MEET STATS: 225-80-44-28 / $464.60 (+$14.60) BEST BETS: 16-11-1-2 / $43.80 (+$11.80) SPOT PLAYS: 16-5-4-1 / $40.60 (+$8.60) BEST BET: GRACE HILL (6th) SPOT PLAY: IT’S MY SHOW (11th) Race 1: Non-winners 2 (NW L2 3) races life/Maidens draw inside - Pick 5 (2) CHAPARMBRO went the best mile of his life two starts back with a catch-driver in the bike and trainer Smedshammer tried to get one last time but he was a no-show. Zeron joins the team here and I’d expect a strong showing. (7) SECRET AGENT MAN and (6) DIPLOMACY are both very capable horses with breaking problems. If either decides to trot they’ll be a factor. [DRF HARNESS: Get Harness Eye PPs for this card] Race 2: Trackmaster 74.5 (NW L2/2L6 75.05/75.96) or less - Survivor 7 (3) TERRE HAUTE gets a monster driver change here to Gingras. Five-year-old has been keeping good company in the amateur ranks and should be tough in this spot. (9) MAGRITTE has been racing better of late and he gets a major driver shift to Dunn. (10) HEARTLANDBANYSBRO reunites with Tetrick. The last time he drove was also from post 10 and in a much better field. I’m expecting some early speed tonight. (5) COLD CREEK FELIPE drops out of claimers into a softer spot. He’s winless on the year but capable of waking up. (4) BAILEYS ROCK N was Miller’s choice over #5. Race 3: Trackmaster 77.5 (NW L2/2L4 78/78.5) or less (8) DRAGON SAID has been racing very well in the amateur ranks lately and tonight he picks up a Hall of Fame driver. (6) NATIONAL SPORT has the early speed to gun to the front and he should enjoy the class drop to the level where he has a 3-1-2-0 record recently. (1) WHAMMER JAMMER and (4) ROCK ON LINE are two sharp horses exiting the amateur ranks but keeping their normal drivers. If either horse works out a smooth trip they can certainly win. Race 4: Non-winners $7,500 (NW 2L4 $8,261) in last 4/TM 83.5 (NW L2/2L4 84/84.5) or less - Pick 6 (9) SWEET CHEYANNE raced very well from off the pace in her debut for the Cullipher barn. With that mile under her belt you have to think we’ll be seeing different tactics to overcome the bad post. (1) OUR SHELL BELLE is very capable of sitting a trip and firing a big late shot, usually at fair odds. (7) ABSOLUTE POWER pulled the pocket at 6-5 last week like he meant business but came up flat. He’s better than that performance. (8) VIBRANCE wasn’t going anywhere from post eight at Yonkers last time; trip threat. (3) VILLAGE JADE lured Gingras off #8. Race 5: Trackmaster 80.5 (NW L2/2L4/L8 81/81.5/81.85) or less (10) TOTO HANOVER was unbeatable with Zeron in the bike in May and now he returns. Post 10 isn’t ideal but this guy has the early speed needed to overcome the obstacle. (5) AIR GUITAR was used early and paid the price last time. All of his prior races were fine and tonight he adds Dunn. (7) STRAIGHT TALK and (8) T’S RAIDER both have enough early speed and form to be players in this race given the right journey. Race 6: Winners over $50,000 lifetime - Pick 5 (4) GRACE HILL seemed to turn the corner at Scioto last weekend with a 1:49 4/5 victory by open lengths. If she is back on her game now – and I believe she is – this field is racing for second. (3) TAKING THE MIKI A rallied nicely from the back in her U.S. debut at Philly. Mare won 12 races and over $250K Down Under, which means she is the real deal. (6) MAN DONTFORGET ME has been the Queen of Yonkers lately but runs into a whole new class of mare in the top one. Race 7: Meadowlands Pace Elim #1 While I have a strong feel that my top four will make the final next Saturday it really is more of a gut feeling on which one will win tonight. (4) CAPTAIN’S QUARTERS has the advantage of drawing outside the other main contenders and that is a huge plus here. Jamieson can wait for the dust to settle, make one move to the lead and walk it home for the right to get a great post. (2) GEM QUALITY looked much better with Lasix added as he flew home in a wind-aided 24 4/5. He’s the best price option of the logical players. (1) MIRAGE HANOVER did everything right in a rebound win last time; obvious threat. (3) LEGENDARY HANOVER only needs a reasonable trip to get a win. Race 8: Meadowlands Pace Elim #2 - $50K GTD Pick 4 It may sound strange to say this but I’m looking at North America Cup winner (5) NIJINSKY as the value play in the field as people flock to one horse who was locked in and loaded in that race and another who is getting trainer/driver changes. Nijinsky remains unbeaten in five starts this year and versatile enough to race from on or off the pace. (4) CAPTAIN ALBANO was the horse who was stuck in the pocket with no room to roam in the Cup. He’s got a big shot in here but I suspect he’s saving an ultra-aggressive mile for July 13. (2) MCCRUNCH has looked great against the B-level types at The Meadowlands and we’ll get to see how good he is tonight. (6) FUNTIME BAYAMA clearly has a big chance on the win end but I fear he’ll be overbet with Dunn taking over the driving for new connections. I’m also not convinced he’s as good as the other two in terms of raw speed. Perhaps he’ll prove me wrong. Race 9: $230K Graduate Trot Final (2) CHAPERCRAZ added Lasix and moved forward a good two seconds in his last start. It’s amazing that he is winless in nine starts this year but I’m willing to bet on the come that the talent within has been awakened. (5) WINNER’S BET is 100% the horse to beat but I’d stop sure at saying he can’t lose and in all likelihood he’ll be odds-on. (9) SPECIAL WAY hasn’t been let loose yet this year but I think we’ll see what she has in the tank tonight. I wouldn’t be afraid to try her on the win end. (3) HASTY BID is perfect in two Graduate starts but the waters are much deeper this week; respect but pass. [DRF HARNESS: Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter] Race 10: $230K Graduate Pace Final (9) KEN HANOVER made a bold move first-over into a horse that was never going to let him pass last week in the Brower. He’s back in with his age group now and perhaps the outside post will mean we get a healthy price. (7) NO CONTROL proved he could go with these two starts back and the price will be big here; hope for a smooth trip. (4) SEAFIRE left and then attacked uncovered last time, which basically sealed his fate. Here’s another horse that should offer fair value and he only needs live cover to deliver. (6) VOUKEFALAS is probably the horse I’m most confident on hitting the top four, but I’m not convinced he has a 1:47 flat or faster mile in him and it might just take that to win. Race 11: Non-winners $20,000 (NW L/S $22,000) in last 4 or in 2024 or 11 races life/TM 90.5 or less (7) IT’S MY SHOW got off the Lasix program last time and looked like a different horse, flashing big speed at both ends of the mile. Unfortunately he got shuffled back and that cost him any shot of a win. The outside draw is perfect for him to be the last of the early speed types to make the front and finally be the boss of a field. (4) COMMAND drops into a condition race and seems likely to show early speed tonight. He can chase with the best of them and is capable of popping off a big mile. (6) OAKWOOD ARDAN IR is a talented horse that was able to run them down from off the pace until finding a much better field in the Gold Cup. This spot is softer but not so much so that he’ll be able to pass half of them late to win; needs to find some early speed.