CHAMPIONSHIP MEET STATS: 194-58-33-25 / $320.10 (-$67.90) BEST BETS: 14-5-3-1 / $27.00 (-$1.00) SPOT PLAYS: 13-3-1-4 / $18.00 (-$8.00) BEST BET: JAVA JUKEBOX (13th) SPOT PLAY: CAPTAIN TERMINATOR (1st) Race 1: Meadowlands Amateur Drivers Club 1 Pace - $22,989 Pick 5 Carryover (3) CAPTAIN TERMINATOR won a number of amateur races here earlier in the year when in the Hernandez barn. Veteran returns from Pocono where he was doing good work in the Game of Claims series before tailing off lately. This group is about as soft as they come and I have to think he’ll be handled like he’s the best. (7) FERDINAND A is the other horse that will make my ticket in this Pick 5 carryover. He easily made the front last time and sat a good pocket trip with no late kick. I’d expect Slendorn to put the pedal to the metal and look to wire the wire. (1) NEVER EASY Z TAM hasn’t had much luck in the amateur series in recent tries but don’t be surprised if she fires out as well and lands in a good spot. [DRF HARNESS: Get Harness Eye PPs for this card] Race 2: Trackmaaster 68 (NW L2 70.10) or less (1) COUNTRY DANCING had no chance last time from post 10, was used too hard on the engine last time and had the trainer in the bike prior to that start. While I’m not running to the windows to bet her, those as about as good as a spot as she could’ve hoped for if she hand-picked the field. (4) MARE OF THE CITY is back at her comfort level, though she’s hardly a lock to win when she lands here. (5) VINTAGE GAL has the early speed to make the top and lands the leading driver at the track. Before you get too excited, she hasn’t raced here in two years and hasn’t won here in over three years. Race 3: Meadowlands Amateur Drivers Club 1 Pace - Survivor 7 (4) GOOD ROCKIN finished with some late pace last time after taking back at the start. Huge driver change this week to Yogi means he’ll likely be firing out and have a huge chance at a win. (3) ARTIST BEST blew them away by four lengths in 1:51 in his last amateur start; clear player. (5) SEIZE CONTROL is one of those horses that can take advantage when the pace gets hot. I’m not sure I expect that to happen here but the mid-pack post should mean he’s in with a chance regardless. (2) HES A SWEETHEART comes out of a race with some sharp foes but this is clearly a step up. Interesting that Baker chose this guy over #5. Race 4: Trackmaster 68 (NW L2/1 race since 2-8-25 70/71.14) or less This will definitely be a spread race for me in the Pick 5 sequence. (6) BRONSONS DELIGHT made a big move into contention and simply hung in the late stages. I’m going to give him a pass since it was only his third start after two years off. (4) MY WISH CAME TRUE is the one horse that seems likely to head to the front and while he hasn’t won much, the trip could work out nicely. (1) URBAN RENEWAL has an amateur pilot in the bike but does land in a nice spot and I wouldn’t be shocked if he pushed hard off the gate to secure position; threat. (3) SERGEANT WALT has been ok from off the pace in his last two starts from outside posts. (8) RAPTORS FLIGHT N improved on the class drop last time; post hurts but he’s not impossible on the win end. Race 5: Trackmaster 74.5 (NW L2 76.64) or less/Opt. $20,000 Clm. While I’ll be spreading here as well in this wide-open event, I will also have an extra ticket with my top pick as a single. (8) ODDS ON SARA SARA has come to life with some big miles lately. If she can repeat any of those from this outside post the rest of the field is in some trouble. (4) TESLA POWER finally moves in on the gate a bit and I can see a more aggressive try coming this week. (5) LYONS MIKI has missed a few weeks but did score in her last race in this class. (1) FIRSTUP has found herself in recent weeks. Can she handle the double class jump? (9) POLKS IMAGE has the early speed to overcome the bad draw. She hasn’t done much in her first two tries for this barn but deserves another look moving to the big track seeing as her lifetime mark came at Hoosier. Race 6: Winners 2-4 (NW L2 5) races or $50,000 (NW L2 $62,500) life - $50K GTD Pick 4 (6) R DUTCHESS just missed in her 2025 debut when coming first-over into a well-rated leader. Father Patrick-sired filly is the best of this group and should be able to shine. (1) WINNPANZEE was done in by post 10 last week. She moves way inside here and gets a key driver change to