WINTER MEET STATS: 56-16-4-5 / $80.80 (-$31.20) BEST BETS: 4-1-1-0 / $2.80 (-$5.20) SPOT PLAYS: 4-1-1-0 / $4.00 (-$4.00) BEST BET: GALLIE GETAWAY (12th) SPOT PLAY: TOUGH MUSCLE (5th) Race 1: Non-winners 2 (NW L2 3) races or $20,000 life/Maidens draw inside - Pick 5 (3) LYONS TREACHEROUS gets to take a serious dip in class here after picking up smaller checks in two straight. He’s only 2-for-22 lifetime but should take charge versus these. (4) NOTORIOUS HANOVER has been slowly getting his legs under him after missing most of 2024. Another step forward could be a winning one. (2) CHIEF BOGO powered away in the stretch when asked in his return qualifier. That said, he passed a TM71 and a $4,000 claimer in the process, so don’t get too excited. Bartlett did chose here over the top pick but that could be due to future potential since he’s a 3-year-old. [DRF HARNESS: Get Harness Eye PPs for this card] Race 2: Non-winners $2,000 (NW L2 $2,300) in last 4 (2) URIEL BLUE CHIP put in a solid effort in his first start for the Bongiorno barn and they tend to excel in start two. Moving to an inside post we should see an aggressive drive from Bartlett. (3) DUDDIE’S LOR is a favorite of mine when he reaches these basement conditions. Don’t be shocked if he comes to play. (1) STRAIGHT TALK reached this condition last weekend and improved to finish third. Let’s use him in the exotics. [DRF BETS: Wager on tonight's Meadowlands card at DRF Bets.com!] Race 3: Non-winners $5,000 (NW L2 $5,500) in last 4 - Survivor 7 (4) CAPTAIN CRUSADER A was perhaps a bit flat last time in a race where he was expected to do better than fourth. Another class drop comes this week and Lasix gets added to the equation. (7) MAMBA also steps down the class ladder a notch. Five-year-old took air on the rim and held well last time out. (6) SURFSIDE BEACH overcame post 10 to be second last Saturday. Race 4: Non-winners $7,500 (NW L2 $8,351) in last 4 This is an interesting race because while it is listed as NW7500 it plays on the fringes of that class at best and more like a NW5000. (8) ROCKIN THE ACES tried to leave the gate last week but had too much company to his inside and aborted. Then he got stacked up in the outer flow through somewhat soft fractions and had no shot. I’ll try him at a price here. (9) INTEREST FREE A is the lone class-dropper in the field and with that worth some consideration. (2) VILLIAM saved ground and shook free to just miss last week; chance with similar trip. Race 5: Non-winners $12,500 (NW 2L5 $13,750) in last 4 or 8 races life (5) TOUGH MUSCLE took a year off and was pretty bad upon his return in November of 2024 but was like a new horse after two more months on the sidelines. Notice that he was a pretty good 4-year-old and maybe what he showed last time is just the tip of the iceberg. (2) ANTOGNONI S got co-owner Yannick Gingras down to qualifiers and the Swedish import uncorked an insane 26 1/5 final quarter to catch the attention of just about every harness handicapper on the planet. He obviously has a huge shot here but you’re looking at odds-on for a horse that could very well be raced conservatively. (3) DISTANT DRUMS had all kinds of trouble finding room last week and wound up making a break while appearing to have plenty left in the tank. I’ll be using him on my Pick 5 ticket. Race 6: $20,000-$25,000 Claiming Handicap - $50K GTD Pick 4 This is a great wintertime race with plenty of form and early speed types signed on. (3) GOOD ROCKIN drops back in for a claiming tag tonight and while some of his best races have come near the front (which he’s unlikely to get here), he’s a very capable horse from anywhere when on his game. Take the price and hope the trip works out. (10) CELLMATE is the sharpest horse in the race and he’s already been claimed twice for this tag so you know they’ll want to get him involved. Post 10 means you’ll get a fair price and you’ll just have to hope that Bartlett can work out a trip. (6) MAKE MY DEO comes down from Batavia for a new barn and you have to respect that he’s been on the board in more than half of his 105 career