FALL MEET STATS: 175-56-30-29 / $381.40 (+$31.40) BEST BETS: 13-5-2-2 / $14.40 (-$11.60) SPOT PLAYS: 13-5-2-3 / $30.60 (+$4.60) BEST BET: ALWAYS B NAUGHTY (5th) SPOT PLAY: TWIN FURY (2nd) Race 1: Non-winners $12,500 (NW L2 $14,000) in last 5 or 9 (NW L2 10) races life/TM 88 (NW L2 90) or less - Pick 5 (4) MAD MAX HANOVER has been feeling good for some time now and getting good checks despite some tough trips. Tonight he draws perfectly to head to the front and if he can secure that spot or at worst land a pocket trip, he’ll be tough to beat. (3) LYONS STEEL returns to town in fine form and owns big early speed. My thought is that with him and the top one leaving hard it might force (5) SOUTHWIND GENDRY to settle for an early seat. That said, if he drives on and makes the top without issue, Gendry’s chances improve dramatically. (8) CAPTAIN CRUSADER A has missed about eight weeks but is certainly a credible player in this company if right. The 25 4/5 final quarter while chasing FanDuel participant Captain Albano in the qualifier says he might be. (2) BORNINLOCKDOWN GB lured Gingras off #5, so maybe he’s worth a look too. [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/2YO & Maidens draw inside (7) TWIN FURY has caught some tough foes in his Meadowlands tries and certainly lands in the softest races he has seen in some time. He’s been a bit unreliable late in the mile but will set himself up in the right position with early speed and might sit a perfect trip behind (10) LAZARUS STAR. The latter battled it out on the engine last time in his first start in eight months. Four-year-old takes on younger and should be tighter with the start under his belt. (2) IN THE MOONLIGHT makes his big track debut. Will he drop time? Race 3: $175K G2 FanDuel Mare Trot - Survivor 7 (2) ELISTA HANOVER has been the victim of bad posts and bad trips to some extent this year. She has no such excuses in this spot and I imagine new driver Todd McCarthy will put her in a position to win. (1) WARRAWEE MICHELLE took advantage of the pace set by the top pick and got the best of her at the wire in the Breeders Crown; threat again. (4) M-M’S DREAM wraps up her great career tonight and while I prefer the top two, she’s surprised us many times in the past. At least we know she’ll be leaving it all out on the track. Can’t wait to see her babies! Race 4: NJSDF 2YO Filly Pace (7) IMAGINE HEAVEN practically pushed the gate away she left so fast last week. Ultimately she yielded her way back to third and was locked in the pocket through the stretch. She may not have been loaded with pace but she could be in a situation here where she’s setting soft fractions on the front. (8) WHOA BLACK BETTY two-moved to a narrow victory after getting soft fractions last time. Will the outside post cost her the chance to get into the race with the top pick gunning out to her inside? (4) WAVE DANCER got her feelings hurt when sent uncovered and failed to finish strong. She can win with the right trip. (6) SHE STINGS had some things working against her in her first try for the Stratton barn as she hadn’t started in five weeks and was stuck with an outside post. There is room for improvement. Race 5: $175K G2 FanDuel Mare Pace (5) ALWAYS B NAUGHTY put together back to back monster miles up in Canada and there is no reason to think she can’t repeat that over this surface. Five-year-old has blazing speed and should be able to control the action. (4) TALK CURDY TO ME has looked better from off the pace so that early move to the front wasn’t ideal last time. Or maybe there was another issue as she adds Lasix tonight. She projects to get a good trip here, perhaps behind (2) MIKI AND MINNIE. The latter is obviously formidable and I wouldn’t be shocked if she won, but I project her as being first over and that isn’t ideal. She’ll also be an underlay because she has dominated her 3-year-old division. Race 6: $462K G1 Goldsmith Maid 2YO Filly Trot - $50K GTD Pick 4 (3) ALL TIME TROT S was a game loser last time when she had to make a second move to the front on the final turn after yielding earlier in the mile. She has a major post edge on her main rivals and seemingly a tactical one. (9) NEZUKO KAMADO S was just used to the front in the Breeders Crown and obviously got beat by some good horses. She’s the best horse in the race and only as bad trip from post nine will get in her way. (8) BUSY MISS LISSY S is another one that has to figure out how to overcome the outside draw but notice she fired out at Red Mile a few years back; big threat. (5) ATLANTIC SUMMER failed on the lead at Dover but I think she is better from off the pace. Maybe she gets that trip here. Race 7: $350K G1 FanDuel Open Pace (1) ERVIN HANOVER looked like a man among boys as he dominated in record time to capture the Breeders Crown and extend his winning streak to five. If he brings that same effort on Saturday he can’t lose. If he is a bit short the door opens slightly ajar. (6) CAPTAIN ALBANO is my attempt to breathe some value into the exacta. He clearly wasn’t “right” in the Breeders Crown and I’m treating it as a toss-out line. With