CHAMPIONSHIP MEET STATS: 331-112-52-42 / $601.40 (-$60.60) BEST BETS: 24-11-6-1 / $48.00 (+$0.00) SPOT PLAYS: 23-4-3-7 / $45.20 (-$0.80) BEST BET: HELPMEIMONFIRE (13th) SPOT PLAY: WOW LOVE (4th) Race 1: Trackmaster 68 (NW L2 70) or less - Pick 5 (1) EA MUSHU seems like a logical choice picking up a new pilot and owning twice as many wins this year as any other horse in the field. (3) BABY DOLL JEN is still seeking her first win of the year. Her best game is sitting and passing tired horses, which there could be plenty of late in this field. (7) SHIAN DELIGHT hasn’t been awful at Saratoga; trainer change could perk her up. [DRF HARNESS: Get Harness Eye PPs for this card] Race 2: NJ Sire Stakes 2YO Filly Trot Loved the qualifiers from (2) LEADING LADY and she finished full of trot on both occasions. Walner filly needs to come out running here with a win if she wants a spot in the final and nice to see Gingras choose her over #1. (3) EMMAS MYSERY CCL waited and pounced to win at first asking for a barn that excels off the bench. Will she improve off that mile? (1) SUGAR PACKET picked up a nice win upon arrival and then was overbet last time. She raced well in defeat after making a nice move to the front but now has shown signs of fading late in the mile twice. (6) NIGHTCAP MEARAS S qualified pretty well ahead of the break in her debut. I can forgive the one miscue here and possibly use her at big odds. Race 3: Trackmaster 68 (NW L2 70) or less - Survivor 7 (9) PACK YOUR BAGS comes off a sorry-looking line, but those are usually easily fixable as his prior effort was fine. Seven-year-old exits the amateur races and lands a top catch driver for the first time in five months. He should be able to awaken in this spot. (2) STOLEN ART passed horses in the stretch in his first start in this barn. I could take a positive view here versus a lackluster and very much formless group. (4) GAIUS CRASTINUS moves to the inside of the gate and could be forwardly placed here; using underneath. (10) COLE ON THE BEACH found early speed and won at this class five starts back. The problem is that he’s stuck in post 10 and has many loses at the TM68 level. Race 4: Trackmaster 74 (NW 2L4 76.76) or less (8) WOW LOVE enters a new barn and gets a big driver upgrade to Tetrick tonight. Mare has been trotting in the 1:56 and 1:57 range at Vernon and should easily be able to get a 1:55 mile here. (7) C KAN TROT blew them away in start three for the new barn. I wasn’t in her corner last time but I’m on board on the class hike off such a nice win. (1) HOOFBEATS DE VIE has a win and a second in his last two starts in this TM74 class. (5) SAINTS PRESERVE US was overmatched in the PASS last time. This group is in her comfort zone if she brings a top effort. Race 5: Meadowlands Amateur Drivers Club 1 Pace (6) FRAZIER HANOVER tends to get full of himself when he enters the amateur ranks and this looks like a prime spot for Silva to fire to the front and play catch me if you can. (2) URBAN RENEWAL stepped up to this level of amateurs in his last start and raced well for second. He can sit close and have a shot late. (10) DUCK INTO THE NITE moves back into the MADC series and I can see Hernandez trying to leave the gate hard in what looks like a winnable spot. Race 6: Non-winners $5,000 (NW 2L5 $5,530) in last 5/TM 80.5 (NW L2 82.5) or less - $50K GTD Pick 4 (5) ROCKET MAN HILL is super when he gets his trip and that seems very possible in this field. He should be able to make the front easily, yield to one horse or two and sprint home. (1) BACARDI was a winner when last seen at this level and McCarthy was in the bike that night. (10) VINNY DE VIE added Lasix and raced much better last time. He has enough early speed to get position, maybe even the front. Race 7: NJ Sire Stakes 2YO Filly Trot (4) WALDON FASHION has been super in both starts. I question whether they’ll put her on the front again but I think she’s best regardless. (3) SOUTHWIND CHASKA sat and pounced to win the first start of