MEET STATS: 84-22-12-8 / $144.20 (-$23.80) BEST BETS: 6-3-2-0 / $13.60 (+$1.60) SPOT PLAYS: 6-1-1-1 / $4.20 (-$7.80) BEST BET: DE LOS CIELOS DEO (4th) SPOT PLAY: LITE N SWEET (11th) Race 1: Trackmaster 77 (NW L2/2L4 77.5/78) or less - Pick 5 (9) IDEAL BEACH wasn’t going very far from an outside post at Freehold having missed almost five months of action. He’s had plenty of mile-track experience and his co-lifetime mark actually came here last year; expecting early speed. (6) LOVETHEWAYYOULIE couldn’t be much sharper. Chiodo only needs to keep him in striking position to have a shot. (3) TKO BLUE CHIP stays in the same class where he’s been an also-ran lately but does move to the inside and perhaps Stratton will give him a little chance here. [DRF HARNESS: Get Harness Eye PPs for this card] Race 2: $15,000 Claiming - Survivor 7 (4) HOMESTRETCH WES got caught in a 1:50 2/5 mile last week and had no shot. He drops in claiming price now and finds a field more to his ability. (9) JK LUCKY CHARMS steps up but has been a different horse since joining the Estrada barn; Miller sticks here over top pick; using in Pick 5. (7) LOVIN ON YOU comes off a string of good miles in this class but as a closer who will get away near the back, I’ll use him underneath in the exotics. Race 3: Non-winners 2 (NW L2 or 3YO 3) races life or 4YO NW $3,600 last 4/Maidens draw inside (4) NO WORDS could be the horse that finally gets this barn off the winless streak in 2024. Four-year-old put in a strong effort last week and has every right to be a bit tighter now. (3) SHEER TERROR has some natural ability but never really got a chance to shine as a 3-year-old. He’s back after a long time on the sidelines off a good qualifier for a barn that tends to send them out ready to roll. (2) BARRIER would seem to be in a winning spot but he’s a horse that simply doesn’t like to win. (5) HUNGRYHUNGRY HIPPO comes off the best mile of his career and he picks up Dunn in his return to the races after two months of vacation. Race 4: Non-winners $2,000 (NW L2 $2,200) in last 4 - Pick 8 (1) DE LOS CIELOS DEO has gone a bit sour of late and now lands in the hands of Besim Odza on a track where he’s had plenty of success. Veteran is free-falling in class and facing a field he should dominate on memory even on his “B” game. (5) LOU ED ZEPPELIN got caught in a fast race last week and kept up reasonably well. He should push away nicely from the gate here and be in prime position if the top choice lays an egg. (7) WHIMSICAL JOURNEY wasn’t bad from post 10 last time on the class drop last Saturday. He’s a legitimate price play here. Race 5: Trackmaster 80 (NW L2/2L4 80.5/81.34) or less (1) SEEUINNASHVILLE A flashed speed then went first-over following a sizzling half in what was perhaps too aggressive of a drive. He hasn’t won in a while but this seems like a good spot to brush after the dust settles. (9) KING OF ACES comes out of the same mile as the top pick and was used hard making the front before understandably tiring. He can be a player with an easier trip. (7) ITHACA HANOVER is in good form and should get a piece with any reasonable trip. Race 6: Non-winners $14,000 in last 4 or in 2023/TM 88 or less - $50K GTD Pick 4 (5) NEXTROUNDSONME certainly faced a better group last time and he would’ve done better if he wasn’t locked in behind the pacesetter in the stretch. Veteran should be sitting no worse than second here with a big win chance. (3) RICH AND MISERABLE has a couple of starts under his belt now after the long break and I wouldn’t be shocked to see an aggressive drive coming. Let’s use him in the Pick 4. (7) TOCCOA FALLS hits the board every week. Race 7: Non-winners $7,500 (NW L2 $8,250) in last 4/TM 83 (NW 2L4 84) or less (6) STELLAR YANKEE came up with a huge lifetime-best mile last weekend and if he can produce anything close to that again the Stratton brothers will be taking another picture. (1) BET ON BUTER went first-over into pedestrian fractions and held well last time. He can be a threat with a smoother trip. (4) MONTANA STORM N is back down in company and should have a chance at a decent price. (10) JUST PLAIN LOCO has early speed and form; exotics players. Race 8: Non-winners $5,000 (NW L2 $5,630) in last 4 - Pick 6 (2) LEVINE was blocked in the stretch last time and never got clear. Like most of the field he’s down one class level, but unlike them he is making his second start back from vacation and should have more in the tank. (5) DECISION DAY was better last time on the move down in company; classy. (6) MISTER DONALD A gets a major driver upgrade tonight and has a big shot, though his odds will likely reflect the change. Race 9: Non-winners $14,000 in last 4/TM 89.5 (NW L2 90) or less (9) MY PAL JOE does his best work nowadays when down in class and while this condition reads NW14000 it is much closer to a NW10000 in reality. He should be leaving the gate here and have a big shot if he doesn’t face too much resistance on the road to that spot. (10) OAKWOOD PADDY IR has been super week after week and the only question surrounding him is the potential trip from the bad post. (3) REVOLVER N is capable of sitting and storming home if given the right journey. Race 10: $20,000-$30,000 Claiming Handicap - $50K GTD Pick 4 (7) MARCUS SEELSTER was super on the engine last time after setting fast fractions. Eight-year-old likes to win and is capable of going back to back. (8) GENTLEMANJIM II IE and driver Andy McCarthy were probably shocked that the top pick had as much as he had left late to win last time. He’s a big threat to beat #7 tonight. (3) THE BEST TYME EVER chased home the top paid a week ago and might be looking at a similar fate here. Race 11: Non-winners $5,000 (NW L2 $5,630) in last 4 (6) LITE N SWEET had bad cover and no shot from post 10 returning from a five week vacation last week for a barn that rarely sends them out guns abalazin’. Four-year-old finished with pace and owns a 1:50 4/5 win last year. (5) FIKA TIME is a horse I’ve been waiting on for a couple of starts. Maybe new driver Ginsburg will press on the gas at the start. (2) ALTA BLUES A moves up in class for the third straight week, but the speed and form is real. Race 12: $15,000 Claiming (7) ODDS ON BOCA RATON has won back to back races using different styles of racing. Sharp veteran seems capable of facing this slightly better group. (1) GOLDEN GESTURE switches barns, but this classy veteran should be able to keep his form another week. (6) ELM GROVE QWIGGLY lures Miller this week as he adds Lasix; expecting improvement. (4) DONT GET SHOCKED is another horse getting a driver upgrade to Dunn. [DRF HARNESS: Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter] Race 13: Non-winners $3,000 (NW L2 $3,300) in last 4 (8) GOOD DEAL got locked in the pocket last and didn’t get a chance to stretch his legs until the outcome was decided. While the barn has been cold, this guy takes a step down in class and should be the last horses to the front off the gate. (4) HEZA REAL DIAMOND was driven too aggressively when last here in the same race as the top pick; new driver now. (6) BULLVILLE FRANK has a good history of racing well, at least for exotic slots, in this condition. Race 14: Trackmaster 74 (NW L2/2L4 74.5/75.05) or less/NW $1,000 in last 4 (7) ER VEGAS was a victim of trip and post in his last two starts while up a level in class. His last start for TM74 was a win and I don’t see his odds falling below 3-1 here. (4) GOTTA MINUTE N seems as capable as any of these and is certain to be double-digit odds. (2) MV OK PALACIO BR improved as expected on the driver change; chance again.