MEET STATS: 60-14-8-7 / $78.60 (-$41.40) BEST BETS: 4-1-0-1 / $3.60 (-4.40) SPOT PLAYS: 4-1-0-1 / $6.00 (-$2.00) BEST BET: JL CRUZE (2nd) SPOT PLAY: HEZA REAL DIAMOND (8th) Race 1: Non-winners $10,000 (NW L3 $11,300) in last 5/TM 88.35 (4YO 90.25) or less - Pick 5 (8) DINA BOLT N is now perfect in two starts since moving into the Bongiorno barn. Six-year-old has early speed to gain position and is clearly sharp enough to handle the class jump. (1) TRUMP NATION hasn't won a race since 2020 but will likely be the chalk here. Burke trainee certainly has a shot but won't be worth the price. (5) NUTCRACKER SWEET has the early speed to make the front if so desired. Whether he leaves or not, this post should set him up for a decent trip. [DRF HARNESS: Get Harness Eye PPs for this card] Race 2: Non-winners $14,000 in last 5 or 6 races life/TM 89 (NW L3/5 89.5/90) or less (1) JL CRUZE gets major class relief tonight and a good post for him where he can speed out and secure no worse than a pocket trip. You have to expect he'll show his class here. (6) ANGEL NATION improved in his second start back from a short vacation and can take another step forward tonight. (8) HAMMER TIME comes off a win versus softer. Will he gun out here and be put in play? [DRF BETS: Wager on tonight's Meadowlands card at DRF Bets.com!] Race 3: Non-winners $4,000 in last 5/TM 82 (NW L3/5 82.5/83.54) or less - Survivor 7 (2) PASSPORT TO ART has one recent effort here that was decent and it coincides with his one good post. He finished second that day versus better and should have a say here at a decent price. (5) FORCE N FURY sold for $30,000 on Monday and looks like a good purchase. Lasix is added tonight for a barn that has been doing ok at the meet. (7) JACKAMINO drops down and has the early speed to make some noise. (8) MICKEYS SPIRIT was used hard last time. With an easier trip he could get involved. Race 4: Non-winners $10,600 in last 5/TM 87 (NW L3/5 87.5/88.10) or less (5) HL REVADON gets class relief tonight while picking up the hot hands of Jason Bartlett. Son of Andover Hall has no excuses tonight. (4) MUSCLE JACK finished just behind the top pick last week and tonight he gets Gingras back in the bike. (3) HENDERSON SEELSTER has found himself in recent weeks and clearly has a shot. (2) KENZIESKY HANOVER is the best horse in the race but she hasn't started in seven weeks; watch the warm-ups. Race 5: $20,000-$30,000 Claiming Handicap (10) MINDTRIP overcame post 10 in this class last week. Veteran has won so many races for the Davis/Callahan team and is the one to beat again. (3) CHICKEN NUGGET went a bit too fast on the engine last time; still sharp. (1) TUAPEKA TRICK N drops in for a tag and gets Gingras in the bike. Race 6: Non-winners $14,000 in last 5/TM 90 or less - $50K GTD Pick 4 (3) WESTERN FAME drops - as do a few of these - and finds the perfect spot to gun down the road. Nine-year-old may not be the horse he once was but he figures to call on his class tonight. (1) ROCKAPELO finished a few slots ahead of the top pick last Saturday but there is a reason his lifetime mark isn't on a mile track. (8) ALWAYS AND AGAIN closed well from an impossible spot a week ago; needs pace help. Race 7: Winners 2-4 (NW L3 5) races or $50,000 (NW L3 $60,000) life (5) TWIN B FIGHTER popped off an identical mile on 1-8 to when he won on 12-17 but simply ran into a good foe that night. He's got an ideal post here to work out a clean trip. (3) LINCOLN BOULEVARD raced well when last here versus claimers. Let's use him in the exotics. (6) HESTHERIGHTSTUFF added Lasix and was super last time; class hike now. (7) TRUFFLE DOG was in too tough last weekend but wasn't exactly killing it in his recent starts in this class. Race 8: Non-winners $10,000 (NW L3 $11,300) in last 5/TM 88.35 (4YO 90.25) or less - Pick 6 (2) HEZA REAL DIAMOND