WINTER MEET STATS: 377-106-65-56 / $621.60 (-$132.40) BEST BETS: 24-9-9-0 / $42.00 (-$6.00) SPOT PLAYS: 27-6-4-4 / $22.00 (-$32.00) BEST BET: BOLD SPIRIT (11TH) SPOT PLAY: MANOLETE (8TH) Race 1: Meadowlands Amateur Drivers Club 1 Pace - Pick 5 (7) BLOODHOUND woke up in a big way at 29-1 when last in the amateur ranks and I see no reason to expect that won’t happen again. (4) ROJAN’S WAY was used to the front versus better last week. The road to the front should have fewer obstacles this time. (5) SEIZE CONTROL and (1) ROCK ON LINE finished one-two while a rung lower on the amateur scale last weekend. Both have a chance here with the right trip. [DRF HARNESS: Get Harness Eye PPs for this card] Race 2: Home Grown 3YO Filly Pace Four of the five horses in this race can probably win and I’ll take a likely price here on (1) GIGGLINGONTHEBEACH, who qualified nicely at Philadelphia and was thought highly enough of to start in the Breeders Crown last year. (2) BEACH BABE did all the work and put up fast fractions last weekend. That mile could have her tighter for tonight. (3) ASPHALT progressed nicely in her second qualifier and could be ready to roll for a top barn. [DRF BETS: Wager on tonight's Meadowlands card at DRF Bets.com!] Race 3: $7,500-$10,000 Claiming Handicap - Survivor 7 (1) AS ALWAYS gets one last try from me. He moves to the inside of the gate this week and really has no excuses. (4) HES A SWEETHEART has been racing reasonably well at this level and has the early speed to be in prime position. (7) FREDNECK was a winner when last seen in the 7500 claiming class. Note that he also showed speed that night. Race 4: Non-winners 2 (NW L2 3) races or $20,000 (NW L2 $30,000) life/Maidens draw inside (7) WESTWINDS has looked good in her qualifiers and we’ve seen a couple of horses already move into the Daley barn and score at first asking. Captaintreacherous filly was the fastest of this group last year and deserves the slight edge. (3) JK FANCVY NANCY sprinted home in 25 3/5 in her first qualifier, though there was a tailwind that morning. Next time out she was perhaps better, winning by two lengths in-hand; Pick 5 must for me. (5) VERITY BLUE CHIP missed by a neck at 175-1 last time; deserves some respect now. Race 5: Meadowlands Amateur Drivers Club 2 Pace (5) LYONS LIBERTY is a sharp horses moving into a good barn who finally lands a reasonable post. He’s no lock but certainly should be considered the one to beat. (1) WHAMMER JAMMER is back in the amateur ranks tonight. If the pace gets crazy this guy can certainly grind them down. (9) GOOD ROCKIN has the early zip to make the top from the outside and we know he has the class to overcome when feeling good. That said, Yogi opts off for his main connections and the replacement driver has one win in 84 career drives. (6) APERTIF would probably be best served to take a conservative approach in this spot, though I doubt that will happen. Race 6: Home Grown 3YO Filly Pace - $50K GTD Pick 4 (4) RODEO DRIVE DEO roared out of the pocket to win two straight qualifiers and certainly looks ready to roll in her 2025 debut. I believe she is the real deal and while this isn’t a soft bunch, will give her the edge. (2) SHES A STREAKER got a useful race under her belt after just one qualifier. She’s eligible to improve. (3) WORKLIFEBALANCE surprised everyone with a powerful late rally to win at first asking in 2025. A repeat performance would make her a serious contender. Race 7: Winners 1-5 (NW L2 6) races or $50,000 life (5) YANNICK G KEMP sat fourth and was never asked while dealing with a hint of traffic and clearly having more in the tank. Walner-sired 3-year-old is certainly capable of showing more with that start under his belt. (3) HARD SEVEN couldn’t have won any easier than he did in that last qualifier. There seems to be talent here. (2) VOSS BLUE CHIP has the early speed to make noise, though I’m not crazy about him in the top spot. Race 8: Home Grown 3YO C&G Pace - Pick 6 (6) MANOLETE faced a salty group that included mostly older foes in his 3-year-old debut and got a nice easy