WINTER MEET STATS: 98-18-17-15 / $93.60 (-$102.40) BEST BETS: 7-2-2-1 / $7.00 (-$7.00) SPOT PLAYS: 7-1-1-2 / $4.20 (-$9.80) BEST BET: BETTING ON CAESAR (6th) SPOT PLAY: MOMAS SON BYRNE (9th) Race 1: Trackmaster 68 (NW L4 69) or less - Pick 5 This is actually one of the better TM68 fields we’ve seen even if it comes with a number of horses with layoff questions to answer. (5) ALWAYS ON PAR was super in his qualifier as he won in-hand over a snow-covered track. His only other appearance here came against much better in a 1:51 1/5 mile and he deserves a chance to shine from this good post. (3) TAHUYA SILK hasn’t been seen in a month but comes to town from Century with good form and early speed. He’s certainly work inspection in the post parade. (6) TAKARA STING also qualified well when second behind the top pick. There could be more to this guy than his 0-for-7 record indicates. (9) OUR CORELLI N drops to the TM basement for a good barn and might be hustled away from the gate. [DRF HARNESS: Get Harness Eye PPs for this card] Race 2: Trackmaster 74.5 (NW L2 76.5) or less (9) LIKE A KING took some air and powered away in this class upon arrival on January 11 and didn’t do so badly to be a closing fourth up in class last time. He’s back at the TM74 level here. (6) MIKI LEAKS was involved in a heated battle for the lead last time and really does have some excuses for his failures here. Don’t count him out despite some unappealing lines. (4) OLLIE’S ZTAM has the early speed to make the top and should sit a decent trip. Race 3: $17,500-$20,000 Claiming Handicap - Survivor 7 (3) SKYWAY BALLISTIC wasn’t ready for primetime last Saturday after taking four weeks off. Tonight he lands in a softer spot and gets a new driver; early speed coming! (6) ACAPULCO SUNBURN won in this class last time and certainly has a repeat chance. (5) PETER PETRIFY N enters a new barn and perhaps they get a bit more out of him. (10) FOUR BY FOUR is very sharp and only needs the right setup to be involved from the outside post. Race 4: Trackmaster 83.5 (NW L2 85.6) or less (4) TAHUYA DEVIL came to the East Coast in June and impressed but then was sent to the sidelines after a scratched-lame line in early July. Two qualifiers should have him ready if he’s capable of dropping time on the switch to the big track. (3) PRIMARY COLORS couldn’t wire the field last week but that’s acceptable since only two horses accomplished the feat on that Jan. 24 card; very capable with Beckwith keeping the drive over my top pick. (1) TITO N CHEDDAR has raced well since joining a Bongiorno barn which has been hot here at the meet. Race 5: Trackmaster 77.5 (NW L2 79.55) or less (5) RILKOFF took all the money, went way too fast and almost went to his knees after being passed. He’s facing a weak field here and I’m inclined to give him one more chance. (2) NATIONAL SPORT, (6) BLUE COLLAR MAN and (10) GALANTE A are all better suited for TM74 but that says a lot about the field in general. Any of them could score with the right trip if the top pick doesn’t bring his best game. Race 6: $25,000-$30,000 Claiming Handicap - $50K GTD Pick 4 (8) BETTING ON CAESAR was parked past the quarter before finding a seat, faced plenty of stretch traffic and finished very willingly late last weekend. With the shorter field tonight he lands a better post and might even take a shot at the front. (7) MAYHEM HANOVER was out a step after the quarter and took way too much air to last the mile a week ago. A smoother trip can produce a better result. (4) CAPTAIN UP was used hard to make the front and paid the price last Saturday. There appears to be less early speed to his inside this time around. Race 7: Non-winners $7,500 (NW L2 $8,300) in last 5 (4) RHYDS DUDE GB raced on the rim and held well considering in his U.S. debut last weekend. Six-year-old can build on that mile. (6) HIRANYA N finds a spot where he might be able to fire to the front. The addition of Lasix could also make a difference. (8) BET ON MAC drops down and moves in a few slots on the gate. I’m not sure this is an ideal spot but I wouldn’t be shocked if he brought an improved