WINTER MEET STATS: 154-47-18-19 / $281.60 (-$29.40) BEST BETS: 11-3-3-0 / $12.20 (-$9.80) SPOT PLAYS: 11-2-2-1 / $7.80 (-$14.20) BEST BET: STELLAR YANKEE (2nd) SPOT PLAY: MILLWOOD BLISS N (12th) Race 1: Non-winners $5,000 in last 4/TM 80.5 (NW L2/2L4/L6 81/81.75/82.05) or less - Pick 5 (9) MCMARKLE SPARKLE hasn’t been on this track in 1.5 years and seems to have found a cozy spot. While there are plenty of sharp horses signed on, she has a bit of a class edge and is plenty versatile. (3) IN THE SPOTLIGHT N won at first asking in her first start since August and logic would state she should improve off that mile; Beckwith’s choice. (5) SANTAFE’S APPETITE might be moving up in class but she catches a field with plenty of potential early speed and if things get wild she’ll be flying late. (1) ALWAYS IN FLIGHT hails from a barn that does pretty well with horses off layoffs; see #3. [DRF HARNESS: Get Harness Eye PPs for this card] Race 2: Non-winners $5,000 (NW L2 $5,735) in last 4 (4) STELLAR YANKEE just missed as the chalk last time while up a level in class. Seven-year-old is capable from on or off the pace and seems likely to be aggressive, like he was in his last start at this level on 11/2/24, a four-plus length win. (5) INTEREST FREE A tried to go all the way on the engine last time and wound up second best behind the 4-5 favorite. He’ll definitely be heard from in this spot. (2) VILLIAM is back at the level where he finished second two starts back. He tends to offer fair value and should again tonight. Race 3: Non-winners $2,000 (NW L2 $2,300) in last 4 - Survivor 7 (5) ROCKIN THE ACES fell to this level last weekend and was used to the front past the quarter before yielding and getting shuffled back to the three-hole. Gelding never got clear in the stretch and certainly deserves a serious look here in a field without a standout. (1) GAITWAY GUY comes out of the same race as the top pick and just missed by a neck in that event. He won two of three starts at the NW2000 level last year. (3) EURO STEP came back from a three month vacation last Saturday and you have to like that Chisholm took a shot with him early and he stuck around for a check. I could see him taking a step forward. Race 4: Non-winners $12,500 (NW L2 $13,750) in last 4 (3) RESOLVE TO WIN comes off a nice confidence-building win at Pocono and in terms of pure speed he’s as fast as any in here. Notice he faced a couple of these guys (#2, #6) here on 2/1 and finished within a couple of lengths of them from far back. (7) OUTSIDE THE FIRE doesn’t really have an excuse for the loss last time after setting reasonable fractions. That said, he’ll be in winning position again if he comes ready to play. (6) LITTLE EXPENSIVE hasn’t lived up to his price tag but does seem to deliver a fairly honest effort each week; trip player. (8) BLACK MAGIC might’ve been my top pick from a better post but he may have to pass them all to win from the outside. Race 5: Trackmaster 80.5 (NW L2/2L4 81/81.5) or less (6) TARANAKI is a horse I was following for some time without success. I jumped ship for a couple of starts but this seems like the right time to get back on board after a much better performance on the condition change last time. He drops again tonight and can be a major player with any decent trip. (9) WARRAWEE TOTAL was at the back behind slow fractions last time and even a 26 2/5 final quarter wasn’t enough to get him more than fifth. I’d love to see some early speed tonight. (3) MASK ON MASK OFF drops a level on the Trackmaster scale and adds Zeron. (2) TOTO HANOVER is certainly capable at this level but he’s done better when the owner isn’t in the bike. Race 6: Winners 2-4 (NW L2 5) races life/NW 6life draw outside - $50K GTD Pick 4 Some people may be fooled into believing that (4) SPRING BLAKE is moving up in class due to the purse differences but this is most definitely a softer field, or at least a less classy one. Four-year-old dealt with stretch traffic last time and was never really asked since there was no chance of cashing. He could wake up in a big way here. (1) CAPTAIN BAZINGA is another one coming out of regular conditioned races that should prove tough. Bartlett jumps off for his top client but that’s to be expected. This guy is the one to beat. (9) REMEMBER THE ALAMO was raced aggressively off a layoff in early January so there is no reason to believe he won’t be firing out again; another player. (2) CRUSH KILL DESTROY qualified well but I have my doubts on whether he is ready for this field. (8) NUCLEAR looked to be a major talent at one point. Can Burke wake this guy up from his slumber? Race 7: Non-winners $5,000 (NW 2L8 $6,115) in last 4/TM 80.5 (NW L2/2L4 81/81.5) or less (1) TOCCOA FALLS has been raced conservatively in his last two starts from outside posts while up in class and the results have been underwhelming. There could be some value in this guy now as people look at those dull lines. (7) DRIBBLING BI raced pretty well last week and still gets to drop a level. He’s probably the one to beat but far from a lock. (2) P CHICO comes off a win and lured Miller off two Burke horses. (5) DEJERATE HANOVER was facing better when last seen here. Perhaps the move back to the big track will