WINTER MEET STATS: 209-60-28-29 / $347.60 (-$70.40) BEST BETS: 14-3-5-0 / $12.20 (-$15.80) SPOT PLAYS: 15-2-3-2 / $7.80 (-$22.20) BEST BET: I’LL HUNT YOU DOWN (7th) SPOT PLAY: HOWLINGATTHEMOON DK (4th) Race 1: Meadowlands Amateur Drivers Club 1 Pace - Pick 5 (8) BIONIC pushed away a bit but quickly retreated to the back and was completely without a chance. He finished the mile up fine and here’s hoping driver-trainer Shults presses on the gas at the start. (7) DUCK INTO THE NITE hails from a barn that went into last weekend winless and exited with a trip of victories. You have to respect the horses until a couple of them fail to fire. (5) FERDINAND A gunned to the front as usual, faced pressure before giving way and tired last time. He’s better than that and remains a threat against a mostly dull group. [DRF HARNESS: Get Harness Eye PPs for this card] Race 2: Trackmaster 74.5 (NW L2/2L4 75/75.5) or less Owner-trainer Chris Height plunked down $18,600 on February 27 in an online auction for (2) CACTUSTOTHECLOUDS and has found a great spot for his unveiling at The Meadowlands. Even though the 5-year-old hasn’t won since he was 3, the new trainer adds Lasix to the menu tonight and it is worth noting that it has had plenty of time to take effect over the last couple of weeks. (5) JAYDENS PRIDE isn’t a horse I want to bet on top but is an exotics must off consecutive placings. (6) PARODY and (8) SOUTHWIND BIANCA have made a good living this year in this class and either could win given a smooth journey. [DRF BETS: Wager on tonight's Meadowlands card at DRF Bets.com!] Race 3: Trackmaster 68 (NW L2/2L4 68.5/69) or less - Survivor 7 (6) THANEEYA was used a bit to the front and faced immediate pressure before yielding last time. She no doubt finished up that mile a bit flat but many horses were having trouble late into a stiff wind. The path to the front seems clearer here and maybe she can wire the field. (2) LADYZAR never saw the pylons and hung in there nicely for third last Friday. She’s going to be odds-on tonight and must be considered. (10) GLITTERING HOPE is a tough call because she had a great trip last time and couldn’t deliver. That said, it was her first start in five weeks so improvement is possible. Race 4: Non-winners $3,000 (NW L2 $3,340) in last 4/TM 77.5 (NW L2/2L4/2L6 78/78.5/78.75) or less (8) HOWLINGATTHEMOON DK acclimated nicely to the big track in his first start with Lasix as he toured the oval at the back of the pack and finished up with some sneaky late trot. Now that he’s dropped five seconds and had a good test mile I expect him to be put in play. (4) MONEY MATTERS has been racing better of late and is more than capable of winning in a spot like this one. (1) LABYAD BROS S seems to have found himself from off the pace last time. I couldn’t fault anyone for taking a positive view. (10) TOUGH MUSCLE WAS OVERBET AND weakened on the lead after being used hard on a night when early speed wasn’t very good; clear threat despite post. Race 5: Meadowlands Amateur Drivers Club 1 Pace (8) YAYAS HOT SPOT raced ok but came up short after missing a few weeks of action. Old-timer should benefit getting back on a seven-day schedule as he seeks his first win at age 15. (3) ROCKABILLY CHARM was second in MADC two starts back and also in an overnight last time; sharp now. (2) MY WISH CAME TRUE is also in good form and he draws much better after taking a lot of air from post 10 last time. Race 6: Non-winners $5,000 (NW L2 $5,615) in last 4/TM 80.5 (NW L2/2L4 81/81.5) or less - $50K GTD Pick 4 (3) WILLOWTIME raced much better on his return here and if he wasn’t locked in the pocket as long as he was I do believe he would’ve been in a photo for win. It just took him too long to get into higher gear. (7) MONI’S HEAVEN CENT gets away from a somewhat sharper group in the claiming ranks. He could be cutting this mile without much company. (8) GO LONG charged home like he was shot out of a cannon last time. That’s his game, very trip dependent, so don’t get sucked in to shorter odds here. Race 7: $7,500 Claiming (2) I’LL HUNT YOU DOWN has won two straight in this class including out-gaming a rival that seemed to have him beat last time. He’s very difficult to pick against tonight. (5) FRANCO TOTEM N had a failed brush attempt but did