WINTER MEET STATS: 84-22-9-10 / $103.80 (-$64.20) BEST BETS: 6-2-2-0 / $7.80 (-$4.20) SPOT PLAYS: 6-1-1-0 / $4.00 (-$8.00) BEST BET: IDEAL SKIES (10th) SPOT PLAY: SPROUT (13th) Race 1: Meadowlands Amateur Drivers Club 1 Pace - Pick 5 (7) IT’S SHOWTIME had missed four weeks of racing prior to his last start so the fact that he was just even late was to be expected. Eight-year-old is one of many in here capable of stepping up. (4) TELLITSABB raced well when shipped here in early December and followed that start up with an amateur win out of town. He’s missed some time but looks like a price play. (3) MENLO PARK chased from the pocket behind a hyped-up foe and stopped badly in his last start; prior try was fine; more value. (5) YER SO BAD is certainly the most consistent amateur horse in the field but doesn’t seem worth a shorter price. (8) PASS-GRILLE BEACH picks up one of the top amateurs and gets class relief. [DRF HARNESS: Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter] Race 2: Trackmaster 68.5 (NW L2/2L4 69/69.5) or less (7) NEVER EASY Z TAM is one of many in here that haven’t been on the track pari-mutually since late December so form is a bit of an unknown. It is worth noting the driver change plus the fact that the last time he reached a class this low here was during the summer and he did very well. (2) CLAYTONS BETTOR N has raced well one class higher so makes logical sense on the win end tonight. (10) SKYWAY BILLY has a tall task ahead from post 10. He can get into the number with the right trip. [DRF BETS: Wager on tonight's Meadowlands card at DRF Bets.com!] Race 3: $7,500 Claiming - Survivor 7 (6) SEIZE CONTROL was trapped along the cones and finished well when clear to just miss last time. Let’s stick with him and hope for a better trip. (1) I’M BURLINGTON N brushed, opened up a nice lead and held off the top pick last out; stays in same class. (7) ARTSPIRE is back in for a $7,500 tag and should bring a credible try. (4) IT’S ABOVE ME NOW has been used to the front in both starts since the claim and the results haven’t been good. Perhaps we see new tactics this week and a better result. Race 4: Trackmaster 68.5 (NW L2/2L4 69/69.5) or less (6) MARE OF THE CITY drops back down to the level of her last win. It’s hard to get excited about her but this field is pretty weak. (7) JUST MY MAMA wasn’t going very far from post 10 in her last start. Both her and (5) SHES A BULLVILLE should be very comfortable at this level but it’s hard to get excited by 5- and 6-year-old mares with a 1:58 4/5 lifetime mark. Race 5: Non-winners $3,000 (NW L2 $3,340) in last 4/TM 77.5 (NW L2/2L4 78/78.5) or less (4) VELOCIRAPTOR has never raced here in anything other than amateur races so his ceiling over this surface is perhaps unknown. Five-year-old shows good form a propensity for winning. (6) ENTERED TO WIN made his first start for this barn against a better group and having missed a few weeks of action. Don’t be surprised if he shows much more now. (7) SOUTHWIND BIANCA blew away cheaper last time. A repeat performance gives her a chance. (2) TACTICAL LORI is capable if she decides to show up. (3) CAPRICIOUS ONE had no shot from post eight at Yonkers, especially having missed four weeks. He was in against much, much tougher when last seen here. Race 6: Non-winners $5,000 (NW L3 $5,771) to $7,701 (draw outside) in last 4/TM 80.5 (NW L2/2L4 81/81.5) or less - $50K GTD Pick 4 (5) ON THE MONEY GB put in a nice steady effort in her first start since July and can move forward with that race under her belt. (8) MALUKA MISS N dropped to this class a week ago and put in a big mile to be second. (9) PATTYCAKE MOOSS won in this class last time and remains a trip threat from the more difficult starting spot. (2) SANTAFE’S APPETITE always seems to be a ground-saving trip threat. Race 7: Non-winners 2 (NW L2 3) races or $20,000 (NW L2 $30,000) life/Maidens draw inside (7) CHUCK has turned into