WINTER MEET STATS: 0-0-0-0 / $0.00 ($0.00) BEST BETS: 0-0-0-0 / $0.00 ($0.00) SPOT PLAYS: 0-0-0-0 / $0.00 ($0.00) BEST BET: REMEMBER THE ALAMO (1st) SPOT PLAY: ALTA BLUES A (11th) Race 1: Winners 2-4 (NW L2 5) races or $50,000 (NW L2 $60,000) life - Pick 5 (4) REMEMBER THE ALAMO didn’t race like a horse that had missed several months when he dead-heated for second and was placed first last weekend. That start should only help him become tighter and victory seems very likely. (5) ZEPPOLE HANOVER raced well with Lasix added last time versus a better overall group. The only questions revolve around the four weeks off. (7) JK TOGETHER AGAIN has missed a few weeks of action but has proven to be a horse than can handle many trips. It is worth noting that some of these horses have been in higher classes than him. [DRF HARNESS: Get Harness Eye PPs for this card] Race 2: Trackmaster 80.5 (NW L2/2L4 81/81.5) or less (4) GAZOO has found his form in recent weeks in the amateur ranks and now pivots to this condition with one of my favorite price-play drivers. Six-year-old is a good fit with these and one of a few contenders. (5) WARRAWEE XTREME gets an interesting barn change here and will likely be forwardly placed. (8) MAYHEM HANOVER lacks form but drops in company; Bartlett’s choice. (3) REAL PEACE seems to be getting his legs under him with each start. I’m not sure if he is ready to win but his last effort was his best in quite some time. [DRF BETS: Wager on tonight's Meadowlands card at DRF Bets.com!] Race 3: $15,000-$20,000 Claiming Handicap - Survivor 7 This is a very soft 15-20K claimer and I really wouldn’t be surprised if a longshot crossed the wire first. I’ll try (4) KNOCKIN OUT. Five-year-old doesn’t show many previous success over the track but this is a pretty soft spot and he does have enough speed to earn valuable early position. (10) LUKE MCGOOK makes his first start off the claim after three straight second-place finishes. Can the new barn get him over the top or will he just be an overbet favorite? (9) JUST A WRANGLER had a smidge of traffic trouble last time. That field was better and I expect he’ll be better tonight. Race 4: Non-winners $7,500 in last 4 or 5 (NW L2 6) races life/TM 83.5 (NW L2/2L4 84/84.5) or less I don’t often make decisions based on driver choice but Jason Bartlett surprised me by choosing (6) LOUISVILLE GB over #9. This gal clearly likes to win and she’s certainly fast enough. The questions surround lack of proven class and a four week gap in racing that only includes a scratched-sick line. (9) BLOOD MOON A was even late last week while facing much, much better than she tackles here. You have to think she’ll be put in play this time. (2) LUCKY ARTIST A was gapping on the turn last week behind the two favorites and found another gear late. I fear she’ll be overbet off that performance but still give her a chance with the right trip. Race 5: Non-winners $7,500 (NW L2 $8,351) in last 4 or $1,750 p.s. in 2024 This race has a number of potential contenders but no clear standout. I’m going to try (6) IT’S MAHOMES A, who took a bit too much air last time but was a sharp winner in his prior start. The big track here seems to have moved him up and he only needs a decent trip to have a shot. (9) LUCAPELO A was 1-2 in his last start here and failed but followed that up with a very nice win at Philly with Lasix added. He seems like a horse that can step up. (5) MAMBA drops in class this week and will show speed and get backed at the windows. Race 6: Non-winners $12,500 (NW L2 $14,000) in last 4 or 8 races life/TM 87 (NW L2/2L4 87.5/88) or less - $50K GTD Pick 4 (5) BE DAZZLED LOU A went a pretty big mile at Philly last time. It remains to be seen if he can do that here but as long as he isn’t the favorite I’ll take a shot. (10) HEZA CHARTTOPPER A won at first asking on these shores but caught a much better field last time and couldn’t make a dent in the early hole he dug. The outside post isn’t ideal but this is a weaker NW12500 than the one he is exiting. (2) MAXIM HANOVER has come back from vacation sharp; clear contender. Race 7: Non-winners $12,500 in last 4/TM 86.5 or less (1) MON AMOUR didn’t have it last time and I’m chalking it up to the sloppy conditions. It is supposed to snow a bit this Saturday but it should be long done before race time. His prior efforts are fine and he should be very competitive in here. (10) DULY RESOLVED has the early speed to overcome the post and really hasn’t