CHAMPIONSHIP MEET STATS: 305-101-71-39 / $549.00 (-$61.00) BEST BETS: 24-14-2-2 / $51.00 (+3.00) SPOT PLAYS: 23-6-6-2 / $22.00 (-$24.00) BEST BET: VILLAGE CHAMP (4th) SPOT PLAY: ROYAL FILLY (8th) Race 1: TrackMaster 74 (NW L3/5 74.5/75) or less Series/Opt. $7,500 Claiming/Leg 1 starters - Pick 5 In what can't be a coincidence, this series seems to be seeded with the worst horses in this division and the best in race 4. (4) LOVE YOURSELF was bet heavy at the windows and got fried through fast fractions last time. The trip can't possibly be that bad this week. (3) FINAL JUSTICE is capable of sitting and pouncing if the pace is quick enough to set him up. (5) MELANIE'S NICK came to town last weekend and didn’t have a chance to show what he has due to a break. He could be an exotics threat at good odds. (9) BARGAIN SHOPPER picks up a new driver. [DRF HARNESS: Get Harness Eye PPs for this card] Race 2: 2YO Colt and Gelding Pace (6) GOLDIN GREATNESS didn't have much of a chance from post 7 at Saratoga in his debut. Huntsville-sired gelding should be a big price and might have more in the tank than most expect. (3) CAPTAIN’S CHOICE is another one moving into a better spot, not just with an inside post but also against easier foes. (7) CAVIART CALLUM comes out of the same race as #3 and finished just ahead of him that day. [DRF BETS: Wager on tonight's Meadowlands card at DRF Bets.com!] Race 3: 2YO Filly Pace - Survivor 7 (3) BELLISIMA HANOVER did the heavy lifting and lost to a talented foe in her career debut. Captaintreacherous filly finds a reasonably soft spot and can take charge. (4) MIND BLOWING was very game in her recent qualifying win and now just has to prove she’s fast enough. Gingras takes over the driving with Zeron hurt - get well soon! (1) QUEEN SUN RYSER went an even mile in her debut for this barn; more now? Race 4: TrackMaster 74 (NW L3/5 74.5/75) or less Series/Opt. $7,500 Claiming/Leg 1 starters (5) VILLAGE CHAMP had no shot last time from post 9. He drops back to the level of his last win, draws well, and he needs a top effort to make next week's final; all systems go! (9) SCRAPPIN GOLD is clearly the horse to beat on paper, but this isn't an important race and the post isn't ideal. I expect he'll race well but perhaps settles for second or third? (6) KINGOFTHEJUNGLE has the early speed to head to the top and should be sitting a good trip. Race 5: 2YO Filly Trot (5) TOTALLY RELENTLESS was super in both of her qualifiers and this Bar Hopping filly looks like one to watch. (4) HEART ON FIRE has the early speed to get in play and raced well in her debut. (6) PRIDE N JOY also did well in her first start but was raced from off the pace. If she can stay close, watch out! Race 6: Peter Haughton Memorial Elimination (top 9 advance) - $50K GTD Pick 4 The winner is guaranteed a post from 1 to 6 in the final and one horse I expect to be aggressive is (8) CELEBRITY BAMBINO. Gingras got hung a while before clearing last week and easily succumbed to the horse that took a bye from this race. He should have a big shot here. (2) KILMISTER is perfect in two starts and hails from top trotting connections that tend to send their horses ready to roll every week. (6) DAHLQUIST HANOVER picked up his game last time and figures to be forwardly placed. (4) UPSTAGED looked good in his debut but hasn't stepped forward since; using more underneath. Race 7: TrackMaster 70 (NW L3/5 70.5/71) or less Series/Opt. $5,000 Claiming/Leg 1 starters (3) ALWAYS A FORCE, (4) SHIP WRECK BEACH K and (8) ILLINI DUKE finished 1, 2 and 3 against each other last week and still seem like the best of this group. I'll lean slightly to #9 on the positive post switch after being used early in a fast half then finding a hint of stretch traffic. (2) LOVELY LADY MAY won the other division of this series last week and McCarthy chose here over #3. Race 8: Jim Doherty Memorial Elimination (top 9 advance) - Pick 6 (5) ROYAL FILLY is a talented daughter of Chapter Seven who could offer some serious value after going off the favorite in her first start and making a break. She was used for more than three-eighths of the mile to make the top and made a freak miscue. Her comeback qualifier was very sharp as she ran down #9 despite chasing slow fractions. (6) BRUNELLA was used to the front and really can't be faulted for getting run down by a fresh foe late last time. Father Patrick-sired filly has talent. (4) MY ANNA’S DREAM has done nothing wrong and won her debut rather easily. Race 9: Non-winners $10,500 (NW L3 $11,550) in last 5 or 6 races life/TM 84.5 (NW L3/5 85/85.5) or less (3) BROKNHEARTSVILLE has certainly picked up her game since moving into the Engblom barn. Four-year-old only has one start on the big track at Hoosier in his career and it was a decent third early in her 3-year-old season. Let's see what she can do against a weaker NW10000 field. (5) HENDERSON SEELSTER remains in the same class as last week when he was seventh but faces a MUCH softer group. He loses McCarthy but Andy Miller knows him very well. (1) HAMMER TIME gobbled them up in the stretch in his debut for these connections; certainly capable. Race 10: Open 2 Trot - $50K GTD Pick 4 (1) SOUTHWIND TYRION dropped some nice time and impressed in his second start off the bench. Former 2-year-old star should only continue to improve after missing more than a year. (7) DOUBLE ACCOUNT steps up in class on paper but doesn't exactly face a better field. (5) STORM IS RAGIN wasn't far behind the top pick two starts back on this surface. Race 11: Non-winners 2 (NW L3 3) or $22,500 lifetime (7) WILD OATS put in a big mile in defeat last week and should only build on that effort in his second start back from vacation. (8) PRIMADONNA DEO is another who raced well off the bench. There is some hidden ability here and sooner or later it will develop. (3) FRANK THE ELDER hasn't looked very good lately but catches the easiest field he has seen in a while. Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter Race 12: Non-winners $3,000 in last 5/TM 76.5 (NW L3/5 77.3/77.65) or less (2) GOES DOWN SMOOTH raced very well from off the pace in his first start for this new barn. Let's remember that this guy was pretty fast at one point and tonight's competition isn't that tough. (1) KEEPER OF SECRETS is clearly the one to beat after just missing versus a better foe last time. (8) ALL RISE has the early speed to make the front and can certainly be involved. Race 13: TrackMaster 70 (NW L3/5 70.5/71) or less Series/Opt. $5,000 Claiming/Leg 1 starters (1) MANNYS TOO SPECIAL fired out from post 10 last time and the trip didn't go as intended. He moves to the inside of the gate now and should get a smoother trip. (5) SIX DAYS WARS just missed in this class last week and looms as an unreliable horse to beat. (9) POWER DREAMING N and (4) ALWAYS AS FAST hail from the same barn and McCarthy chose the former. Both horses are adding catch-drivers this week.