MEET STATS: 264-75-48-36 / $424.70 (-$107.30) BEST BETS: 19-9-3-2 / $35.40 (-$2.60) SPOT PLAYS: 18-3-6-2 / $11.20 (-$24.80) BEST BET: CAVEMAN A (7th) SPOT PLAY: WHATCHULOOKIN AT (4th) Race 1: Meadowlands Amateur Drivers Club 2 Pace - Pick 5 (6) FERDINAND A is clearly firing to the front here and could very well be sitting the pocket behind (10) MARINER SEELSTER. Eleven-year-old rarely throw in a dud and often rolls by with that trip. The latter continues to amaze at age 15 as he’s now won four straight while rolling over his amateur competition. Call me a conspiracy theorist but another win would put him over the $25K cap for his age, so maybe finishing second would be more palatable to his connections? Or maybe he’ll just go out a winner and head to a well-deserved retirement. (2) CLAYTONS BETTOR N raced well in his first start for these connections and he’s proven capable of going a good mile here; more tonight? (7) YER SO BAD had bad cover, was four wide on the final turn and paced home steadily last time; sharp foe needs hot pace setup. [DRF HARNESS: Get Harness Eye PPs for this card] Race 2: Non-winners $3,000 (NW L2 $3,300) in last 4 - Survivor 7 (4) MR MATT MAJOR N beat a nice horse in that qualifier last Friday and perhaps the move to the big track is just what the doctor ordered. Notice that Dunn chose here over #2. (2) LOVE YOUR WORK A has been just ok lately but I’d argue that his most recent effort was his best. He’s one of many class-droppers here that have a chance to awaken. (1) SLING SHOCK gets post and class relief here. (9) RIVER NESS ships east and lands in a new barn. He has some early speed to overcome the outside post and an improved effort is possible. [DRF BETS: Wager on tonight's Meadowlands card at DRF Bets.com!] Race 3: Trackmaster 83 (NW L2/2L4 83.5/84.89) or less/Winner in TM 80 in last 4 There’s lots of potential early speed in this field that could play a role in the outcome. (9) DA DELIGHTFUL seems to have found his form and he is the fastest horse in the race. I’m going to roll the dice (at an expected good price) that trainer Mark Silva can steer this guy out of trouble. (5) MASK ON MASK OFF has form and some versatility, which may be needed in this field. (1) AIR GUITAR reunites with a catch-driver. Race 4: Non-winners $5,000 (NW L2 $5,550) in last 4 - Pick 8 (5) WHATCHULOOKIN AT was much better in his return qualifier than it appears on paper. He wasn’t being asked late and finished well within himself with Lasix added. I don’t expect he’ll need a start. (9) HURRIKANE JONNYBOY hasn’t been here since early August and he blazed down the road that day in 1:49 2/5. He has a couple of starts under his belt now and could be ready to fire a big shot at a price. (2) DUDDIE’S LOR dealt with some traffic and when clear late his fate was already sealed. With a smooth trip he could get a nice piece. Race 5: Non-winners 1 race or $10,000 life My initial intention was to pick against (1) MCCRUNCH despite his strong debut win because he did it off a perfect trip, but the draw here really does favor a repeat. Just don’t take him as an odds-on chalk; better to pass the race. (5) SPRING BLAKE qualified back very nicely and I’m intrigued to see how much she’s matured. (10) RUSH IN found a gear others didn’t have through the stretch to win his first career start. Can he possibly get into contention from post 10? (8) AMERICA GREATAGAIN was nailed by the former last time out but still put in a credible mile. Continued improvement isn’t out of the question. Race 6: Non-winners $12,500 in last 4 or 10 races life/TM 86.5 or less - $50K GTD Pick 4 (4) KICKUPYAHEELS N is certainly sharp and she loves to win (23 of 95 lifetime). She is not the best mare in the field but she does have a conditioning edge perhaps on some of the top ones. (5) BEACH COWGIRL should conceivably improve in her second start of the year and she has been dropping about a second every trip to the track, but she really didn’t show much in her 2024 debut. (8) ALWAYS B NAUGHTY is far and away the fastest of this group and the qualifier was good. That said, I expect a patient drive in her first try of the year, which means things will need to go right for her to win. (1) MIS LIMELIGHT N was Todd McCarthy’s choice over my top pick for a barn that