WINTER MEET STATS: 295-75-50-38 / $499.80 (-$90.20) BEST BETS: 21-9-4-1 / $32.20 (-$9.80) SPOT PLAYS: 20-7-5-4 / $58.60 (+$18.60) BEST BET: TARANAKI (9th) SPOT PLAY: GOOD ROCKIN (13th) Race 1: Trackmaster 68 (NW L4 69 – NW1 in 2025-26 70) or less - Pick 5 (5) SEEUINNASHVILLE A hasn’t won a race in nearly two years but at least that is because he has barely raced. Now 13, this guy has been racing better of late and faces one of the worst fields this condition has offered up in 2026. The gas pedal should be down from the start. (4) WOODMERE LEAH owns a win in the class a few starts back and that makes him the favorite, I guess. (2) CRUNCHY doesn’t own the best résumé with one win in 30 career starts and no races since January 3. That said, he was recently purchased for $4,800 online and perhaps Hernandez can unlock this young gelding. [DRF HARNESS: Get Harness Eye PPs for this card] Race 2: Trackmaster 80.5 (NW L2 82.75) or less (9) ZEPPOLE HANOVER should be tight enough after two qualifiers if the connections elect to give it a go. He’s simply faster than these as he drew into a TM80 that seems like a TM77 at best. (4) RILKOFF blew away a TM74 field last time and is well drawn behind the gate to get a similar trip. (1) HALF PAST MIDNIGHT chased the former home two weeks ago for second. While he seems to be outclassed, as a 4-year-old he could certainly just now be coming into form. Race 3: Trackmaster 71 (NW L2 73) or less - Pick 8 with carryover (4) BIG BAD BILL hasn’t seen a post this good in a long time. I have to think he’ll be primed for a big mile against a field that is hardly in great form. (2) ALWAYS A WAY was used hard as the heavy chalk and folded on the engine last time. A smoother trip is likely tonight and with it should come a better result. (7) B SIRIUS is another new arrival to the Hernandez barn and he was purchased for $13,600 online. Three-year-old seems good enough to compete. Race 4: Non-winners $2,500 (NW L2 $3,000) in last 5 (6) MAD RIVER was comfortable while chasing home much better in his second qualifier and he dropped two seconds in the process. Four-year-old lands in a good spot in his return for a live barn. (7) QUALITY BUD gets some clear class relief this week and a wakeup is definitely in the cards. (1) HP MOMENTUM finally lands on the inside of the gate this week. This guy has a bit of class and seems to be in a decent spot. Race 5: Meadowlands Amateur Drivers Club 2 Pace for TM 81 (NW L2 83.15) or less (2) VANDALISM saved ground and paced home willingly with no shot in his debut for this barn. Tonight he lands in the amateur ranks and should have a big shot with Hernandez in the bike. (6) SPIRIT OF STLOUIS N was in the same boat as the top pick in terms of having no shot while still coming home in 26 4/5. This guy is more than fast enough to win given a reasonable trip and Yogi did choose here (barn loyalty likely) over a bunch of others. (4) HUNGRYHUNGRY HIPPO got a terrible trip parked the mile last week. Certainly things have to go more smoothly tonight. (5) WARRAWEE YANKEE is off a nice score for a barn that was hot last weekend. Race 6: Trackmaster 74.5 (NW L2 76.5) or less Series - $50K GTD Pick 4 (3) ARTIST BEST lands in a great spot and gets a catch driver back in the bike for the first time since late February. Barn picked up a win last weekend and should have a big shot here. (1) SPIRIT OF TRUTH and (9) LINCOLN BOULEVARD are both getting huge driver changes and either one could step up with a much better mile. Race 7: Non-winners $10,500 (NW L2 $12,500) in last 5 or 8 (NW L2 9) races life/TM 86 (NW L2 90) or less (7) OUTER BANKS was gigantic last week overcoming a difficult trip from post 10. Logic would think he’ll only be better in his second try in 10 months. (5) DOWNBYTHEWATER won off the bench here but didn’t have as much luck trying Yonkers and Pocono. He’s back on the big track now and can make his presence known. (4) HURRIKANE CHEYENNE has been right there each week despite climbing the class ladder. He