WINTER MEET STATS: 112-31-12-12 / $195.80 (-$28.20) BEST BETS: 8-2-2-0 / $7.80 (-$8.20) SPOT PLAYS: 8-1-2-0 / $4.00 (-$12.00) BEST BET: LYONS STEEL (9th) SPOT PLAY: IGNATIUS A (4th) Race 1: Non-winners $7,500 in last 4 - Pick 5 (8) STABLE GENIUS is the best horse in this race when he’s on his game and it does seem that his breaking issues are behind him. His first start since November last weekend was solid and I expect even more now. (4) DISTANT DRUMS has been racing well but unable to find the right situation to get a win. Moving inside helps but the top pick is just better. (3) PURPLE LORD gets some serious class relief and should be put in play. [DRF HARNESS: Get Harness Eye PPs for this card] Race 2: $10,000 Claiming It is difficult to get excited about any of these horses on the win end but we have to pick someone. (5) AARON’S ACE looked to be under somewhat of a hold behind the gate and then got very lazy down the backstretch in his first start in four weeks. I’ll take a shot that he awakens in start two for this barn. (7) SECOND BRUISER wired a field that was probably better than this one last time; clear threat. (2) HES A SWEETHEART stopped badly after a five week absence; more now? [DRF BETS: Wager on tonight's Meadowlands card at DRF Bets.com!] Race 3: $15,000 Claiming - Survivor 7 (6) GOOD ROCKIN sat the pocket behind slow fractions last week, didn’t have room for at least half the stretch and was steady late. He’ll be firing to the front here and has a good shot picking up Miller. (3) APERTIF is the other logical horse to consider in the field. He was a good second last time and will be sitting no worse than second. (4) SWEET IDEAL needs a little pace help if his late rally is going to work. I like him better on the bottom of your tickets. Race 4: Non-winners $5,000 (NW L2 $5,500) in last 4 (1) IGNATIUS A was the victim of bad decision making last week as his driver made a quick blitz at a leader which is a bit of a runaway. Hopefully he’s learned his lesson and waits to unleash this guy’s powerful move. (2) ROCKIN THE ACES gets post and class relief this week; contender. (4) ON ACCIDENT is an honest sort who has well over a 50% career in-the-money percentage. Race 5: Non-winners 2 (NW L3 3) races life/Maidens draw inside (8) BORNINLOCKDOWN GB took air the entire final turn and was a very confident winner in his first qualifier. Last time Miller had him on hold the entire mile as he was mostly bottled up in traffic for the stretch. Import should be plenty acclimated after the two miles, though it is worth noting that Miller chose #10. (2) CHIEF BOGO battled gamely in his return from a long break in action and should be tighter now. (7) LAZARUS STAR deserves some respect off his last winning mile. Race 6: Non-winners $7,500 (NW L2 $8,351) in last 4 - $50K GTD Pick 4 People will likely be down on (1) MAD MAX HANOVER because he had live cover and simply held his spot without gaining late. This guy has always done his best work on the lead and I’m hoping with the class drop he’ll be handled aggressively at a good price. (5) BRUTALLYHANDSOME A also dips down as he exits the same race as the top pick. He lacked a big rally in that mile but notice he won his last starts in a NW7500. (6) CAPTAIN UP was so sharp in his qualifier with Bongiorno taking over the training. I’m interested in him here but not at a short price. (8) SHERLOCK N certainly has a chance with a decent trip but might be overbet with McCarthy taking over the lines. Race 7: Trackmaster 80.5 (NW L2/2L4 81/81.5) or less (3) CAVIART CAMDEN comes off a useful qualifier. Six-year-old is extremely dangerous when he can work out a trip and there seems to be ample early speed signed on here to set him up. (8) TOTO HANOVER has the early speed and determination to make the front. He just may be sharp enough to work out a win if for some reason a few to his inside elect not to leave hard. (1) DANCE IT OUT steps up off an open-lengths win but shows lines in his career that says he can handle it and Marohn chose here over #8. (5) ARDEN MESSI N was overbet last time and raced well while unable to win; player with the right trip. Race 8: Trackmaster 83.5 (NW L2/2L4 84/85.43) or less - Pick 6 (7) RIFLEMAN was buried along the cones, couldn’t find room until mid-stretch and finished very willingly. Seven-year-old needs a bit of help but he’s sharper than he looks on paper. (6) T DOG is very sharp right now and deserves respect. (3) KAPTAIN KARLOS wasn’t bad at all in his return