WINTER MEET STATS: 84-22-9-10 / $103.80 (-$64.20) BEST BETS: 6-2-2-0 / $7.80 (-$4.20) SPOT PLAYS: 6-1-1-0 / $4.00 (-$8.00) BEST BET: BUILD THE WALL (10th) SPOT PLAY: GAZOO (3rd) Race 1: Non-winners $5,000 (NW 2L5 $5,940) in last 4 or in 2024-25 - Pick 5 (6) TOUGH MUSCLE was a horse I thought might improve in his second start back and could handle a big class jump but alas he regressed. Now he drops two classes and I’m going to hope he’s put in play despite having some early speed to his inside. (2) TOCCOA FALLS got hung on the rim last time versus better. He should be very competitive versus these. (8) HUTSLENOMICS is a bit more of a trip play but one that can succeed under the right circumstances. (9) SALEM SEELSTER went his best recent mile with Miller in the bike and he’s back tonight. [DRF HARNESS: Get Harness Eye PPs for this card] Race 2: $10,000 Claiming (4) I’LL HUNT YOU DOWN was last seen in late December when he won a $15K claimer. So why the drop tonight to $10K? My guess is that this isn’t the soundest horse judging by the fact that he didn’t race until 4 and only made 10 starts last year. Still, the qualifier was good enough to expect he’ll bring a good effort as they simply put him in the best spot to make money. (2) AYR PIONEER GB was racing well in December and came back just as sharp last weekend. (9) JOHNNY CHIP switches barns again and now we get a nice driver upgrade to Bartlett; very capable despite the post. [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 (8) GAZOO was completely blocked in his last start with plenty left and no chance to stretch his legs. He’s missed a few weeks since but that was because he couldn’t get in due to the number of entries in his classes. Six-year-old steps down the condition ladder tonight and will be on the move early. (1) HYPEBEAST and (2) DANCE IT OUT both get post relief and should stick much closer to the pace this time. Both are serious exotic players that could step up with the right trip if the top one falters. Race 4: Trackmaster 80.5 (NW L2/2L4 81/81.5) or less (1) LYONS BENJAMIN was a bit flat in his first start for this barn following more than five weeks on the sidelines. You should also note that the barn had a bad weekend with no winners and a couple of losing favorites. I’m expecting a nice turnaround tonight. (10) TOTO HANOVER proved he could handle the bump to this class last week and really isn’t hurt too much by the outside post due to his good early speed. (3) ARDEN MESSI N qualified back sharply with a big final quarter. His best is certainly good enough. Race 5: Winners 2-4 (NW L2 5) races or $50,000 life (4) BONAPARTE showed some good pure speed earlier last year before spending a bunch of time on the sidelines. One 1:53 4/5 qualifier wasn’t enough to get him tight and while he dropped a second and finished in 26 3/5 it wasn’t enough to compete. We should see closer to his best tonight. (6) CAPTAIN BAZINGA was clearly the horse to beat last week and he didn’t disappoint as the 4-5 chalk after getting soft fractions; beat him to win again. (3) TARANAKI has some ability and is one to consider at least underneath at a big price. Race 6: Non-winners $7,500 (NW L2 $8,351) in last 4 - $50K GTD Pick 4 (4) FLASH MOVE didn’t take a step forward in his second start back from a long break but that could’ve had to do with the stiff competition. This field is more in his comfort zone and notice that McCarthy takes the lines as he returns from winter hibernation. (2) IGNATIUS A is always a trip threat at this level from a good post. (3) DA DELIGHTFUL has early speed, decent success in this class and a catch driver in the bike this week. Race 7: $15,000 Claiming (3) HE’S HALF NAKED was a winner in this class when last seen here. Five-year-old is putting together a good career as a claimer and should offer fair value in this spot. (7) GOOD ROCKIN started the year in for this claiming price and won by over six lengths. Since then he’s taken on better successfully. Expect early speed and a good effort. (2) ALLSTAR CHEDDAR has a win and a second in his last two tries in this class; hard to toss. (9) REVOLVER N double drops tonight from a $25K tag to $15K. Two starts back he raced well. Last time he was flat as a pancake off live cover. He also hasn’t won since 2023. I’m fading him unless the price is 5-1 or higher. (1) URIEL BLUE CHIP was bet off the board last time and didn’t deliver, which was the case from all the horses in the barn. Maybe he awakens tonight. Race 8: Trackmaster 83 (NW L2/2L4 83.5/84) or less - Pick 6 (2) DREAM BIRD was looped away from the gate and had to work a bit for the front before giving way and getting shuffled back. In the stretch he dealt with some traffic and was just steady when clear. That was his first start in almost four weeks and perhaps we see more here at a fair price. (4) RIFLEMAN has been finishing a bit flat lately. Three starts back he raced very well near the lead and maybe his new pilot this week will change tactics. (9) DECISION DAY looks to have been sold after the last win. Classy veteran is capable if his new connections get the most out of him. Race 9: Non-winners $12,500 (NW 2L6 $14,301) in last 4 or since 9/1/24 or 8 races life (9) ANTOGNONI S had a great trip in his U.S. debut and absolutely destroyed the competition. I’m a bit surprised to see him right back in, which leads me to believe his connections will have him on go ahead of any potential staking prior to the Feb. 15 deadline. (10) BLACK MAGIC is the most accomplished horse in the field overall and you’ll certainly get a good price due to the combination of post, layoff and presence of the top pick. (7) GOLDEN RAIN S is undefeated in two starts on these shores but hasn’t raced in six weeks and Bartlett chose stablemate (8) BELLISSIMO FACE S. Race 10: Non-winners $12,500 (NW L2 $14,000) in last 4 or 8 races life or $75,000 life - $50K GTD Pick 4 (6) BUILD THE WALL floated away from the gate last week and got unlucky when another horse couldn’t clear the lead leaving them both parked. He went a gigantic mile in defeat and deserves another look here. (8) MAXIM HANOVER had absolutely no shot from post 10 and closed in 26 1/5 to no avail. Four-year-old figures to be closer tonight. (4) SHERLOCK N was bet like a sure thing and simply hung a bit late. He could certainly improve off that mile, though it is interesting that Stratton chose to drive #9 for his brother. (7) LYONS STEEL will likely be heading to the top tonight making his second start back after four weeks off; dangerous. (9) CHASE H HANOVER lured Stratton as mentioned on the class drop. Race 11: Non-winners $7,500 in last 4 (1) KING ALPHONSO was being asked for a lot to compete in NW12500 with one lone qualifier after eight months on the sidelines. Still, he raced reasonably well and should be ready to fire now on the class drop. (7) RITSON got a tour of the track from post 10 making his first try since December 14. He should show much more tonight. (3) RECKLESS REVIVER and (6) KEYSTONE APACHE are both dropping back down in class and each finished second in their last appearances in NW7500. Race 12: Non-winners $2,000 (NW L2 $2,300 – NW 1 race since 11/23/24 $2,465 – since 8/11/24 $2,930) in last 4 (1) RAVEN BANNER N drops back into the basement condition and should have every chance to win. That said, none of these horses really inspire much confidence. (5) CAPTAIN PLANET aired it out on the lead last time and stopped badly. He adds Lasix now and that could make all the difference. (3) STRAIGHT TALK is one of those horses that could win at 20-1 if the trip works out nicely, which could happen from the inside post in a blank field. (10) LINDY THE BRAVE was hung out last time and tired as expected. He drops in company and makes his second start off a brief 24-day break. (9) LITERL LAD HANOVER has been awful since the claim. Does the huge class drop tonight help? [DRF HARNESS: Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter] Race 13: Trackmaster 77.5 (NW L2/2L4 78/78.5) or less (5) GEMINI EXPRESS doesn’t appear to be in very good form while seemingly in a lower class but I’d argue that this TM77 has a softer field than he faced in the NW2000; weak call. (1) STONE COLD SAVAGE has won two straight in lower classes and would seem to be a good fit here with a top performance. (10) WHAMMER JAMMER is probably the most legitimate TM77 horse in the field right now, but he has post 10 and an amateur driver in the bike. Race 14: Trackmaster 74.5 (NW L2/2L4 75/75.5) or less (9) HEART OF DIXIE qualified back nicely and while you can’t see it in the PP lines, he’s been here many times in the past, all in higher classes. I wouldn’t be shocked if he’s ready to fire at a decent price. (7) TIN ROOF RAIDER A drops back down. His last start in this condition came from post 10 and he raced evenly with no shot. He can be a player in here given a smooth trip. (1) WALTS NATTY DATTY comes off three poor starts here at first glance, until you realize that he was facing much, much better foes in races that were going a couple of seconds faster; wake-up is possible.