CHAMPIONSHIP MEET STATS: 26-7-5-4 / $38.00 (-$14.00) BEST BETS: 2-1-1-0 / $7.40 (+3.40) SPOT PLAYS: 1-0-0-0 / $0.00 (-$2.00) BEST BET: BETTORS DONTTELL (6th) SPOT PLAY: BACKSTREET SHADOW (10th) Race 1: $20,000-$30,000 Claiming Handicap - Pick 5 (6) WINDSONG JACK was used to the front and stopped on a night where early speed wasn't performing as well as normal. He's now claimed right back by a barn that had success with him recently. (4) RAPTORS FLIGHT N is the other likely early speed horse and one that should be sitting pretty in the pocket. (7) COOL BLUES MAN and (8) MINDTRIP are two very sharp closers that will need pace help to have an opportunity to win. Minimum acceptable price would be 5/2 considering that they need help. [DRF HARNESS: Get Harness Eye PPs for this card] Race 2: Non-winners $14,000 (NW L3 $15,400) in last 5 (1) SONNY WEAVER N drops for a barn that excels on that angle. Take a look at his recent competition. Many of them would be 2-5 to win against this group. (3) DA DELIGHTFUL raced well but was overbet last time due to Tetrick joining the team. Now he went with #1; value?. (6) GROOVY JOE exits stakes company but has missed a few weeks; mixed feelings. Race 3: Non-winners $10,000 (NW 2L5 $11,550) in last 5 or 6 races life/TM 85.06 or less - Survivor 7 I'll preface the following comments by saying I don't have a strong opinion here other than the race comes down to #8 and what he brings to the track. Let’s try (4) SPIRIT OF DEO, who returns to The Meadowlands where she was racing well. Her closing kick can get the job done if she finds decent cover. (2) CHIPLOSIVE should be sitting close here and if he can get a relaxing trip, beating these is within his reach. (8) JOHAN PALEMA was clearly not ready to win last week or Svanstedt would've pulled rather than sat the four-hole. Even when clear he wasn't loaded with trot. I'm inclined to bet against here at what will be odds-on since Dunn is driving this week, but he most certainly could destroy this field. Race 4: Non-winners $5,000 (NW L3 $5,500) in last 5 (1) DECISION DAY loves when he gets to drop in class and while this isn’t the easiest field he has seen at the NW5000 level, he should have every chance to win. (3) ELVER HANOVER chased a very fast pace last time and should appreciate the same class drop that the top pick takes. (5) SWEET TRUTH gets an interesting barn change and might be worth consideration. Race 5: Non-winners $7,500 in last 5/TM 83 (NW L3 83.5) or less (1) BETTER TAKE IT raced well behind a potentially superior horse in this class two starts back and had no chance last time from post 10. He's got a big shot in here and should be fair value at post time. (3) FABRIZIO N drops down and is a horse that desperately needed slightly easier competition; capable. (9) SEEUINNASHVILLE A has looked very good in the amateur ranks and it will be interesting to see what he does with Callahan in the bike, though it is worth noting Gingras chose off for #8. Race 6: Non-winners $20,000 in last 5, $23,000 in last 7 or 10 races life/TM 92.6 or less - $50K GTD Pick 4 (6) BETTORS DONTTELL exits stakes company, which is important, but not nearly as much as the addition of Lasix. He's coming off a race where he was clearly flat and medication being added to the equation tells me that was likely the reason. (2) LEON DAVID, (1) HAIL CHRISTIAN N and (3) CASUAL COOL are all very sharp and will be battling for second if the top one shows up at 100%. Race 7: Non-winners $10,500 (NW L3 $11,600) in last 5/TM 87 or less (3) STONE HANOVER has been ok from off the pace in his first two tries of the year and perhaps will be more involved this week on the class drop. (5) DE LOS CIELOS DEO comes out of the same race as the top pick and finished ahead of him that day. (2) HEZA REAL DIAMOND is razor sharp right now and more than capable against these if he keeps his form. Race 8: Graduate Mare Trot - Pick 6 (7) HERCULISA pulled off a 12-1 upset last week as she outsprinted (1) BELLA BELLINI and while we won't see near that price tonight, she'll still likely offer better value, especially with Dunn going back to #1. It is tough to separate the two mares and I slightly lean to a repeat by #7 with Hall of Famer David Miller taking the lines. (5) KATIE'S LUCKY DAY got up to speed last week in her first start in from Hoosier. She's capable of stepping up with the right trip. Race 9: Graduate Mare Pace (1) MIKALA has gone two relatively easy miles in short fields to prepare for this and she certainly seems more than ready. Always B Miki mare is clearly the one to beat. (9) HOT MESS EXPRESS hasn't been great in the morning but does have plenty of class. If she offers fair value I could take a shot. (5) EASY TO PLEASE moves back into stakes competition but seems to be facing easier than the group of Open mares last time. That said, she still has to prove herself on the big track. Race 10: Open Pace - $50K GTD Pick 4 (7) BACKSTREET SHADOW added Lasix and raced much better last time. As I don’t see them racing him from last, this seems like the time to send him to the front and see what's in the tank for his 7-year-old season. (1) IGNATIUS A chased a fired-up Workin Ona Mystery last week and no horse was catching him that night. He nicely drawn here to save ground and pounce. (6) LET IT RIDE N finds a field with a bit more early speed this week and a couple of horses that are good enough to tow him into the race on the rim, though it’s interesting that Dunn chose #4 instead. Race 11: Graduate Mare Pace (2) TEST OF FAITH charged home with no chance last time after being taken back to last versus older foes. She's back with her own group now from a better post and figures to prove tough to beat. (3) BLUE DIAMOND EYES clearly needed the start last week. She was every bit as fast as the top pick in 2021 (actually faster) and could give her some trouble if ready now. (1) OAKWOODANABELLA IR just blew out a huge mile at Hoosier. If she brings that effort tonight the rest could be in trouble. Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter Race 12: Winners 5-7 (NW L3 8) races life/4YO NW $1 in 2022 (6) SOUTH BEACH STAR hasn't shown much in a pair of starts but does add Lasix now. For my money he's the best of this group and I'm guessing the medication will make a difference. (5) BETTERROCK had late life in the Graduate last weekend and he did win his last race in this class. (2) UCANTTOUCHTHIS should be heading to the front and be close to the pace. Race 13: TrackMaster 77.5 (NW L3/5 78/78.5) or less/Opt. $12,500 Claiming (2) BNGS EXPRESSS has improved since the trainer change and maybe he'll enjoy being back on the big track. (4) GALACTIC GALLEON N is arguably the sharpest horse in the field. (6) BUNGALOW BILL N should be firing to the top and if they somehow leave him alone, watch out! (7) ATOMIC BLAST N is the one horse in the race seemingly down in class, though his PP lines make him hard to love.