CHAMPIONSHIP MEET STATS: 166-52-29-19 / $279.10 (-$52.90) BEST BETS: 12-5-3-0 / $27.00 (+$3.00) SPOT PLAYS: 11-2-1-4 / $8.60 (-$13.40) BEST BET: MR WALNER FASHION (7th) SPOT PLAY: SABONIS (8th) Race 1: Winners 2-4 (NW L2 5) races or $50,000 (NW L2 $62,500) life/NW $100 in 2025 - Pick 5 (6) R LADY W made no attempt to get involved in her 2025 debut but did kick home in 26 3/5 to give us a hint of what she has in the tank. I’ll roll the dice with her despite facing older male foes and hope that she’ll be handled with a bit more urgency. (4) R DUTCHESS has turned in two solid qualifiers and she probably has the most raw talent in the field; respect. (7) HILLOOKIN has good early speed and form. You have to expect Trond will put him on the engine and play catch me if you can. [DRF HARNESS: Get Harness Eye PPs for this card] Race 2: Non-winners 2 (NW L2 3) races or $20,000 (NW L2 $30,000) life (4) UNO comes off a qualifier that was even better in reality than it looks on paper. He was never asked during the stretch and dealt with a strong headwind in somewhat tough weather conditions. I’m not convinced he’ll be charging off the gate here but the post should allow him to be close enough to win. (9) NORDIC CATCHER S was an ok second behind the top pick in his lone qualifier and he’s by far the most accomplished of this group. The only question here is whether they’ll push him away from the gate enough to get into the race. (8) R CEE CEE has been great since the hobbles went on. Will Tetrick leave the gate here now that she is switching to the big track and has a start under her belt? Race 3: NJ Standardbred Development Fund for 3YO Filly Pacers - Survivor 7 (3) SHES A STREAKER isn’t going to be winning any Grand Circuit races anytime soon but she’s a capable filly that could very well be controlling the action in this short field. (2) TH SUMMER LOVIN has sprinted home with nice efforts in each of her recent starts; very dangerous. (4) BEACH BABE went from a really nice mile in the NJSS final to a bit of a clunker last time after being used early; hit or miss. Race 4: Non-winners 2 (NW L2 3) races or $20,000 (NW L2 $35,000) life/NW $52,800 draw outside; Maidens inside (7) BARET raced well in a pretty quick mile to start her 2025 campaign. Bettor’s Delight filly showed some speed last year and should be ready to do more in her second start back. (10) MANHATTAN PROJECT was written into this race on the AE condition and it’s clear she’s been facing better. She’s a must use for me in the Pick 5 despite the tough post. (8) VERITY BLUE CHIP hasn’t missed the board in six starts this year and already has a 1:51 1/5 over the track. (2) JK FANCY NANCY improved with Lasix added. Race 5: NJ Sire Stakes Consolation for 3YO C&G Trotters There are more questions than answers with this group so don’t be afraid to spread a bit deeper on your Pick 5 ticket. (4) GO AHEAD MAKEMYDAY was handled aggressively again last time and while he paid the price late, he did mind his manners in the stretch in start two with hobbles added. The level of competition takes a good dip tonight and hopefully Dunn can settle him down. (3) MY DEGENERATE and (7) YANNICK G KEMP are the safest contenders in the group. They both have good early speed, don’t break, tend to get into the money often, and step up to win at times. (8) GRANDE VIA is plenty talented despite an 0-for-13 career record. If this guy ever gets his act together, watch out! Race 6: $50K Graduate 2nd leg for 4YO Trotters - $50K GTD Pick 4 (5) ELISTA HANOVER scratched out of the 10-hole in the Armbro Flight final at Woodbine Mohawk Park this Saturday and I’m not surprised. Not only was it a tough spot in terms of post but I never thought she grabbed the track quite the same as she does at The Meadowlands. This is no easy spot but we should get a nice price and a clean trip in the short field. (1) SIR PINOCCHIO has picked up his game with Lasix added and tonight he gets away from older foes that have had his number. He’s a real threat to set the pace and never look back. (4) GRUESOME TWOSOME was simply kept on the bit as he drew clear in a qualifier that was spectacular given the conditions. He’s a clear win player but one I expect will be greatly overbet with the changes to Takter and Dunn. Race 7: $225K NJ Sire Stakes Final for 3YO C&G Trotters (7) MR WALNER FASHION seems to have left his issues behind him with the hobbles added and tonight he gets the true test of whether he is a serious Hambletonian contender or just a fringe player. If I’m right he’ll be firing out and get the job done at what I hope will be at least 2-1. (2) ONAJETPLANE was about as average as can be qualifying but showed up for pari-mutuel action as a killer for trainer Noel Daley. Walner colt displayed plenty of ability at 2 and is clearly the real deal. (3) MOUNTCASTLE burst on the scene in leg two of NJSS and was a very game winner. If he can repeat that performance he’ll be a major player. Race 8: $75K Graduate 2nd leg for 4YO