CHAMPIONSHIP MEET STATS: 138-45-19-17 / $257.20 (-$18.80) BEST BETS: 10-5-2-0 / $27.00 (+$7.00) SPOT PLAYS: 9-1-1-4 / $4.80 (-$13.20) BEST BET: COOL PAPA BELL (13th) SPOT PLAY: MR WALNER FASHION (4th) Race 1: Non-winners 2 (NW L2 4) races or $20,000 (NW L2 $57,500) life/Maidens draw inside - Pick 5 (2) JAVA JUKEBOX finished fast in his first qualifier and was very good on the front last time as he dug in for the win under just some taps of the whip. The 28 1/5 final quarter is better than it looks when you know that there was a strong headwind that morning. (7) WINNPANZEE gets tested for class in this spot but you have to like what we’ve seen from her at Philly this year. I wouldn’t be surprised to see her leave strong off the gate. (8) TACKY SUGAR won on her own in that lone qualifier moving into the Melander barn, and notice her owner is the prominent trainer from Europe Daniel Reden. I can take a favorable view. (5) CHAR ROOM blew up on the engine in his debut at Vernon for no apparent reason. His qualifier here before that was super; don’t ignore. [DRF HARNESS: Get Harness Eye PPs for this card] Race 2: NJ Standardbred Development Fund 3YO Filly Pace (5) BEACH BABE seems like the most likely filly in the field to take charge in this spot but even if she doesn’t the likelihood of a second over trip seems high. (8) RECKLESS ABANDON remains my top horse of this group. Unfortunately she drew outside and isn’t likely to be going all out early in the mile for a $10K purse. (2) TH SUMMER LOVIN showed a little something sprinting home in 26 1/5 last time. She’s made a good living in her career considering she is winless. (3) WORKLIFEBALANCE is the likely favorite here but nowhere near a lock on paper. A lot will come down to whether she tries to leave around the two horses to her inside. Race 3: Trackmaster 71 (NW L2 73) or less - Survivor 7 (4) HURRIKANE WILLIE G finally gets a decent post to start from and won’t have to work as hard to make the front. McCarthy being back in the bike is another plus. (1) CREATIN’ HAVOC wasn’t bad in his first start for new connections and certainly the move inside should keep him closer to the action. (6) ALLINDOTIME will be firing to the front like the top pick and it is hard to imagine he won’t get into the exotics somewhere. (5) MASSTER BLUE rallied for second with Tetrick joining the team last time but was hardly so good that I’d take what could be 4-1 or less on him tonight. Race 4: NJ Sire Stakes 3YO C&G Trot (5) MR WALNER FASHION had to scratch out of his last start due to sickness but you have to like that he had an extra week to get over whatever was bothering him. He returns here in a spot where he needs a good effort to make the $225K final, so expect him to be ready at what should be much better odds than he would’ve offered on May 24. (1) SKY LEGACY went a very good mile in leg one and should get a nice piece here. (9) GRANDE VIA is another who needs a good showing. This guy adds hobbles tonight and that hope is likely that it will settle him down, because this guy is certainly headstrong. He blew up in the lane last time to cost himself a win. (7) HILDAGO won’t be on any of my tickets. Don’t get me wrong, this guy has some ability and held his act together with hobbles last time, but he hardly looked like his past breaking issues are behind him. Race 5: NJ Standardbred Development Fund 3YO C&G Pace (9) SMOOTH DREAM will be 1-9 at post time and it hard to imagine him losing regardless of trip. (2) ODDS ON BROWARD is the one horse I’d give an outside shot of upsetting. His best game is sitting close and pouncing late, something he will have a better chance of accomplishing from the inside starting slot. (5) TOM HORN has the speed to make the front and while his form doesn’t look great, he may just be faster than many of these. Race 6: Trackmaster 71 (NW L2 73) or less -$50K GTD Pick 4 (1) ODDS ON SARA SARA blew them away in TM 68 two starts back and was an admirable second last time in this class. She catches a rather soft group here and should have every chance to win. (4) ALMOST KAREN drops to the level of her last victory. (6) CATNAP was awful last time but raced well in both previous starts at this TM71 level. Race 7: NJ Sire Stakes 3YO Filly Trot (6) MY HONOR seemed a bit short last week but was trotting as well as any in the field late in the mile. Short field tonight ensures she’ll be close enough to make some noise and Gingras joins the team with Savsntedt in Canada. (4) STASH SOME CASH blew them away in her debut at Plainridge and I guess we’ll learn a bit more about her tonight. You have to like that she’ll likely be heading towards the front. (7) C ME B ME showed some talent at Philly but blew up early