CHAMPIONSHIP MEET STATS: 28-12-3-4 / $55.40 (-$.60) BEST BETS: 2-2-0-0 / $14.60 (+$10.60) SPOT PLAYS: 2-1-1-0 / $4.80 (+$.80) BEST BET: LOU ON THE BEACH (10th) SPOT PLAY: PORTBAROSSO AS NL (12th) Race 1: Meadowlands Amateur Drivers Club 1 Pace - Pick 5 (3) TONY N ROCK just missed last time in a much improved and sharp mile. Anything close to that performance gives him a big shot of finally getting into the win column this year. (9) BIONIC takes a significant class drop on the amateur scale and I wouldn’t be shocked if we see a change of tactics. (1) BRAZEN BRAZILIAN was overbet and never really involved as he closed in for a minor award last time. He’ll take play again tonight and could certainly win with a decent trip. (2) CHEDDAR SHREDDER moves into the amateur ranks and certainly deserves a look. [DRF HARNESS: Get Harness Eye PPs for this card] Race 2: Trackmaster 74 (NW L2 76.50) or less (9) HURRIKANE WILLIE G is a sharp horse that could have a relatively easy road to the top despite the tough outside post. Mare should offer fair value. (1) HOOFBEATS DE VIE hasn’t won a race since 2023 and that makes her tough to swallow on the win end, but she’s hit the board quite often in 2025 and is a must use underneath. (3) MONEY MATTERS comes off a break and a scratched-sick line which will scare many away. That said, like (4) GOOGOO EYES, she drops in class and would be no surprise. The latter has been a bit duller than I expected in his last two so don’t jump on board unless the price is right. 5) EXPERT TUTOR gets a trainer change and adds Lasix. Improvement is possible despite the stale date of April 10 for his last race. Race 3: Non-winners 2 (NW L2 3) races or $20,000 (NW 2L4 $30,000) life/Maidens draw inside - Survivor 7 (2) DOMINANT FASHION got another conservative steer and despite much faster fractions up front, she kept up and finished well when clear in the stretch. If she has even more gears in the tank this looks like a spot where we’ll see it. (7) GET IT ALL raced very well in her 2025 to finish second behind a nice young filly. She’s clearly the one to beat here. (6) MY BFF ANNEE is a former $435K purchase who won her only start as a 2-year-old. She powered off impressively in her last qualifier. If I wasn’t convinced she’ll be raced from behind I would be all in on her. (8) R JEZZY comes in from Pocono with plenty of form. Race 4: Trackmaster 74.5 (NW L2 76.50) or less (5) ALMOST KAREN is on a serious form roll right now and since she rarely gets bet too heavily, I’ll give her the narrow edge in a field with a number of contenders. (6) TESLA POWER has put in some good miles at the TM 74 level while most of these have been competing in TM71. She can certainly be a major player. (4) BETTE TINA went a big mile from post 10 a week ago; also sharp and dangerous. Race 5: Meadowlands Amateur Drivers Club 1 Pace (7) ROJAN’S WAY is one of the class-droppers in the field and you have to like that he draws inside the other likely early speed players. If Hernandez doesn’t find too much resistance on his way to the front this race could be over in a hurry. (1) FIRSTUP is one of those horses that is good at sitting and pouncing, which means he’ll need the right trip. The inside post tonight gives him the opportunity to succeed if the pace is hot. (9) MARCUS SEELSTER was second in a nice speed try last time; big danger. (10) STORM THE COURT was third against much better in his previous amateur try; not impossible. Race 6: Trackmaster 71 (NW L2 73.50) or less - $50K GTD Pick 4 (1) BIG SKY EX missed a year of action, so it wasn’t surprising that she needed the race last weekend. Nine-year-old now has three miles under her halter and takes a double class drop. If ready to pop a big one, and I’ll certainly be monitoring her in the scoredown, I’d be 100% in her corner. (2) BACARDI finds the best spot she has seen in a very long time. The form doesn’t look great but the competition is the great equalizer. (3) LIONHEAD has the early speed to make the front easily; missed a few weeks. (8) LIMERENCE has pretty good form and should offer fair value on the board. I’d consider using him in the Pick 4. (7) BIG NUDGE dropped two seconds despite moving to the smaller track last time; adds Miller; another possibility. Race 7: Non-winners $5,000 (NW 2L5 $5,530) in last 4/TM 86.75 or less (7) DISTANT DRUMS gets a key class drop here to the level of his last win and only has a couple of early speed horses to deal with to his inside. (5) GINGERTREE STAKIAS has been extremely unlucky at the draw and gets a post inside eight for the first time in seven starts. While I would prefer him one class lower, I wouldn’t be shocked if Hernandez was gunning off the gate and put himself in winning position. (2) WINTER SOLDIER just missed in 1:52 4/5 and that will certainly garner some attention. If the trip is right he has