showed signs of life last week and he tends to be sharp during the winter months here. (1) WALKNAFTER MIDNITE drops back down a notch and could certainly perk up. (6) MAYHEM HANOVER took money in a higher class and broke a week ago. He probably deserves another shot. (8) TWIN B TUFFENUFF is another of the droppers in the field. He has the early speed to get involved. Race 9: $75,000-$100,000 Claiming Handicap I'm admittedly price shopping here with (10) DA DELIGHTFUL. It will take some luck for him to get involved from the bad post but he's every bit as good as the rest and there seems to be enough early speed to set him up. (4) BET NINTEEN could be the horse to beat after just missing in the class a week ago. (2) DE LOS CIELOS DEO was bought back for $77K at the sale Monday and appears here for $75K. His last win looks impressive but it came versus far inferior foes. Race 10: Non-winners $20,000 (NW L3 $22,000) in last 5 or 9 races life/TM 93.6 or less - $50K GTD Pick 4 (1) VETTEL N drops out of the top class and figures to be on the muscle. (5) MR DS ROCK is very sharp and has climbed the class ladder nicely. (4) ANA AFREET N fits nicely with this group but might need a start after missing two months. Race 11: $40,000-$60,000 Claiming Handicap (7) BARBADOS comes off a confidence-building win at Yonkers and is in for the lowest claiming tag he has seen in a while. If Miller can get him to the front without too much trouble, this guy has a shot. (4) BALLERAT BOOMERANG stole a win on the engine last time and now has consecutive victories. He's the main danger, especially if the pace is slow. (2) EL JACKO N changes barns and is eligible for a huge wakeup. Race 12: Non-winners $7,000 (NW L3 $7,700) in last 5/TM 85 (NW L3/5 85.5/86) or less (1) CHASER HANOVER is dropping in class and most certainly sitting on a winning mile. My only hesitation comes because if he wins, a class rise is coming, and if he finishes second or worse, he gets to drop a level. The fact that Zeron chose here over two other contenders gives me hope that all systems will be on go. (9) BECHERS BROOK A gets a meaningful class break for a barn that does well with the "drop" angle. The only concern is whether he can get involved from post 9. (4) MISSILE SEELSTER raced well last time and now adds Gingras. (7) BETTOR BE OSCAR A hasn't been unleashed yet in the States; tonight? Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter Race 13: $30,000 Claiming (5) DARTH FADER seems to be on the right track now and closed well each of the last two weeks. The 29 2/5 kicker last time doesn't jump off the page, but it was typical for the night. That he showed early speed at Pocono in October leaves hope that we'll see it this time. (1) ARRHYTHMIC SURGE has been ultra-consistent at this level and is an exotics must who probably won't be a high enough price to bet on the win end. (6) FRONTIER ROLLO perked right back up on his return to this track last time, though he hasn't started in three weeks. (2) IMMA BE raced well from post 8 at Yonkers most recently after a short time on the sidelines. Race 14: Preferred Pace (4) BACKSTREET SHADOW wired this group last week in a bulkier field and there is no reason we shouldn't expect a similar outcome. (2) MY PAL JOE followed the top pick from the pocket and shook free late for second; chance again. (5) COVERED BRIDGE is certainly capable of winning given the right trip. Race 15: Non-winners $4,000 (NW 2L5 $4,880) in last 5/TM 82 (NW L3/5 82.5/83.54) or less (2) PASSA-GRILLE BEACH failed as the heavy chalk on the drop to this level last week and now should offer a much better return versus a fresh group of class-droppers. Those consist of (5) I'M A BIG DEAL, (6) LACHIE MAGUIRE N, (7) WAIMAC ATTACK N & (9) CENTURY FURY. All of them have a reasonable chance of winning with any realistic trip.