MEET STATS: 233-68-44-27 / $363.40 (-$102.60) BEST BETS: 16-5-4-0 / $25.80 (-$6.20) SPOT PLAYS: 17-2-5-2 / $7.20 (-$18.80) BEST BET: J M MANDAMIN (7th) SPOT PLAY: GOOD ROCKIN (3rd) Race 1: Non-winners 2 (NW L2 3) races life/Maidens draw inside - Pick 5 (2) COUNTRY MOUSE doesn’t appear to be fast enough but let’s take into consideration that he is coming out of a barn that is 1-for-65 the last four years (the win being with this guy last time) and moving into the best barn in North America. Unless he’s odds-on I’ll be taking my chances. (8) JK TOGETHER AGAIN, (7) LAZARUS STAR and (9) CAPTAIN BAZINGA all have early speed and form. Any of them could win if the top pick doesn’t show up as I expect. [DRF HARNESS: Get Harness Eye PPs for this card] Race 2: Non-winners $7,500 (NW L2 $8,351) in last 4 or $1,750 p.s. in 2024/TM 83.5 or less (2) IGNATIUS A came over from Yonkers and won immediately. We’ve seen this guy get sharp and go some big miles over this track and I believe he’ll still be fair value here. (1) SPORT SECRET raced well from outside posts at Philly and should appreciate the inside position here on the bigger track. (7) BONNIPRINCLOUIS N had a good trip but came up flat late in his first start for Burke. Perhaps with that race in hand he’ll improve. (10) WISE THINKING hasn’t been to the track for a betting race since June. That said, he’s capable of a big mile at times. I’ll probably just watch this week unless he comes out in the post parade looking super. [DRF BETS: Wager on tonight's Meadowlands card at DRF Bets.com!] Race 3: $15,000-$20,000 Claiming Handicap - Survivor 7 (6) GOOD ROCKIN went an even mile from an impossible spot in his return to the Hernandez barn. It has been over two years since he’s had this guy but he did well with him then and this looks like a great spot for a horse that has his issues but can beat these. (2) I’LL HUNT YOU DOWN raced well in his first start since June and can certainly move forward off that mile. (7) LUKE MCGOOK tucked and came uncovered last time while racing gamely until the wire. Another similar effort will put him in the running for the top spot. Race 4: Non-winners $7,500 (NW 2L5 $8,250) in last 4 or $1,750 p.s. in 2024/TM 86.5 or less (9) HIGH FASHION STAR was super on the front two starts back and simply overmatched last time. If she is sent here a victory is within her grasp; Boyd’s choice over #2. (1) PASS LINE is the best horse in the race but she hasn’t been right in a long time. Can she put it all together against what is soft competition for her? (2) JM BETONSIX needs to keep her act together and get a decent trip. If those things come together she has a shot. Race 5: Non-winners $7,500 in last 4 or $1,750 p.s. in 2024/NW $12,500 L4--TM 86 or less draw outside (5) ORDAINED comes off a monster mile over this track and anything close to that effort will result in another victory. (3) HUSTLENOMICS is certainly not the best horse in the field but he’s racing as well as any of them right now. (9) SWANS EYE was last seen in the Breeders Crown and returns off a two month break. She obviously fits nicely and the qualifier was strong. Race 6: Non-winners $12,500 (NW L2 $14,000) in last 4 or $2,250 p.s. in 2024 or 8 races-$70K life/TM 87 or less - $50K GTD Pick 4 (7) OAKWOOD HEYMIKI IR is undefeated in four starts since coming to the U.S. and there is no reason to believe that streak is going to end versus this group. (2) PRIMARY COLORS certainly faces an easier overall group this week outside of the top pick. (6) TIP TOP CAT has done well on mile tracks in his career so don’t be shocked if he shows up with a better mile. (3) FOR ONCE INMY LIFE has been as consistent as they come, though I think he’s a notch below some of these if they are going on all cylinders. Race 7: $25,000-$30,000 Claiming Handicap (10) J M MANDAMIN remains in for a $30,000 tag and I’m not sure they can beat him even from the outside