help this guy after making a break last time. Race 8: Trackmaster 83.5 (NW L2/2L4 84/85.45) or less - Pick 6 (3) FULSOME had a pretty good year in 2024 and was taking a nice drop in class last time yet he still went off at 50-1. The longshot status didn’t hinder him as he uncorked a powerful stretch rally to win. I’ll stick with him even though Beckwith went to #4. (8) SAVE ME A DANCE absolutely stole the race last week and while I usually try to avoid those horses coming back next time, there seems to be a lack of early speed in this field. (2) ARDEN MESSI N got caught up in a fast mile last time; player with the right trip. (9) MAYHEM HANOVER comes off a win at Pocono that should help his confidence and Miller opted here over #8. Race 9: Non-winners $7,500 (NW 2L6 $8,250) in last 4 or $2,015 p.s.-$21,000 in 2024-25/TM 85.65 or less (5) CAPTAIN UP went a big mile on the engine to win his debut for new connections by open lengths. That was a strong performance and a repeat is certainly within reach for this 25% winning barn. (2) STAY GROUNDED won in this class four starts back before facing tougher two and three back. He’s very capable of beating this group with the right setup. (7) FULTON probably got plenty out of that mile last week after missing more than six months. This guy is a former PASS winner and one who is more than capable of stepping up if ready. (4) SPORTY M THREE took care of business last weekend and now steps back up the ladder. Bartlett clearly has confidence as he chose here over #’s 7 and 9. (9) DANCE PARTNER has a win and a third in this class in his last two tries at this level. Race 10: Winners over $12,500 in last 4 or $50,000 lifetime/NW12500L4 draw inside - $50K GTD Pick 4 (4) MAD MAX HANOVER reeled off a monster mile last week and when this guy is right and placed on the engine there aren’t many horses who can roll by him. He’s no lock in this spot but picking against him seems foolish unless you can get a big price on (8) ACT FAST, who returns from a few months away for Burke. Five-year-old qualified in style and we all know he can fire a big shot on this track. (7) FOR ONCE INMY LIFE certainly has the early speed to make the top pick work early and he’s won three straight; contender. (6) SPORT SECRET has a great career record and good form, but this is a good group. Race 11: Trackmaster 77.5 (NW L2/2L4 78/78.5) or less (6) HEART OF DIXIE rolled in his first start for this barn and then went to Yonkers and was stuck with no chance to succeed from post eight. He’s back at Club Med tonight and while this is a class hike I think he can handle it. (9) SPIRIT OF TRUTH owns a win and a second in this class recently; post the main issue. (8) JOJO’S PLACE bumps up the ladder off a big victory and seems worth some consideration. (4) FERRAGAMO HANOVER raced very well last time and I wouldn’t be surprised if he was the favorite, but he’s far from reliable at 4-for-58 lifetime. (5) NOTORIOUS LUCK adds Lasix and there are worse angles you can follow. Race 12: Non-winners $12,500 (NW L2 $14,361) in last 4/TM 86.5 (NW L2/2L4 87/87.5) or less Bettors elected to bet (7) MILLWOOD BLISS N down to favoritism status last weekend even though trainer Nifty Norman told DRF’s Jay Bergman that the horse would be raced from off the pace. So the horse sat last in the field of eight and finished very willingly on his own when clear in the stretch. With that start under her belt I’d expect to see more early interest now. (6) DRAGONS LUCKY LADY hasn’t been on this track in well over a year as she comes in from Yonkers. I wonder if she could steal this race on the lead. (3) BLOOD MOON A was second versus most of these last week; using underneath. [DRF HARNESS: Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter] Race 13: Trackmaster 74.5 (NW L2/2L4 75/75.5) or less (10) SAULSBROOK RAPTOR qualified back nicely after two months on the sidelines. Notice this guy has shown good early speed in the past and Huckabone has been more than willing to put horses in play; taking a shot. (8) HEZA REAL DIAMOND dropped quite a bit of time in his first start since last June when you consider he qualified at Meadowlands but raced at Pocono. He’ll probably need another start but his best destroys this field, so I’m going to use him on my Pick 4 ticket just in case. (7) SAULSBROOK HERO arrives from Batavia for a new barn after missing a few weeks. I’m really not sure what to expect. (6) SUNSHINE’S FINEST drops a level and has form; negative driver change. Race 14: $10,000 Claiming (5) HARRY HANOVER dropped back in for a $10,000 claiming tag last time and got a bit unlucky to take both turns on the rim. He didn’t tire too badly. Let’s hope he leaves again and makes the front. (1) JOHNNY CHIP has a number of wins in this class. The negative is that he’ll likely be the favorite and we don’t know exactly what to expect as he changes barns. A positive is that Miller rejoins the team and he steered this guy to victory a few starts back. (2) HECANDANCENCRUISE drops in claiming price for a high percentage barn; obvious player. (4) TERRE HAUTE put in his best effort in a while last week but wasn’t exactly great. Beckwith did choose here over my top pick, likely to stick with the Burke barn.