2025 MEET STATS: 391 - 1272 / $2,243.82 (-$300.18) BEST BETS: 65 - 123 / $209.96 (-$36.04) BEST BET: JETT STAR N (12th) SPOT PLAY: AMIGO VOLO (4th) That’s a wrap for this year...a long and somewhat frustrating journey. Thanks as always for following along! Race 1: NW10000 in last 5 starts Trot - $10,000 Gtd. Pick 4 Pool (2) THE BRODSTER is a 3YO facing mostly older and more experienced foes but this Engblom trainee has really found his stride over the last month and he's reunited with Driver of the Year Jason Bartlett, who jogged with him three back. (5) ONCE IN A LIFETIME steps up off a nice off-the-pace win and though he's never shown much speed I'm thinking new driver Todd McCarthy can get him moving earlier. (7) RITSON has finished third in four consecutive starts and the last out he cleared the front from the post seven. [DRF HARNESS: Get Harness Eye PPs for this card] Race 2: F&M NW20000 in last 5 starts Pace (2) MACHS LEGACY A was claimed for $30K a couple of months back and has already proven she can beat this type. Last out she could not gain when they walked to the half but any sort of honest pace and she can motor late. (6) FRONT PAGE STORY faltered last week at odds-on but the price goes way up now on a mare who is more than capable and can also leave the gate if asked. (1) REC TIME recently returned from Hoosier to join the Daguet barn and she raced well vs. one notch lower than these; rail start helps. Race 3: F&M Invitational Pace This may be the lightest $75K Invitational in history, so with that said (8) AARDIE B MIKI N is currently the only "true" Invite horse in here, and she freshened last week in a Meadowlands qualifier in order to be eligible for this. Despite the eight hole I don't think the connections will be taking a conservative route. (2) ACUSHLA MACHREE N steps up off two strong wins; loses Bartlett but gains Gingras. (3) MY RED SEA is a legit speed threat and she was decent in her last few Invite tries. Race 4: MGM Grand Prix Trotting Series Consolation *1 1/4 Miles* (7) AMIGO VOLO lays over these class-wise as he's over $2.6 million lifetime and any check here gets him to $200K for the season. Todd McCarthy drives again and the added distance may aid him in overcoming the outside post. (5) DIRE STRAITS has a good midpack post and was an easy winner the last time Bartlett drove. (3) BIG BOX HANOVER could be forwardly placed off the gate to clear early traffic and if not used hard he could hang around for a share at a big price. Race 5: NW5000 in last 5 starts Trot *1 1/4 Miles* - $20,000 Gtd. Pick 5 Pool - Mandatory Payout (3) BLACK TIE BASH is a steady earner if not a prolific winner for the Lachance barn and he's generally accustomed to facing better than these. Extra distance probably gives him more of a chance to work out a live trip. (2) SEA CAN went a tough trip in his debut for the Burke barn and certainly deserves another chance, but he won't be offering much value. (10) WARRAWEE WHISPER lost last week but was much better on the dropdown and he figures to be very live here, but needs to overcome the second tier. Race 6: MGM Grand Prix Pacing Series Consolation *1 1/4 Miles* (4) VERDUN hasn't done much in this series but he doesn't face any standouts in here and the last time he was in an added-distance stakes he finished pretty close at a huge price. Lachance trainee is wrapping up another great season with over $350K banked, and is in a good spot here to pick up live cover. (2) CAPTAIN MOORE A picks up Bartlett and figures to be much more aggressive from this spot. (3) THE GREEK FREAK should be pushing the gate away and I can see him on the lead or in the pocket, generally good places to be. Race 7: MGM Grand Prix Trotting Series Final *1 1/4 Miles* Both (1) ANTOGNONI S and (3) SIR PINOCCHIO have put on quite a show throughout this series and it's hard to separate them, though I think Antognoni S may have a bit more versatility and he's won at this distance in the past. With that said, Sir Pinocchio will probably be the more aggressive one and look to control the pace. (8) TAKE ALL COMERS is right there with the top two in terms of talent but may be at a tactical disadvantage trying to navigate traffic from the second tier. Race 8: MGM Grand Prix Pacing Series Final *1 1/4 Miles* (4) CAPTAIN ALBANO is perfect through the three preliminary legs of the series, and he's won on the front, grinding first-up and brushing and crushing. 4YO Noel Daley trainee makes just his 18th start of the season and has remained fresh throughout. (9) COACHES CORNER is wrapping up another amazing season as he'll probably go over the $600K mark after this race, and he certainly does deserve a signature win. Second-tier start with a horse to his outside may make things trickier than they deserve to be. (2) REDWOOD HANOVER is another Engblom trainee in here (with #9) and he's certainly no slouch as he looks for his third straight. He and (3) SOHO FIRESTONE A will likely both be pushing early looking to secure a live stalking trip. Race 9: NW15000 in last 5 starts Trot *1 1/4 Miles* (6) BRONZER added the hobbles last start (always a big angle) and put in a credible effort. He does drop a level and figures to fit much better with these. (4) BESTFRIEND VOLO makes just his fifth start of the year for the Takter barn and was a nice winner last out; he'll be a short price with Bartlett while having to navigate the extra quarter-mile. (2) ALWAYS A STORY makes her second start after moving to the Engblom barn and the filly moves inside; driver Dan Dube historically has done well with these added-distance trots. [DRF HARNESS: Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter] Race 10: F&M NW7500 in last 5 starts Pace (1) IDEALINFUN plunges from the $50K claiming level to a class that technically is suited for $15K claimers; with the move inside she looks like the one. (5) A FEW CHOICE WORDS also faces softer and will likely be forwardly placed. (3) CHANCE OF LIGHTNING has missed some time and trainer Cory Stratton takes the lines but she's done well in limited Yonkers action, including her last start. Race 11: NW7500 in last 5 starts Trot (1) YANK MY HALO broke in his lone Yonkers try but was a nice winner last week at Philly and if Burke is bringing him back here maybe he's confident the trotter will mind his manners this time. (4) PEMBROKE REGAL is second-time out on the class drop and he does switch back to Dube. (3) DRAW THE LINE moves in to a better spot but the Lachance trainee burned plenty of money two and three back. Race 12: NW5259 in last 5 starts Pace (4) JETT STAR N ships back to Yonkers for the Cushing outfit and faces softer than he's accustomed to. Veteran has four local wins this season with a live chance for another. (5) POP IT takes a needed drop in class and draws a bit better post. (1) UP THE CREEK was used hard last out at The Meadowlands and wilted; prior efforts against $20K claimers at Philly were decent and he's won here in the past (though it's been over a year). [DRF HARNESS: Follow me on X! @drfharnessmatt]