stick around to get fourth last time. He’ll need a better trip but should be competitive. (7) ALBERT A’ SCOOTIN moves into a barn that is having a good meet. Veteran should be pushing away off the gate with authority. (1) INDIGENOUS HANOVER was just even after missing a few weeks and coming back for a new barn; could improve. Race 8: Meadowlands Amateur Drivers Club Trot - Pick 6 (4) GINGERTREE STAKIAS won at first asking for Hernandez with an ultra-impressive mile. Anything close to a repeat performance would certainly result in a win. (6) LOVE THIS BAR was trapped in too long at Yonkers last time as the winner got away. He’s a nice fit with these and I don’t mind that Baker chose off for #7 since I pick up Yogi. (3) BACARDI has been racing great of late; clear player on best. Race 9: Trackmaster 74.7 (NW L2/2L4 75/75.6) or less/NW 1 race in 2024/Opt. $12,500 Clm. (4) FEARLESS SHELIA was used hard early and tired as expected on a night when only two horses that led at the half were able to win. A slightly smoother trip should give her a big shot. (3) DAY TO PARTY probably needed the race after missing almost a month of action; driver change tonight to Miller, who chose here over two others. (2) FIRSTUP gets Zeron back in the bike and from a decent post this time. Last time they hooked up the task was difficult from post nine Race 10: Non-winners $7,500 in last 4 or winners NW $5,000 or less last start/ TM 83.5 (NW L2/2L4 84/84.5) or less - $50K GTD Pick 4 (2) OUTSIDE THE FIRE hasn’t been in the best form this year but should get healthy against a much softer field. (1) SEVEN SINS has enough early speed to gain position. If the top one isn’t on his game this guy will be sprinting late along with (7) WINTER SOLDIER, who has to figure out how to get a decent trip while potentially coming away near the back. Race 11: Trackmaster 71.5 (NW L2/2L4/L9 72/72.5/73.01) or less/3YO NW $5000 life (1) MS FRANCES ASSISI exits what looks like a dull line but it is worth noting that she comes out of a race that went in 1:52 3/5, the second fastest clocking of the night. This race seems like a lock to be at least a second slower and that places her firmly as a win contender. (9) EA MUSHU won last time by surging late after saving ground. Can she fire out here and work out another winning trip? (3) GOING AWAY is good at picking off horses late to get smaller shares. She catches a weak field tonight so maybe she can do even better. Race 12: Non-winners 2 (NW L2 3) races or $20,000 (NW L2 $30,000) life/Maidens draw inside (4) TE QUIERO LINDY will win this race if he decides to mind his manners. He’s clearly the fastest horse in this field right now. (10) STRIKING TACTFUL finds a field loaded with horses either coming back from layoffs or lacking early speed. His fast foot off the gate plays here and he could be sitting pretty at decent odds. (6) ELEGANT RESOLVE has finished up reasonably well in two straight starts. Is he finally let loose a bit here to see if he can handle it? [DRF HARNESS: Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter] Race 13: Trackmaster 68 (NW L2/2L4 68.5/69) or less – 5/8ths mile race It will be interesting to see how this race plays out with a fairly long run until the only turn. Normally these horses are capable of about a 1:10 5/8ths time but this race will probably go closer to 1:07 or 1:08 with the shorter distance. Anyway, I’ll try (9) FLYING TIGER partially on the class drop but more because I know he can gun off the wings of Shults wants to and very few people will be focusing on him to win. (5) IM A DIRECTOR N was driven way too aggressively last time and he paid the price. Another chance is deserved. (4) SARGEANT SONNY failed on the lead last time as so many others did that night. He has led through five-eighths of the mile in three of his last four starts. Race 14: Trackmaster 71.5 (NW L2/2L4 72/72.5) or less (3) LIONHEAD raced very well when last at The Meadowlands in late January and gets the weakest of calls against a field that is an unappealing 0-for-51 in 2025. (9) EXCHEQUER displayed a bit of trot last time despite having missed four weeks of racing. (7) SHOEMAKER HANOVER has been hampered by outside posts at Yonkers lately. The switch to the big track will give him a chance to show early speed.