WINTER MEET STATS: 237-69-38-32 / $392.60 (-$81.40) BEST BETS: 14-5-5-0 / $21.60 (-$7.40) SPOT PLAYS: 17-3-3-3 / $11.40 (-$22.60) BEST BET: MAD MAX HANOVER (10th) SPOT PLAY: BARGAIN SHOPPER (14th) Race 1: Meadowlands Amateur Drivers Club 1 Pace - Pick 5 (4) GOOD ROCKIN made two moves in a very strong mile while second last week. He’s clearly the horse to beat tonight and we’ll be lucky to get even money. (5) ITS SHOWTIME draws in off the AE list and lands in a winnable spot for sure. Notice the last time he was in a MADC race the result was a 1:51 3/5 win. (10) WHAMMER JAMMER doesn’t land a good post but he can grind and close with the best of them. As the price should be decent I’ll be using him on my Pick 5 ticket in case the race shapes up his way. (7) GALLIE GETAWAY was second in the MADC two starts back and this barn makes a great living in these races. (2) ROJAN’S WAY was used hard last time and couldn’t finish his mile; moves inside; exotics must. [DRF HARNESS: Get Harness Eye PPs for this card] Race 2: Trackmaster 71 (NW L2/L4/L6 71.5/72/72.35) or less (2) TONY N ROCK was facing better when last seen here and while this guy doesn’t make you want to run to the windows, he should offer much better value than (3) SKYWAY BILLY, who comes off a visibly pleasing effort where he closed nicely for third. I’d warn that he has 18 seconds or third versus just four wins over his last 48 starts. (1) LOU ON THE BEACH moves into a new barn and certainly could awaken. (4) FERDINAND A is off a win and you know he’ll be firing to the front. Race 3: Meadowlands Amateur Drivers Club Trot - Survivor 7 (6) BUZZ has been racing out of town but shows plenty of success here, including a win and a second this year. Adamczyk should have him firing to the front and sitting no worse than a pocket trip. (4) BACARDI raced on the rim last time and couldn’t last the mile after the long journey. A smoother trip can end in a better result. (10) GINGERTREE STAKIAS has won two straight and he has enough early speed to overcome the outside post. That said, I’d want at least 4-1 to consider him. (9) MONEY MATTERS moves into the amateur ranks and I would like his chances much more from an inside post. Race 4: Non-winners $2,000 (NW L2 $2,300) in last 4 (2) DRACARYS Z was even in his first start for Eric Mollor but got backed out of the race all the way to last at Pocono most recently. I’m willing to give him another shot in a race with no standout. (8) ROCKIN THE ACES scratched late last week but is right back in to race tonight. He should be forwardly placed here. (1) GOOD INVESTMENT really had no shot last time while third-over at Pocono, though he could’ve come home with more late life. It’s hard to get a good assessment of him from his prior races at Yonkers. I could see taking a glass half-full view on him. (9) FEELIN AMERICAN was third in this class last time through a fast mile; outside post hurts but he was Beckwith’s choice over my top pick. Race 5: Non-winners $12,500 (NW L2 $13,750) in last 4 or 8 races life (3) BRAVO ANGEL S makes her debut for the powerful team of Engblom and Bartlett. While I think she may be handled a bit patiently here, this race sets up with plenty of early speed to set her up and the qualifier was solid behind (9) SISTER MARY MAUDE, who is making her 4-year-old debut. It was hard not to like that effort as she coasted through the wire with a 27-second final quarter on her own. If by some chance the early speed to her inside doesn’t quickly develop maybe she’ll be put in play. I respect her chances but would want 4-1 to take a shot. (6) WINTER SOLDIER is a horse that can certainly take advantage if the pace is hot and his price should be more than fair. (2) BARGAIN has earned plenty of money and he has two qualifiers under his belt. I don’t love him in this spot, but according to Statsmaster the Takter barn won five of nine starts before March 30 last year and six of 18 starts off layoffs in 2024. Race 6: Non-winners $7,500 (NW L2 $8,351) in last 4 or starters in NW $6,400 or less last start - $50K GTD Pick 4 (5) TRENDY TEEN hasn’t been a good horse in some time as evidenced by his having just four starts since 2023. That said, the effort last week was exceptional and I’ll take that as a clear sign even more is to come in his third start back to the races. (6) STONEBRIDGE REEF is as sharp as they come right now and he’s got the class to handle tougher competition. (4) GANDOLF THE BLACK was racing in a higher condition when last here and the recent mile at Saratoga was solid. Race 7: 3YO C&G Non-winners 1 race or $10,000 life or $3,201 in last 4 (2) WORLD OF WISHES has shown nice progression in his three qualifiers dropping about two seconds in each