WINTER MEET STATS: 265-81-42-34 / $464.40 (-$65.60) BEST BETS: 16-6-6-0 / $26.60 (-$5.40) SPOT PLAYS: 19-4-3-3 / $14.20 (-$23.80) BEST BET: WIN TOGETHER S (8th) SPOT PLAY: HOLD MY TIARA (3rd) Race 1: Meadowlands Amateur Drivers Club 1 Pace - Pick 5 (2) INCREDIBLE BADGER has some excuses, including tough posts, for his recent dull performances. He’s back in the amateur ranks and against a very soft collection. New amateur pilot should keep him close at good odds. (4) DUCK INTO THE NITE may very well be odds-on in this spot given his last line and tonight’s field. Do you really feel comfortable playing him in the win spot at 3-for-51 lifetime? (8) ROCKABILLY CHARM was done in by a bad trip last time. That said, he’s the type of horse that needs the right trip to win and post eight won’t help his chances. (1) OUR CORELLI N comes off a line that looks somewhat enticing, though he was gapping dull cover a bit so don’t rate him too highly. [DRF HARNESS: Get Harness Eye PPs for this card] Race 2: Trackmaster 71 (NW L2/L4 71.5/72.05) or less (4) WINNERESS is back on a seven-day cycle and you have to like that he has the early speed to get in good position. Veteran drops in company on his return here and you have to think he has a big chance even with many more placings than wins last year. (8) EXCHEQUER was one of six leavers last time and the last one to make the top around the half. He tired late but it was a big mile. (2) DROP THE MIC has been fairly consistent lately and if the trip works out he can win. (1) MASSTER BLUE keeps Beckwith over my top pick. [DRF BETS: Wager on tonight's Meadowlands card at DRF Bets.com!] Race 3: Trackmaster 68 (NW L2/L4 68.5/69.15) or less - Survivor 7 (2) HOLD MY TIARA had a ground-saving trip in her return from a three month layoff and never found room up the pylons, which certainly cost her a check and maybe more. There is plenty of early speed signed on here and she could be ready to pounce at a price with clearance. (5) EA MUSHU is perfect in her last two starts at this level and my only concerns with her are a short price and the presence of other outside speed that could put her in a bad spot. (7) JUST MY MAMA is more than capable of winning in this class and she had plenty of pace last time while bobbing and weaving through traffic. (6) MISS YOU JOANN comes off a game try on the engine in this class. Race 4: Non-winners $2,000 in last 4/TM 72.75 or less (8) CRAIGIEBURN was trapped behind a gapper in his first start for this barn and finished up absolutely full of trot when clear in the stretch. I’m not positive his breaking problems are behind him but you have to be encouraged that he was under urging and showed no signs of making a miscue. (5) STARLIT RAMBO didn’t look loaded late in his last mile but let’s consider that he came home in 27 4/5 in a fast mile for the class; major player. (2) WELLINGTON HANOVER has made breaks in all three starts since coming to this barn, BUT they were all on half-mile tracks and perhaps the venue change will wake up this guy. (7) GOOGOO EYES rallied well when last in a regular overnight event here. Race 5: Meadowlands Amateur Drivers Club 1 Pace (5) URBAN RENEWAL faces a softer overall field than last week when he dealt with some traffic and was even. He’s a viable option at a potential double-digit price. (1) IAMMRBRIGHTSIDE N seems to be in a bit tougher this week but what is more important is that this 15-year-old showed good late life for the first time this year in his last start. He just might be ready to awaken. (10) MY WISH CAME TRUE went a monster mile parked the entire way last weekend. If he can come close to that effort he’ll have a major say tonight. Race 6: Non-winners $2,000 (NW L2 $2,331) in last 4 - $50K GTD Pick 4 (7) SHEZAFREAKLIKEME had a pocket trip and didn’t gain late but I would argue it is the best race she has put in recently. She drops to a new low level for her tonight and I wouldn’t be shocked if she sprinted off the wings of the gate. I’ll take a shot with her in a race with no clear standout. (6) HARPER SEELSTER and (8) NITE TIME DEAL both arrive from Yonkers and drop in company. The former was in a $20K claimer when last here and should fit nicely with these while the latter has multiple decent tries here in higher conditions. Race 7: $7,500 Claiming (6) I’M BURLINGTON was an easy winner when last seen here in this class and he’s certainly better suited for the big track as his gait isn’t exactly smooth. He had no shot last time after missing nearly four weeks and starting from post eight at Pocono. All systems should be on go tonight. (1) I’LL HUNT YOU DOWN has won three straight in this class and is an obvious contender. (2) FRANCO TOTEM N seems to have lost a step at age 12 but he’s good enough to save ground and pass tired ones for an exotics slot. Race 8: Non-winners $3,000 (NW L2 $3,340) in last 4/TM 77.5 or less - Pick 6 (4) WIN TOGETHER S has been