WINTER MEET STATS: 209-60-28-29 / $347.60 (-$70.40) BEST BETS: 14-3-5-0 / $12.20 (-$15.80) SPOT PLAYS: 15-2-3-2 / $7.80 (-$22.20) BEST BET: WRITE ME A ROSE (6th) SPOT PLAY: LUKE MCGOOK (12th) Race 1: Meadowlands Amateur Drivers Club 1 Pace - Pick 5 (5) GOOD ROCKIN comes into this race sharp and certainly will be heading to the top with the aggressive Yogi Sheridan taking the lines. (2) BLOODHOUND comes off some dull lines for sure but seems likely to wake up back in the amateur series. (9) ROJAN’S WAY hails from a barn that was very hot last weekend and this guy drops in for a claiming tag tonight. If the stable does well on Friday night then bump up the chances of this one. [DRF HARNESS: Get Harness Eye PPs for this card] Race 2: Trackmaster 74.5 (NW L2/2L4 75/75.65) or less (3) UNEXPECTED TWIST had a hint of late pace two starts back and seemed to be moving in the right direction but broke last time. Since the price will be right I’m going to excuse the miscue and take another shot versus a mostly dull group. (9) NATIONAL SPORT is far and away the sharpest horse in the field and the fact that he moves up the TM ladder doesn’t mean much when you look at the competition. (5) LOCKDOWN LOUIE N & (6) HERVEY HANOVER are both changing barns and either could awaken. [DRF BETS: Wager on tonight's Meadowlands card at DRF Bets.com!] Race 3: Winners 3-6 races life handicapped by wins - Survivor 7 (5) ZEPPOLE HANOVER went a big mile first-over only to suffer a narrow defeat to #7 off a perfect trip. Four-year-old figures to be sent to the front and should get a smoother journey. (2) JABBAR is a bit of a reach off his last mile but that was following a long time on the shelf. Huntsville-sired gelding has proven to be fast enough to go with these and you’re going to get a big price. (7) BONAPARTE hasn’t missed the board this year and is a clear player with any reasonable trip. (6) REMEMBER THE ALAMO is back in with his peers and could go back to his winning ways. Race 4: Non-winners $5,000 (NW L2 $5,500) in last 4 (6) HANDLELIKEAPORSCHE went a big mile at 17-1 and almost got the job done for us last time. I’ll stick with this very sharp horse. (1) READY TO SHINE raced better than I expected when losing by a nose after missing two months of action. Any improvement would put him right in the picture in this class. (7) STONEBRIDGE REEF has come back to the races in fine form and the class rise isn’t a big deal for a horse that has beaten much better in his career. Race 5: Non-winners 2 (NW L3 3) races life/Maidens draw inside (10) KURT LONGJOHN made a very impressive late move where he simply kicked into another gear in the closing yards of the mile. Post 10 ensures a good price on a horse that can certainly improve in his second start back from vacation, especially now that driver Stratton has more confidence in him. (1) DARKNSTORMY DEO turned in a game second-place qualifying finish last weekend and I was intrigued enough by the effort to consider using him in the Pick 5. (9) FEDERER made a very impressive first-over move on the backstretch at Pocono to win his debut. A few worthwhile notes though before you accept a short price – the leader he challenged (#3 here) broke; his last quarter should be 27 4/5 as the chart is off by a length; he was crawling and all out in the final yards. Race 6: Non-winners $7,500 (NW L2 $8,351) to $12,500 in last 4/TM 87 (NW 2L4 88.62) or less - $50K GTD Pick 4 (9) WRITE ME A ROSE plunges down the class ladder tonight off a much improved effort where he dropped a few seconds and came home in 26 4/5. I’m expecting to see early speed tonight and a big mile. (3) IGNATIUS A hasn’t won at this level recently but also hasn’t gotten the right trip; threat with a smooth journey. (1) DANCE PARTNER falls into a similar boat as the former in terms of needing the right trip; Zeron’s choice. Race 7: Non-winners $3,000 in last 