start. Admittedly he was perhaps a bit green last time, but it was a nice effort. The inside post should allow him to get away close and have a chance to pounce in the lane. (3) CHIEF BOGO can’t seem to get that elusive win but he certainly raced well in defeat last time. (10) FEDERER loomed but lacked the knockout punch a week ago. There is some ability here but the post will make it difficult again. (7) DARKNSTORMY DEO has every right to improve in his second career starts, though Ryder opted off for #2. Race 8: Non-winners $12,500 (NW L2 $14,351) in last 4 or 9 races life or $2,500 p.s. in 2024-25/TM 87 (NW L2/2L4 87.5/88) or less - Pick 6 (2) CHURCHVIEWFRANKL IR comes off a string of races where he was dealt bad posts on the half at Yonkers. He’s won here in the past and might just offer the best value of this group. (7) MAXIM HANOVER has gone to Pocono and found himself. Will that form transfer back here? (6) SOUTHWIND GENDRY came to play in his second start off the bench. I really thought he would have a big year in 2024 and it was a complete dud. Maybe this will be his year. Race 9: Trackmaster 83.5 (NW L2/2L5 84/85.45) or less (3) T DOG looked like he was going to be a winner at one point last week but came up a neck short. Here he may’ve found a spot to head to the front since most of the early speed players have done their best work down a class. Either way, he should be a win factor from any spot despite Boyd opting off for (5) WARRAWEE YANKEE, who also suffered a narrow defeat last time despite a 26 2/5 last quarter. He was a bit luckier as interference that didn’t affect him got him placed first; so sharp now. (9) SPEAKER OF PEACE was overbet and never looked comfortable before making a break last time. Watch for equipment changes tonight. Race 10: Winners over $12,500 in last 4 or $50,000 life - $50K GTD Pick 4 (9) MAD MAX HANOVER has been the King of the Thunderdome that is The Meadowlands for a couple of months now and there is no reason to believe this field can stop him considering the number of horses that are in too tough or coming back from vacation. (4) SAULSBROOK VICTOR will be firing to the front and should be sitting in a good spot at a good price. (10) COACHES CORNER won more money last year than any other three horses in the field combined. His qualifier was ok but still four seconds off what he may need tonight, and the post isn’t great. Barn fired at just 3-for-29 in 2024 off a layoff. Race 11: Non-winners $3,000 (NW L2 $3,560) in last 4 or starters NW $2,000 or less last start (6) LUKE MCGOOK was one of my top plays last week by even I didn’t expect a six-length win in a lifetime best 1:50 4/5. He steps up a level tonight but can repeat with anything close to that last effort. (7) TOTO HANOVER reunites with Marohn as the owner takes a start off. He’ll be in play at some point for sure. (1) SWIMWITHTHECURRENT gets a major driver change and makes his second start since December; improvement likely. Race 12: Trackmaster 77.5 (NW L2/2L4/L8 78/78.5/78.75) or less (3) EL PARRANDERO Q raced reasonably well at Pocono and now returns in a soft spot from a good post. Bartlett takes over the lines tonight and I can see him getting aggressive. (10) NATIONAL SPORT is certainly the sharpest horse in the field. Can he overcome the class jump and post 10? Maybe. (2) STRAIGHT TALK was put in play by new driver McCarthy last time and the trip turned out to be too much; move inside helps. (9) JOJO’S PLACE has the speed to get into the race; using more underneath. [DRF HARNESS: Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter] Race 13: Non-winners $5,000 (NW L2 $5,550) in last 4 or starters $3,000 or less last start (6) CAPTAIN CRUSADER A tucked after the quarter and then attacked first-over last week. He held his ground well in the lane despite the trip and seems to be sitting on a win despite a strong of “could’ve been” lines on his card. (7) DEUCE HANOVER had to deal with traffic and clearly had something left on the end of the mile last time; Miller opts off but I won’t. (4) SKYWAY MASTERPIECE had no shot off the bench from post 10 a week ago; can improve. Race 14: Trackmaster 74.5 (NW L2/2L4 75/75.65) or less (3) BARGAIN SHOPPER had some sneaky late pace on the end of the mile last week after starting from an impossible spot in post 10. Eight-year-old moves inside and could be put in play much earlier at decent odds. (8) HARRY HANOVER was used to the front last week and held ok considering. He should be better with a smoother journey. (4) LOCKDOWN LOUIE N flashed early speed but was shuffled back to the four hole last Saturday. When clear he was steady. That was his first start for a new barn and I can see improvement coming.