WINTER MEET STATS: 28-7-2-3 / $35.60 (-$20.40) BEST BETS: 2-1-0-0 / $2.80 (-$1.20) SPOT PLAYS: 2-0-1-0 / $0.00 (-$4.00) BEST BET: LOUISVILLE GB (12th) SPOT PLAY: APERTIF (5th) Race 1: Non-winners 2 (NW L2 3) races life/Maidens draw inside - Pick 5 (8) AYR CORLEON GB had a great pace setup and looked like a sure winner before he got snapped up at the wire in his U.S. debut. If he steps up even slightly in his first start since October in Ireland then these are in trouble. (2) LAZARUS STAR remains at 1-for-27 lifetime but has been fairly consistent at hitting the board recently. (9) NOTORIOUS HANOVER had to work to get the front last time and tired after the tough trip. Still, that effort was a step in the right direction for a horse that hasn’t won a race in years. [DRF HARNESS: Get Harness Eye PPs for this card] Race 2: Trackmaster 74.5 (NW L2/2L4 75/75.5) or less (3) SIX FEET APART went a big mile in defeat with Miller hopping in the bike. He’s not here this weekend but Beckwith is a nice replacement against a soft field. (1) URBAN RENEWAL and (2) SAND SNIPER exit the amateur ranks and return to the TM conditions at a lower level than two starts back. Either could step up with the right trip. I’ll give the edge to #1 with Bartlett taking the lines. [DRF BETS: Wager on tonight's Meadowlands card at DRF Bets.com!] Race 3: Trackmaster 77.5 (NW L2/2L4 78/78.5) or less - Survivor 7 (6) BLOODHOUND admittedly had a great trip last week and I’m not thrilled that he’ll probably be under 2-1, but you can’t deny how sharp he is right now. Boyd also chose here over (7) LUKE MCGOOK, who has finished second four straight times and has a tactical edge with early speed. (8) URIEL BLUE CHIP qualified well following the claim and while he could win, I’m inclined to wait a start before playing on top. (3) MINDTRIP has been sort of going through the motions against tougher lately. He drops a smidge here and might be able to fill out the bottom exotics. Race 4: Non-winners $2,000 (NW L2 $2,300) in last 4 (1) YNOTTHISHOS gets some serious class relief tonight and you have to expect he’ll wake up. Note that he won here in April in 1:52 1/5 so he’s no stranger to the winner’s circle on a big track. (3) GEMINI EXPRESS reunites with Bartlett and the last time they hooked up this gelding won by six lengths in 1:51 4/5; using in Pick 5. (7) STRAIGHT TALK is another dropping a level and notice that Chisholm chose here over #3, so maybe he knows something we don’t. Race 5: $15,000 Claiming (5) APERTIF takes a step up in claiming price off a loss, which is a good show of confidence in the horse. Making his first start since June last time he had to wait for clearance in the three hole and finished willingly when finally catching daylight. (4) TIN ROOF RAIDER A has been moving in the right direction of late but he still needs some pace help to set him up. (1) ALLSTAR CHEDDAR won for this claiming price last weekend. Race 6: $25,000 Claiming - $50K GTD Pick 4 (2) CELLMATE has won four straight including two consecutive races in this class. Last time he left for position, brushed to the front, fought off heavy pressure from (7) ALTA BLUES A and dug in gamely. The latter put in a big mile in defeat and he’s a decent trip away from a win. (1) LAST GOODBYE rallied nicely from fourth over last time but he’s typically at the mercy of the pace scenario. (9) HUNT FOR CASH just missed behind the top pick after sitting a nice trip. The road to the front may be more difficult from post nine. Race 7: Non-winners $5,000 (NW L2 $5,500) in last 4 or $1,500 p.s. in 2024 (4) DECISION DAY has found his form over the last month and should be set up nicely here with plenty of speed to his inside and outside. (2) ON ACCIDENT woke up on the class drop last week and gets another ride at this level. (9) THEBEAUDENBLUES N finished with steady pace last time against a much better field. The trip will be key but he can certainly win. Race 8: Winners 2-4 (NW L2 5) or $50,000 life (NW L2 $62,500) life - Pick 6 (8) BUILD THE WALL has now won five straight if you don’t count the disqualification last week. I’m not sure he