draw. (9) HUNT FOR CASH was second best behind the top pick two weeks ago from the same posts. History may very well repeat itself. (2) LYONS LIBERTY has a post edge on the top pair and that may help him get second and at worst third. Race 8: Winners 2-4 (NW L2 or 3YO 5) races or $50,000 (NW L2 or 3YO $60,000) life - Pick 6 (5) ZEPPOLE HANOVER added Lasix and raced very well upon arrival. He could be even better in start two with the medication in place. (2) MAXIM HANOVER just added Lasix as well and qualified nicely. Three-year-old has kept some good company and is certainly good enough if ready. Note that Buter chose here over #5. (1) TARANAKI hasn’t been seen since September when he was fourth in the NYSS final. The raw ability is there but it is hard to know how the sharp Freehold qualifiers will translate to the big track. Race 9: Non-winners $12,500 (NW L2 $14,000) in last 4 or $2,250 p.s. in 2024 or 8 races-$70K life/TM 87 or less This is a very soft NW12500 and perhaps (4) BELMONT ROYALE N can take advantage. He had no chance last time from post 10 versus a better group and lands in a great post to race from on or off the pace. (5) LUNAR has won two of four starts since joining this barn. (7) STELLAR YANKEE has done his best recent work down in class a bit but as mentioned, this is a softer field for this class. Race 10: Preferred Pace - $50K GTD Pick 4 (2) SPRING INHIS STEP A tracks Ruthless Hanover last time and was able to sprint past in the lane. We should still get about 3-1 or so that he really is that good, so I’ll stick with him. (5) RUTHLESS HANOVER is the class of the race on paper but I’d need closer to 9-5 to take a swing with him now and I doubt we’ll get it. (6) MAXIMUS MIKI still hasn’t missed the board this year. Race 11: Non-winners $7,500 (NW L2 $8,250) in last 4 or $1,750 p.s. in 2024/TM 83 or less (6) NO TURNING BACK went down the road in his last try in this condition and certainly has a chance to do the same thing again in this field. (8) TOCCOA FALLS is extremely erratic and prone to break at any time, but he’s also the fastest horse in the field. (4) MOCHA JAVA sat patiently along the cones and finished with some late life in the stretch while having no chance to get a big check. He gets a new driver here and I wouldn’t be surprised if he was closer to the pace. Race 12: Trackmaster 80.5 (NW L2/2L4/L6 81/81.5/84.36) or less (7) ROSE RUN ZEKE just missed in his first start for this barn and you can expect him to be even better in his second trip to the track after two months on the sidelines. (1) JD CAMDEN GB is worth a long look on the trainer change to Burke. (2) MAGNIFICO HANOVER is still winless on the year but he owns a number of decent efforts lately. Perhaps his second start on Lasix will provide improvement. (10) SAN DOMINO A is a classy horse that is down in class. While the post hurts, I wouldn’t be shocked if he saw a form reversal. [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 (4) DA DELIGHTFUL two-moved to the front and got swallowed up in the shadow of the wire with the trainer in the bike. Boyd joins the team this week on the class drop! (2) SWEET JEFF IR is another horse moving into the Burke barn and this guy seems to be nicely classified. (10) GAITWAY GUY is too sharp to ignore despite the bad post and bump up in company. He has the early speed to overcome and get into the exotics. Race 14: Non-winners $3,000 (NW L2 $3,300) in last 4 or $1,250 p.s. in 2024 (6) IT’S IN THE STARS gets a similar drop to a few of these but also gets to move in from post 10 to sic tonight. With little early speed to his outside, he should have a real chance of controlling the action. (4) MY PAL JOE was used hard to the front and tired late last out. He certainly fits nicely with these and on his best (which may be in the rearview mirror) is the one to beat. (2) STRAIGHT TALK can’t seem to work out the right trip; threat if he does.