continues to roll along. Race 7: Play Meadowlands Non-winners $7,601 (NW L2 $8,250) in last 4 Series (1) CAVEMAN A tucked, attacked first-over and couldn’t have been more game in victory last weekend. In theory this is a class rise but I’m not seeing that difficult of a field. (5) HEART OF DIXIE took a conservative approach last time and it didn’t work. Let’s look for some early speed here. (3) C-BET HANOVER was second to the top pick a week ago and he’s clearly sharp. Race 8: Non-winners $14,000 in last 4 or in 2024 or $19,261 in last 5 - Pick 6 (2) BESTFRIEND VOLO dominated in his return qualifier for a barn that always sends them out ready to roll at the start of the year. He should provide a good effort and may only have issues with (9) LEXUS KODY if he decides to trot the mile this week. The latter did make a break last time and should’ve been placed last. He’s capable of rebounding at a better price and Gingras knows him well. (3) CHAPERCRAZ displayed ability at age 3 and his qualifiers were good; capable on best. Race 9: Non-winners $10,000 (NW L2 $11,000) in last 4 or $37,500 in 2023-24 (4) BINGE ON YANKEE just missed versus a horse that would be the heavy favorite in this spot. Four-year-old showed some improvement in his second start of the year and could be ready for a peak mile tonight. (7) BRUTALLYHANDSOME A has been right there in each of the last three starts in this class. (6) A ROCKNROLL STAR rallied for second a week ago versus a drop-down winner last week. Race 10: Non-winners $20,000 in last 4 or 10 races life - $50K GTD Pick 4 (5) COMBUSTION was used to make the front in his first start of the year and found enough to hang on for the victory. He clearly steps up to face better foes here but should be sharper after the tightening mile a week ago. (2) RED RIGHT HAND is back on the big track after a failed attempt at Yonkers. He’s a player in here and I’d use him on my Pick 4 tickets at 4-1 or higher. (6) BIG SKEWY N didn’t look like he had a 25 2/5 final quarter in his arsenal for the first three-quarters of his qualifying mile but there he was fending off a good foe in Ervin Hanover late. I feel he’ll be raced from behind here, as will (7) MAD MAX HANOVER, and because of that I’ll be using them underneath. Race 11: Play Meadowlands Non-winners $7,601 (NW L2 $8,250) in last 4 Series (1) CANT STOP LOU qualified back well and could offer some value versus a number of horses who are clearly dropping in class. Returning 4-year-old is as fast as or faster than any in here. (6) STONEBRIDGE REEF and (4) DEAN B HANOVER both won the last time they competed at this level. (8) TRENTE DEO also drops a notch and he did face some traffic trouble last time. Race 12: $20,000-$30,000 Claiming Handicap (6) NEEDHAM HANOVER keeps facing new shooters and droppers but just wins. He looked great behind the gate and got the job done late last week; again. (8) HUNT FOR CASH was a bit lazy on the front and had every chance once pulling the pocket but could hold off the top pick a week ago. (9) CHUCKY HANOVER didn’t show much with Lasix added off the bench. He sheds 40% from his claiming price and figures to perform better. [DRF HARNESS: Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter] Race 13: Trackmaster 77 (NW L2/2L4/NWL5 77.5/78.38/79.44) or less (2) CONCUR remains winless on the year but has been racing better of late. Tonight he moves to the inside of the gate again and should be in position versus a soft group. (3) MACHAHOLIC gets a trainer change to Engblom and will likely be bet accordingly. I’ll take a long look at him in the post parade and evaluate his worth versus his price. (4) SEEUINNASHVILLE was a winner when last at the TM77 level. (8) ODDS ON LAUDERDALE is at least worth some consideration with Gingras joining the team. Race 14: Non-winners $2,000 (NW L2 $2,241) in last 4 or $637 p.s. in 2023-24 (5) BB LUCKY BOY doesn’t look great on paper but boy is he plunging in class tonight. In this mostly formless field of question marks he could try to bottom out the field. (3) MINDTRIP is a classy veteran that was used to the front last time and weakened. Perhaps the journey will be even easier here. (9) KOOTENAY SANTANNA gets a key driver change here to Jordan Stratton and is certainly facing an easier group this week.