most of the obvious power to his inside, McCarthy can evaluate the early speed and get him in play at the right time. (5) KEN HANOVER wound up first over in the Crown and that trip simply won’t work for him. He sort of projects to get cover from (4) MAXIMUS MIKI and that trip would make him dangerous if the top one isn’t at the top of his game. The latter can carry his speed a long way and he raced well in the Crown from a difficult spot. Still, he needs the top one to regress a bit to win. Race 8: $357K G1 Three Diamonds 2YO Filly Pace - Pick 6 (10) LOUA DIPA is far and away the best 2-year-old pacing filly right now and a three week layoff or post 10 is unlikely to upend her five race winning streak. (2) DARLIN’S ANGEL made two moves and tired late last time but otherwise has been great of late. She’s lightly raced and perhaps isn’t as worn down as some of the others. Ideally she’ll sit a better trip and won’t work as hard early. (8) I’M A LOU LOU went a brutal trip in a head loss last time at Dover. She’s a quality filly who could improve further with Lasix added. Race 9: $334K G1 Governor’s Cup 2YO C&G Pace (10) UBRUTE had no shot from post nine versus Beau Jangles in the Breeders Crown last time and in the elimination he sort of got trapped in a tough spot behind the same horse. He’s been settling for minor awards since his KYSS Final win and is better than he looks on paper; expect early speed. (4) FRAGMENT powered away very impressively in the Matron last time and that isn’t the only feather in his cap this year; very dangerous. (7) SIGNAL CALLER went first over in the Kindergarten final and that simply isn’t a trip that will work for him. If he can somehow sit second or third over in a live flow, watch out! (3) GENTLEMAN’S CLUB has found himself in recent weeks. I’m not sure if he is this good but McCarthy chose off #7 for Daley and that’s saying something. Race 10: $350K G1 FanDuel Open Trot - $50K GTD Pick 4 (6) LEXUS KODY went a long mile in the Breeders Crown and you really can’t fault him for only finishing third. He draws in an ideal spot tonight where if Gingras wants he can gun to the front and control the action or he can follow (4) PERICULUM, who has only been worse than second once all year. It’s not always easy to trip handicap but there should be cover from (2) LOGAN PARK and if not, he can still grind out an exotic slot. The latter is certainly coming into form now and my only concern is what trip he may get from this post.  (8) FRENCH WINE is certainly sharp now; post hurts as he’ll have to work earlier in the mile to win. Race 11: $421K G1 Valley Victory 2YO C&G Trot (8) SPENCER HANOVER has come into his own with hobbles added and while the outside post isn’t ideal, it should ensure we get a slightly better price on what has to be considered the best horse in the race in terms of form and ability in the moment. (5) AI finally showed me something when raced more conservatively last time and once clear he was loaded with trot. If he has turned the corner as a closer, perhaps he can make some noise here at a price. (7) TWIN B SEVEN SINS scored at huge odds last time but that doesn’t mean he’s a one-hit wonder. He has five wins in 11 starts this year. I’d be willing to take a shot with him at 8-1 or so. (6) DIABOLIC HILL clearly has ability but I would’ve liked to have seen him pass the top one in the Crown or at least get within a neck. I’d also like to see him show early speed and finish well. Race 12: Non-winners $5,000 (NW L2 $6,000) in last 5/TM 75.50 or less (7) STELLAR YANKEE was even upon his return to The Meadowlands and now he takes a key drop in class to his favorite level. His stats since the start of 2024 here in NW5000 are 7-3-3-1. He’s worth a shot to awaken in a big way. (4) T H TYSON gets some major class relief, not just in condition but in terms of the sharpness of the foes he was facing. Four-year-old may even show early speed in this spot. (1) ARDEN MESSI N moved down to this class last week and was parked every step. Inside draw should help the cause. [DRF HARNESS: Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter] Race 13: Trackmaster 74.5 (NW L2 76.5) or less (4) IMSTAYNALIVE moves into a new barn and I’m always willing to give that angle a chance at a price, especially against a field where the favorite is far from reliable. Speaking of the chalk, (2) LIKE A SHADOW did win his last start in the class but lost the prior one and is only 1-for-20 on the year. (1) SONO CONFUSO steps up but could get a cozy trip after showing early speed from the pylons. (7) LAZARULS rarely wins but is sharp right now. Race 14: Non-winners $2,500 (NW L2 $3,220) in last 5 (1) WARRAWEE TOTAL was just even last time after sitting behind slow fractions. Driver change here is a nice plus. (8) MASTER OF THE HOUSE has early speed and drops from his last appearance at The Big M; adds Lasix. (2) MADELINES BLK JACK raced well over the track last weekend. He could save ground and get lucky. (7) STATESIDELCKDWN GB is one of many class droppers in the field. What kind of trip will he get unless he finds speed early in the mile?