WINTER MEET STATS: 237-69-38-32 / $392.60 (-$81.40) BEST BETS: 14-5-5-0 / $21.60 (-$7.40) SPOT PLAYS: 17-3-3-3 / $11.40 (-$22.60) BEST BET: SEVEN SINS (6th) SPOT PLAY: CACTUSTOTHECLOUDS (13th) Race 1: Trackmaster 74.5 (NW L2/2L4 75/75.5) or less/Opt. $12,500 Claiming - Pick 5 (4) DREAM PILLAR finds a field without many early speed players signed on and this gal is capable of exhibiting that trait on occasion. If sent to the front she could get away with cheap fractions. (1) FEARLESS SHELIA actually has been on the lead lately but hasn’t been able to last the mile. Maybe she sits the pocket here and has more left late. (8) GOING AWAY was very sharp with Lasix added. How will she fare from the outside post, especially if the pace is soft? (6) PASTA MOMMA is in for a much lower claiming tag this week and a wake-up is very possible. [DRF HARNESS: Get Harness Eye PPs for this card] Race 2: Trackmaster 68 (NW L2/2L4/NWin2024 68.5/69/69.25) or less (5) BRIGHTEN YOUR LIFE dropped to this level last time and never got involved from the outside post. Veteran moves to the inside of the gate here and could be sent to the front. It is worth noting that Braxten Boyd opted off our top pick for (8) GLITTERING HOPE, who has the prettiest lines of the group but must figure out a winning trip from the outside of the gate. (4) COSTA DIVA gets class and post relief tonight. Four-year-old is still winless in her career but seems to be in a decent spot tonight. Race 3: Meadowlands Amateur Drivers Club 1 Pace - Survivor 7 (5) PAPRIKE BLUE CHIP made a bold uncovered move where he pressed the leader hard last time and weakened as expected. A smoother trip can produce a better result for a barn that seems live right now. (2) WHATA TREASURE sat off the contested pace that the top pick contributed to and just missed to the pocket-sitter; clear contender. (4) DUCK INTO THE NITE was used hard and tired in that same race. I’m not sure I love his recent lines but it is hard to like any of these. Race 4: Trackmaster 71 (NW L2/L4 71.5/72.05) or less (1 1/8 mile) This race is going at an added distance and that comes into play in two respects. First, the longer run to the first turn gives outside horses a better chance to leave the gate hard and secondly, these cheaper horses will be tiring at the end of the mile. (2) FASHION FOREVER is a horse that has a history of finishing his races reasonably well and he should stick close enough with the inside draw. Maybe he can visit the winner’s circle here for the first time since late 2023. (6) HURRIKANE WILLIE G is sure to make the front and with so many dull horses signed on I can see him getting away easy on the point. (9) GATSBY hasn’t hit the board yet this year but the added distance presents an opportunity for this guy to push away a little and grind his way towards the front early if his driver wants to take a shot. Race 5: Meadowlands Amateur Drivers Club 1 Pace (5) YAYAS HOT SPOT N has taken a couple of starts to really find his form but he seems to be there now. Last time he had no shot after the leader stole the race with soft fractions. This old guy is plenty versatile and draws a perfect post to work out the trip he wants. (1) URBAN RENEWAL sprinted home in 27 1/5 behind the top pick a week ago; main threat. (6) DUNSAN HARRY had a great trip last time and couldn’t score while barely beating a first-over #5. I fear he’ll be overbet here, though he does have a chance. (4) COLE ON THE BEACH comes off a win and picks up an aggressive amateur who isn’t afraid to fire off the gate. Race 6: Non-winners $5,000 (NW 2L5 $5,615) in last 4/TM 80.5 (NW L2/2L4 81/81.7) or less - $50K GTD Pick 4 (9) SEVEN SINS finished third last week behind a pair of horses that would be clear favorites in this field. Five-year-old drops back down to the level of his last win and should be firing off the wings of the gate. (7) DISTANT DRUMS qualified well. Does that mean he is over his breaking issues? His best would make him a player. (6) ROCK MY UNIVERSE has been racing well and now tries a new condition. I wouldn’t be shocked if he grinded them down with the right trip. (8) LABYAD BROS S had a good trip and raced without shoes last week in victory. I’ll probably fade him tonight, especially if the shoes go back on as expected. Race 7: $7,500 Claiming (8) JOHNNY CHIP hasn’t been great since the claim but now drops below that level and all systems should be on go if at all possible. (5) ALBERT A’ SCOOTIN was used up a bit in the pace in start one for this