MEET STATS: 348-98-65-51 / $534.30 (-$161.70) BEST BETS: 25-12-4-3 / $49.60 (-$.40) SPOT PLAYS: 24-6-7-3 / $24.00 (-$24.00) BEST BET: BINGE ON YANKEE (9th) SPOT PLAY: GOOD ROCKIN (7th) Race 1: Meadowlands Amateur Drivers Club 1 Pace - Pick 5 It probably isn’t in your program but (6) WAY TO CLOSE won an MADC wire to wire in 1:53 2/5 on February 2. This field is better than that one but it’s certainly nice that we get Beltrami in the bike to navigate what could be a tricky race depending on how many horses leave hard off the gate. (3) WARRAWEE YANKEE and (8) BRAZEN BRAZILLIAN have been keeping slightly better company than some of these. The former was used very hard going to the top last time while the latter passed him late off a cleaner trip. [DRF HARNESS: Get Harness Eye PPs for this card] Race 2: Trackmaster 77 (NW L2/2L4 77.5/78.58) or less - Survivor 7 (5) FERRAGAMO HANOVER raced very well in defeat last time as he handled the class rise somewhat seamlessly. He’s razor sharp and remains at the same level. (6) SHIPSAWAY turned things around in his first start for Harmon and could be even better now back on a seven-day cycle. (2) POSH ON THE BEACH A gets serious post relief but owns a 1-for-50 record the last two years. [DRF BETS: Wager on tonight's Meadowlands card at DRF Bets.com!] Race 3: Trackmaster 83 (NW L2/2L4 83.5/84) or less (2) MASK ON MASK OFF reunites with Zeron who won with this guy a few starts back. Gelding’s comfort zone is usually one TM level lower but this field didn’t come up that tough and he should be firing out for no worse than a pocket trip. (7) JUST PLAIN LOCO is the other likely early speedster who could use that tactical edge to get a big piece, though Todd McCarthy chose #5. (6) DA DELIGHTFUL turned the corner in mid-March. Classy veteran is more than fast enough to beat these if close to his best. Race 4: New Jersey Breeders Maturity 4YO H&G Trot - Pick 8 Short field here and you have to think it favors (2) BESTFRIEND VOLO, who seems more likely to be sent to the top after chasing in a 1:51 mile last time. While horses often drop big time off qualifiers, it is hard to imagine seeing (3) CELEBRITY BAMBINO or (4) DIRE STRAITS shedding six seconds. As long as the top pick doesn’t slow it to a walk and make the race a sprint, I feel confident. Race 5: Meadowlands Amateur Drivers Club 2 Pace It has been a minute since (6) MEMPHISTENNESSEE N has been over this track, but he does show a win a year ago here, which is the last time he was here. Trainer change is interesting and the price could be right since no one will know what to make of him off a string of bad Yonkers lines. (4) MARINER SEELSTER goes to the front and lasts as long as he can. A top two finish would mean the end of his millionaire career. (5) SUNSHINE’S FINEST is a capable closer in a field where a number of horses have early speed. There is definitely a scenario where he can take advantage. Race 6: Winners over $14,000 in last 4 or $50,000 lifetime - $50K GTD Pick 4 (1) LEXUS KODY’S best is simply much better than the best effort from any of these. I expect he’ll let the other speed go early and try to brush and crush. (4) BETTERINPINEHURST should be the last of the early speed to make the front and then sit a golden trip behind the top pick. (2) CHAPERCRAZ could be ready for a peak effort in his third start of the year. How good/fast is he? Race 7: Non-winners $2,000 (NW L2 $2,200) in last 4/NW3000 draw outside (2) GOOD ROCKIN seemed to perk up with a better performance last week as he closed in 27 seconds on a track that was favoring early speed. Inside post tonight gives him options. (6) TRENTE DEO double drops after a good mile and certainly seems like the chalk. (3) HEZA REAL DIAMOND was a bit disappointing last week as the favorite in this condition. I’m leaning towards using him underneath only. Race 8: $25,000-$40,000 Claiming Handicap - Pick 6 (2) GENTLEMANJIM II IE steps up a bit while in fine form. His ability to show early speed combined with the short field work in his favor. (4) MARCUS SEELSTER was second three straight starts when last seen in the claiming ranks. (7) J M MANDAMIN may need another start but the short field gives him a better shot of being a factor even if he races conservatively. Race 9: Non-winners $14,000 (NW L2 $15,400) in last 4/TM 89.5 or less (7) BINGE ON YANKEE certainly was helped by a bunch of horses racing conservatively and a track bias to speed last time. That said, he’s won back to back races in 1:49 2/5 and simply has a form and raw speed edge on this field. (4) SONNY WEAVER faced some really good foes including Red Right Hand when last on the track. This spot is definitely easier. (6) ADAM CROCKER A beat up on lesser last time. He’s certainly fast enough given the right trip. Race 10: Winners over $14,000 in last 4 or $50,000 lifetime - $50K GTD Pick 4 (5) SOUTHWIND GENDRY doesn’t come off the best qualifier in terms of time but dropping a few seconds should be no problem for a horse that is clearly the class of the field. (3) MAXIMUS MIKI couldn’t be any sharper; trip threat. (1) ROCKIN ON VENUS owns plenty of early speed and could be chasing a hyped-up #6 that leaves hard week after week. Race 11: Non-winners 1 (NW L2 2) race or $10,000 life for 3YOC&G (1) RUSH IN was parked in last to the quarter and wound up in a dull flow behind slow fractions last time. Just draw a line through that race. This guy has a few starts under his belt now and hopefully we’ll see a more aggressive effort. (3) CRUSH KILL DESTROY also elected to race from behind and got caught in a pokey 58 first half, basically eliminating his chances. I certainly expect we’ll see him head to the front here; big threat! (5) TITANIC HANOVER finished well in both qualifiers, though it was hard to tell how much he had left in the most recent one due to the rain. You have to respect anything from this barn. Race 12: Non-winners $7,500 (NW 2L5 $8,250) in last 4 or $1,620 p.s. in 2023-24 (1) IT’S IN THE STARS started from an outside post, was stuck in last and charged home as best he could to no avail last time. He moves inside this week and only needs a hint of racing luck to have a big shot. (3) PRIMARY COLORS and (4) STONEBRIDGE REEF both have early speed that figures to be put on display this time around; using both in Pick 4. [DRF HARNESS: Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter] Race 13: $15,000-$22,000 Claiming Handicap (8) HUNT FOR CASH was one of the few horses to win last week that didn’t race on the lead. He’s clearly gunning to the front here and doesn’t appear to face much resistance. (1) SOMIKI lured Miller off an Estrada horse, so that’s something. On Sunday at Philly he tucked, attacked first over and beat the horse he challenged by a half-dozen lengths. He seems to be coming into form. (5) ITS ROCKIN RANDY could fire out in this spot and sit the pocket behind the top pick; McCarthy’s choice of three. Race 14: Non-winners $5,000 (NW L2 $5,500) in last 5 (2) COMMANDING OFFICER gets class and post relief tonight (though a bunch of these are also dropping in company). I’d expect Gingras to send him to the top. (6) DOUBLE METAL also seems to be in a good situation to show early speed. Assuming he does, the trip should work out in his favor. (5) BRAEVIEW BONDI A closed well for second in this condition a week ago. (10) BEACH VIBES has a win and a second in his last five starts while a class higher than this one. The post hurts but he has enough early speed to gain tactical position.