FINAL CHAMPIONSHIP MEET STATS: 360-122-78-52 / $655.90 (-$64.10) BEST BETS: 26-16-4-2 / $57.90 (+$5.90) SPOT PLAYS: 26-7-5-4 / $47.80 (-$4.20) BEST BET: SEVEN REPS (14th) SPOT PLAY: ROYAL DESIRE (2nd) Race 1: NJ Classic Elim 2YO C&G Trot - Pick 5 (3) TACTICAL DYNASTY got himself a little wound-up and went into a break shortly after the start in the Wellwood. While he is still green, Ron Burke adds hobbles here and that could help the most talented horse in the race succeed. (6) PRECISE LANDING has early speed and clear ability if Daley can figure out how to keep him trotting. (4) MOUNTCASTLE rallied well in his career debut. A step forward here is not out of the question. [DRF HARNESS: Get Harness Eye PPs for this card] Race 2: Non-winners 2 (NW L2 3) races or $20,000 ($32,500 draw outside) life - Survivor 7 (6) ROYAL DESIRE has turned into a different horse in August. Anything close to his last effort makes him an easy winner. (2) ALRITEALRITEALRITE wasn’t awful here earlier this year and now he comes back south and lands in a new barn; interesting. (1) SWINWITHTHECURRENT was roughed up last time but solid in all prior races. Dunn did choose him over #2. [DRF BETS: Wager on tonight's Meadowlands card at DRF Bets.com!] Race 3: Non-winners 2 races or $20,000 ($30,000 draw outside) life (7) CAPTAIN OPTIMISTIC has missed four weeks but did qualify back nicely. This race is simply a stepping stone to other engagements but you have to think he’ll prove tough since there won’t be much traffic if he is handled patiently. (6) TOM HORN went to the front, yielded and finished up willingly late last Thursday morning in the non-betting NJSS final. It was a nice performance but he’ll need to improve to beat the top one. (4) PAPIS PISTOL has regressed recently. At least he returns to a surface where he has done good work. Race 4: NJ Classic Elim 3YO C&G Trot - Pick 6 (4) MARS HILL stopped badly in the Hambletonian and looking at his starts leading up to that race I have to wonder if this guy has needed Lasix all along but they were waiting until after that race. I’m taking a flyer here that the medication turns him around. (7) SIG SAUER will be 3-5 or less at post time and while he lays over the field on paper, don’t be surprised if he takes a conservative approach tonight. (1) BELLA’S MUSCLEHILL pulled the pocket on Sunday like a sure winner and simply trotted off his feet. Muscle Hill gelding has ability but can’t seem to behave. Race 5: NJ Classic Elim 2YO C&G Trot It’s hard for me to get very excited about any of these in an elimination race. I’ll try (6) CAMERA MAN, raced reasonably well in both NJSS starts without too much to show for it. The time on the sideline may produce a better horse now. (4) HILDAGO has displayed good ability and the return qualifier was ok. Can Gingras keep him on stride? (9) MR WALNER FASHION has early speed and there is a touch of talent here. I’d play him at a $10 mutuel, but not much lower. Race 6: Non-winners 2 races or $22,000 life - Pick 4 (6) BEACH RULES freaked in her career debut but hasn’t been able to reproduce that effort again. Switching to the big track tonight and facing softer, I’m curious to see what she can do. (1) GIGGLINGONTHEBEACH has come to form in the second tier of the stallion series and seems like a good fit here. (4) ALLEGRA HANOVER chased #1 for third two starts back and turned in another good mile last time. Race 7: NJ Classic Elim 3YO Filly Trot (1) CHAPARMBRO has hinted at ability all year but remains winless in nine starts. Big changes come this week with Burke taking over the training and Gingras jumping in the bike. If they don’t bet her off the board I’ll be taking the swing that she awakens. (6) SOIREE HANOVER is a filly I’m very high on. The connections still have no concrete idea why she was bad in the Oaks elimination but she rebounded very nicely; big threat. (8) BUY A ROUND is better suited to the big track as it helps her off the pace style; will be flying late for a spot in next week’s final. Race 8: NJ Classic Elim 2YO Filly Trot - Pick 5 (2) LADY LANDIA looked very good on debut but broke in her next start and had no shot despite a good final quarter in the NJSS final. This looks like a good spot for her to succeed with (9) KENDRA drawn outside and likely forced to be used a bit early to get into the race. (1) TACKY SUGAR wasn’t able to get involved behind a slow pace in her lone start over the track. The inside post here should keep her closer and provide a chance to show what she has in the tank. Race 9: NJ Classic Elim 3YO Filly Trot (10) WARRAWEE MICHELLE has won two straight stakes including the Hambletonian Oaks and she is clearly much the best here. The outside post makes it a bit tricky but Svanstedt really has to put her in play or risk not making the final due to traffic or other trouble. (1) MISS I LA is fast away and fairly consistent. She’s the best of the rest. (2) SEVENMEARAS adds Lasix and Dunn so improvement is certainly possible. Race 10: NJ Classic Elim 3YO C&G Trot - Pick 4 (2) BENNY J has been chasing Karl and Secret Agent Man at The Red Mile, so this is an easier spot. Colt adds Lasix and could take a shot on the lead in a short field. (6) TONY ADAMS S is clearly the horse to beat but he only has to pass two to make the final and I can see a conservative steer coming. (1) FRENCH KRONOS has some ability; using underneath. Race 11: NJ Classic Elim 2YO Filly Pace (2) RECKLESS ABANDON has looked like a special filly thus far. My only hesitation with her tonight at 2-5 is that she’ll have to avoid traffic in a race where all but one will return for the final next week. (3) MY SWEET LILY aired it out in her career debut and got caught. That should be a nice learning mile for this daughter of Sweet Lou; Gingras’ choice. (5) WORKLIFEBALANCE hasn’t won yet but has raced well a number of times. Race 12: Winners 2-4 (NW L2 5) races life/TM 84.85 or less (2) MIRACULOUS DEO has been part of fast paces week after week and ends up tapped at the end of the mile. There is no way they are going a 53 half here and she picks up Lasix which could help her nearing the wire. (1) SARASOTA HANOVER is a fast filly that seems to lack the will to win. I only like her if she can sit a perfect trip, and I can’t predict that. (5) LYONS LEGEND is another capable horse given the right trip. (6) DONEGAL SPIRIT has speed and this driver has gotten along with her. [DRF HARNESS: Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter] Race 13: NJ Classic Elim 2YO Filly Trot (3) R CHARM jumped it off in the Peaceful Way after a nice closing effort in the elimination. Her best races have been on or near the lead and perhaps we’ll see more aggressive handling in this elimination race where many take a conservative approach. At the very least, Zeron remains here over #2, though that may be a barn-loyalty call. (2) DELANEY HANOVER won her only start and clearly has plenty of talent, but I’m more interested in playing her next week when she’ll more likely be put in play. (5) MISS BELMAR really hasn’t been bad in the morning and I wouldn’t be shocked if she showed more than meets the eye. Race 14: Non-winners 2 (NW L2 3) races or $20,000 (NW L2 or 2YO $30,000) life (8) SEVEN REPS is hard to love at 2-for-24 in his career. That said, he’s a 3-year-old facing mostly 2-year-olds and you can expect him to try to bottom-out this field. (10) ROBINHOOD is one of the other 3-year-olds in the race and McCarthy joins the team; early speed coming. (3) LEFTIES RIGHTIES gets his first taste of the big track and it will be interesting to see if he drops speed. (6) CLOUDY BAY HANOVER has the early speed to be close. She usually sticks around for small shares, with five showings in six starts.