is a lock here but he’s clearly the horse to beat unless one of the others brings a top effort. (5) VANDIEMEN BLUECHIP has been fairly consistent in picking up good checks and this looks like one of the easier spots he’s been in lately. (9) ZEPPOLE HANOVER broke last time but I’m willing to look past that miscue because he was coming off a four week break in action. His best is definitely good enough. Race 9: Non-winners $7,500 (NW L2 $8,351) in last 4 or $1,750 p.s. in 2024 (3) CAPTAIN CRUSADER A gets class and post relief here. His last start in this condition was a victory on Sept. 7 and his prior try was a fast-closing third in a 1:48 4/5 back in July. (8) OUTLAW MAN N never got involved from post 10 a week ago but figures to be put in play moving in a couple of slots on the gate. (5) STAY GROUNDED is also moving down in class tonight. He was actually a couple of lengths back in second behind the top pick back in Sept. when last in a NW7500. (7) BEACH VIBES gets in off the AE list and also drops after being uninvolved last time. Improvement is certainly in the cards. Race 10: Non-winners $12,000 in last 4 or 8 (NW Last Start 9) life - $50K GTD Pick 4 (5) FLASH MOVE was conservatively handled in his first start since June and finished up willingly at 93-1 while dropping four seconds off his qualifier time. We’ll probably get closer to 30-1 here but I’ll take that on a horse that is clearly fast enough if ready. (1) HEZA CHARTTOPPER A looked loaded in the pocket last time and simply came up flat late when he finally got room. Maybe he prefers to pass on the outside? I’ll give him another shot as he continues to acclimate to racing on these shores. (10) FOR ONCE INMY LIFE has speed and great form; capable despite post, at least for the exotics. Race 11: Non-winners $7,500 (NW L2 $8,250) in last 4 or $1,750 p.s. in 2024/TM 83.5 (NW L2/2L4 84/84.5) or less (4) HUSTLENOMICS hasn’t been able to make any noise while up in class but was very good missing by a head when last in the NW7500 condition. He should offer fair value with others dropping as well. (2) WARRAWEE YANG is the likely favorite after rallying for third a week ago in NW12500. I’m not sure I love him at a shorter price but he can certainly win. (8) TACHYON was also third while up in company. He’s likely going to find some speed tonight; Bartlett chose #5. Race 12: Non-winners $7,500 in last 4 or $1,825 p.s. in last 6 or 5 races life/TM 83.5 or less (8) LOUISVILLE GB was driven with confidence and absolutely destroyed his competition last Saturday. This field is better but it may not matter. (10) CELIA B MONEY has been racing pretty well and the addition of Lasix tonight perhaps moves her up even further. (7) INTOTHEMYSTICMOON made two moves when second behind the top pick last time. An easier trip could get her a bit closer. [DRF HARNESS: Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter] Race 13: Trackmaster 80.5 (NW L2/2L4 81/81.5) or less (2) CURBSIDE PICKUP powered past the competition like they were standing still in his second try for this barn and Bartlett chose here over #’s 6, 7 and 10. (6) BETTOR B SIRIUS changes barns, adds Lasix and gets a new driver. There is certain reason for optimism that he could race very well. (3) GOOD ROCKIN raced well from a bad post last time. His best makes him competitive. (7) REAL PEACE is clearly feeling a bit better lately but I still think he needs to drop a level to do better than an exotic slot. Race 14: Non-winners $3,000 (NW L2 $3,300) in last 4 or $1,250 p.s. in 2024 (3) WARRAWEE XTREME emptied the tank on the lead in his first start for the Bongiorno barn. I’m a much bigger fan of horses making their second start for this trainer - see Curbside Appeal in race 13 - and I’ll stick with him even though Bartlett jumped off for #2. (5) IT’S IN THE STARS might be placed on the front this week judging by the competition. He had every right to be flat last time having missed a month of action. (1) HAGGARD drops down and should be a factor. He set his career mark here in 2024. (2) HUGH HESTON makes his second start off the bench and could certainly improve.