thrown in many clunkers. (5) SEVENSHADESOFGREY displayed speed at both ends of the mile in victory last time. He can handle this imaginary bump in class as most of these seem to be better at the NW7500 level. Race 8: Trackmaster 83 (NW L2/2L4 83.5/84) or less - Pick 6 (6) ROSE RUN ZEKE went a big mile on the engine at Philly last time and has now raced well in both starts since joining this barn. He should be heading to the front and prove tough to beat. (8) SWIFTY RUN was parked the first half and still raced gamely right through the wire on 12/28. Anything close to that same performance would make him a big contender. (5) RIFLEMAN won on the same card as the top pick last time and clocked a faster time, though he did sit a pocket trip. Race 9: Non-winners $12,500 (NW L2 $14,000) in last 4 or 8 races life/TM 87 (NW L2/2L4 87.5/88) or less (1) MOMENT IS HERE certainly didn’t have the year his connections were hoping for when they got him in late 2023 but it is a good sign that this former stakes performer closed out 2024 very nicely. Maybe he simply had the 4-year-old blues and will shine at age 5. (6) BONDI LOCKDOWN A has picked up a check in all seven stateside starts including a string of recent second-place finishes. Australian import seems to go as fast as he needs to but never wants to take the top spot. (5) STELLAR YANKEE proved last time that he can step up at any time. He’s a true competitor that can take advantage of the situation. Race 10: Non-winners $20,000 in last 4 or 9 races life - $50K GTD Pick 4 (9) SPORT SECRET has climbed the ladder with consecutive victories by more than two lengths and that’s a pattern that can produce a double-digit priced winner when they reach what is perceived to be one of the higher classes. While this field has a number of horses that are capable of winning, none of them jump off the page. (7) BRUE HANOVER couldn’t go with the Preferred horses but should feel more at home with these, possibly as the chalk. (5) ART SCAPING comes off a nice win at Dover and while he may be in tough, a good trip can help him overcome. Race 11: $25,000-$30,000 Claiming Handicap (10) ALTA BLUES A was used to the front, got shuffled back behind a tired (10) HUNT FOR CASH, then dealt with stretch traffic and finished up very willingly late. Brett Bittle trainee is going to offer good value from post 10 and he only needs some form of reasonable trip to have a shot. (5) HUNT FOR CASH drops in for a slightly lower claiming tag to gain access to a better post. The road to the front will be much easier this week and if he doesn’t get shuffled by too many other leavers he should have a good win chance. (3) CELLMATE goes for his fourth straight win and is clearly a contender. (1) REVOLVER N woke up nicely with a catch driver added last time. Race 12: Non-winners $3,000 (NW L2 $3,300) in last 4 or $1,250 p.s. in 2024 (8) DUDDIE’S LOR is very comfortable in this class and has won two of his last three in NW3000. Interestingly the lone loss came most recently and the connections gave him a few weeks off to freshen him up. Nine-year-old is quick off the gate and should be sitting no worse than a pocket trip here behind (10) GAITWAY GUY, who won each of his last two starts in this condition and also has some early zip. (5) MAC’S MARVEL gets some class relief here and would be no surprise. (1) ROLL WITH THE FLOW gets in off the AE list and seems to have found a spot where he can do some damage if he awakens. He really hasn’t been in this cheap, ever. [DRF HARNESS: Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter] Race 13: Non-winners $5,000 (NW L2 $5,500) in last 4 or $1,500 p.s. in 2024 (8) SLING SHOCK flashed early speed and was a good second behind a horse that is racing two classes higher this week. He’s no lock to win but he figures to bring another top effort. (3) TWIN B HEART THROB was racing against better when last seen here and finished a good second in NW7500. (6) DECISION DAY has come alive in recent weeks and we all know how classy this guy can be when right; needs better trip than last time. Race 14: Trackmaster 77.5 (NW L2/2L4 78/78.5) or less (4) CURBSIDE PICKUP went insane fractions on the engine in his debut for these connections and I have to expect we’ll see some changes and a better performance in a field without a standout. (1) DANCE IT OUT has finished second in his last two tries in this condition. (5) GEMINI EXPRESS has proven capable of stepping up in the TM77 class previously.