FINAL WINTER MEET STATS: 376-109-69-55 / $613.70 (-$138.30) BEST BETS: 27-13-5-3 / $57.00 (+$3.00) SPOT PLAYS: 26-7-7-3 / $31.60 (-$20.40) BEST BET: GOOD ROCKIN (3rd) SPOT PLAY: WAY TO CLOSE (1st) Race 1: Meadowlands Amateur Drivers Club 1 Pace - Pick 5 (8) WAY TO CLOSE had an absolutely brutal journey last week as one of many horses who tried to leave in a sizzling opening quarter. The trip has to be easier here. (5) WARRAWEE YANKEE elected for a conservative approach last week as he wasn’t even on the gate. Moving to the middle of the gate could provide better options for Silva. (4) ROCK JAGGER reunites with Calabrese here. They hooked up for a win two starts back. [DRF HARNESS: Get Harness Eye PPs for this card] Race 2: Miss Versatility Mare Trot - Survivor 7 (5) INSTAGRAM MODEL picked up her game in start two for 2024 but got locked in the pocket too long and that cost her a victory. The short field should keep her out of trouble here as we get to see how good of an older mare she’ll be this year. (2) CALL ME GOO couldn’t have looked any more impressive winning her seasonal debut at Rosecroft and that Tetrick was there to drive speaks volumes. (4) TIPSY MONI hasn’t been on a big track since the summer of 2023 but has done some good things on the smaller oval at Yonkers. Don’t be surprised if Gingras fires her out in this spot to see what she can do here. Race 3: Trackmaster 83 (NW L2/2L4 83.5/84) or less (3) GOOD ROCKIN seemed to turn a corner since the barn change a few starts back and is clearly the sharpest horse in the race. I’d expect Zeron to find some early speed this week and sit close. (4) NO WORDS chased a slow pace and had no shot last weekend. This is the perfect spot for Ryder to gun hard off the gate. (1) MASK ON MASK OFF and (2) AIR GUITAR have proven good for an exotic slot all year but a bit win shy. Race 4: NJ Sire Stakes 3YO Filly Pace - Pick 6 (8) PULP FICTION gave her all at 1-9 but couldn’t rally for the win at Rosecroft to start the year. That start should do her plenty of good and I expect we’ll see her head to the front this week. (5) ODDS ON STENO has been better in those qualifiers than it seems versus strong competition but with this gal I expect more of a conservative steer. (1) QUICK FIRE has been fine in her qualifiers but only owns a pair of 29 1/5 final quarters. I’ll watch one with her. Race 5: Meadowlands Amateur Drivers Club 2 Pace My gut says to play against the most logical winner here in Random Hanover because he simply won because speed was gold last weekend. Something tells me the outer flow will be strong and I’ll go with the three outside sharpsters sure to be coming late. (8) YER SO BAD hasn’t been out in three weeks but owns a three-race streak of victories. He can take air and keep coming. (7) WHAMMER JAMMER was too close to the kitchen last time and that isn’t his forte. New tactics should be in play this time. (6) ROCK ON LINE sat off insane fractions and rallied very willingly last week. Race 6: Starter allowance for horses that started for $30K claiming or less in 2024 - $50K GTD Pick 4 This is a very competitive event with a number of horses that own early speed. (6) HUNT FOR CASH seems like the speed of the speed and should be able to work out at least a pocket journey. He was every bit as good as the two who beat him last week and should offer good value. (8) WEHADABABYETZABOY has never been on the big track in his career but there is no reason to believe he can’t do it. He came first-over and dug in gamely at Pocono last time. (3) SHOOBEE DOO A and (4) NEEDHAM HANOVER are both in fine form; capable on win end. Race 7: NJ Sire Stakes 3YO C&G Pace (1) ARBITRAGE HANOVER came first over and kept finding more in a very nice 3-year-old debut at Philly. I’m not certain whether he’s a 1:50 pacer or not yet but he should drop speed on the big track. (4) ALRITEALRITEALRITE tucked, came uncovered and just held on while seeming to tire a bit nearing the wire. He probably needed that mile and should be primed for