MEET STATS: 42-21-9-4 / $124.70 (+$40.70) BEST BETS: 3-1-1-0 / $3.60 (-$2.40) SPOT PLAYS: 3-0-2-0 / $0.00 (-$6.00) BEST BET: WARRAWEE MICHELLE (7th) SPOT PLAY: KARL (9th) Race 1: Breeders Crown 3YO Filly Pace Elim - Pick 5 This is a very interesting race filled with potential early speed. (5) SWEET GAL has been third best a few times in a row but has shown the ability to pace a big mile and we do get first-time Lasix. She could take advantage of a hot pace if they race to the past performances. (4) COLLUSION HANOVER has some serious early speed and tends to pace some strong fractions. Will she yield for the pocket if Sarasota Hanover leaves? Can she win from that spot? (8) MY GIRL EJ is the classiest filly in the field by far and she’ll benefit if they mix it up on top. (6) SARASOTA HANOVER has seemingly found herself in recent weeks. The talent is there. [DRF HARNESS: Get Harness Eye PPs for this card] Race 2: Breeders Crown 3YO C&G Trot Elim (1) SIG SAUER is likely racing with shoes today so I’m not expecting a monster mile but this certainly looks like a brush and crush type spot. (6) T C I qualified very well with Lasix added as he coasted home. He’s running out of opportunity to show his spectacular 2-year-old form. (3) SECRET AGENT MAN could be interesting here if Miller sends him to the front and everyone else takes it easy in this elimination race. [DRF BETS: Wager on tonight's Meadowlands card at DRF Bets.com!] Race 3: Breeders Crown 3YO C&G Pace Elim - Survivor 7 (3) CAPTAIN ALBANO waited too long in the qualifier and thus came up a nose short. Still, it was a useful mile and considering he hasn’t raced in a month I’m expecting a more aggressive try to sharpen him up for next week’s final. (1) MCCRUNCH has been super at Red Mile. Can he carry that form over to The Big M. (8) HOWLENTHEHILLS figures to gun off the gate for position. He’s never been worse than second in his career but gets a big test here. Race 4: Breeders Crown 3YO Filly Trot Elim (5) DRAWN IMPRESSION has raced well in just about every start and we do get Lasix added tonight. I have some questions on what trip she’ll get so I won’t take under 2-1, but she gets the slight nod. (7) DATE NIGHT HANOVER would probably have been my top pick from an inside post. She’s another one that I’m afraid will be too far out of it. (9) MISS I LA is going to fire off the gate at big odds and has a big shot of hitting the ticket. (4) BUY A ROUND is a filly a like but one who is trip dependent and always gets bet. Race 5: Breeders Crown 3YO Filly Pace Elim (1) CAVIART BELLE turned in a very impressive qualifier with Lasix added last time and I’m willing to take a price on her and hope that was the missing piece to the puzzle on a talented filly. (8) ROCKET DEO is arguably at the top of the heap in this division right now and I don’t see too much confirmed early speed to her inside; hard to toss. (4) GEOCENTRIC just hasn’t been the same horse in 2024 that she was in 2023. She’s another one adding Lasix and the qualifier at Hoosier looks good on paper; mixed feelings. Race 6: Breeders Crown 3YO C&G Pace Elim - $50K GTD Pick 4 I feel reasonably confident that one of my top four will win but not sure I have them in the right order. (6) BETTER IS NICE put in a very good mile while no match for Mirage Hanover late last time. Lasix is added here and I’d love to see him go top speed off the gate to secure the front in a race that may lack pace. It probably won’t happen but a man can hope. (3) SWEET BEACH LIFE is a horse I’ve always felt could win a big race if given the right setup and he’s done it already in the PASS final and Messenger. I can just see him lining up behind Nijinsky’s cover at huge odds. (4) MIRAGE HANOVER got a perfect trip and put up the mile of his life last time. He can certainly do it again but I’m not keen on the short price. (1) NIJINSKY is a powerhouse type of horse that just keeps digging in. I respect his chances and wouldn’t hesitate to use him at the right price. Race 7: Breeders Crown 3YO Filly Trot Elim (3) WARRAWEE MICHELLE had just about everything go against her in the Filly Futurity. From this