WINTER MEET STATS: 155-28-26-25 / $193.60 (-$116.40) BEST BETS: 11-4-3-1 / $14.20 (-$7.00) SPOT PLAYS: 11-2-2-4 / $13.20 (-$8.80) BEST BET: EXPENSIVE EGO A (13th) SPOT PLAY: PALOMAR (4th) Race 1: Winners 1-4 (NW L2 5) races or $60,000 life - Pick 5 (6) SET SHOT seems to be sitting on a win but just hasn’t found the right set of circumstances. He had no shot from the outside post last time, was used and couldn’t gain in a 26 2/5 final quarter two starts back, and also finished strong to be second to start his year. I’d love to see him on the engine this week. Either way, the price should be generous. (3) LASER SPEED returned from two months away with a sharp qualifier where he felt a tap or two of the whip and won very easily. His best mile is more than good enough to win. (2) CONFEDERATESTAR N waited on a helmet and showed quick acceleration to win his lone qualifier on these shores. New Zealand bred was pretty good Down Under and it will be interesting to see if he is ready to fire at first asking. [DRF HARNESS: Get Harness Eye PPs for this card] Race 2: Trackmaster 71 (NW L2 73.10) or less - Women’s Race (9) HALF PAST MIDNIGHT is a sharp horse in a field with plenty of potential early speed to set him up. You can also bet that this race will be hotly contested with the women all wanting to get a win. (7) LYLEGROUND has the most prominent current lady driver in the bike and I have to think she’ll put this guy in play. (2) CAPTAIN CARTER was a winner when last seen in this class back in January; needs the right trip. Race 3: Meadowlands Amateur Drivers Club 2 Pace/TM 81 (NW L2 83) or less - Pick 8 All of the potential early speed seems to be on the inside of the gate in this race and that’s where we’ll land. (2) MUSCLE FACTORY A has come away victorious in his last two amateur starts and should be sitting no worse than the pocket here. (1) MASTER MIKI is certain to be firing out to gain valuable position. He’s as good as any in terms of pure speed and ability. (3) FIZZING N drew well and that will help a horse that has done much better recently when raced off a helmet. Race 4: $10,000-$12,500 Claiming Handicap (9) PALOMAR may not be a speedster off the gate but he’s capable of pushing away enough to get into position. Class drop tonight should produce results. (8) CAPTIVATED takes a similar drop in company but more importantly moves into a new barn that has been firing on all cylinders this meet in limited starts. (4) IDIOSYNCRATIC got caught in a fast mile last weekend. His best is good enough to compete here. Race 5: Trackmaster 74.5 (NW L2 76.5) or less - Women’s Race (7) GALANTE A went a crazy trip last week as he couldn’t clear the front, wound up parked the mile and still held for fourth. It’s almost impossible for the trip to get worse this time. (5) SELECT FRIDAY and (4) ARTIST BEST are two very sharp horses that are well drawn behind the gate. Either could win with the right setup. Race 6: $15,000-$17,500 Claiming Handicap - $50K GTD Pick 4 (7) SKYWAY MASTERPIECE has reeled off three straight wins since returning from a mini vacation. Staying in the same class it is hard to pick against him with confidence. (4) DANCING LEW doesn’t face much early speed to his inside. While the 8-year-old is probably a bit higher than his comfort zone, he should be in a winning spot. (9) ROCKME ROLLME raced well enough off the claim. He’ll likely be firing out looking for the top or other good position. Race 7: Trackmaster 80.5 (NW L2 82.75) or less (4) LINDY THE BRAVE has as many wins this year as the rest of the field combined. He’s far from a standout but certainly a major contender from a good post and he reunites with Kelly, who drove him to his last win. (9) HURRIKANE CHEYENNE is a sharp horse moving into a good barn. Only question is the trip from a tough outside post. (2) ROCKIN THE ACES will be a threat if he can sit and find a seam late. Race 8: $40,000-$50,000 Claiming Handicap - Pick 6 (1) IKNOWBETTER drops in for a tag in his return from vacation. The qualifier doesn’t look spectacular, but he was facing some nice foes. Here’s hoping he can sit just off the early speed and find a clean trip at a price. (9) STELLAR YANKEE has been taking advantage of some spicy pace setups lately. The form is elite but I wouldn’t back him at odds-on. (6) TYPHOON BANNER N and (2) SUN OF A SHOW killed each other’s chances most recently. If they can get to the half in north of 54, maybe they have a win shot. Race 9: Non-winners $12,500 (NW L2 $14,000) in last 5 or 10 races life/TM 88 (NW L2 90.55) or less (1) NUCLEAR has found himself in recent weeks and is finally starting to show some of the promise from his early years. I see no reason to get off the bandwagon. (8) ROCKIN JUKEBOX was a 1:49 1/5 winner here two starts back by more than four lengths; clear threat. (6) RYDINGTOTHEWIRE has won two straight but gets tested for class versus the top pair. Race 10: $25,000 Claiming - $50K GTD Pick 4 (3) SAULSBROOK RAPTOR has a pretty good recent record in this class. Last time he got caught in a freaky-fast mile by Water Sports Teen and could only muster third. His chances should improve versus this group. (8) BB LUCKY BOY took a month off and came back strong, picking up confidence with back to back wins at Pocono. Can he get away soft enough to wire a field on the bigger track? (2) KOMODO BEACH dips in claiming price and lands in a good spot; capable. Race 11: Non-winners $7,500 (NW L2 $8,651) in last 5 (2) EFFINGHAM and (5) BORNINLOCKDOWN GB both attempted to leave the gate last time and faced too much resistance to the inside. The former was behind lackluster cover at one point and while the latter was gapping cover at one point he didn’t exactly have a smooth path either. Both should have a big shot here dropping in class but we’ll give the slight edge to #2 on the expectation that he’ll be better value. (4) MASTER CHARLES A just missed in this class last time. Race 12: Trackmaster 83.5 (NW L2 85.6) or less (6) SEASIDEESCAPE could provide some value here returning from more than two months on the sidelines. Notice his last start in this class resulted in a win on the engine. (4) DANCE PARTNER did what he could but couldn’t quite get there from third over last time. He’s the right trip away from pictures. (3) COMPENSATE ME has too many races with excuses or where he should’ve won to support at what could be lower odds. If you can get north of 4-1, sure, try him. [DRF HARNESS: Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter] Race 13: Non-winners $5,000 (NW L2 $5,500) in last 5 (5) EXPENSIVE EGO A came here with a great résumé but has taken some time to acclimate after two years away from racing. Tonight he gets a class drop and more importantly has shown a consistent improvement of his final quarters from 27 down to 26 2/5 last time; ready now! (3) DON’T DROP THE BALL is also down in company and I like that he had some late life last time after consecutive starts with 29 and change final fractions. (1) ROCKIN ON VENUS finds a field without too much early speed and should be sitting close enough to get into the exotics. Race 14: Trackmaster 68 (NW L4 69) or less (3) ROCKABILLY CHARM won a bunch of times in this TM68 class in 2025 and he tends to perk up when he draws well in the condition. (6) OUR CORELLI N reunites with Herschberger here and more importantly is back in a class where he has been successful in the past. (2) ROCKIN ROGER moves into a new barn and finally draws on the inside of the gate. A wake-up call isn’t out of the question.