CHAMPIONSHIP MEET STATS: 84-26-13-11 / $124.40 (-$43.60) BEST BETS: 6-3-2-0 / $19.40 (+$7.40) SPOT PLAYS: 6-1-1-3 / $4.80 (-$7.20) BEST BET: MY BFF ANNEE (4th) SPOT PLAY: MAKING HISTORY (7th) Race 1: Trackmaster 77.5 (NW L2 79.5) or less - Pick 5 (6) SEIZE CONTROL posted his first dull effort in quite some time when last seen on May 9 and now returns to the races with Lasix added to explain the poor showing. This looks like a decent spot for him and Gingras joins the team. (2) LOVETHEWAYYOULIE did the heavy lifting on the engine last time and faded to third. He moves to the inside of the gate here and might have more options. (3) ROJAN’S WAY exits the amateur ranks and adds Todd McCarthy. I’m expecting a strong effort for a high percentage barn. (7) MIDNIGHT THUNDER drops down one level on the TM scale but hasn’t been very successful in this class in the past. I wonder if his best will wait until another drop. (1) LOUIS LITT N takes the same drop as the former but tends to hit the exotics better than win. [DRF HARNESS: Get Harness Eye PPs for this card] Race 2: Trackmaster 80.5 (NW L2 82.5) or less (3) SAULSBROOK HERO strangely showed no early interest after racing very well the previous week. I’ll stick with him and expect more logical tactics. (2) FERRAGAMO HANOVER capitalized on live cover last time; trip threat. (8) LYONS LIBERTY certainly has good gate speed and tonight he exits the amateur ranks. (10) KNEEDEEP N CUSTARD has early speed and form but finds plenty of others to his inside with some zip. He’s also winless on the year. Race 3: Trackmaster 74.5 (NW L2 76.5) or less - Survivor 7 (4) LMC PEANUTS WATCHN could provide some sneaky value by chance. Making his first start for new connections and with Lasix added, he finished seventh by 25 lengths because he was thrown to the dogs versus some really nice 3-year-olds. Track, driver and trainer changes could easily produce a winning mile. (6) YANKEE SPARKLE has posted two credible miles since the barn change; catch driver tonight! (8) IMINURBLINDSPOT has multiple good efforts in this condition but could be hurt by the outside post. (1) LOCKDOWN LOUIE N finally draws inside. I’d still need a sweet price to try him based on his 2-for-32 record the last two years. Race 4: NJ Sire Stakes for 3YO Filly Trotters (1) MY BFF ANNEE lived up to her billing with a powerful win to start her 2025 campaign and we should still be able to get a good price on her with Fonseca in the bike and the presence of her stablemate. (9) WALSPEA displayed some nice push button speed at Harrah’s Philadelphia in two victories to start her year. Smedshammer is rarely afraid to fire off the gate and we really don’t know what this filly is at this point. (6) CHAMPAGNE PROBLEMS is far and away the most accomplished filly in the race having earned more than the rest of the field combined. Her qualifiers were just ok and I’d prefer to have her beat me at short odds if she can rather than accept the bad price. (8) CONVERSANO is also perfect in two starts this year; contender with a decent trip. Race 5: NJ Sire Stakes for 3YO C&G Trotters (1) YANNICK G KEMP has won consecutive starts in the 1:53 range and you have to respect his tactical speed in this rematch with (6) TRAVOLTA HANOVER, who couldn’t gain last time. If the former gets pace help or finds some early foot, he would have a big shot. (4) BIG SHOT switches to the big track and it will be interesting to see if he steps up. Race 6: NJ Sire Stakes for 3YO Filly Trotters - $50K GTD Pick 4 (5) MISS BELMAR is a filly I’ve been following since last year and it is hard to believe she remains winless. The daughter of Muscle Hill finished her qualifying mile very willingly into a very fast final quarter and I’m hoping she’ll show some early speed off the bench for a barn that can certainly fire fresh. (1) WHAT A BID HANOVER displayed instant acceleration in her return qualifier and we all saw how much ability she had as a 2-year-old. She’s a must-use on your Pick 4 ticket. (3) KENDRA had no excuse for the defeat last time, though her trainer said she doesn’t like to be on the lead and the wind was a factor as well. She deserves respect but I like the top two better at the moment. Race 7: NJ Sire Stakes Final for 3YO C&G Pacers (3) MAKING HISTORY was asked for top speed in the stretch last time for the first time in his two-race career and he paced home willingly while unable to gain. The gloves come off with $225,000 on the line and we are going to find out what this guy has in the tank. I’ll take the price and hope he’s as fast as I think. (8) SMOOTH DREAM is undefeated in four starts this year and has certainly looked best of this group so far; beat him to win. (1) MANOLETE woke up in a big way in start four on the year. That effort provides confidence he can win this final. (7) ODDS ON