WINTER MEET STATS: 113-21-22-17 / $112.40 (-$113.60) BEST BETS: 8-3-2-1 / $11.20 (-$4.00) SPOT PLAYS: 8-2-1-2 / $13.20 (-$2.80) BEST BET: PALOMAR (5th) SPOT PLAY: COMPENSATE ME (11th) Race 1: Trackmaster 68 (NW L4 69) or less - Pick 5 Eight of these were entered in the first race last Saturday that got canceled due to weather. (5) CARSON STAR CHOICE was not in the original lineup and he certainly plays here. Seven-year-old raced well when last seen, has just enough early speed and enters a winning barn. (3) TAHUYA SILK hasn’t been seen in over a month but comes to town from Century with good previous form and early speed. He’s certainly worth inspection in the post parade. (8) TAKARA STING qualified well when second on January 17. Just age 3 and coming back from a few months off where he may’ve matured and grown, there could be more to this guy than his 0-for-7 record indicates. [DRF HARNESS: Get Harness Eye PPs for this card] Race 2: Maiden or NW $7,050 life (8) NORTHERN ATTITUDE turned in an excellent second qualifier as he waited early and charged home willingly with no shot to be second in a pretty quick mile. Three-year-old lands in a tougher spot this time than the previous two weeks when the races never happened but I haven’t lost faith in what I saw in the qualifiers. (4) VIZCAYA dropped a couple of seconds and blew away the competition in his return after seven weeks on the sidelines. A repeat of that mile makes him very tough in here. (3) BEST OF HUNGRY was purchased for $17,000 online and makes his pari-mutuel debut for a new barn. Beckwith joining the team is a nice plus. Race 3: Trackmaster 71 (NW L2 73.10) or less - Pick 8 (3) BETTORSEETHESHOW hasn’t been out since early December but was racing well then. This is a suspect field if I’ve ever seen one and there is no reason to believe he can’t make some noise at a decent price. (4) TRY LINE gets some much needed post relief this week and I expect he’ll be much closer to the pace. (8) ARTIST BEST rallied for second in his first start for this barn last weekend. He certainly got a great setup that night, though maybe he is simply good now. Race 4: Trackmaster 80.5 (NW L2 82.75) or less (7) BOBCAT BAY hasn’t been getting much in the way of rewards for his efforts over the last couple of months but that can all change this week. Veteran campaigner gets a key class drop and even though Herschberger chose #8, I’m keeping the faith. (3) EUPHORIA N should have no trouble making the front this week and landing in a good position; driver change to Ahle this week! (2) LOUIS LITT N has been excellent at saving ground and pouncing. He draws well here and should have that opportunity. (8) GOLD GLOVE HANOVER took a nice shot in his first start since early November and wound up third. He can build off that mile with a smooth journey. Race 5: $15,000 Claiming (3) PALOMAR got himself in an impossible spot and finished nicely when clear to be a distant second behind #8 as he ran away with the race. He moves into a very live barn this week and the trip has to be better this time around. (9) ORDER ONE TO GO gets an interesting barn change. The qualifiers weren’t great but this guy has some ability and might just show it off. (6) TWIN B RISENSHINE is well below the level of his claim in early January. If this barn is going to get anything out of him you have to think it is coming tonight. Race 6: Trackmaster 74.5 (NW L2 76.5) or less - $50K GTD Pick 4 (6) MANHAWK finds a field with ample early speed and that can play right into his hands. Five-year-old drops down the Trackmaster scale and clearly has a shot. (3) AMERICAN MERCURY gets the same class relief and he shows a win in this condition two starts back. That said, it was a driver restricted race so I wouldn’t put as much weight on it. (7) FREDNECK exits claimers where the competition tends to be tougher. Can he find his best race tonight? Race 7: Trackmaster 86 (NW L2 88.1) or less (6) MOMAS SON BYRNE was toasted on the rim last time trying for the lead and he held pretty well considering the trip. He moves in a couple of slots on the gate this week and is one of many contenders. (5) DON’T DROP THE BALL adds Lasix. If that cures his issues, watch out! (4) DONTBOTHERMENONE N keeps bumping up the class ladder and performing at the top of his game. He should be in position to succeed again with his big early speed. Race 8: $40,000-$60,000 Claiming Handicap - Pick 6 (7) SUN OF A SHOW has big speed, form and is as honest as they come. He should be firing off the gate tonight and will likely be sitting the pocket behind Effingham. (3) 