WINTER MEET STATS: 126-34-16-13 / $222.60 (-$32.40) BEST BETS: 9-2-3-0 / $7.80 (-$10.20) SPOT PLAYS: 9-1-2-0 / $4.00 (-$14.00) BEST BET: LYONS STEEL (9th) SPOT PLAY: STABLE GENIUS (5th) Lots of precipitation expected on Saturday with snow in the afternoon and into early evening followed by rain at night. Hopefully it won’t affect the races too much. Race 1: Non-winners 2 (NW L2 3) races or $20,000 (NW L2 $30,000) life/Maidens draw inside - Pick 5 (8) BORNINLOCKDOWN GB took air the entire final turn and was a very confident winner in his first qualifier. Last time Miller had him on hold the entire mile as he was mostly bottled up in traffic for the stretch. Import should be plenty acclimated after the two miles. (1) CHIEF BOGO battled gamely in his return from a long break in action and should be tighter now; loses Bartlett as he’ll still be driving over from Pocono. (5) IMGOINGTOJACKSON qualified nicely for new connections and seems worth a look here. [DRF HARNESS: Get Harness Eye PPs for this card] Race 2: $10,000 Claiming (4) JOHNNY CHIP remains in for the same claiming tag after blowing away the competition last time off the claim. There’s plenty of reason to believe he will win again, though he is no lock. (8) B LIKE CRUISER comes in from Dover and finds himself in a new barn. Notice he pulled off the upset in this class back in December. (1) FRANCO TOTEM N also comes in from Dover and this classy old guy has been stuck with some bad posts lately. Can he tap into that class tonight with Miller taking the lines? (5) HARRY HANOVER sees a nice cut in his claiming price and was second (head) in his last try at this level about a month ago. Race 3: $20,000-$25,000 Claiming Handicap - Survivor 7 (6) CELLMATE returns to the Mark Ford barn where he won both of his starts. I like his versatility here in a field where I’m really not sure who is going to be aggressive. (1) LYONS LIBERTY came up with a big mile on the class drop last time. If he fires out and can sit a pocket trip he can score again. (8) ROSE RUN ZEKE was a winner when last seen here a month ago. I’d take a positive view at about 4-1 or higher. Race 4: Non-winners $5,000 (NW L2 $5,500) in last 4 (5) IGNATIUS A was the victim of bad decision making last time as his driver made a quick blitz at a leader (#4) which is a bit of a runaway. Hopefully he’s learned his lesson and waits to unleash this guy’s powerful move. (6) ON ACCIDENT is an honest sort who has well over a 50% career in-the-money percentage. Best of all, he’ll probably be overlooked in the wagering. (8) VILLIAM is one of many class droppers in the field and another who could offer some value. (4) BB LUCKY BOY has big speed and sometimes forgets to stop. Race 5: Non-winners $7,500 in last 4/TM 83.5 or less (6) STABLE GENIUS does seem to be past his breaking issues. His first start since November was solid and I expect even more now from a great post. (1) SEVEN SINS won two starts back when down in class but he’s capable of stepping up. His win chances will come down to trip. (4) LITTLE EXPENSIVE is dropping a level on the class ladder and he draws nicely. That said, don’t take a short price because he’s failed in NW7500 before. Race 6: Trackmaster 85 (NW Last Start 85.5) or less/NW 5000 L4 or TM 80.5 or less draw inside - $50K GTD Pick 4 (4) DIXIE DREAM was raced conservatively after missing two months of pari-mutuel action and not having started at all in a month. Five-year-old mare didn’t get Miller’s call but gets a nice upgrade to Bartlett and is capable with a decent trip. (8) INTOTHEMYSTICMOON made two moves in a game victory last week and you have to respect her chances of doing it again; Miller’s choice. (5) SHESNOAPRILFOOL IR saved ground and finished very willingly last week to gain quite a bit of late ground. (9) TONY’S MOM has very good speed off the gate and plenty of form; dangerous if she gets an easy lead somehow. Race 7: Trackmaster 83.5 (NW L2/2L5/L7 84/85.45/85.94) or less (7) CURBSIDE PICKUP has won three straight and seems to simply find ways to get it done lately. I like this post for him as he’ll have options tactically. (2) T DOG is very sharp right now and deserves respect but I wish he hasn’t missed three weeks; cancelation last Saturday the reason. (3) VANDIEMEN BLUECHIP has early speed and form. Four-year-old switches conditions and has been stuck in some fast miles lately. (1) KAPTAIN KARLOS wasn’t bad at all in his return qualifier and he’s definitely fast enough to go with these. I’d consider taking a shot with him at least underneath at the right price. Race 8: Non-winners $7,500 (NW 2L5 $8,625) in last 4/TM 85.35 or less - Pick 6 (6) MAD MAX HANOVER is a horse that tends to do his best work on the lead and I’m hoping that new driver David Miller, who opted off a Burke horse to drive this guy, will wake this guy up behind the gate for a big speed try. (8) OAKWOOD PADDY IR has some legitimate excuses lately and could be an interesting price play if Buter can work out a trip. (4) BRUTALLYHANDSOME A has a number of credible effort while up in class so the fact that more than half the field is dropping in company won’t bother him. Race 9: Non-winners $12,500 (NW L2 $14,000) in last 4 or 8 races life (2) LYONS STEEL dropped to this class last week and wound up with a pocket trip. He got shut off to the inside by a very good horse on the lead and when he finally cleared outside it was too late. While he remains in the same class on paper tonight, this field is softer than the group he faced last time. (4) STELLAR YANKEE can step up from time to time in spots like this one. (3) SPIRIT OF STLOUIS N has plenty of overseas credentials but hasn’t shown enough here yet. I will say the last qualifier was good. Race 10: Non-winners $12,500-$20,000 in last 4 or 8-10 races life/TM 86.5 (NW L2/2L4 87/87.5) to 89.5 or less - $50K GTD Pick 4 (7) OUTSIDE THE LINES gets a better post this week after the cancellation last time where he had post nine. He can certainly fire out to the front and maybe steal the race. (8) ANTOGNONI S has been super in two starts here and he’ll certainly be odds-on but I want to see one more against this slightly better field. I absolutely loved the qualifier from (5) WILLOWTIME in his debut for new trainer Jeff Cullipher. Driver Tyler Buter tried to leave and was five wide into the turn as a bunch of others had the same idea. He was gapped out by the tired foe he was following and made up a bunch of ground to catch the top pack. The 4-year-old was kept on hold behind cover until mid-stretch and powered clear with ease. Everything said, the problem is he may come away last and will have too many horses to pass. (4) BLACK MAGIC showed nothing returning from many months on the sidelines from post 10. I expect we’ll see a much better performance this week from a better post with the start under his belt. Race 11: Trackmaster 80.5 (NW L2/2L4 81/81.5) or less (6) ARDEN MESSI N was overbet last time and raced well while unable to win. He should be able to make the top this week and sit no worse than a pocket trip to (8) DANCE IT OUT, who steps up off an open-lengths win but shows lines in his career that says he can handle it. (9) CAVIART CAMDEN comes off a useful qualifier. Six-year-old is extremely dangerous when he can work out a trip but it might be difficult from the outside post. (5) GALLIE GETAWAY raced well with Boyd in the bike last time and he’s back again. Race 12: Non-winners $2,000 (NW L2 $2,300) in last 4 (7) DUDDIE’S LOR dropped to this level last time but wound up getting a tough first-over journey. I like him best on the lead or in the pocket and that trip seems very likely in this spot. (5) HANDLELIKEAPORSCHE got caught in a fast qualifier so I won’t hold his far-back finish against him. The layoff may’ve been just what he needed. (4) HYPEBEAST scratched into the race when his stablemate bowed out. He could definitely be firing out here and absolutely has a shot. (6) WISE THINKING starts for a new barn and perhaps they can unlock the mystery to getting the best out of him. [DRF HARNESS: Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter] Race 13: Trackmaster 77.5 (NW L2/2L4 78/78.5) or less (1) PADUKA N remains in the same class but for my money has been facing better fields as outlined by the 1:51 to 1:52 final times of his races. Veteran seems to be in the right spot. (5) SPIRIT OF TRUTH is the only horse in the field to show a somewhat recent winning line in this class. I’m not confident of a victory but this 13-year-old has as good a shot as any. (7) MR JOE COOL was just even last time having missed five weeks of racing; can show more now. Notice this barn brought one back from a similar layoff two weeks ago and finished second. Race 14: Trackmaster 74.5 (NW L2/2L4 75/75.5) or less (8) JOJO’S PLACE dropped and popped last weekend. While he steps up a bit on paper, this field really isn’t anything special and he can fire out for a big win shot again. (4) CAVIART SKIPPER has been tackling any number of foes that would be 1-9 on the tote board in this spot. Logic would expect he’ll be competitive as he follows a similar path to the top pick. (3) HOUND ON THE BEACH was racing two levels higher when last seen here on January 4. That said, he’s 1-for-35 going back to the start of 2024.