in her Big M debut. I wouldn’t count her out just yet. Race 8: NJ Sire Stakes 3YO C&G Trot - Pick 6 (1) TOP GUN HANOVER seemed to break for no reason in the stretch last time. His prior efforts were fine and I’ll look for a big rebound mile with hobbles now added versus a somewhat shaky group. (2) YANNICK G KEMP has shown he can step up with a good mile on occasion and he should stay close from this post. (8) TE QUIERO LINDY has the early speed to get into position. He hasn’t missed the board very often in his career. (4) GO AHEAD MAKEMYDAY made a break milliseconds after the top pick in the same race. Hobbles didn’t help him last time so I’m not sure you can take a flyer here at anything under 8-1. Race 9: NJ Sire Stakes 3YO Filly Trot (4) SOUND JUDGEMENT raced pretty well in her debut and she’ll need a nice showing here to make the final. Improvement is certainly possible with that start under her belt and you have to like that she has the early speed to make her own trip. (1) CHAMPAGNE PROBLEMS was super last year and didn’t disappoint in her 2025 unveiling. I respect her chances but not sure I want 3-5 on her. (5) CONVERSANO was a very good second behind the former last time and she’s shown a very nice turn of speed in her starts. Any reasonable trip would make her a win player. Race 10: Open Handicap Trot - $50K GTD Pick 4 (7) ARI FERRARI J got locked in the pocket for too long and seemed like he would’ve won if he was clear a couple of steps sooner. He’ll have to deal with some other early speed to the inside tonight but this guy is clearly improving with each start. (8) PERICULUM is clearly the horse to beat, though he may need to pass the entire field with so much early speed to his inside. (6) SIR PINOCCHIO perked up with Lasix added and could improve further with the medication in his system a bit longer. Race 11: NJ Sire Stakes 3YO C&G Trot (7) TACTICAL DYNASTY added trotting hobbles last time and showed no signs of misbehavior. He did get stuck in some stretch traffic while finishing well. Tactical Landing-sired colt made over $160K and trotted in 1:53 2/5 as a 2-year-old, so there is talent here, and drawing into the softer division might be just what the doctor ordered. (5) ONAJETPLANE is another colt who did some good things last year. He really hasn’t looked great in any of his three morning miles but I’m listing him this high because the talent is there and I wouldn’t be shocked if Daley pulled the shoes or something to get a good mile out of him and ensure a spot in the final. (6) HERECOMESDAJUDGE has raced well from on and off the pace. This is a class hike but the times seem to fit. Race 12: NJ Sire Stakes 3YO Filly Trot (8) R LADY W was super in her second qualifier as she dropped time and kicked home in 27 seconds into a sometimes strong stretch headwind. As I noted in a recent column, Zeron was most aggressive with debut horses from the Toscano barn and she needs a good showing to make the final. (4) WALSPEA scratched out of the first leg which means she’ll also need a strong mile here. Filly has come back strong with two wins in two starts and this looks like the kind of spot where Smedshammer will fire out. (2) DEJA BLU looks like the clear chalk off a first round win and I couldn’t fault anyone for betting her. (3) MISS BELMAR didn’t look great in her first start as she took some sketchy steps in the lane. I wouldn’t be shocked if she improved a ton tonight. [DRF HARNESS: Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter] Race 13: Non-winners $5,000 (NW 2L5 $5,530) in last 5/TM 80.5 (NW L2 83.55) or less (4) COOL PAPA BELL has a couple of starts under his belt now and the former Hambletonian champion is simply too good for this field. (7) PARODY put up the mile of his life last time and seems sharp enough to head to the front and get a big piece. (5) MONEY MATTERS made a break as the favorite last time and that means a better price if you like him to fill out the exacta. (9) LUKE’S BAR is a capable horse that tends to come from behind. If Ryder can get him in play, an exotics slot is well within his reach. Race 14: Trackmaster 68 (NW L2 70) or less (10) CRYSTAL COAST comes out of a very fast mile at Philly in her first start as a 3-year-old. Tonight she lands in the softest condition at this track and despite the bad draw I expect she’ll be put in play and have a decent shot to win. (3) FIRSTUP gets some much needed class relief and we’ve seen she can pop off a win in these spots. (1) DIVIDED WE FALL has also been racing in Pennsylvania versus NW1 foes. Yes, she’s winless in 21 career starts, but many of the miles she has been going would be very competitive with this group. (5) MYSTIQUE GIRL raced better with Lasix added.