FALL MEET STATS: 304-94-57-38 / $671.80 (+$63.80) BEST BETS: 23-9-3-3 / $29.40 (-$16.60) SPOT PLAYS: 23-8-3-3 / $44.80 (-$1.20) BEST BET: BRIGHTEN YOUR LIFE (12th) SPOT PLAY: SUNBURNT SILVERADO (7th) Race 1: Trackmaster 68 (NW L2 70.3) or less - Pick 5 Only two horses in this field own multiple wins on the year while seven others are 0 for 153. (4) BLUE JEAN BABY was up against it last time versus much tougher from an outside post. She’s back at the level of her last win two starts ago. (3) PINEBUSH SWEETLIFE hasn’t been out in four weeks but at least she’s been fairly consistent in terms of hitting the board about 50 percent of the time. (1) CUTTING HUMOR should be able to stick close and maybe she’ll even get lucky enough to get her first win of the year. [DRF HARNESS: Get Harness Eye PPs for this card] Race 2: Trackmaster 71 (NW L2 73.55) or less (4) KNICKKNACK HANOVER moves into a new barn and while her first qualifier didn’t go as planned there was nothing wrong with the second one. Notice her lone win last year came on this track. I’ll take a shot in a blank field. (1) IMMACULATE PRAYER didn’t show much upon arrival when stuck outside while up in class; more expected. (3) DROP THE MIC is another getting post relief. I wouldn’t be surprised if he was put in play early. Race 3: Exit 16W for NW $25,000 (NW L2 $30,000) life - Survivor 7 (2) ABBYS DANCE was used to the front last time as she had company firing off the gate. That clearly affected her ability to last the mile. I expect we’ll see more patient tactics off the gate in this abbreviated field since traffic won’t be an issue. (3) SHE STINGS almost got there for us in last at 7-1 when she led in the stretch but got caught late. She’s improving and capable. (6) COVER THE CROWN was steady in the stretch last Thursday in her first start since June; more now? Race 4: Trackmaster 77.5 (NW L2 80) or less (1) VELOCIRAPTOR is capable from on or off the pace. Lately he’s been done in by bad starting spots. He’s as good as any in this field and should offer fair value. (5) KINGPIN HANOVER comes off consecutive seconds in what is a slightly higher class. That said, he’s one of five horses dropping from that condition. (8) BEACON BEACH and (9) CC BANK are two more coming out of NW5000. Both have some early speed in their arsenal and either could be very dangerous if they make the top. Race 5: Trackmaster 71 (NW L2 73) or less - Pick 4 (5) DEAR ABBEY has really perked up with Lasix added to the equation and notice she had some success on the big track at Mohawk. Three-year-old lands in a good spot and can certainly compete for top honors. (7) SWEET SANDY came up big in her second start for this barn after faltering on the lead two starts back. You have to respect that she’s been top three in half of her 75 starts. (4) DREAM PILLAR raced very well at 10-1 last time for us despite making her first start since May. She’s a threat again but seems unlikely to provide the same good value. (3) RONA MAE exits the amateurs. Her last appearance in TM71 resulted in a second behind a mare that has been competitive in TM74 recently. Race 6: Exit 16W for NW $25,000 (NW L2 $30,000) life (8) RIDER HANOVER won at first asking for Cleary at Harrah’s Philadelphia. While this is a tougher spot, a good showing is required to make the $32,500 final next week and I think he’ll be ready to roll. (3) CASH BACK left well last time but so did five others which forced his hand into a tuck. Three-year-old then landed fourth over in a less than great flow and was simply too far back to make any noise for the top spots. Don’t sleep on this guy. (6) BIG EGO rolled to victory in his first start for Michael Russo and now lands in another new barn which has been doing well at the meet. (11) LOCHINVAR AUSSIE has qualified recently more than appearing in pari-mutuel races. That said, he’s not without a chance. Race 7: Exit 16W for Winners 2-4 (NW L2 or 3YO 5) races or $50,000 (NW L2 $60,000) life - Pick 6 (2) SUNBURNT SILVERADO has been a win machine out in Illinois and now arrives here for a barn that does well with newcomers and has been hot with 5 wins in its last 24 starts. Gelding has missed a few weeks but that doesn’t concern me much. (5) FIFTYSHADESOFBLU broke trying to leave the gate last Thursday but did recover reasonably well. His start two back was good and there could be value here now. (10) CLEAR FOR LANDING was able to save ground early and gutted out a win in leg one; post 10 is difficult to overcome. [DRF HARNESS: Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter] Race 8: Non-winners $7,500 (NW L2 $8,300) in last 5/TM 83.5 (NW L2 85.5) or less (8) ROCK MY UNIVERSE was done in by post 10 in his first start for this barn but showed speed at both ends of the mile to win last time. While this 4-year-old has a couple of horses to get around early, a repeat is certainly possible. (6) AARDIEBYTHEHILL N is right there every week. I project him as the chalk and I’m not sure I like that price. (4) CHOCO CHARLIE was off stride well before the start and never had a chance to do anything after the early miscue. As his prior form was fine, he’s worth a shot on the rebound angle. Race 9: Exit 16W for Winners 4-7 (NW L3 or 3YO 8) races or $100,000 life - Pick 4 (4) TOP MAST looks like a horse that can use the change of scenery and moving into a live barn is also a plus. After five months off he qualified strong only to falter in three starts. Don’t be surprised if he wakes up. (8) A REAL LEGEND rolled into town with an impressive win that included a 27 2/5 final quarter. He’s clearly the one to beat. (6) QUEEN OF AMERICA S didn’t bring her best in start number one for Daley but could certainly improve at good odds. (11) ARROWHEAD HANOVER has raced very well since moving into this barn two starts back and notice the four week gap in those two races. He’s back on a seven-day pattern now and the only concern is the potential of getting buried from the second tier. (9) TACTICAL STRIKE hails from the same barn as the top pick and is also a new arrival. The post is the main obstacle for a horse without too much early speed. Race 10: Exit 16W for Winners 2-4 (NW L2 or 3YO 5) races or $50,000 (NW L2 $60,000) life (3) D’WOOD had too much company leaving the gate last time and the stress got to him resulting in a break. None of that changes the fact that he has some ability and can grind out a win with a better trip. (6) BOURBONISTA S did all the heavy lifting and just missed last Thursday; threat again. (4) SHE’S SPICY was a really good second last time when you consider that she had to rally into a pedestrian 1:28 1/5 three quarters. (11) BENNY J has been facing much tougher foes. I wonder if we get value on him here because he is winless. Race 11: $7,500 Claiming (5) THE WILL TO PLAY has won two straight in this class by open lengths. Expect another short price on a horse that should be tough to beat. (10) BORN TO DANCE gets major driver and trainer changes. Will he drop time in his big track debut? I’m inclined to use him on my Pick 4 ticket just in case. (1) BIZYS BEATLE gets a claiming price reduction tonight and could show more. Race 12: Trackmaster 68 (NW L2 70.3) or less (1) BRIGHTEN YOUR LIFE couldn’t have hand-picked a better spot as this field is not only soft but lacks much in the way of early speed. Chisholm can fire out and control the action or at worst sit the pocket. (9) SOMEBODYS ME rallied for second in this class on arrival and there is no reason that can’t happen again. (3) YO JO moves to the inside of the gait now and should be closer to the action.