mile. (3) KOMODO BEACH surprised a lot of people at 47-1 last time. That said, he’s a classy horse capable of big miles. Race 8: $40,000-$60,000 Claiming Handicap - Pick 6 (1) SOHO SANTORINI A should offer good value in this spot despite having some trouble in his last race. He sat the four hole and got shut off to the inside route before angling and finding traffic. Import was moving as well as anyone late in the mile. (5) SUN OF A SHOW has big speed, form and is as honest as they come. (7) BOSTON BOUND was hung every step of the mile last week. He moves in a couple of slots on the gate now. (8) MAMBA looks for four straight wins but has plenty of speed to his inside that will mean needing to work out the right trip from behind. Race 9: Trackmaster 86 (NW L2 88) or less (2) MOMAS SON BYRNE gave everything he had attacked first over on the rim and actually lasted pretty well to only loss by three lengths. Tonight he moves to the inside of the gate and the trip has to be better. (8) COMPENSATE ME was sitting pretty in the pocket until the leader started to tire and room didn’t immediately develop. This isn’t an easy spot but one where he can definitely contend. (10) BEAT COP has won two straight and handled a class jump along the way. This guy could be interesting here is able to find a quick tuck or make the top. (5) BUILDING BOOST is certainly sharp and dangerous given the right trip. Race 10: Trackmaster 90.5 or less/NW $17,500 in last 5 - $50K GTD Pick 4 (6) FOR ONCE INMY LIFE got a nice steady mile under his belt after a qualifier and should be ready to roll now. That Stratton comes over the bridge to drive is a very positive sign. (7) CAPTAIN CRUSADER A was on a great roll before taking a few weeks off during January. I see no reason why he won’t remain very sharp. (8) DA DELIGHTFUL has early speed and is razor sharp; threat. Race 11: Trackmaster 80.5 (NW L2 82.65) or less (4) GOLD GLOVE HANOVER took a nice shot in his first start since early November and wound up third. He can build off that mile versus a field without a standout. (6) SAN JOSE has plenty of early speed and might’ve found the right field to tackle today since not many appear to be likely early speedeters. (2) LOUIS LITT N has been excellent at saving ground and pouncing; just needs the right trip. Race 12: Non-winners $5,000 (NW L2 $5,500) in last 5 (8) BUILD THE WALL can’t seem to buy a trip lately. Last time he was forced wide on the backstretch and had to come uncovered on a night when you didn’t want to be near the lead. Only five horses that were first or second at the three quarter call won. That is compared to an average of 9.66 winners from those positions the previous three cards. (7) BLAZE ON N hasn’t been racing poorly and could move up with the addition of Lasix tonight. (1) ROCKIN ON VENUS returns from more than three months on the shelf. Eight-year-old has early speed and could be an interesting player if ready. [DRF HARNESS: Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter] Race 13: Trackmaster 71 (NW L2 73.10) or less (2) ROCKABILLY CHARM is probably better in TM68 but you can say the same thing about most of these horses. Veteran pacer tends to get brave when he draws inside. (10) LEAVE AND ROLL is on quite a roll and the only question is whether he can pass the entire field if the pace comes up soft, which it might. (5) PINEBUSH LIFESAVER gets some post relief this week and that should give him a good opportunity to at least be in the exotics. (4) A LITTLE KICK was stuck in traffic last time. Perhaps new driver Cutting makes a difference. Race 14: Non-winners $2,500 (NW L2 $3,000) in last 5 (6) ROCKIN THE ACES just missed when dropped into this class last week and deserves another shot as he’ll likely be put in play again. (9) TWIGGS PUB is another who seems likely to find early speed as he plummets in class from mid-level claimers to this bottom-level condition. (2) ALWAYS B GIBBY makes his third start back from a long vacation and may finally be ready now. (3) WARRAWEE YANKEE is very capable and I wouldn’t shy away from him if the price drifted up above 5-1.