post she can clear to the front and either set a soft pace or sit a reasonable trip in second. (8) R MELINA raced out of her skin in the Futurity and if she can repeat that performance then then rest don’t need to show up. (2) EMOJI HANOVER has some ability but certainly needs the right setup. (7) SOIREE HANOVER has been a bit hit and miss all year. Which filly shows up this week? Race 8: Breeders Crown Open Pace Elim - Pick 6 (5) VOUKEFALAS has an elimination race opportunity to gun to the front and either get away with cheap fractions or sit the pocket. He’s capable of a big mile if Stratton sees that opportunity behind the gate. (8) BYTHEMISSAL is certainly the horse to beat and I expect Gingras will be leaving hard enough to get some position. If he makes the front easily the race is likely over. (1) SEVEN COLORS finished with tons of pace in his qualifier. I’m inclined to give him one start to get his legs under him. Race 9: Breeders Crown 3YO C&G Trot Elim (5) KARL really does land in a great spot this week to head to the front and get away with cheap fractions. He gets first-time Lasix for this start and might actually offer a bit of value off a flat performance. (1) VIC ZELENSKYY was arguably the most impressive trotter in late September and early October at The Red Mile. The inside post, as they’ve been careful with him early, and how he handles the new surface are the main concerns. (8) HIGHLAND KISMET was driven with purpose and ultimately burnt to a crisp making two moves to the front. Now we get a new driver in Tetrick and I think this is going to be more of a test mile in preparation for the final. (4) TONY ADAMS S was also used hard in the Futurity last time. His best puts him in the conversation, especially in an elimination where the times can be slower. Dunn did choose here over #1. Race 10: Breeders Crown Open Pace Elim - $50K GTD Pick 4 (5) RUTHLESS HANOVER has a distinct advantage in this elimination race of possessing high speed. Unless something crazy happens he should be in position to win. (8) ABUCKABETT HANOVER would be my top pick if you guaranteed me that Dunn would gun to the front. I’m just not sure and winning from third-over will be difficult. (1) OAKWOOD ARDAN IR hasn’t proven to me that he can beat the big boys but he can certainly keep up. Race 11: Breeders Crown Open Mare Pace Elim (10) TWIN B JOE FRESH is in a tough spot here from post 10. Normally I would expect an easy mile in preparation for the final but a loss won’t look good on her résumé as she goes for Horse of the Year honors. Maybe we can get 3-5 this week? (4) SYLVIA HANOVER seems to be getting better and better. Is she sharp enough now to take on the top pick? (3) ALWAYS B NAUGHTY adds Lasix and has talent. Will that help step up her game? Race 12: Winners over $10,000 in last 4 This is a difficult race to handicap because it’s hard to know which connections are going to be going hard a week out from the Breeders Crown final which goes for a purse that is 20x higher. (7) HASTY BID is driven by James MacDonald. He owns a piece here and has taken shots on the lead previously. I’ll roll the dice and hope he does tonight. (5) PERICULUM has a big kick and only needs the right trip to charge by late. (6) LOGAN PARK has won three straight and will likely be the favorite now. For that reason I’ll go against him. [DRF HARNESS: Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter] Race 13: Winners 1-2 (2YO 3) races life/Maidens draw inside (9) SWINWITHTHECURRENT couldn’t get going at Freehold but was doing good work here back in August and early September. This looks like an easy spot for him. (3) NAMASTE HANOVER and (4) STEAMBOAT SPRINGS are both legitimate contenders who have proven fast enough to compete if the top one doesn’t bring his best. Race 14: Non-winners $3,000 (NW L2 $3,300) in last 4 (6) FESS UP N has been caught in some fast miles lately out of town and seems to land in a great spot tonight. (9) BB LUCKY BOY and (8) DRAGON SAID both get driver upgrades to the top pilots at the track; capable on best. (2) RIFLEMAN gets in off the AE list and is a slight upset possibility.