WINTER MEET STATS: 42-10-7-5 / $49.40 (-$34.60) BEST BETS: 3-1-0-1 / $3.40 (-$2.60) SPOT PLAYS: 3-1-0-1 / $4.20 (-$1.80) BEST BET: GOOD ROCKIN (5th) SPOT PLAY: CARSON STAR CHOICE (11th) Race 1: Trackmaster 74.5 (NW L2 76.76) or less - Pick 5 (2) BIG BAD BILL was in a higher class at Philly in his first start for this barn and I’m willing to expect we’ll see more this afternoon. Veteran has won many times here and gets the uninspired call versus a soft group. (4) LEW HAUBER has the early speed to make the front easily and often speed holds up better during the daytime; new driver as well. (3) MIKI LEAKS missed 28 days prior to his last start and is back on a regular rotation now while in a lower TM condition. (1) BIG JACK HAMMER is the stablemate of my top pick and the one Beckwith chose, so either I’m on the wrong track or will get a bigger payday. [DRF HARNESS: Get Harness Eye PPs for this card] Race 2: Trackmaster 71 (NW L2 73.2) or less (2) MASSTER BLUE comes off his best race in some time and if you dig into his recent lines the form really isn’t that bad. 12-year-old isn’t the best horse in the world but seems to have landed in the perfect spot. (8) PAPA JOE LOZITO and (7) FIFTYDALLAR GOLD look like the clear early speed players in the group. If one of them gets away soft the results could be very positive. Many people will say that (4) VALUED CREDIT raced better and came home strong because of a catch driver last time. If you are being fair, he was no better than previous miles when he came home and went overall faster. I can see using him. Race 3: Maiden/Non-winners 2 races with 20+ starts/TM 74 or less - Survivor 7 I loved the qualifier from (7) NORTHERN ATTITUDE as Beckwith had a strong hold of this guy throughout the mile and when he asked the colt responded to secure a dead-heat for the win with a 27-second final quarter. Bargain-bin purchase at $4,000 certainly has a chance to win at first asking if put in play. (10) CASH BACK only seems to show gate speed in qualifiers and interestingly those have been his best efforts. Do we see that early interest today with a new driver in tow? (9) FURNEAUX hasn’t won very often during his career but does find a soft spot this week. His recent races have all been respectable and it may just come down to trip. Race 4: Trackmaster 71 (NW L2 73.2) or less (6) BROTHER LOVE is almost impossible to ignore moving into the Burke barn and picking up a regular catch driver. The only caution is that Burke is hitting at an unusually low 13% nationally and is just 1 for 28 at the current meet. If this guy gets bet heavy it may be worth a shot to fade him; your call nearing post time. (8) IM THE MUSCLE won his last two races in this class and certainly has the early speed to get into the race, as does (9) VANGUARD, who has finished in the money a number of times in the TM71 condition lately. Race 5: $15,000 Claiming (7) GOOD ROCKIN was claimed back by Gray and while some may be turned off by the four weeks off, this old guy will likely benefit from the brief vacation. His best blows the field away and his B+ effort can still win. (9) SMOOCH IN THE DARK was second in this class two starts back with the trainer in the bike. While he is a good driver, Kennedy is an upgrade. (4) ORDER ONE TO GO hasn’t raced since mid-November and while the qualifier was ok, it didn’t blow me away. He can certainly win but I’d need good value to consider betting him. Race 6: Winners 4-7 (NW L2 8) races or $100,000 life - Pick 4 (8) ROYAL COMET has won five of six starts since coming to The Meadows and trying pari-mutuel action. If he drops two seconds moving to the big track he’s a virtual lock. If he can improve by one second he’ll be competitive. He seems worth the risk as long as the price doesn’t drift down to odds-on status. (2) BENNY J took a more conservative approach last time and simply couldn’t sustain a rally. Inside draw today gives him the opportunity for a more aggressive steer. (4) CLEAR FOR LANDING has speed and form; big threat if the top one isn’t special. Race 7: $10,000 Claiming (7) PALOMAR sees his claiming price slashed by 33% today and while his lines don’t scream “razor sharp” he’s a classy gelding that will realize the competition is softer. (3) DANCING LEW rolled down the road to win by open lengths in this class a week ago; threat again. (1) MASTER MIKI has speed, ok form and a new driver. I’ll use him underneath with the understanding that if things work out very well and the top one doesn’t come to play, he could win. Race 8: Trackmaster 71 (NW L2 73.2) or less - Pick 6 (4) LANDIA finally moves to the inside of the gate for the first time since early November. Mare isn’t known as the winningest horse around but she finds a field that lacks power on the outside of the gate and should be able to stay in striking position with Beckwith taking over the lines. (2) CLEVELAND ROYALTY was used early and stopped in her debut for this barn. Making his second start back from a 32-day absence, he can show more now. (1) CHASING CRYSTALS has hit the board in his last three starts, all at this TM71 level. Race 9: Winners 2-4 (NW L2 5) races or $50,500 (NW L2 $60,000) life (8) BIG EGO stepped up in theory but by the same token just forgot to show up last time. I’m going to chalk it up to the three-plus-week gap in action and expect we might see a more aggressive steer with Siegelman picking up the lines. (6) BETTOR NOT has been sharp for some time and while he couldn’t go the distance last time, it was still a big mile. (2) SEAWORTHY HANOVER was a good second in this class two starts back behind a horse that moved up to NW12500. He beat up on lesser most recently and should have a ton of confidence. Race 10: Trackmaster 77.5 (NW L2 79.5) or less - Pick 4 (2) GLOBAL ACTION S hasn’t been able to pick up a win in a long time but this does seem to be one of his best opportunities. If Smith can stay close and work out a clean trip, a win is possible. (1) CRAIGIEBURN went a nice even mile in his return to this barn. I expect we’ll see him push away more this week. (4) THE PRINCE has been knocking at the door of getting into the money lately and it won’t take much for him to get there. Race 11: Trackmaster 68 (NW L4 69) or less (10) CARSON STAR CHOICE went a really nice mile in his first start for this barn but just ran into a better horse. This field is very soft and even from post 10 he can get the job done. (1) MOONWARDS HANOVER had to work to make the front from post nine last time. He won’t have to work hard to stay close moving to the inside of the gate. (4) STONE COLD SAVAGE was second in his last two starts in this condition from good posts. [DRF HARNESS: Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter] Race 12: Trackmaster 74.5 (NW L2 76.5) or less (1) MODIGLIANI S hasn’t really done much in his career but sometimes it takes certain horses longer than others to realize their potential. This guy showed more life in his last qualifier with a 27 3/5 final quarter and perhaps we can get a price on a horse that benefitted from the time off. (6) BACARDI could fire off the gate in this spot though it would’ve been nicer if Beckwith elected to stick with him rather than jump ship for #1. (5) KING OF GREEN moves into a new barn and also picks up a different pilot. Perhaps the changes will wake up this one. Race 13: Trackmaster 71 (NW L2 73) or less (7) XMARXTHESPOT is a horse I was initially going to fade but after seeing how many early speed players were signed on he was more attractive. This one has turned in two very nice races in a row from far back. (5) COLE ON THE BEACH is as sharp as or sharper than any horse in the field and will certainly be a fair price. (3) SPIRIT OF TRUTH is still picking up good checks at age 14. Old guy only needs a smooth trip to hit the exotics.