MEET STATS: 69-26-11-8 / $144.90 (+$6.90) BEST BETS: 5-1-1-0 / $3.60 (-$6.40) SPOT PLAYS: 5-1-2-0 / $4.60 (-$5.40) BEST BET: MANOLETE (11th) SPOT PLAY: MISS BELMAR (6th) Race 1: Non-winners $3,000 in last 4/TM 77 or less - Pick 5 It’s hard to get excited about any of these. (4) TACTICAL LORI owns the fastest win time of this group in 2024 and she switches back to the Meadowlands where she went down the road back in early September. (9) CHAPALONIA has missed a bunch of time but there was a point when she seemed to have some ability. Lasix added for this return race. (7) JEANNIE’S ACTION gets a chance at the bigger track and adds Dunn to the team. [DRF HARNESS: Get Harness Eye PPs for this card] Race 2: Kindergarten 2YO Filly Trot (4) R DUTCHESS and (3) KENDRA are both dropping out of the Breeders Crown and I’d expect them to be forwardly placed tonight in what looks like a somewhat soft group. (2) SONMAR POND raced well at The Red Mile and showed she could be up for a race like this one. [DRF BETS: Wager on tonight's Meadowlands card at DRF Bets.com!] Race 3: Kindergarten 2YO Filly Trot - Survivor 7 (2) TORRISI has made some money while not yet living up to what looked to be her talent level at the start of the season. She really had no chance of closing into a 59 4/5 middle half in the Crown elim and she also may’ve needed the race after a month away from the pari-mutuel ranks. (4) R CHARM also comes out of the Crown where she showed gate speed. Her best race has been from behind; new tactics? (6) MY HONOR didn’t show up in the Breeders Crown. Does that mean she isn’t as good as the others or just wasn’t ready yet after the vacation; questions to be answered. Race 4: Kindergarten 2YO C&G Pace (6) PAPI’S ROCKET stopped pretty badly last weekend and has been a bit hit and miss of late. That said, this is a huge class drop that should perk him up. (7) POWER CODE has done nothing since the barn change. He returns from a break with Lasix added. Perhaps those changes reinvigorate him. (1) NAMASTE HANOVER gets props for chasing a 3-year-old willingly last weekend. Race 5: Kindergarten 2YO C&G Trot (10) ONAJETPLANE has been racing well in good company over the last six weeks. The 10-hole presents some issues but the competition is certainly softer. (4) THEMONEYISBACK S was bad two starts back but rebounded nicely to chase in a career-best clocking last time. I’d give him a try here at a good mutuel. (5) MONSERRATE was steady in the Crown elims. This field is certainly a better spot. Race 6: $700K Breeders Crown 2YO Filly Trot Final - $100K GTD Pick 4 (7) MISS BELMAR is a filly that in some cases I would promote as fool’s gold, but you’ll notice I picked her last week as well, so I’m not just touting a horse that finished well once. This girl was not only loaded from off the pace in her elimination but she’s also just hitting her stride after battling soundness and greenness early in her career; the gloves (and shoes) come off for the final! (6) LUNA LOVEGOOD is my favorite Harry Potter character and also one fast trotting filly. She was super in her elimination and has the ability to race from on or off the pace. Notice that Dunn chose off #3 for this gal. (1) SOUND JUDGEMENT is a horse I dismissed in the elimination round and lived to pay for it as she sat the pocket and took care of business. You’ll get a good price again here but I worry a bit about the trip, as I do with (9) SPICY NICE, who rallied well from an impossible spot last Friday and could be in another one again from the outside draw. Race 7: $700K Breeders Crown 2YO Filly Pace Final (1) LOOKSGOODINLOULOU probably isn’t worth less than her 6-5 listed morning line but is the best filly in the field given her ability, form and post. Any reasonable trip should get her home. (9) MIKI AND MINNIE may’ve earned my nod in the top spot with a better draw. It’s on this generation’s “magic man” to work out a trip and if anyone can it’s him. (4) ROSE simply wasn’t herself last week. That’s the only answer I have for her performance. Trainer Ron Burke told us he couldn’t find a problem but that she seems good as of the Tuesday before the race. A rebound at much higher odds is within reach. (10) RODEO DRIVE DEO has been pretty darn good in each of her last four starts and the only downside is the outside draw. She isn’t impossible here if things break her way. (6) THE LAST MARTINI is a horse I’m leaning on fading as I felt she