FALL MEET STATS: 250-79-43-36 / $536.20 (+$36.20) BEST BETS: 19-7-3-2 / $19.80 (-$18.20) SPOT PLAYS: 19-8-2-3 / $44.80 (+$6.80) BEST BET: GO GO GRASSHOPPER (7th) SPOT PLAY: ITS GONNA FEELGOOD (13th) Race 1: Trackmaster 77.5 (NW L2 79.90) or less - Pick 5 (6) JOEY JOE did some very good work on the bigger track at Hoosier and now gets a go here at The Big M. This field is loaded with potential early speed players and perhaps he can take advantage and defeat his elders. (7) ROCKIN THE ACES was used too hard last time and paid the price. Eight-year-old only has one win on the year but is very capable. (2) WHO SAID I CAN’T takes two steps up the class ladder after back to back scores for new connections. He’s only 4 and might be able to keep improving. [DRF HARNESS: Get Harness Eye PPs for this card] Race 2: Non-winners $2,500 (NW L7 $3,141) in last 5 (1) JUSTASEC N put up some big fractions on the lead at Philly last time and got beat by a horse that was previously racing in higher classes at The Meadowlands. Veteran pacer has some class and could put it on display in this bottom-level condition race. (2) GAITWAY GUY was clearly short in his first start since August. There can be more in the tank this time around. (10) KOMODO BEACH has big early speed and on the off chance he makes the front without a problem, I wouldn’t be shocked if he went a long way. (4) STRAIGHT TALK is clearly down in class. Can he awaken from his slumber? Race 3: Trackmaster 71 (NW L2 73) or less - Survivor 7 (3) MASTER MIKI has the early speed needed to make the front in a race without too much early zip. Miller picks up the drive tonight and maybe he can get more out of him than trainer Hernandez. (6) PARKLANE TERROR drops in class to the level of his last win and he’ll certainly get a piece of this, but his off-the-pace style means he’s at the mercy of the shape of the race. (1) MEET THE CREEPER has early speed, an inside post and some form. He’ll get a piece of this. Race 4: $15,000-$25,000 Claiming Handicap (5) COMPENSATE ME performed very well off the claim by Odza and this 3-year-old has really done good work all year. I’d expect him to show a bit more early interest moving to the big track. (4) SPINDOCTOR HANOVER was in a much tougher spot last week and now he drops in for a tag. Notice that when he was in for a claiming price at Pocono but mostly stuck with outside posts recently. (3) LMC PEANUTS WATCHN rolled upon arrival and you have to think another aggressive attempt is coming. Race 5: Non-winners 2 (NW L2 3) races or $20,000 (NW L2 $30,000) life/2YO & Maidens draw inside (7) LASER SPEED displayed early speed and had to wait for the stretch to shake loose and charge home nicely to just miss behind a 1-5 favorite. This guy is feeling good now and from a barn that finally showed signs of life last week after a lengthy slump. (4) LYLE really hasn’t been that bad of late versus better. His record isn’t great but I can see him showing more. (2) WATCHFIRE qualified back well after missing some time. Two-year-old seems fast enough on paper. (8) LOU’SBODACIOUSBODY has a pair of thirds in this class since coming here; clear exotics player. Race 6: $15,000-$20,000 Claiming Handicap - $50K GTD Pick 4 (6) GOOD ROCKIN definitely got a good setup and finished willingly in his first start for this barn. Nine-year-old fits very well in this class and if he’s turned the corner they are all in trouble. (8) ILIKEMEBETTOR A didn’t fire in his first start for new trainer Blake Macintosh, but we get a venue change along with a drop in claiming price. (5) VP ROCKIN is a sharp horse moving to the claiming ranks. His early speed certainly plays with some more sluggish foes to his inside. Race 7: Winners 2-4 (NW L2 or 3YO 5) races life (4) GO GO GRASSHOPPER was in an impossible spot versus much better from post nine last time when coming back from a four week absence. His best destroys this field. (5) NOTORIOUS HANOVER was absolutely in-hand winning his comeback qualifier. If not for the presence of the top pick I’d say this guy has a serious shot at good odds. (2) DISMAS has been racing well since coming here but will likely be overbet to some extent. Race 8: Non-winners $12,500 (NW L2 $14,851) in last 5 or 9 (NW L2 10) races life/TM 88 (NW L2 90) - Pick 6 (6) SUGAR MAN and (2) WAFFLE BLUE CHIP form a powerful uncoupled entry from the Cullipher barn. Both took a shot in the Progress Pace elims versus much faster foes than we see here and couldn’t make any noise. You have to expect them to show up in this spot. (4) OAKWOOD HEYMIKI IR has been on quite a roll at Pocono and even stopped here once to get a second four starts back. He’s certainly a threat to the top pair and I wouldn’t even be surprised if he was the favorite. Race 9: Trackmaster 83.5 (NW L2 85.5) or less (8) MAYHEM HANOVER had no chance from post 10 last time when stacked up fifth over. I wonder if we see early speed off the gate this week, which could be a viable strategy without too much apparent gate speed to his inside. (2) TRUMPSTER BLUES went a big first over mile in defeat last Saturday. The problem is he simply doesn’t love winning at two for his last 56. (6) DANCE PARTNER was fourth over and paced home a bit better than the top pick in their last start. He’s clearly sharp and a contender. Race 10: Trackmaster 90 (NW L2 92) or less/NW $12,500 in last 5 or starters NW $7,500 l/s draw inside - $50K GTD Pick 4 (5) CELEBRITY BAMBINO isn’t the horse he once was but seems to have found his comfort zone as a consistent 1:52 to 1:53 trotter. You have to think he’ll be hustled to the front here and work out a winning trip. (4) OUTSIDE THE FIRE is probably the horse to beat if ready to fire after two and a half months on the sidelines. At his best he’d be the clear favorite. (8) IWON’T BACKDOWN AS went a long mile at Yonkers after shipping east. He’s another capable horse in a field full of them. (10) RESOLVE TO WIN is a stablemate of #4 that is also coming back from time away. If he offers big odds I might be inclined to use him on a Pick 4 ticket. Race 11: Non-winners $7,500 (NW 2L6 $8,250) in last 5 (1) DIVINE RIGHT has been very consistent at Philly and arrives here in a similar class versus an interesting mix of horses coming from various tracks and conditions. He should be handled aggressively. (6) THE BIGBOSS A was racing against much better in his last couple of starts and he’s basically been a victim of the conditioned system combined with a Trackmaster rating that is high, likely due to the speed of the races he’s been in. I can see him competing at a price. (8) STEELY KNIFE missed by just a neck in this condition last time; post hurts. Race 12: Trackmaster 86 (NW L2 88) or less (5) SABA ROCK could lose some support after the break last time but boy was that an impressive comeback to get a check. Three-year-old clearly has ability and has options starting from post five. (6) SOUTHWIND GENDRY is certainly the class of the field and he will certainly be put in play after racing from behind versus better last time. (4) BEACH VIBES joined this barn a week ago and put in a very good mile. Just about everything this stable sends out right now is racing well. [DRF HARNESS: Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter] Race 13: Trackmaster 74.5 (NW L2 76.5) or less (3) ITS GONNA FEELGOOD arrives from Kentucky where he did some good work. New trainer Besim Odza has found a great spot for this 3-year-old to score at first asking. (6) OLLIE’S ZTAM drops back down to the level of his last win two starts back and could offer value considering the poor top line. (5) FULL DISCLOSURE rolled in his first start for this stable and I wouldn’t be shocked if he was able to handle the double class rise. (1) SMOOTH IN THE DARK has been facing much better of late. Don’t ignore him if the price is right. Race 14: Trackmaster 74.5 (NW L2 76.5) or less (1) AMERICAN MERCURY doesn’t own a ton of wins over the last two years, but he should be firing out from the inside post against a field with little early speed or form; winner by process of elimination. (7) FATHER TED GB is back in TM74 but seemingly against a weaker group than he faced in recent starts. (4) WHERE’S DROGON finished second last time and that qualifies him as the sharpest horse in the field. The problem is on paper he is stepping up in class, though the reality may be this is a lateral move.