starts. Race 7: Trackmaster 80.5 (NW L2/2L4 81/81.5) or less (1) T DOG is feeling really good right now and is very much capable of besting this group at a double-digit price. (4) JD CAMDEN GB was part of a very fast pace and lived to tell about it with a victory in his first start for Burke. Four weeks off is a slight concern but this barn tends to have them ready when they hit the track. (2) BLOODHOUND is shooting for four straight and should be able to handle another bump up in company. (8) TOTO HANOVER perked up with a catch-driver last time and a repeat is far from impossible. Race 8: Winners 2-4 (NW L2 5) races or $50,000 (NW L2 $62,500) life - Pick 6 (6) LOU VUITTON couldn’t quite find himself as a 3-year-old but the pure speed is there. Qualifier was fast enough to have him ready and he shouldn’t be an awful price. (5) CAPTAIN BAZINGA picks up Bartlett this week and will take a ton of tote action; one to beat. (7) TARANAKI made a big move when last seen but got scratched-sick a couple of weeks back. There seems to be some go in him and the return will be big if he works out the right trip. Race 9: Non-winners $12,500 (NW L2 $14,000) in last 4 or 8 (NW L2 9) races or $70,000 life (5) SHERLOCK N got everything his own way but boy did he impress with that smooth as silk 25 4/5 final quarter. It’s hard to know exactly what we’ll get from a horse with one start in New Zealand in the last 15 months. Something tells me he’s the real deal. (6) BUILD THE WALL just keeps winning. This is a new challenge for him but he has the speed and form to make it happen. (1) SLING SHOCK needs a trip but can compete at least for the underneath spots. (10) MAXIM HANOVER couldn’t be any sharper; post hurts. (3) MAD MAX HANOVER picks up top driver Jason Bartlett. Race 10: Non-winners $20,000 in last 4 or 10 races life or $5,000 p.s. in 2024 - $50K GTD Pick 4 Here’s another really nice race filled with sharp horses that can win. (2) CHASE H HANOVER won’t take a ton of pari-mutuel action yet he is one of the contenders in my book. In his first start for this barn he raced evenly following a month on the sidelines. He’s proven capable of putting up big miles. (1) PRIMARY COLORS has found himself in recent weeks and we all know he can pop a big mile if needed. (6) AARDIES FLASH N is undefeated in four starts since coming to the States. The 40 days on the sidelines is a concern, as is Bartlett going to #1. Race 11: $15,000 Claiming (7) LYONS LIBERTY takes a significant drop in class and should be hustling to the front. (10) APERTIF wired a field for this claiming price last weekend. Post 10 isn’t ideal but he is capable. (2) OVER THE HORIZON returns from a seven week break with Lasix added and at a reduced claiming price. I wouldn’t be surprised if he won but an exotics slot is more likely. Race 12: Trackmaster 77.5 (NW L2/2L4 78/78.5) or less (1) GALLIE GETAWAY couldn’t handle tougher from post nine with the trainer in the bike. Class drop tonight and Boyd hopping in the bike should be enough to handle this field. (3) YER SO BAD is fairly sharp coming out of amateur races; driver change now. (5) SIX FEET APART didn’t lose by much last week and was racing well before that. [DRF HARNESS: Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter] Race 13: Non-winners $3,000 (NW L2 $3,300) in last 4 (3) WARRAWEE XTREME flashed speed and flamed out in his debut for this barn and then a week later he was wiped out before showing what he had left. Let’s give him another shot picking up Bartlett. (2) RAVEN BANNER N has been finishing very strong week after week; needs smooth sailing. (8) BB LUCKY BOY is dropping down and figures to be winging on the engine. Race 14: Trackmaster 74.5 (NW L2/2L4 75/75.5) or less (5) SMART N SASSY had no shot from post seven last time and prior to that he came first over versus the 3-5 chalk. Four-year-old could provide some value considering his recent lines. (1) BIONIC is certainly fast enough and he has the early speed to gain prime position. (8) LANESIDE LOGIC GB exits the amateur ranks for a regular conditioned event and picks up a catch-driver.