stuck with outside posts while facing better competition at Yonkers. Notice the horse who won his last race was Antognoni S, a winner here in NW $12,500. I’m expecting to see early speed here and a much better performance. (1) WILLOWTIME comes with plenty of risks since he does tend to break, but his best is more than enough to win. (9) MILLIONDOLLARDREAM came home steady from an impossible spot last time. Five-year-old drops to the level of her last win back in November. (7) MR KNOWITALL takes what looks like a big drop on paper and perhaps it is for some horses, but this guy wasn’t exactly killing it in similar classes here a few months back. Race 9: Non-winners $3,000 (NW L2 $3,431) in last 4/TM 77.5 (NW L2/2L4/L8 78/78.5/78.75) or less (2) STAYING WITH EMILY has arguably been facing better at Saratoga and has trip and post excuses for her lack of recent success. Four-year-old returns here in a class where she was a good second in late February and seems to have found a great spot. (7) BOLOGNA N lands in a field that seems to lack much early speed and that is this gal’s calling card. I wouldn’t be shocked if she stole this race on the engine. (3) KAY SUGE drops back down to her comfort level; trip player. (9) SWEET CAROLLOU is going to draw plenty of attention on the addition of Lasix and trainer change. That said, the barn she is exiting is pretty good with a 13.7% win rate in 2025. She could win but will likely be overbet. (4) TARGARYEN EMPRESS remains sharp and is dangerous with the right setup, which may not come here if only #7 leaves hard. Race 10: Non-winners $5,000 in last 4/TM 80.5 or less/Opt. $20,000 Clm. - $50K GTD Pick 4 (2) TOCCOA FALLS has been done in lately by outside posts. Tonight he draws back inside and could take advantage of a race filled with potential early speed to sit and attack late. (6) NO TURNING BACK drops back down to the level of her last victory. (8) DISTANT DRUMS was having breaking issues that seem to be behind him now. Last time he was a victim of a slow pace and while he trotted home nicely it wasn’t enough. (7) SHINKANSEN has plenty of form and over a 50% in-the-money rate the last two years; Miller is coming back from Yonkers to drive. Race 11: Trackmaster 74.5 (NW L2/2L4 75/75.5) or less/NW 1 race in 2024/Opt. $12,500 Clm. (3) IDEAL SKIES has a pair of wins and second in her last four starts for this claiming price. I’m still not sure I love her in this race but it is hard to make a strong case for others. (6) LYONS MIKI rallied well last time and remains a threat given the right pace setup for her late charge. (8) GOING AWAY has been racing reasonably well lately and she does add a Hall of Fame driver tonight. (2) DREAM PILLAR was going really well for a few weeks before the miscue last time; rebounds? Race 12: Trackmaster 71 (NW L2/L4/L9 71.5/72.05/73.01) or less/Opt. $7,500 Clm. In a race where it is difficult to get excited about any of the contestants, I’ll try (10) BETTER WATCH IT, who drops to the lowest claiming level of her life after an unsuccessful try in series action at Pocono. Her last start here came two claiming classes higher and she won in 1:54. I expect we’ll see early speed. (4) QUEEN SUN RYSER dealt with plenty of stretch traffic last time. She should be forwardly placed here with a chance to succeed if on her game. (8) BETTE TINA closed well from fourth over last weekend in a nice wake-up mile. She could be coming into form. (3) BABY DOLL JEN gets major post relief and could be a sneaky player in the exotics at nice odds. [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 (5) HOOFBEATS DE VIE put hobbles back on and kept his act together the whole mile to be second behind a 2-5 runaway winner. Note that you can’t see it on paper but Miller actually pushed away from the gate a bit at the start before electing to come from behind. Six-year-old could end a long losing streak that dates back to July 2023. (1) BACARDI exits the amateur series and reunites with Beckwith. He’s probably the horse to beat. (3) SIR JESSE moves inside after starting from post 10 in consecutive weeks; sneaky price play. (9) PARODY has a bunch of good efforts in this class and only needs the right trip from outside to threaten. Race 14: Trackmaster 68 (NW L2/L4 68.5/69) or less Not much form to go by in this race and top pick (7) ROCKINWITHTHEBEST falls into that group as well. That said, he has the excuse of starting from post 10 in his last two starts and prior to that he was second in this class. (9) FENDI HANOVER may’ve gotten something out of the five-eighths race because he followed it up with a nice effort where he chased a quick pace and had something left on the end of the mile; post hurts. (4) BIG BAD BILL was flat as the 4-5 chalk last time. Can he rebound? (2) COLT FOURTY ONE hasn’t been seen since his five-eighths try where he battled hard. I wonder if that race has him tighter for the standard mile.