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. (10) MAMBA looks for four straight wins and scored after missing 42 days last time. He’ll need to work out the right trip from off the pace. (8) EFFINGHAM loves to fly off the gate and from time to time he simply doesn’t stop. (5) CAVIART LOTUS is another sharp horse in the field. Race 9: Non-winners $12,500 (NW 2L4 $14,850) in last 5 or 9 (NW L2 10) races life/TM 88 (NW L2 90.31) or less I don’t have a strong opinion in this race and will likely spread in the Pick 4. (1) IGNATIUS A is at his best when he doesn’t have to do too much work early and can pounce late. That seems like a very good possibility from the inside post against a field without a standout. (8) SOUTH BEACH STAR was used hard last time and paid the price. Veteran has won many times here and should be forwardly placed. (2) EXPENSIVE EGO A comes from Australia with a great résumé. He probably could’ve won his last qualifier if pulled sooner. The question is whether he is ready to shine after two years off. (5) ROCKIN JUKEBOX has a conditioning edge on most of these having been on the track at Yonkers Monday while most of these haven’t raced in weeks. Race 10: $15,000-$20,000 Claiming Handicap - $50K GTD Pick 4 (2) GOOD ROCKIN might not look intimidating on paper but he certainly fits in this class. 10-year-old won seven races here last year and is a horse with some aches and pains that may benefit from the time off between races; price play. (4) ROCKME ROLLME had a bunch of company trying to leave the gate last time and then wound up first-over. The road to the top should be smoother this time around. (7) PETER PETRIFY N is another with early speed and perhaps the barn change will perk him up. (10) FOUR BY FOUR is as sharp as any horse in here and it will all come down to the trip. Race 11: Trackmaster 83.5 (NW L2 85.6) or less (5) COMPENSATE ME was sitting pretty in the pocket last time until the leader started to tire and room didn’t immediately develop. He’s down in class now courtesy of the sub TM condition and should make his presence felt. (4) 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. He’ll be gunning to the front as usual and is very capable with Beckwith in the bike. (9) 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 Race 12: Winners 1-4 (NW L2 5) races or $50,500 (NW L2 $60,000) life (1) PACK A PUNCH was last seen in this condition two starts back and he took care of business at 1-2 on the tote board. Sharp 4-year-old may not be a lock but he looms as a major player, especially considering that win or lose he’ll likely be out of the condition after the race. (6) FEDERER was third in this class behind the top pick two starts back and now we get Beckwith in the bike. (2) BETTING ON CAESAR is very sharp and certainly fast enough to compete; hard to toss. (10) RHYDS DUDE GB could be an interesting player here if he improves in start two on these shores; post hurts. Race 13: Non-winners $5,000 (NW L2 $5,770) in last 5/Starters NW $2,500 or less last start (1) 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. (6) BLAZE ON N hasn’t been racing poorly and could move up with the addition of Lasix tonight. He’s also one of a few getting class relief. (8) BEACH VIBES takes the largest class drop in the field. His form looks bad but softer competition is often the remedy. (10) NUCLEAR is more than fast enough to win. Needs to pick up his game in start two after multiple months on the sidelines. [DRF HARNESS: Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter] Race 14: Trackmaster 77.5 (NW L2 79.55) or less (2) MIKI MINAJ hasn’t been able to get involved lately from outside posts. He moves inside now and should have no trouble getting around the #1 and sitting second or third with a reasonable win chance. (7) NATIONAL SPORT certainly has the early speed and form to win here, but I wouldn’t take a short price. (6) BLUE COLLAR MAN is another with the early speed to contend here but he’s unlikely to get away soft enough to win. (4) LIKE A SHADOW won his last start in the class. Still, he needs a trip to be successful. Race 15: Trackmaster 71 (NW L2 73.10) or less It is hard to love any of these on the win end and with that I’ll try longshot (3) LAST MACH. He’s capable of making the front from the inside post and could end up sitting a good trip. (8) GATSBY HANOVER drops a notch on the Trackmaster rung and might get an aggressive steer. (10) SELECT FRIDAY is certainly the sharpest horse in the field; post 10 could be an issue. (2) XMARXTHESPOT also has form but tends to be pace dependent.