trip. There is more money on the line now and you can expect to see his early speed on display in an effort to best likely favorite (5) SMOOTH DREAM, who scored at first asking impressively to start off his tenor with new trainer Noel Daley, (4) MCCUSKER seems to have come back from vacation in fine order and now it just comes down to whether he is fast enough to go with the top pair. Race 9: Non-winners $12,500 (NW 2L6 $14,500) in last 4 or 9 races life/NW 17500 L5 draw outside (1) DA DELIGHTFUL seems likely to get lost in the wagering shuffle here but remains a legitimate contender given a clean trip. Last time he was behind a wall of horses and didn’t get clearance until too late. (4) GEM QUALITY came to play in his first start of the year and deserves plenty of respect now. (8) ITS SATURDAY NIGHT dead-heated for the win with #4 a week ago and note that Miller chose this guy over three others including my top pick. (5) MAXIM HANOVER has rarely missed the board over the last two years. Race 10: Winners 2-4 (NW L2 or 3YO 5) races or $50,000 life - $50K GTD Pick 4 (2) T H TYSON takes what is typically a big jump in class but I have every reason to believe he can handle it. Last time he overcame a bad post with a 53 and change back half to just miss behind a very stubborn winner; moves inside tonight. (7) ZEPPOLE HANOVER had every chance up the pylons and couldn’t get past two horses that would be favored in this spot; big threat. (6) CRUSH KILL DESTROY has pure speed and goes a big mile every now and then. Race 11: Trackmaster 77.5 Final (2) BOLD SPIRIT unleashed a monster performance last week and if he comes anywhere close to that tonight they are certainly racing for second. (4) FENDI HANOVER is oh so sharp right now. He can gun to the top here or race from just off the pace. (5) LITE N SWEET chased the top pick home a no match second best last week and might be looking at the same fate again. Race 12: Non-winners 2 (NW L2 3) races life/Maidens draw inside (1) WELCOMETOTHESHOW has posted a pair of qualifying wins and while his latest wasn’t crazy-fast, the track was clearly a bit slower as the card moved along in the rain. He’s poised to brush or wait and grind from this post. (6) SNACK ATTACK should be ready to go after two morning efforts. He has early speed but doesn’t have a knack for settling for second. (7) SEAWORTHY HANOVER has also shown some ability. I fear he’ll be sitting last and might have too many to pass tonight. (5) ODDS ON BROWARD has proven himself a trip threat. [DRF HARNESS: Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter] Race 13: Non-winners $5,000 (NW L2 $5,500) in last 4 or $3,380 in 2025 Just when you think your horse is dropping in class you realize the entire field in stepping down in company. (7) JOEMIKIYOURSOFINE was highly unlikely to be involved from post 10 in his first start since late November despite coming off a sharp qualifier. He moves in a few slots on the gate and is likely to be unleashed now. (9) DEAN B HANOVER is clearly sharp and last week after leaving he took a bit of a shuffle and lacked stretch clearance. (5) HANDLELIKEAPORSCHE continues to be raced aggressively and perhaps he would benefit from sitting the pocket or maybe refusing to yield, rather than two-moving to control. (6) DE LA HOYA HANOVER took all the money last time and didn’t deliver. Some will say he lacked room up the inside but I’m not sure he was loaded with pace regardless. Race 14: Trackmaster 80.5 (NW L2/2L4 81/81.5) or less/NW $1 in last 5 (6) ROCKIN THE ACES has turned things around with Lasix added and while he’s had to settle for second twice, this looks like a spot where he can finally pick up his first win of the year. (10) TOTO HANOVER has no choice but to fire out hard to get into the race and the price should improve due to the post. (4) HERVEY HANOVER didn’t take the money I expected and raced poorly last time. I guess watch the board. (1) DRAZARYS Z has proven capable of staying close to the action and getting a nice piece. (9) VICIOUS gets a nice class drop as he moves away from the killer Taranaki.