a big shot. (1) COOL PAPA BELL improved in his second qualifier and in reality the former Hambletonian winner doesn’t exactly need his “A” game to beat this crew. (9) SOUTHWIND BANSHEE is certainly facing easier this week and did some good things as a 3-year-old. She has a win chance if things go right. Race 8: Meadowlands Amateur Drivers Club 2 Pace - Pick 6 Some people get on amateur races but this is as good a race as there is on the card from a handicapping perspective. (7) T DOG doesn’t have the best-looking lines of the group but that can be explained by the competition he’s been facing in a tough TM83 mini-series. He’s worth a look here assuming he offers around 5-1 or higher. (8) I’LL HUNT YOU DOWN was spectacular last week and I believe he’ll hold that form for his new barn for at least one more start. (1) APERTIF adds Lasix tonight. This capable guy should get into less trouble starting from the inside post this week. (6) SEIZE CONTROL is as sharp as they come. Race 9: Winners 2-4 (NW L2 5) or $7,600 in last 4/NW 7 races draw outside I have a pretty good idea of the peak talent level of every horse in the field except (4) GO AHEAD MAKEMYDAY and that’s where I land. He was very much fired up in his last qualifier and only got a few taps of the whip midway through the stretch to extend him for his 2025 debut. A NJ Classic runner-up finish and appearance in the Mohawk Million last year tell you there is plenty of potential here. (1) DRIBBLING BI switches conditions and with it is facing a softer overall group in terms of class. Can the new barn have him ready for a big mile? (5) TE QUIERO LINDY is certainly sharp as he arrives here from Pocono to face tougher. (3) LUKE’S BAR hasn’t been able to get over the top in a while; trip player and exotics must. Race 10: Meadowlands Amateur Drivers Club 1 Pace (2) LOU ON THE BEACH blew away an amateur field two starts back despite broken equipment and then rallied very nicely from an impossible class last time despite starting from post 10. He’s in a good spot here to score and it is nice to see he can succeed from on or off the pace. (1) SEEYOU AT THEBEACH comes off a 1:52 3/5 line which sticks out but before you get too excited, he is winless in 12 starts this year. (4) URBAN RENEWAL couldn’t get in gear last time but was racing well prior to that start. 7) HASHTAG MONEY gets an interesting switch to Beltrami. Can he fire this guy up enough early to get around the speedy #3? If he doesn’t, will the pace be quick enough to set him up from behind? Race 11: Non-winners $12,500 in last 4 or starters NW $10,000 or less last 4/TM 86.5 (NW L2 88.5) or less (7) FRONT PAGE STORY had too many horses leave inside her last week and her fate was sealed to come away last. She finished up nicely in the mile and continues to be in great form. Here’s hoping she can fire to the front tonight. (1) ABSOLUTE POWER has been handled way too aggressively by David Miller lately. I don’t know if he can’t hold her or if he just thinks that’s the best way to drive this gal but it just hasn’t worked. We get a new Miller tonight and perhaps that will produce a better result. (5) MY AUGUST MOON A held well despite taking plenty of air last week. She’s a contender in here for sure. Race 12: Non-winners 2 (NW L2 3) races or $20,000 (NW 2L4 $30,000) life/Maidens draw inside (5) PORTBAROSSO AS NL tucked early, pulled on the final turn and drew off for a powerful score in his lone qualifier. I loved the performance, which included a 26 3/5 final quarter, and will follow up here at what should be a fair price with (7) TOP GUN HANOVER in the lineup. The latter won at first asking in 2025 with a 26 3/5 kicker of his own and seems to have some ability. Gingras is coming back from Yonkers to drive. (3) JERSEY SLIDE put in two very useful qualifiers and while they don’t jump off the page, she was mostly kept on hold in the first one and faced some salty foes last time. [DRF HARNESS: Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter] Race 13: Trackmaster 68 (NW L2 70.30) or less It’s always hard to find standout horses in these lower TM conditioned races but perhaps it presents an opportunity for (7) MS FRANCES ASSISI. The 3-year-old adds Lasix and certainly was facing more talented foes in the Weiss series at Pocono. (3) THANEEYA is typically a bridesmaid and never a bride in 2025. She could be controlling the race here. (4) EA MUSHU reunited with Beck with last time and perked right up; capable. Race 14: Trackmaster 68 (NW L2 70) or less (5) COLE ON THE BEACH doesn’t win that often anymore but does seem to be sitting on a win if the trip can work out. (7) OUR CORELLI N drops back down to the TM68 level where he was victorious in April. (4) MOONWARDS HANOVER is going to need a smooth journey but I wouldn’t be shocked if he raced well as he usually does from an inside post.