FINAL WINTER MEET STATS: 405-112-75-60 / $657.00 (-$153.00) BEST BETS: 26-9-11-0 / $42.00 (-$10.00) SPOT PLAYS: 29-6-6-4 / $22.00 (-$36.00) BEST BET: MAKING HISTORY (8TH) SPOT PLAY: RECKLESS ABANDON (7TH) Race 1: $7,500-$10,000 Claiming Handicap - Pick 5 (7) JOHNNY CHIP stopped badly last time but I’m not going to let it bug me. Maybe facing much better foes in fast miles has taken its toll or maybe he just had an off night. This is a winning spot as he drops back into claimers again. (8) SOMBODYITREASURE rolled off a great trip to win last time and while that is typically a horse I might avoid, this guy sticks out as the other logical contender in the field. (1) HES A SWEETHEART has been fairly consistent week after week and I’ll use him underneath in the exacta and trifecta. [DRF HARNESS: Get Harness Eye PPs for this card] Race 2: Non-winners $2,500 (NW L2 $3,000) in last 4 (1) JOEMIKIYOURSOFINE emptied a bit of my wallet last week but I’m not giving up yet, especially with him dropping another level and drawing inside. If there is anything in the tank, and I believe there is, we’ll see it tonight. (7) HAGGARD and (2) GALANTE A both get class relief as well and have a chance to succeed with a top effort. (3) DONTBOTHERMENONE N has been racing from outside posts almost exclusively and might be a bit of a surprise package in this spot. [DRF BETS: Wager on tonight's Meadowlands card at DRF Bets.com!] Race 3: Non-winners 2 (NW L2 3) races or $20,000 (NW L2 $38,500) life/Maidens draw inside - Survivor 7 (4) FANSVILLE made a half-hearted leave attempt a week ago before taking back to last. She then dealt with some stretch traffic and really had no chance of getting a good check. I’m a big fan of this barn second time out and I expect we’ll see early speed this week. (1) TURN UP THE MUSIC made an early miscue on a wet track and then took a very conservative route in a decent mile. She can move up off that effort. (6) HIP SHOT showed up with a good mile in her 2025 debut and could improve off that mile. (7) MY SWEET LILY has rallied well in both qualifier. She’ll likely be racing from the back but could make some noise if the pace scenario works out. Race 4: Trackmaster 77.5 (NW L2/2L4/Not5th+L2 78/78.86/80.11) or less (7) ITS SHOWTIME was parked out in an amateur race last time, first-over in his prior start and a winner in a cheaper class before that. He’s sharp enough to win here with any decent trip and I wouldn’t be surprised to see him fire off the gate. (3) HOUND ON THE BEACH was hung every step of the mile and lost by just a neck when last seen. Anything close to that performance would make him tough to beat. (6) MARCUS SEELSTER drops out of the same spot as the top pick and obviously fits with these. (1) STRAIGHT TALK has won in this condition before but hasn’t exactly been a win machine over the last couple of years. Race 5: Non-winners $7,500 (NW L2 $8,351) in last 4 or TM 88.8 or less This is a nice race with a bunch of possible winners depending on how it unfolds. I’ll try (5) SOARING NOW, who while he went a similar race on paper to his prior start, I thought he had a bit more energy at the end of the mile and perhaps he is ready to take it to the next level. (3) STONEBRIDGE REEF is back at the level of his last win and is certainly the one to beat. (2) HANDLELIKEAPORSCHE just hasn’t been able to find himself a winning trip. The pure speed is there but at this point I’ll just let him beat me if he can. Race 6: $115,500 Dexter Cup 3YO Open Trot - $50K GTD Pick 4 (6) HARD SEVEN shows a break on his line last time but I’d chalk that up to the horse to his inside coming out a bit. His performance after that was stellar as he won for fun while unasked late. (2) MY DEGENERATE won his debut at Philly and clearly has pure speed. I’m just not sure I trust him. (3) TACTICAL DYNASTY displayed a fair amount of ability as a 2-year-old but hasn’t really looked very dynamic in a pair of qualifiers. I’ll leave the door open that he could step forward. Race 7: NJ Sire Stakes for 3YO Filly Pacers (4) RECKLESS ABANDON was clearly a bit short in her 2025 debut despite dropping a second for the third straight week (counting a pair of qualifiers). Notice the horses in front of her in those competition lines are Rodeo Drive Deo and Miki And Minnie. I’m expecting trainer Brett Pelling to have her ready to roll. (1) BEACH BABE clearly has speed as evidenced by her being on the front in both 2025 miles and stopped the clock in 1:51 and 1:51 2/5. That said, she’s been quite headstrong and unless her connections can figure that out she is vulnerable. (9) WORKLIFEBALANCE