new connections and Gingras taking over the lines. There is a chance she’ll be bet off the board here but if you can get 8-5 and she looks good on the track, I’d be on board. (2) WALCANGO is another returning Jim Campbell 3-year-old that displayed some talent last year; don’t discount her chances. (4) BIKINI MODEL responded well to the addition of hobbles at Pocono. Race 7: Trackmaster 76.5 (NW L2/2L4 77/77.55) or less (4) MISS ITALIA keeps just missing but shouldn’t go off the favorite this time and thus seems worth a look. (2) TESLA POWER is another who has been right there in her last two without a win; moves inside and seems like the chalk. (8) FIRSTOFANERA has a bit of early speed in her arsenal and if Zeron unleashes it she could have a big shot here. (6) CORSINI A closed well last time and first-time Gingras is sometimes a good angle. Race 8: Non-winners 2 (NW L/S 3) races/Maidens draw inside - Pick 5 (3) SMART SCHOONER is a very fast and talented son of Greenshoe that qualified back in good order. I’m excited to see what he can do in 2024 and simply hoping he is placed in a winning position. (6) HANKINS HANOVER sat last and had no shot of gaining ground into a wicked back half posted by Karl. Walner gelding could offer some hidden value off that line. (2) CABALLERO qualified back well and it certainly is a positive sign that trainer Trond Smedshammer calls on Dexter Dunn to drive, and that he chose here over #4, who finished second for him last time. Race 9: Meadowlands Amateur Drivers Club 1 Pace (6) ROBBIE BURNS N took a bit of a shuffle last time and was just steady when clear in the stretch. That was his first start in two months and he can certainly be tighter now. (8) TERRE HAUTE closed very well to win last time and there is certainly enough potential early speed to set him up again. (1) SAND SNIPER reunites with Beltrami and certainly deserves a look underneath. Race 10: Non-winners $7,500 (NW 2L5 $8,551) in last 4 - $50K GTD Pick 4 (6) YANKS DUGOUT is the class of this field and he did improve on the class drop last time. Anything close to his best effort beats these. (1) DONATO PATRIOT K was a game second last week; sharp now. (7) AMADOR has versatility in his game and that could come in very handy in a field where a speed duel is not out of the question. Miller chose off for #4 but Dunn is a nice replacement. Race 11: Trackmaster 84 (NW L2/2L4 84.5/85.25) or less (2) TWO PISTOL ANNIE exits a NJ-bred stake where she was somehow disappointing with a 1:51 3/5 mile where she did all the work versus good competition. Now she changes barns while taking on a field where she looks very competitive and the fact that Dunn jumps ships to #8 can only improve the price. (6) DONTKARENIFIDO couldn’t have been more impressive last week and while some may flock to the seemingly locked in Fade Out, I didn’t get the impression she was loaded with pace. (4) ANNA’S WISH is in fine form and wouldn’t be a surprise in here. Race 12: Trackmaster 77 (NW L2/2L4 77.5/78) or less (5) AMERICAN CHROME gets a monster driver change after some good efforts in the top amateur classes. (6) JUST A ROCKET MAN also picks up a new pilot and certainly has form. (3) POSH ON THE BEACH A has been closing in well of late and has a chance if the pace gets wild. [DRF HARNESS: Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter] Race 13: Trackmaster 74.5 (NW L2/2L4/NWL10 75/75.5/75.95) or less (2) TEXAS MIKI drops to the level of his last win and should sit no worse than a pocket trip here. (1) CLAYTONS BETTOR N is the other one that should be firing out early, but he’s winless in 2024. (6) LINDY THE BRAVE switches to Estrada and is eligible to wake up. That said, his former barn is hitting at a 20% clip this year. Race 14: Non-winners $3,000 in last 4 or this class last start/TM 77 (NW L2/2L4 77.5/78) or less (4) MONEY MATTERS did what she could but couldn’t quite get there from post 10 last time. Five-year-old seems to be feeling good now and only needs a reasonable trip to have a chance at a win. (6) GOTWUTEVERITTAKES won his last race at this level and we all know what he can do when he feels like behaving. (3) I’LL OWE YOU ONE gets post relief and should be forwardly placed without having to work as hard as he did last time.