qualifier and he’s definitely fast enough to go with these. I’d consider taking a shot with him at least underneath at the right price. (9) CURBSIDE PICKUP has won three straight and seems to simply find ways to get it done lately. Race 9: Non-winners $12,500 (NW L2 $14,000) in last 4 or 8 races life (8) LYONS STEEL dropped to this class last week and wound up with a pocket trip. He got shut off to the inside by a very good horse on the lead and when he finally cleared outside it was too late. While he remains in the same class on paper tonight, this field is softer than last week’s group. (4) MAXIM HANOVER comes out of the same race as the top pick and went off at shorter odds that night. As a horse without much early speed, the shift inside is key; main threat. (6) STELLAR YANKEE can step up from time to time in spots like this one. (2) SPIRIT OF STLOUIS N has plenty of overseas credentials but hasn’t shown enough here yet. I will say the last qualifier was good. Race 10: Non-winners $12,500-$20,000 in last 4 or 8 races life/TM 86.5 (NW L2/2L4 87/87.5) to 89.5 or less - $50K GTD Pick 4 I absolutely loved the qualifier from (2) WILLOWTIME in his debut for new trainer Jeff Cullipher. Driver Tyler Buter tried to leave and was five wide into the turn as a bunch of others had the same idea. He was gapped out by the tired foe he was following and made up a bunch of ground to catch the top pack. The 4-year-old was kept on hold behind cover until mid-stretch and powered clear with ease. This is no doubt a strong field and Buter opted for #9, but I’ll take the price and hope Willow can step up as expected. (6) BLACK MAGIC showed nothing returning from many months on the sidelines from post 10. I expect we’ll see a much better performance this week from a better post with the start under his belt. (8) QUEEN OF AMERICA S is perfect in two starts on these shores. She’s the one to beat but not quite unbeatable in my book. (9) OUTSIDE THE FIRE is back on the big track after making a break at Dover last time. He could turn things around in a hurry. Race 11: Non-winners $2,000 (NW L2 $2,300) in last 4 (1) DUDDIE’S LOR dropped to this level last time but wound up getting a tough first-over journey. I like him best on the lead or in the pocket. Hopefully we get that trip versus a field with plenty of question marks. (2) PASSA-GRILLE BEACH can be excused for the last effort in the amateur ranks. His prior starts here were against much better. (4) JACK’S LEGEND returns to The Meadowlands at a far reduced level. Will the millionaire perk up? Race 12: $20,000-$30,000 Claiming Handicap This is a tricky race despite the short field due to the number of potential early speed players. Which ones will insist on the front and which will back off? (6) CELLMATE returns to the Mark Ford barn where he won both of his starts. I like his versatility here. (7) HUNT FOR CASH always leaves the gate hard and if he makes it without having to go 26 and change this week he’ll prove tough to beat. (3) IMSTAYNALIVE isn’t as sharp as some of the others but he seems unlikely to be on the front and could take advantage if the pace is accelerated. [DRF HARNESS: Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter] Race 13: Trackmaster 77.5 (NW L2/2L4 78/78.5) or less (2) SPIRIT OF TRUTH is the only horse in the field to show a somewhat recent winning line in this class. I’m not confident of a victory but this 13-year-old has as good a shot as any. (3) MR JOE COOL was just even last time having missed five weeks of racing; can show more now. Notice this barn brought one back from a similar layoff last week and finished second. (4) KATANA makes his return from six weeks on the sidelines. Maybe he returns fresh? He has a win and a second in a handful of career starts here. (1) LINCOLN BOULEVARD looks good off his recent effort at first glance, but that field was greatly reduced nearing post time as horses scratched and he had a great ground-saving trip. Race 14: Trackmaster 74.5 (NW L2/2L4 75/75.5) or less (4) BUCKEYE EMERY returns to The Meadowlands for a new trainer and certainly found a soft spot. Making his second start back after a four week break could mean a peak effort is on tap. (3) CAVIART SKIPPER has been tackling any number of foes that would be 1-9 on the tote board in this spot. Logic would expect he’ll be competitive. (6) HOUND ON THE BEACH was racing two levels higher when last seen here on January 4. That said, he’s 1-for-35 going back to the start of 2024.