It takes all types of horses to fill out full fields on a racing program. This Friday and Saturday at the Meadowlands sees the usual compliment of trainers from Delaware to Massachusetts on hand, with Michael Eaton, from the latter, hoping to make a few dollars while waiting for his home track at Plainridge to return to action on April 12. Eaton will arrive in New Jersey with five horses, one on Friday and four for Saturday. The handful contains a couple of potential contenders and some longshots, including his Friday starter Frills N Lace in a bottom-level condition event (NW2500, race eight). "I put her in non-winners of two (races), but she wound up in this class," said Eaton. "I see she is 15-1 morning line, so I'm not really excited about it. Last week we weren't able to train her because of the weather. This week we did, so we're hoping she races better." Eaton's best chance for a weekend victory comes with his first starter on Saturday. Force N Fury goes in the fourth race non-winners $2,500 in last five event and drew post eight with Andy Miller listed to drive. A $31,000 purchase at the January Mixed Sale at the Meadowlands, the 4-year-old son of Captaintreacherous will be making his first start for his new connections. "Andy Miller pulled him out third in the qualifier and flew right by the leader, but when the horse cleared the lead Andy said he eased up waiting for a horse to pass him before going on again. We are going to mess around with his bridle. He just trained really well, and I expect him to be good on Saturday," said Eaton. Next up in the seventh race is a horse Eaton purchased back in January for himself. Odds On Lauderdale makes his fifth start for his new barn and moves up in class to the non-winners $7,500 level. He won two starts back in the NW2500 condition but came up flat from post 10 against NW4500 types last week. "Scott Zeron gave him a perfect second-over trip and tipped him three deep last time and he had nothing," remarked Eaton. "I'm not sure why. He raced so good the week before and came a last half in 54 (seconds). He trained good today, but he is up in class, I'm just hoping he comes back to how he raced two weeks ago." Explosive Ridge, claimed last week by Eaton for $20,000, starts in the ninth race on Saturday. The 7-year-old has accumulated three wins in seven starts in 2021 and will move up the claiming ladder to the $30,000 level this week. "He fits the second-highest class at Plainridge, and I wanted to protect him and see what I have," said Eaton, who admitted his goal was to be ready to roll when his home track opens. "I want to have the upper hand when racing opens at Plainridge. If things go well for me here, that's fine, but I mostly want to have horses racing and ready for Plainridge" As far as Explosive Ridge's chances this week, Eaton is hoping for the best but realizes that the class hike could be difficult for a horse that has some issues. "The horse has been racing barefoot, probably because he hits below his hocks," said Eaton. "We just trained him slow to make sure we have him rigged up correctly." Eaton's weekend concludes in the penultimate race on the 13-race Saturday card, which kicks off at 6:00 p.m. The 57-year-old trainer with over 2,000 wins sends out I Am Golden for a $12,500 price tag in the claiming handicap race. While the gelding was soundly beaten in his qualifier after missing more than two months of racing, Eaton was quick to point out that he faced upper-conditioned level foes like Ana Afreet N. "He qualified against really good horses. He was overmatched and was horrible in the stretch," said Eaton. "We got vet work done after and trained him a little today (Wednesday). He seemed better, but it is his first start in over two months." For Eaton, who has been a part of the sport for more than 35 years as a blue-collar driver and trainer, things are going well. "I'm not worried about eating," joked Eaton. "I have a man's best friend, a working wife with a good job at Bank of America." Hopefully the eight-hour round trip drive from Massachusetts will be worthwhile for the veteran trainer as he bides his time waiting for Plainridge to start back up.