an impressive performer with hobbles added and even showed some early speed last time. He’s clearly the one to beat. (1) MAXIMUM EXPOSURE chased in a very fast qualifying mile that may just have him tight enough to compete. (10) TE QUIERO LINDY looked great saving ground through quick fractions and pouncing on the leaders. Post 10 presents some issues unless he finds early speed. (2) CHASIN’ SUNSHINE has been very consistent but is more of an underneath play now. Race 8: Trackmaster 71.5 (NW L2/2L4 72/72.75) or less - $5,153 Pick 6 Carryover (6) MISSISSIPPI RABBIT hails from a barn that heated up with a pair of wins here last Saturday. This veteran hasn’t been out in some time but has class and doesn’t face much. (3) COLE ON THE BEACH hasn’t been seen in quite a while but was at least entered to race and was a Judges scratch, so that tells me he was ready to roll. Notice back at Freehold he was starting outside week after week. (7) GENTLEMENSATTITUDE makes his second start back after four weeks off and is certainly eligible to improve. Race 9: $15,000-$20,000 Claiming Handicap (9) MONI’S HEAVEN CENT makes his first start for a new barn that has been going nicely at the meet and we all know this guy has big early speed. The question will be how many of the other speedsters will fire out and make him work. (4) HAVEHORSWILTRVEL N is perfect in two starts since joining the Bongiorno stable; one to beat. (7) STAR TRACK HANOVER and (3) KEEPER OF SECRETS are two potential closers that could take advantage of the pace if a speed duel develops, and it very well might. Race 10: $20,000 Claiming - $50K GTD Pick 4 The power seems to be on the inside of the gate here and (1) IDEAL SKIES looks like the deserving chalk in this abbreviated field. She won on the barn change and had a bit of a tough journey last time. She should brush to the front tonight if any to her outside leave. (2) BLUE GLAMBER is feeling good now. She’s a big threat with the right trip. (6) PREMIER DESIREY is capable from on and off the pace but I’m not in love with her on the win end. Race 11: Trackmaster 74.5 (NW L2/2L4 75/75.5) or less/Opt. $12,500 Clm. (4) PHELGON has the trainer in the bike and that isn’t ideal, but I’ll take the price and hope the trip works out. (3) FIRSTUP can’t seem to seal the deal. Do you want to play her on top as one of the favorites? (2) BETTE TINA steps up in good form and there are no killers in here. Race 12: Trackmaster 71.5 (NW L2/2L4 72/72.5) or less (9) DREAM DANCING took a shot leaving the gate and was a bit flat finishing perhaps because of that early attempt. She remains down in class and might be a bit sharper in her second start in 28 days. (4) VIRTUAL KISS gets class and post relief but doesn’t exactly love to win. (2) TARGARYEN EMPRESS finished just behind the top pick last time while not exactly loaded with pace. Making her second start since December, she could show more now. [DRF HARNESS: Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter] Race 13: Non-winners $3,000 in last 4/TM 77.5 or less (5) SPROUT went a nice even mile last time when Huckabone elected to take a more conservative approach away from the gate. She ended up stuck in traffic the entire stretch. I’d like to see her sprint away a bit this week and set up in good early position, perhaps behind (9) ROMA AMOR, who drops to the level of her last win and seems likely to be aggressive. (6) MISS DOTTIE MAE closed well on the class drop last time to be third and seems to be coming into form. Race 14: Trackmaster 73.5 (NW L2/2L4 74/74.5) or less Let’s take a shot in the dark here with (10) LEVITATION. Yes, he’s coming off a layoff of over a year, but his latest return qualifier was good and anywhere close to a top effort beats these. (3) ZLATAN moves back inside and should be in his comfort zone versus this group. (1) MIGHTY SURF also gets post relief and you can expect him to fire off the gate a bit for position.