was super from off the pace two starts back and very mortal, bordering on bad, last time. Which horse shows up tonight? How does she get involved from the outside post? Race 8: NJ Sire Stakes for 3YO C&G Pacers - Pick 6 (3) MAKING HISTORY put in an impressive qualifier in which he was wrapped up late and safely home despite the diminishing margin that appears on paper. There are of course questions as to how hard a horse with just one qualifier that hasn’t raced since last August will be pushed in his debut, but I do believe this guy could be the real deal. (2) MANOLETE has now gone back to back 1:51 and change miles. I really thought he should’ve been better last time and now I’m questioning his ceiling. (4) EXPEDITED SERVICE seemed to have been prepared nicely by Brown and now ships easy for this series. I could see someone taking a positive view. Race 9: Non-winners $12,500 (NW L2 $13,750) in last 4 or starters NW $10k or less/TM 86.5 (NW L2/2L4 87/87.5) or less This is a very difficult race to handicap with many contenders. I’ll try (4) ABSOLUTE POWER with the hope that Miller races her from off the pace again like in her first start of the year. (7) LOUISVILLE GB just missed in his last appearance here and simply can’t lose at Pocono. (8) TAKE YOUR PICK has won four of his last five starts and simply finds way to get to the wire first. (3) HERS HUNGRY improved in her second start back from vacation and only needs another small step forward to have a big win chance. Race 10: NJ Sire Stakes for 3YO C&G Pacers - $50K GTD Pick 4 (7) SMOOTH DREAM has reeled off two eye-catching miles to start the year and it is hard to imagine him losing versus horses he has already toasted. (2) TWIN FURY picked up his game last time and was still a no match second behind the top pick; same fate likely again. (1) ODDS ON BROWARD could be dangerous if able to sit and pounce. Still, he would need to find another gear to beat the pick. (6) CATTLESHARK gets tested for speed and class this week. Race 11: Winners 2-5 (NW L2 6) races life (3) AMERICAN SON reeled off multiple 1:49 miles as a 2-year-old last year and was a good second in his latest return qualifier behind the highly regarded Sippinonsearoc. This barn tends to have them ready at first asking. (5) REMEMBER THE ALAMO returns from a brief vacation with Lasix added. He’s fired well fresh before. (1) SUGAR MAN has ability but only one morning workout to his credit. I expect he’ll get a more conservative steer. Race 12: Non-winners $12,500 (NW 2L6 $14,300) in last 4 or $100,000 life/Starters NW $10k or less l/s (3) KEN HANOVER blitzed his final quarter as David Miller kind of measured out the victory last time. That’s three qualifiers under his belt now. He might not be handled very aggressively here but he’ll be close enough to get the job done. (1) PRIMARY COLORS had something left on the end of the mile last time when he had no shot from post nine. We’ll definitely see early speed tonight and that makes him all the more dangerous. (7) SOUTH BEACH STAR could be firing out hard with the start under his belt last week; not impossible. [DRF HARNESS: Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter] Race 13: Non-winners 2 (NW L2 3) races or $20,000 (NW L2 $30,000) life/Maidens draw inside (1) PACK A PUNCH was a horse I backed last time due to his price and he just missed at 127-1. We are unlikely to see him placed on the front so we’ll need a hint of racing luck, but I like what I saw last time and the progression. (2) WELCOMETOTHESHOW looked great sitting the pocket but came up small when shown daylight in his 2025 debut. Perhaps we’ll get an equipment change or something to keep his mind focused when it counts. (6) BEACH CLUB MONTY did some good things last year. He’ll certainly be racing from behind tonight and thus a smaller reward may be his limit. Race 14: Trackmaster 80.5 (NW L2/2L4 81/82.19) or less (6) STORM THE COURT makes starts in back to back weeks, a real step in the right direction. Sharp barn called on McCarthy and he opted off. Maybe that will get us a much better price on a horse I expect to bring a strong performance. (5) FENDI HANOVER keeps rolling along with strong miles and mostly wins. It seems this guy has found something as a 5-year-old. (9) GOOD ROCKIN exits the amateur ranks and adds Miler. The last four times he has been in the bike the result was a win and two seconds. We should see big early speed tonight. (4) LYONS LIBERTY has early speed and form; another player. (7) BOLD SPIRIT was used a bit too hard last time and he came up short late; threat with easier trip.