Pacers - $6,630 Pick 6 Carryover (5) SABONIS was an in-hand winner in his qualifier and as good as he looked, he was probably better in his May 17 effort. He followed up that 1:49 4/5 win with a very disappointing third versus older foes at 3-5. I was hardly deterred by the one subpar effort and now that the bloom is off the rose it is time to jump on his bandwagon at what could be 2-1 or higher. (4) CAPTAIN ALBANO blew out a very impressive 1:51 qualifier last time while on his own late in the mile. Dan Patch-winning 3-year-old from last year seems ready to go for a barn that often fires fresh. (7) ARBITRAGE HANOVER perked up last time with Lasix added to the equation. He won the NJSS and NJ Classic finals last year for this barn and could be a sneaky price play in here. (3) CHAIN GANG ships south and enters the Daley barn. McCarthy sticks over #7. Race 9: $225K NJ Sire Stakes Final for 3YO Filly Trotters There are many very nice fillies in this field but (2) WHAT A BID HANOVER has the looks of a special one at this point. Trainer/driver Ake Svanstedt had her in high gear late to win her 2025 debut. The only thing I fear is a brutal trip and I wouldn’t be shocked if she overcame anyway. (4) CONVERSANO gets no respect but certainly deserves it. She’s displayed a push-button high turn of speed and the versatility to win from on or off the pace. (8) DEJA BLU is perfect in two starts this year and owns six wins in 10 lifetime starts. She’s a player assuming Gingras can get her in a winning spot from the outside post in a very good field. (3) SOUND JUDGEMENT has dropped time in every trip to the track this year. She has good tactical early speed and I wouldn’t be shocked if she stepped up with a big mile. Race 10: Non-winners $12,500 (NW L2 $13,750) in last 5 or 8 (NW L2 88.5) races life/TM 86.5 (NW L2 88.5) or less - $50K GTD Pick 4 (4) UP YOUR DEO was a pretty good third in his first start of the year and I’m holding out hope that he’ll break through at age 5 after a lackluster campaign in 2024. While there are plenty of capable horses in here, there are no standouts. (2) HASTY BID was better in his second try of the year. We all know there is talent here. (8) LOVEDBYTHEMASSES is racing better than his lines look and one day soon he’s going to blow out a big mile at a price. Keep in mind that he had missed over a year before his four tries this year. Race 11: Trackmaster 74 (NW 2L4 76.73) or less (2) MONEY MATTERS was in against a killer last week in a former Hambletonian winner, so finishing third was a pretty good result. Mare has been racing pretty well of late and should be close enough to the front to have a shot in the lane. (1) DROP THE MIC has won his last two starts at this TM74 level and must be included on your Pick 4 tickets. (8) GREAT MAGIC has early speed and form. I can see this 13-year-old firing out and getting into the exotics at a price. (4) VELOCIRAPTOR raced in a higher class from a difficult post when last here. I can certainly take a positive view on him in this spot. Race 12: $50K Graduate 2nd leg for 4YO Trotters We all know that (4) HIGHLAND KISMET has unlimited potential and Nancy Takter has been charged with trying to get the most out of him. The first qualifier seemed to be going along smoothly when he made what looked like a speed break to me. Takter said she thought maybe the miscue was because his hobbles were too tight. Because I think we may get at least 5-2, I’ll take a shot that his best self shows up. (2) PRVIATE ACCESS took leg one in his first start of the year and a repeat is certainly very possible. (8) AMAZING CATCH didn’t fire in his first start of the year but that doesn’t mean he isn’t plenty talented. Don’t give up on him too quickly. [DRF HARNESS: Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter] Race 13: NJ Sire Stakes Consolation for 3YO Filly Trotters (2) MISS BELMAR is a filly I’ve been following for quite some time. I know she hasn’t paid off yet (winless in nine starts), but the talent is there and this is a field she is supposed to handle. If I decide to spread to a second horse on my Pick 4 ticket it will certainly be (4) WALSPEA. This gal came to town for leg two of the Sire Stakes after missing a few weeks and was a willing fourth. She’s going to be handled aggressively here. (7) DOMINANT FASHION has gone some decent miles for minor rewards and should get one again tonight. Race 14: Trackmaster 68 (NW L2 70) or less (5) EXCITING TIMES A may not excite you enough to run to the windows, but which horse in this field gets you to that point. She is exiting amateur races that are arguably tougher than this group and I’m willing to take a shot in a class that is typically unpredictable. (2) BLUEBIRD CRUSH is the obvious horse dropping back to the level of her last win, but taking a short price is unappealing. (6) EA MUSHU has early speed and certainly enough form to win. She’s another that will be shorter on the odds board. (4) WIGGLING JENNA adds Tetrick tonight.