a big try. (8) BETTER IS NICE has earned much more than the rest of the field combined but comes with the looming question as to whether he’ll be handled aggressively here. Some may say he was only fourth last time but he was facing some killers. Race 8: Trackmaster 89.5 (NW L2/2L4 90/90.5) or less - Pick 5 (4) STONEBRIDGE REEF worked out a pretty good second-over trip but simply couldn’t gain into a fast final quarter on a speed-favoring track. Six-year-old remains versatile and can win from on or off the pace. (2) CAPTAIN CRUSADER A did a better job of finishing as he paced past the top pick last time. He figures to be a major threat. (8) IDEAL FEELING got unlucky at the draw but certainly fits with this group if the trip works out. Race 9: NJ Sire Stakes 3YO C&G Pace (7) WISH YOU WELL actually pushed away from the gate a bit before accepted a position in last and racing steadily in his last qualifier. I can see Dunn being more aggressive than he normally is in a race like this with this guy. (6) ATOUGHNUTTOCRACK got away a bit slow and half the field left hard and after that the race was over. I’m not holding that effort against him and hoping for improvement in start two of 2024. (2) BELMAR dug in nicely when met in his last qualifier and that should have him ready for tonight. (5) BONAPARTE skipped the Weiss final, which is a bit odd. Maybe he just needed a week to get right. Race 10: Trackmaster 89.5 (NW L2/2L4 90/90.5) or less - $50K GTD Pick 4 (6) JILLIBY DYNAMITE A seems to be going in the right direction now for Nifty Norman and gets some serious class relief here. Hopefully Dunn takes the shackles off and sends him. (1) PRIMARY COLORS took all the money and came to play with a big mile last Saturday; hard to ignore. (4) SPORT SECRET came back from winter break with a solid effort and he’s clearly capable of playing with these. Race 11: Non-winners $7,500 (NW 2L5 $8,620) in last 4/TM 82.75 or less (1) MAD MAX HANOVER just hasn’t been himself since returning this year but we do get the addition of Lasix here, so maybe that was the problem. This is a field he’s supposed to crush. (5) WARRAWEE TOTAL raced well last week at 53-1 and simply couldn’t handle better horses in a fast mile. He stays in the same class on paper but certainly faces a softer field in terms of current form. (2) STELLAR YANKEE returns here at a reduced level but hasn’t been racing well; wakes up? Race 12: Winners 5-8 (NW L2 or 4YO 9) races life (5) MAC’S DELIGHT almost beat a well-rated 3-5 shot last week in his first start since early December. This barn isn’t known for coming out strong at first asking so I’m expecting an even better effort tonight. (7) ALL CLASS has found himself at Philly and Miller chose here over a couple of options. (8) VOUKEFALAS hasn’t done anything wrong in the Maturity races. The only question here is whether he’ll be put in play. (4) SAVE AMERICA qualified ok and was keeping very good company in those races. I expect he’ll race well but I’d want 5-1 or higher to try him. [DRF HARNESS: Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter] Race 13: Non-winners $3,000 (NW L2 $3,300) in last 4 (9) BRUTALLYHANDSOME A had a brutal trip last week and was simply a victim of circumstance. The outside post tonight isn’t ideal but he can make it happen. (2) MEMPHISTENNESSEE N has been racing well and gets a major driver upgrade to Tetrick tonight. (5) WHOLE LOTTA LOU can step up from time to time. Race 14: Non-winners 2 (NW LS 3) races life/Maidens draw inside (6) COURTSHIP won here as a 2-year-old in 1:51 and Alexander usually sends them ready. (1) MIKI RAY passed horses late two back and had no shot after chasing slow fractions in his most recent qualifier. He was in stakes as a 2-year-old and might have more on tap here than you expect. (4) THE DRAGON REBORN took a bit of time to hit high gear in his last qualifier. He certainly has a big shot in here if handled aggressively. (2) CAPTAIN BAZINGA was saved at the back and sneaky good in his last qualifier.