paced home in 26 1/5 last time with no chance. Race 8: Non-winners $15,000 (NW L2 $16,500) in last 5 or 10 races (NW L2 11) life/TM 89 (NW L2 91) or less - Pick 6 Normally I might fade a horse like (4) OAKWOOD ARDAN IR in his first start of the year but this field seems ripe for the picking. He was super in his qualifier sitting the pocket under a hold and drew perfectly to succeed. (1) NUCLEAR faces a bunch of horses coming off layoffs and others which may not want to fire off the gate. I can see Gingras getting very aggressive from the cones. (2) SABA ROCK had his issues in qualifier #1 but was super last weekend. He seems ready to roll. Race 9: Non-winners $7,500 (NW L2 $8,250) in last 5 (2) TARANAKI gave his all with a big final quarter but just couldn’t make much of a dent into the leaders after a 57 2/5 half and 1:25 4/5 three quarters last time. Five-year-old is capable of ripping off a big mile and should offer fair value. (7) EFFINGHAM got trapped in the pocket and never found room to room last week. He’ll be firing out again tonight and perhaps new driver McCarthy will work out the winning trip. (3) SINBAD N drops back down to the level of his last win, though more than half the field is moving down the condition ladder. Race 10: $20,000-$25,000 Claiming Handicap - $50K GTD Pick 4 This is a really tricky race to kick off the late Pick 4 with a lot of contenders due to the numbers of early speed players. I’ll try (6) ROCKME ROLLME since I believe he can race well from on or off the pace and he rarely tosses in a bad effort. (9) ART OF REVENGE was super last week and while normally this would be a bad spot on the outside of the gate, the amount of pace could set it up for him. (5) BB LUCKY BOY is back in for a tag and certain to be firing out. Can he get a winning trip? Race 11: Trackmaster 74.5 (NW L2 76.5) or less Series Something went amiss with (1) GAZOO in his return to the races but I’m not going to let that bother me. His best is more than good enough to take down this field and hopefully the miscue means a better price here. (4) SWIFTY LAZAR figures to be showing speed again after firing out and settling for third in his debut for this barn. (7) TRICKY CAPTAIN N has found himself in recent weeks in starts three and four for this barn; clear threat. Race 12: Trackmaster 83.5 (NW L2 85.6) or less Those with a good memory know that (6) GOOD DEAL was here in 2023 and 2024 and won a number of races. Since then he’s obviously been lightly raced and dealing with issues but he did return last week with a willing finish from an impossible spot. Seven-year-old has five wins in 19 starts for Calderone and maybe he can have him ready at a nice price. (2) BEAT COP switches drivers in hope of better success. Tetrick isn’t much different from Dunn in the grand scheme of things but sometimes a different set of hands makes a difference. (5) INVICTUS has come back to the races in fine form and certain merits consideration for your Pick 4/6 tickets. (3) EXPEDITED SERVICE lured Beckwith off #5. He’s a contender as well. [DRF HARNESS: Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter] Race 13: $10,000-$12,500 Claiming Handicap (9) GOOD ROCKIN showed off his class by brushing to the front and demolishing many of these foes last week. There is no reason to believe he won’t be successful again. (5) LYONS LIBERTY got caught behind a stopping leader and got disconnected with the top one, but he paced home willingly when finally clear. (6) CAMCO LUCAS finally got over the top last Friday. He’s certainly a factor, at least underneath and maybe more. Race 14: Trackmaster 68 (NW L4 69 – NW1 in 2025-26 70) or less (1) THE BIG RAGOO only owns one win and three thirds in 28 career starts but two of those events occurred in the last month in this class. I’ll take the usual double-digit price again. (10) CHEESE OMLET has been racing really well in recent weeks and does have the early speed to overcome the outside post. (7) TAHUYA SILK is certainly a smooth trip player.