looked a bit “off” after her victory. If she comes out on the track looking great Friday I’ll revaluate. Race 8: $700K Breeders Crown 2YO C&G Pace Final - $10,791 Pick 6 Carryover I’m betting on the come a bit here with (7) GO DOG GO but I was very impressed with his elimination effort with hobbles added. While driver McCarthy was perhaps somewhat careful and the colt did throw his head a bit early in the mile, there were no signs of the breaks which have plagued him the last two starts. McCarthy told me that he felt the hobbles made a big difference and that he wouldn’t hesitate to race the son of Greenshoe more aggressive; let’s go! (3) MAXIMUS MEARAS S still has a bit of proving to do in my book as far as being able to handle adversity and win. That said, the ability is there and he won’t be the chalk. (2) MARYLAND comes into this final off three straight stakes wins and is a deserving favorite. He can certainly win but too many others can in my mind to accept the short price. (6) SUPER CHAPTER loses Dunn to #2 but should not be discounted. He’s got a quick turn of speed and is a serious contender. Race 9: Kindergarten 2YO Filly Pace (3) MY SWEET LILLY was toasted to a crisp in her Crown elimination. If that mile didn’t sap her dry I’d expect a big showing here. (2) BEQUEATH is back at The Meadowlands where she set her lifetime mark during the summer; rebounds? (8) BEACH RULES has the ability and also enough early speed to make noise; using. (4) SIMPLY PERFECT qualified back well. There is some talent here. Race 10: $700K Breeders Crown 2YO C&G Pace Final - $50K GTD Pick 4 My feeling going into the Crown was that (9) LOUPRINT is the best of this group and nothing in the elimination round changed that fact. There was no way he was closing to win in a 54-second back half in that race despite coming home in 53 4/5 himself. The post here isn’t ideal but that along with the loss means his price will drift substantially, and I expect he’ll be handled more aggressively as well. (5) CAPTAIN OPTIMISTIC showed his worth on the engine in the elimination round while setting a track record. I can’t really knock him after that except to say that he was never pressured during the win. (8) FALLOUT found himself in Canada and Lexington, resulting in a 1-5 price in the eliminations. He certainly merits respect here, especially if the price climbs to the 5-2 range. (2) SWINGTOWN looked like the next good thing in Ohio but didn’t deliver on the Grand Circuit and came up short against his Buckeye peers. Fast forward to last weekend and everything worked out via a perfect trip. That could happen again but likely not at the desired odds. Interesting that Gingras booked off Sippinonsearoc to drive this guy. Race 11: Kindergarten 2YO C&G Pace (7) MANOLETE aborted his leave attempt last week when too many other advanced off the gate and that basically sealed his fate, especially when you consider that his best performances have been near the front. There is no competition this week and a wire to wire win is coming at short odds. (4) TOM HORN and (3) WORLD BEATER have been facing decent company and are the obvious contenders underneath. Race 12: Kindergarten 2YO C&G Trot (6) GAP KRONOS S looks like a 3-5 shot on paper after back to back stakes wins. My only concern is that those wins came at Red Mile and sometimes those performances don’t translate. (9) LEFTIES RIGHTIES finished up very well in his qualifier and his last start here was a win; useable Pick 4 saver. (8) ZEUS DE VIE enters a new barn and adds hobbles; improves? [DRF HARNESS: Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter] Race 13: Meadowlands Amateur Drivers Challenge 1 (2) HURRIKANE IRONHEAD went good miles in his last two races here and there are certainly no standouts in this field. (7) KISSINBYTHEBEACHES is capable of firing off the gate and he did qualify well at Freehold. (4) HELLO ROCKY has gone some tough trips lately. He’s won here already this year. Race 14: Meadowlands Amateur Drivers Challenge 1 (6) ROCK ON LINE has done very well this year in this class and really didn’t qualify badly when you look at the competition line and see Breeders Crown finalist Coaches Corner. The speedy (1) FERDINAND A, who should benefit from the month on the sidelines after some dull tries, will be firing out with a big shot. (8) BIG BAD BILL and (9) BLOODHOUND were both racing in MADC 2 when last here, so this is softer competition.