4/TM 77.5 (NW L2/2L4 78/78.65) or less (2) ALWAYS IN FLIGHT was parked every step with a less accomplished driver last week and kept trying hard through the wire. This mare displayed ability at one point in her career and perhaps she’s finally ready to relight the fire. (5) TIFFANY BLUE has come back to the races sharp and while this is a class jump on paper, this field is far from filled with killers. (1) SWEETEST BELLE probably went a bit too fast on the engine last time and couldn’t last the mile; needs easier trip. Race 8: Trackmaster 80.5 (NW L2/2L4 81/81.5) or less - Pick 6 (6) SAULSBROOK HERO is perfect in two starts since joining the Cassar barn and showing up here. Seven-year-old has some class to him and there is no reason to believe he can’t climb the ladder successfully again. (4) SAVE ME A DANCE returns to the level of his last victory and you have to expect he’ll be put in play early. (7) WARRAWEE YANKEE & (9) SWEET IDEAL are both stepping up in class while in fine form. Neither would be a surprise on the win end. Race 9: Trackmaster 83.5 (NW L2/2L4 84/85.45) or less (1) GREY HORIZON returned from multiple months on the sidelines with a nice even effort where he dropped nine seconds off his Saratoga qualifier. Four-year-old changes conditions tonight and should be ready to do some damage. (2) DIVINE RIGHT also came back from time on the sidelines and he finished second behind a runaway winner in (6) BOBCAT BAY. Either of those two could win here, though I favor the former. Race 10: Winners 2-4 (NW L2 5) races or $50,000 (NW L2 $62,500) life - $50K GTD Pick 4 (1) FINITE displayed no signs of breaking issues in his qualifier while losing to a horse that is world’s better than any of these. With inside advantage and uncertainty as to which of the outside horses will leave, I’ll take a shot at a price. (6) LUKE’S BAR won first-over last time and is the one to beat here. (7) ROCK MY UNIVERSE has beaten #6 before and can certainly do it again with the right setup. (8) ROCKET MAN HILL hasn’t missed the board in 2025. Race 11: $10,000 Claiming (6) HECANDANCENCRUISE has won two straight since dropping to this claiming level and there is no reason to believe the good times won’t continue. (3) AYR PIONEER GB took a shot last week and that is a positive sign. He should easily be able to leave around the two to his inside and work out a good trip. (7) JOHNNY CHIP did more of the work in the race the top one won last time; needs a trip. Race 12: Non-winners $2,000 (NW L2 $2,300) in last 4 (4) LUKE MCGOOK comes off a throw-out line from post eight at Yonkers. Before that he had some traffic issues and late pace when last here. Five-year-old drops down and will be heard from with Bartlett taking the lines. (1) DUDDIE’S LOR has been too far out of things to make any noise lately. I wonder if Siegelman will fire out from pylon position. (8) WHOLE LOTTA LOU has big speed and gets a class drop here. Can he awaken? [DRF HARNESS: Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter] Race 13: Trackmaster 77.5 (NW L2/2L4 78/78.5) or less (3) WHAMMER JAMMER is very comfortable at this level but simply had a bad trip last time. This group seems softer than the one he just faced and I’m not sure trip will even matter. (2) KNOCKIN OUT picks up Miller and returns here against easier than his last appearance on this track. (7) KING SPENCER didn’t show much in his first start since August. Can show more now, and perhaps early speed as well. Race 14: Trackmaster 71 (NW L2/2L4 71.5/72.25) or less (6) THE OPENER has been very sharp over the last few weeks and deserves the call versus a shaky group. (4) STONE COLD SAVAGE has won in a higher class already this year. You have to think he’ll be firing to the front. (7) SKYWAY BILLY should flash some early speed here to look for position. If he finds the right seat and can shake free late a win is possible.