BROWARD is capable of sitting and finishing for a big piece but will need plenty of luck for it to be a top two spot. Race 8: NJ Sire Stakes for 3YO Filly Trotters - Pick 6 (4) SPICY NICE has a distinct advantage on many of her foes tonight because she has a pari-mutuel start under her belt. Tactical Landing-sired filly should be heading to the front and figures to work out a sweet trip. (5) DEJA BLU did some nice things as a 2-year-old and I like that she has two qualifiers in hand, even if she was all out in her latest. Gingras lands here and I’ll go with the assumption that a step forward is coming. (6) SOUND JUDGEMENT proved she could leave the gate and go the distance as a 2-year-old. The only question is that she has just one qualifier this year and it came over a month ago. (2) KNGTSLKRS PISTOL has won two straight to start the year at Oak Grove and gets tested for class tonight. Race 9: Miss Versatility Open Mare Trot (7) R MELINA posted a powerful qualifying victory in her second morning outing of the year and seems primed for this assignment. It is no easy task succeeding against older mares as a 4-year-old but she seems at least ready to make a good run at it. (2) M-M’S DREAM rolled in her seasonal debut at Hoosier and is clearly the one to beat at a possible odds-on mutuel. (5) DIAL SQUARE S was asked and dug in nicely in her lone qualifier since coming here from Sweden. It’s hard to know how good she is at this point but I wouldn’t be shocked if she improved in a big way. Race 10: NJ Sire Stakes for 3YO C&G Trotters - $50K GTD Pick 4 (5) HILDAGO has taken plenty of money and blown up in the stretch in consecutive starts. His bakers have to be scared away now, right? What better time than to take a swing on a talented yet erratic horse who is adding trotting hobbles? If they have the desired effect, he can win at a fair price. (1) MR WALNER FASHION surprised me when he left the gate strong and once that happened a win was pretty much a lock because this guy has unlimited potential at this point in his career. If the trotting hobbles have settled him down and the inside draw isn’t a problem, he’ll probably win. (3) MY DEGENERATE has raced well in all three outings and should be right there at the wire. Race 11: NJ Sire Stakes Final for 3YO Filly Pacers I’m going to reach a bit here for a huge longshot on a couple of subtle angles in the hopes it pays off bigtime. (2) BEQUEATH started off her 2-year-old season looking like she had clear ability but developed a breaking problem that never seemed to go away. After a slow start in 2025, she seems to have figured things out. Dunn had her under a good hold and the start and when he finally asked her she displayed nice acceleration. Another small step forward tonight makes her a contender. (6) RECKLESS ABANDON picked up her game in start three of the year and she’s certainly the filly to beat in this field. Cattlewash daughter won the NJSS final in 2024. (1) WORKLIFEBALANCE is a sit and pounce threat who could get the job done if others set her up nicely. Race 12: NJ Sire Stakes for 3YO C&G Trotters (4) GRANDE VIA was handled aggressively in his 3-year-old debut off a very nice qualifier and came up second best behind another promising youngster. Assuming he offers the expected value of about 5-2, I’ll be on board hoping for him to take a small step forward. (2) TOP GUN HANOVER is probably going to be odds-on here after two powerful performances to start the year. You’d probably be wise to use him on your Pick 4 ticket. (6) GO AHEAD MAKEMYDAY broke at 2-5 last time but adds hobbles now. That could make all the difference but I doubt we’ll get fair value. [DRF HARNESS: Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter] Race 13: Non-winners $7,500 (NW L2 $8,250) in last 5/TM 86.75 or less/Starters NW$7500 or less L-S or NW$100 in 2025 (3) GALANTE A races well here just about every time he shows up. While this class is a bit higher than his normal comfort zone, many of these would be better off in NW5000 as well. (6) DANCE PARTNER has three seconds and a third in his last four starts in this class. One of these days he’ll get over the top. (7) BOLD SPIRIT finished less than a length behind #6 last time and is clearly a threat with a smooth trip. Race 14: Trackmaster 71 (NW L2 73) or less (1) LATEST ERA gets a major driver change to Dunn and seems like a very logical winner at shorter than you’d like odds. 4) JIM STRIKESITRICH gets some class relief and a big driver improvement as well. While finishing 10th last time isn’t enticing, he did show improvement from his previous mile. (7) BOLT THE COURT has been caught in some quick miles and I wouldn’t be shocked if he got a nice piece here at longshot odds. (5) ALIEN POWER lured Tetrick off our second pick. Will he move up for the new barn on the big track?