McCarthy. (3) GREENMA hasn’t finished worse than second all year, including a solid second behind Top Gun Hanover here three starts back. Race 7: Meadowlands Amateur Drivers Club 1 Pace (2) SONO CONFUSO arrived here in the amateur ranks last weekend and was hampered by an outside post. He moves way inside now and should have every shot in a field without a standout. (5) DUNSAN HARRY and (7) HYPEBEAST are both taking a substantial class drop on the amateur spectrum. The former is a one-run sort that can fire home big if the trip works out. (1) ROCKY J put in a pretty nice effort in his debut for this barn despite starting from post 10; more tonight? Race 8: Non-winners $2,500 (NW L2 $3,000) in last 5/TM 74 (NW 2L4 76.50) or less/Opt. $10,000 Clm. - Pick 6 (5) PARODY was drawn outside and in against a killer in his last start. I’d expect we’ll see early speed from this guy tonight. (7) ROCKET MAN HILL is another who has been facing better company and it’s really been a long time since he faced a field as soft as this one. A wake-up call is very possible. (3) IRISH COFFEE stayed flat in his qualifier and came home in a solid 27 3/5. If the breaking issues are in his past a victory could be in his future. Race 9: Non-winners $12,500 in last 5 or $10K or less L/S/TM 86.5 (NW L/S 89) or less (7) TAKE YOUR PICK bested four of these last time out at Philly and if you dig deeper in her lines you see she also won her last two tries here. (8) LOUISVILLE GB loves this track. The again, at 16 for 30 lifetime she loves every track. Versatile sort can win from on or off the pace. (6) HERS HUNGRY has early speed and form; capable on best. Race 10: Non-winners $5,000 (NW 2L5 $5,530) in last 5/TM 80.5 (NW 2L4 85.35) or less - $50K GTD Pick 4 (6) DISTANT DRUMS has been racing well at Philly and comes off a nice confidence building victory last time. Six-year-old loves to win and keeps Tetrick over a few others. (5) BACARDI has the early speed to dart to the front and he might get away with soft fractions versus this group. (4) DOUBLE ACCOUNT has some class to him and would be no surprise. Race 11: Trackmaster 71 (NW L2 73) or less (3) LANDIA is no world-beater but she knows her way to the winner’s circle and will love the class drop to TM71. (6) FIX-IT-UP stayed flat in his first qualifier for this barn and perhaps they can unlock his talent. (5) FASHION FOREVER has consistently been getting into the money in this condition. (2) GOOGOO EYES drops down in awful form. Can he awaken? I have mixed feelings. Race 12: Trackmaster 68 (NW L2 70.10) or less (6) PULL ME THROUGH was stuck with an outside post last time and only got a minor check. She moves to the middle of the gate now, drops a level and adds Andrew McCarthy. (5) EA MUSHU figures to be pushing away inside of the top pick and should be in prime position to win. (2) MISS YOU JOANN also dips down to the TM68 level. Her last two tries resulted in a win and a second. [DRF HARNESS: Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter] Race 13: Non-winners 2 (NW L2 3) races or $20,000 (NW L2 $30,000) life/Maidens draw inside (1) JAVA JUKEBOX brushed to the front and went a very game mile in his career debut. The performance looks even better since the winner Chat Room went on to Vernon to take the Empire Breeders Classic over some other good 3-year-olds. Notice that Gingras is coming back from Yonkers just to drive this horse and Dunn is doing the same for (5) KADENA, who was asked and responded nicely in her latest qualifier after a more ho-hum performance in her first morning try. Expensive daughter of Mission Brief has a right to be a good one. (6) TACKY SUGAR was just behind the top pick in her lone mile and ran into a touch of traffic that night. Improvement is certainly possible. Race 14: Trackmaster 68 (NW L2/1 race since 2-8-25 70/71.14) or less At a combined 3 for 107 on the year, this field lacks any semblance of form. (2) AWESOME TIMES TWO has two of the wins and his fourth-place finish last time was much better than any of his competitors. Notice that he finished fourth despite being part of a quick 55 half. (1) CALL ME LIGHTNING was dull in his first start for the new barn. Especially considering this is just a 3-year-old, it is very possible that things get better in start two. (4) BETTER THAN SOME exits the amateur ranks and perhaps the new driver will perk him up.