MEET STATS: 335-114-73-46 / $618.10 (-$51.90) BEST BETS: 24-14-4-2 / $52.40 (+$4.40) SPOT PLAYS: 24-7-5-2 / $47.80 (-$.20) BEST BET: RECKLESS ABANDON (6th) SPOT PLAY: BOUQUET (9th) Race 1: Hambletonian Amateur Drivers - Pick 5 (10) MONEY MATTERS had no real shot from the outside post at Pocono last time and now he returns here with another bad starting slot. That’s the bad news but the good is that he drops in class significantly and figures to overcome the handicapped assignment. (3) ARCHIBALD is clearly in form now and should be right there if the top pick has any trip issues. (2) SNOWMAN HANOVER was post compromised at Yonkers. Four-year-old moves way inside and certainly could show more in just his fourth start of the year. (5) BACARDI will likely be firing to the front and must be considered in the exotics. [DRF HARNESS: Get Harness Eye PPs for this card] Race 2: Kindergarten 2YO Filly Trot - Survivor 7 (1) GLOBAL HERITAGE displayed an impressive late rally two qualifiers back and really did nothing to turn me away in the victory last time. Homebred is a sister to a couple of six-figure earners. (3) MARGARETA HANOVER looked good two starts back and actually dropped a bunch of time in start two while finishing just fifth. I’d like her a bit more without the four week break between starts. (4) BAFFLE has been average in the morning. Will she step up under the lights? [DRF BETS: Wager on tonight's Meadowlands card at DRF Bets.com!] Race 3: Kindergarten 2YO Filly Trot (3) DELANEY HANOVER was a very confident winner in her lone qualifier. Sometimes I’m cautious to pick Zeron on a horse like this fearing a patient drive is coming but he shouldn’t have much traffic trouble in the short field and this barn tends to have them ready. (2) PINK CHOU CHOU comes off a NYSS win at Vernon and is clearly the one to beat. (6) CLOUDY BAY HANOVER hasn’t been bad so far and could definitely step forward on the big track. Race 4: Muscle Hill 3YO Colt Trot - Pick 6 (7) BRYANT BROS S looked to have found himself at Pocono back in June before getting his hat handed to him against some Hambletonian finalists in minor stakes over this track. This field is clearly easier and I’ll give him the slight edge to awaken. (4) THINKER MONKEY has done his best work on bigger tracks, though with an 18-1-1-0 record it is hard to get excited about him. (3) GREENSPAN has been fairly consistent but seems to lack the killer instinct when it matters. Race 5: Hambletonian Amateur Drivers (5) HOBBS moved into this barn last week and put in a decent mile at Yonkers. Seven-year-old has plenty of class and has every right to step up in start two for these connections. (2) FASHION CANTAB owns a three-race winning streak but does catch some new shooters that are better than those he’s been beating up on. (10) LOUS LANCELOT chased nicely at Pocono Tuesday to be third in his first try for this stable. Kimelman can certainly fire off the gate here and try to take this field a long way. (4) LOVE THIS BAR was bottled up and finished well last time; trip threat. Race 6: $192K NJ Sire Stakes 2YO Filly Pace Final - $50K GTD Pick 4 (5) RECKLESS ABANDON is the best of this group without a doubt. Key her in the Pick 4 and move on. (2) TH SUMMER LOVIN came first over and raced very well in a second solid try last weekend. You should get fair value on her again. (1) BEQUEATH will certainly be the heavy second choice in this field and I’m not sure she has proven to be better than the #2. Race 7: Kindergarten 2YO C&G Trot (9) GAP KRONOS S finished very impressively when shown daylight and asked for speed in his lone start. The post here isn’t ideal but note that this barn won three races on the same card in 2023. (4) CIVILIAN DRONE is tactically the horse to beat since he’ll likely move the top early and be in prime position. (7) MARYLAND qualified very well and proved game in his debut but broke in start two. There is plenty of ability here and I’ll be using him on my Pick 4 tickets. Race 8: Kindergarten 2YO C&G Pace - Pick 5 (5) CAPTAIN OPTIMISTIC has been spectacular and last week won a race he had no business winning by uncorking a 25 4/5 final quarter. I expect he’ll be more forwardly placed this week and prove difficult to beat. (6) PAPIS PISTOL got unlucky with the flow of the race and simply had no chance last time. Papi Rob Hanover colt has ability but may be at a tactical disadvantage again. (4) SNACK ATTACK could fire to the front here and if he does a runner-up finish is very possible. Race 9: NJ Sire Stakes 2YO Filly Trot Consolation (4) BOUQUET ran into a little stretch trouble in her lone start when another foe drifted a bit and then she trotted home willingly. In a field with no standout I expect her to be put in play. (8) XALAPA was steady in her debut mile and has every right to move forward in start two. It is worth noting that Tetrick chose off for (5) JERSEY SLIDE, who I thought hung a bit last time, so maybe he’s right and I’m wrong. (6) R LADY W has a bit of GO to her and perhaps she can pull off an upset with a perfectly timed drive. Race 10: $240K NJ Sire Stakes 2YO C&G Final - $50K GTD Pick 4 It’s tough to separate the top few but we are going to lean slightly to (5) TOM HORN because of expected price at post time and her post. Miller should be able to follow who he wants drawing just outside of the two other main contenders. Don’t be troubled by his lack of wins. There are legitimate excuses. (4) POWER CODE has looked like the best in this series so far and deserves to be the chalk, but note the private sale here so he still has to maintain that form for new connections. (3) MANOLETE is perfect in this series but has also had great trips. I’ll swing against. (1) SMOOTH DREAM took a shot last time and faded. A smoother journey should produce better results. Race 11: Kindergarten 2YO Filly Pace I’m always hesitant to play a horse from the second tier, no less a 2-year-old, but if you saw the mile (11) BEACH RULES put in you’d understand. She looped the field in one step from post eight at Philly and set insane fractions on her own while pacing the co-fastest mile by a 2-year-old this year. (8) POINT BREEZE was sneaky good two starts back at Philly and not bad at all while well behind the top pick last time. She fits here and could be a price. (2) FANSVILLE gained some confidence in her debut and now we see what she is made of tonight. Race 12: Kindergarten 2YO C&G Pace (6) NICKELBACK went to the front before yielding and chased home the 2-5 favorite willingly. That was a nice debut and perhaps something he can build on. (4) SMOKEN BOB has clear early speed and the fastest times (in losing efforts) of the group. He’ll be heard from here. (5) STEAMBOAT SPRINGS deserves some respect for airing it out a bit in his debut. There is clearly some raw speed in this package. [DRF HARNESS: Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter] Race 13: Trackmaster 77.5 (NW L2/2L4 78/78.5) or less (7) BAILEYS ROCK N raced very well after the early break last time. He’ll certainly need a better trip here but is very capable if he gets it; Miller’s choice of four horses. (1) LATEST ERA has turned the corner since the barn change and certainly merits a look here. (4) BIG BAD BILL scored at a nice price when last in this condition. (3) T DOG owns a pair of second in the TM77 class in his last three starts. Race 14: NJ Sire Stakes 2YO C&G Trot Consolation (2) FLIGHTLINE was very much a disappointment in start two when aggressively handled after a strong finish in his debut. I’ll roll the dice one more time. (4) MR WALNER FASHION is another who raced well from behind then faltered on the front; off the pace again tonight? (6) SAFE TALK minded his manners with hobbles added; closing threat on best with good setup.