her career. There seems to be talent here. (1) GLAM just missed in her debut mile and any step forward makes her very tough in here. She could offer value with Sarah Svanstedt driving. Race 8: Meadowlands Amateur Drivers Club 1 Pace - Pick 6 (8) MASTER MIKI took plenty of air last time and held well to only lose by two lengths. Any reasonable trip should make him tough to beat. (2) IAMMRBRIGHTSIDE N is in great form at the young age of 15. If he gets a reasonable trip he can sprint home. (9) ARTIST BEST has been super since the claim but will have to find a winning trip from a tougher post tonight. (6) WHAMMER JAMMER can grind with the best of them but doesn’t usually get a win until he drops in company. Race 9: Trackmaster 68 (NW L2 70) or less This seems to be the winners division of the TM 68 and a number of these have a serious win chance. I’ll try a price with (4) BLUEBIRD CRUSH, a mare that is capable of popping up with a good mile given the right trip. She’s been sharp lately. (8) PHELGON has been racing very well out of town and would be no surprise in this spot. (2) THANEEYA didn’t “have it” last time but did win her previous two starts in this class. (6) VINTAGE GAL should be firing to the top and with that be in prime position for a good showing. Race 10: Trackmaster 86.5 or less/NW 1 race in 2025 draws inside - $50K GTD Pick 4 (3) ABSOLUTE POWER comes with the uncertainty of missing five weeks of action but does return to The Meadowlands at a reduced level where you would think she’ll do damage. Back in March she returned from a four month break in action and won by six lengths. (7) STONECOLDTREACHERY is capable of a big mile and gets huge class relief, but she is hardly a proven commodity. (6) BLOOD MOON A didn’t enjoy racing at Yonkers. Perhaps the big track will perk her back up. Race 11: NJ Sire Stakes 2YO C&G Trot (6) I’M KRONOS S posted some sharp qualifiers and while he was gapping at points during his debut mile since he likely wasn’t up to speed for a 27 4/5 opening quarter, it was also clear that his debut was meant to be a learning experience. When finally sent to the rim and asked he finished up very willingly. New driver could mean a short price, so don’t accept odds-on even if you like him as much as I do. (2) SKILLFUL TACTICS was super in both qualifiers and seems ready to come out rolling. (3) ARDONNE has been racing well thus far but has to prove he can step up. (8) RAMBO HANOVER was second behind a nice foe in his debut and certainly merits some consideration. Race 12: Trackmaster 68 (NW L2 70) or less (6) ROCKABILLY CHARM wasn’t quite up to a 1:51 1/5 mile last time after missing six weeks of action. He probably isn’t capable of that anymore even at full strength. He lands in a softer spot now and picks up Gingras. (4) THE OPENER is gets class relief and picks up a Hall of Fame driver of his own. (2) WARRAWEE XCEED is capable of leaving around #1 and sitting close enough to the front to have a chance to get into the exotics. [DRF HARNESS: Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter] Race 13: Trackmaster 71 (NW L2 73) or less (8) HELPMEIMONFIRE lands in the high percentage Bongiorno barn off consecutive wins in the Midwest. Normally I like to wait a start with some of their new acquisitions but this guy should be able to spank this group with little effort. (2) LANDIA got parked out in his last start here. The road to the top will be easier this time if that is the intended path. (6) FASHION FOREVER is great at coming along late and picking up minor awards; using underneath only. Race 14: Trackmaster 71 (NW L2 73) or less/TM 74.5 (NW L2 76.50) or less draw outside (7) ODDS ON SARA SARA blew away her competition last week gets a bit of a free ride here as they combine classes to fill the race. (8) ALMOST KAREN has been racing well of late and only needs a smooth trip to make her presence felt. (5) PULL ME THROUGH gets class and post relief; another potential threat to the top one if she doesn’t come to play.