barn. He deserves another shot, especially since he could be sitting the pocket behind the top pick. (10) SEIZE CONTROL starts from a tough post but has been able to find his way into the exotics lately. Race 8: Non-winners 2 (NW L2 3) races or $20,000 (NW L2 $30,000) life/Maidens draw inside - Pick 6 (9) PANTOFOLAIO had to be taken ahold of on the backstretch as he was running into the foe in front of him when the pace slowed. That cost him to lose some ground and made his stretch finish look even better. Miller sticks here over (3) FLIGHT LANDING and I have to believe despite the greenness he liked what he saw. The latter found himself with a huge qualifier last weekend and if he can repeat that performance, watch out! (1) MAXIMUM EXPOSURE came up with a big mile last week in a game effort. (5) STRIKING TACTFUL gets a better post and an interesting driver change. Race 9: Non-winners $3,000 (NW L2 $3,550) in last 4/TM 77.5 (NW L2/2L4/L8 78/78.5/78.75) or less (4) TARGARYEN EMPRESS has climbed the TM conditions impressively and I don’t see any reason he can’t power past these late. (3) UPTOWN LADY N could’ve been a sneaky player in here at good odds but that likely faded when Zeron picked up the drive. Her last two tries in this class have come from posts 9 and 10. (10) BOLOGNA N was a good second from an outside post last time. Her early speed plays here. Race 10: Non-winners $5,000 (NW L2 $5,501) to $7,500 (NW L2 $8,461) in last 4/TM 83.5 (NW L2/2L4/2L6 84/84.5/84.75) or less - $50K GTD Pick 4 (9) BLOOD MOON A comes off the type of effort I love to see in terms of betting back the next start. She completely backed through the field, which is often easily explained and fixed for the next start. She takes a big dip in class and can fire down the road. (5) ILLUSION SEELSTER finds a good spot on her return here. If they mix it up too much early she’ll be coming off cover. (3) MISS CHANTILLY N is clearly sharp now and the improved post will help her chances. Race 11: Non-winners $3,000 (NW L2 $3,340) in last 4/TM 77.5 or less (2) STARLIT RAMBO was certainly better last time out. In a race where none of these jumps off the page for me I’ll take a shot with this guy at what should be a fair price. (8) VOSS BLUE CHIP moved into this condition last time and raced well to be second. He’ll likely need to find speed at both ends of the mile tonight but it is possible. (6) JAYDENS PRIDE is certainly in fine form. Race 12: Trackmaster 71 (NW L2/L4/L9 71.5/72/73.01) or less/Opt. $7,500 Clm. (8) LADYZAR comes off a very good effort that jumps off the page when you consider none of the others in the field had even a top two finish last time. I’ll give her the edge for a barn that is rolling right now. (3) SUGE raced here last winter and actually won at the TM74 level. She’s been taking plenty of air on the rim up at Monticello and may appreciate the wider turns here. (1) AINTNOHOLLABACKGRL had no shot from post 10, took a shot on the rim two back and closed well three back. Her form is probably a bit better than it seems at first glance and Beckwith opted off #3 for this one. (6) SUNSET SOPH takes the same class drop out of the claiming ranks at Yonkers as #1 did a few starts back. [DRF HARNESS: Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter] Race 13: Trackmaster 74 (NW L2/L4/L8 74.5/75/75.3) or less (2) CACTUSTOTHECLOUDS chased pedestrian fractions and simply couldn’t close the deal despite a strong 27 4/5 final quarter. Logic would state he could improve in his second start on Lasix and second try for this barn as he faces a lackluster field. (8) SOUTHWIND BIANCA is a capable horse given the right trip and I could see Borjas trying to find some early speed this week. (1) USURP HANOVER leaves the half-mile track and adds hobbles. That combination could cure his breaking issues. Race 14: Trackmaster 68 (NW L2/L4 68.5/69) or less (5) BIG BAD BILL chased slow fractions last time and had no shot despite a 27 2/5 final quarter. Also notice that was his first start in six weeks. 11-year-old drops in class and has a big shot. (1) FLYING TIGER tried hard to leave fast but the 25 1/5 opening quarter was too sharp for him and he wound up wide a long way. The move inside and extension of the race to a mile will help. (8) SARGEANT SONNY has early speed and plenty of form. Last week he battled bravely through wicked fractions and held his ground; exotics must; win maybe. (9) SELECT FRIDAY won in this class three starts back and he should be good value on the board.