MEET STATS: 125-45-21-16 / $252.00 (+$2.00) BEST BETS: 9-3-1-0 / $9.20 (-$8.80) SPOT PLAYS: 9-2-3-1 / $7.20 (-$10.80) BEST BET: NET WEIGHT (2nd) SPOT PLAY: SOUTH BEACH STAR (12th) Race 1: Meadowlands Amateur Drivers Club Trot - Pick 5 (8) MASSIVE MATTER gets a slight post edge on main rival (10) HOBBS this week and that might be just enough for him to turn the tables. The latter certainly has the early speed to overcome the bad draw and seems like a Pick 5 must-use. (2) FASHION CANTAB has a nice post edge but needs to show more than last time; capable on best. [DRF HARNESS: Get Harness Eye PPs for this card] Race 2: Kindergarten Consolation 2YO C&G Trot (1) NET WEIGHT turned in a really nice effort switching to the big track as he was kept on hold most of the mile and came charging home in the stretch. The small field and weaker competition should set this improving youngster up for a win. (3) YANNICK G KEMP has displayed early speed at times and would be wise to use those tactics here in a race with no obvious pacesetter. (4) THEMONEYISBACK S seems to be fast enough if the #1 doesn’t improve as expected. [DRF BETS: Wager on tonight's Meadowlands card at DRF Bets.com!] Race 3: Non-winners 2 (NW L2 or TM 79.01 or less 3) races or $20,000 life/2YO & Maidens draw inside - Survivor 7 (5) SASSY ZAZA jumped it off before the start in her debut for this barn and I have to think they’ll make the necessary adjustments to right the ship against a field with no standout. (6) KELLY’S GREATEST and (3) MONI MAN have been very consistent all year, with the former hitting the board 10 times in 16 starts and the latter seven-for-eight at finishing in the top three. Race 4: Kindergarten Consolation 2YO C&G Pace (3) CAPTAIN OPTIMISTIC was very competitive in the Breeders Crown and Metro but ultimately failed as the chalk in both races. There are no excuses tonight. (4) RAILROAD STATION is better than his last effort but might have to settle for second here. (6) PAPI’S ROCKET is the other logical exacta player but you have to pick one when dealing with short prices and I prefer #4. Race 5: Meadowlands Amateur Drivers Club 1 Pace (2) BETTE TINA has been racing well when she draws well at Freehold. Five-year-old picks up Joe Lee here and he typically has them in the right spot. (6) MACHLICIOUS has good early speed but lacks many wins of late. (9) BIONIC tends to fire out regardless of post and would be no surprise on the win end. Race 6: Kindergarten 2YO Filly Trot Final - $50K GTD Pick 4 (8) CHAMPAGNE PROBLEMS had no problems blowing away the competition last weekend as she returned to form. The post isn’t ideal but that might get us a slightly better price on the tote board. (1) R DUTCHESS comes off a scratched-sick line which could boost her price. Notice that she is the fastest filly in the field. (4) VOGUISH seems to have turned the corner and a win here would go a long way to getting a return on her yearling sale price. Race 7: Kindergarten 2YO Filly Pace Final (6) RODEO DRIVE DEO got unlucky to draw post 10 in the Breeders Crown and still was able to finish third. You have to like her chances versus this group, though I would stop short of calling her a lock. (3) CHAKRA took the week off last time when racing from the back of the pack. You have to think she’ll be closer to the front this time around. (2) DURATION has completely lost my confidence, which likely means she’ll wake up with a big mile. Race 8: Kindergarten 2YO C&G Trot Final - Pick 6 (2) MARYLAND won the Breeders Crown when he had every right to give in late in the mile. Chapter Seven colt is simply the best in this division and is a deserving 1-9 favorite. (7) GAP KRONOS S did what he could be simply couldn’t gain much ground in the stretch last weekend. That was his first start in a few weeks and I expect he’ll be ready for a big effort tonight. (3) MONSERRATE comes off two dominating efforts in a row but faces a different level of opponent tonight in #2. Race 9: Winners over $10,000 in last 4 or $50,000 life/NW $12,500 L4 or TM 88.4 or less (6) KOBE’S GIGI picked up her game in start two for trainer Ron Burke and she’s the class of this field in my book. (5) VALAR DOHAERIS is another horse entered tonight that was done in by an outside post in the Breeders Crown. She’s making her third start back from vacation and in theory should be able to fire a big shot. (3) BEACH COWGIRL has been facing good competition and in theory should be competitive here. Race 10: Kindergarten 2YO C&G Pace Final - $50K GTD Pick 4 (8) MANOLETE is a horse I like because he’s a gamer. This colt does his best work near the lead and I kind of like the outside post because he’ll be the last one to the front. (6) PAPIS PISTOL is a deserving favorite after a monster mile last time. If he can repeat that effort the rest of these are in trouble. (4) SEAWORTHY HANOVER impressively rallied from the back to win last time. Race 11: Non-winners $5,000 (NW L2 $5,500) in last 4 (1) MAMBA put in a strong effort on the engine only to lose to a fresh off-the-pace foe. Let’s stick with him. (7) DEAN B HANOVER had the top pick leave to his inside, was forced to settle for a tuck fourth and then finished evenly. I’m undecided whether he can win unless he finds another gear. (5) MARCUS SEELSTER adds an aggressive driver and is worth at least some consideration. Race 12: Winners over $10,000 in last 4 or $50,000 life/NW $12,500 L4 draw inside (4) SOUTH BEACH STAR does his best work on or near the front and stepping down in class this week he seems highly likely to get an aggressive steer. (6) IT’S MY SHOW drops out of the Breeders Crown like the top pick but I imagine he’ll go the conservative route tonight. (5) MAD MAX HANOVER is certainly sharp and his best would give him a shot. [DRF HARNESS: Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter] Race 13: Non-winners $3,000 (NW L2/L6 $3,300/$3,365) in last 4/4YO NW 1 race in 2024 with 15 starts (3) ON TIME DELIVERY comes off a good qualifier and although Zeron opts off for (6) ROCKIN THE ACES, I’m not so sure this guy won’t bring a big effort off the short vacation; likely at a decent price. The latter has a couple of starts under his belt now after nearly five months on the sidelines; ready to fire best? (4) MAJOR SHOW adds Gingras and sometimes he moves horses up. Race 14: Non-winners $7,500 in last 4 or 5 races life/TM 84 (NW L2/2L4 84.5/85) or less (1) STELLAR YANKEE steps up in class but really doesn’t tackle a very tough field; can repeat. (3) ROCKIN ON VENUS lands in a pretty good spot upon arrival from Pocono and he’s won here in the past. (9) CENTURY KOMODO got caught in a very fast mile last weekend. (10) ITS SATURDAY NIGHT was late for Lasix last time and maybe that was for the best considering how fast that race went. His best should get him into the exotics.