MEET STATS: 238-65-45-30 / $380.50 (-$95.50) BEST BETS: 17-8-3-1 / $32.80 (-$1.20) SPOT PLAYS: 17-3-6-2 / $11.20 (-$22.80) BEST BET: BOILER MAKER (6th) SPOT PLAY: MY PAL JOE (3rd) Race 1: Meadowlands Amateur Drivers Club 2 Pace - Pick 5  (9) SUNSHINE’S FINEST is racing on another level right now as trip doesn’t even seem to be a factor. The post isn’t ideal but maybe it will guarantee us 8-5 or so. (2) AIR GUITAR is in fine form himself but seems to lack the killer instinct he needs in the stretch. (1) RANDOM HANOVER moves to the inside of the gate and when he fires out he won’t have to work quite as hard. [DRF HARNESS: Get Harness Eye PPs for this card] Race 2: $7,500-$10,000 Claiming Handicap - Survivor 7 (3) SOUTHWIND DREDGE is one of many in here seeing their claiming price take a plunge. He’s the obvious early speed in this field and should be sitting no worse than second with a big win chance. (2) PINEBUSHDRAGONROLL likes to sit and pounce. The inside post and lack of outside speed could set him up for potential success. (1) SHRIMP AND GRITS got caught in a fast mile at Freehold in his first start for this barn. He could be better than people expect tonight. [DRF BETS: Wager on tonight's Meadowlands card at DRF Bets.com!] Race 3: Play Meadowlands NW $10,000 Final (4) MY PAL JOE hinted at getting sharper two starts back and put it all together with a perfect trip last week. He loses Zeron now to #6 but McCarthy is a fine fill-in and I’d expect another aggressive steer. (1) BLAZING BANNER N has been super in the first two legs and will not go down without a fight. (6) IDEAL FEELING has been racing well but will need some luck in terms of trip from this spot. Race 4: Non-winners 2 (NW L2 3) races life - Pick 8 (3) MCCRUNCH has turned in two solid qualifiers with strong final quarters for a barn that tends to come out swinging when they start racing again in the spring. Notice he faced a nice horse in Combustion in that last qualifier. (7) ANTE UP HANOVER kept up in a quick mile off the bench and is certainly eligible to improve. (8) I’M TALKIN HUNGRY was used hard last time and paid the price. He’s much better at getting minor awards than winning. Race 5: Trackmaster 77 (NW L2/2L4/L6 77.5/78.05/78.38) or less (3) AMERICAN WAY was rolling along here before trying foes that were over his head at Pocono. He returns to The Big M at a higher level but really doesn’t face too tough a bunch. (6) PRIVATE SCOTT has speed and form but hasn’t been able to get the final yards of the mile. (7) DYNOMITES PEAK has been finishing nicely but will need some pace help here to get a big piece and I’m not sure that will happen. Race 6: $20,000-$30,000 Claiming Handicap - $50K GTD Pick 4 (5) BOILER MAKER displayed some positives signs when he took to the rim and stayed on rather well late in the mile. Six-year-old is capable of a big mile and dropping in for a tag tonight I expect we’ll see it. (8) HUNT FOR CASH is taking a big dip in claiming price and has big early speed; hard to toss. (6) NEEDHAM HANOVER is the sharpest horse in the field by far but this is also the toughest field he’s faced recently. Race 7: Non-winners $10,000 in last 4 or 6 (NW L2 7) races life or $35K in 2023-24/TM 85.2 or less (1) LITTLE EXPENSIVE hasn’t been able to seal the deal lately. For my money this is a slightly easier spot for him. (5) COVENTRY HALL qualified well when you take into account that he was facing Open types. He’s been in the States before and is capable. (9) OUTSIDE THE FIRE has enough outside speed to get involved if Zeron chooses to use it and he is fast enough when he decides to behave. Race 8: Non-winners $10,000 (NW L2 $11,051) in last 4/TM 86.5 or less - Pick 6 (2) A ROCKNROLL STAR has been assigned with the difficult task of overcoming outside posts at Freehold and now will likely appreciate the switch to the big track. (3) BILLY CLYDE had no shot when up in class two weeks back. I wonder if he’ll be put on the engine here. (1) DEAN B HANOVER picked up some confidence last time and we already know he is fast enough to win on his best. Race 9: Non-winners $7,500 in last 4/TM 83 (NW 2L4 84.27) or less (4) DOUBLE METAL wasn’t able to close fast enough at Yonkers and now he comes back here. His last go had him in the 10-hole, so post four is going to be sweet. He’s one of many contenders. (9) BOBCAT BAY tends to find early speed and get brave when he’s down in class. (6) IT’S IN THE STARS and (1) COMMANDING OFFICER are two more class droppers that could awaken. Race 10: Non-winners $20,000 (NW L/S $22,000) in last 4 or in 2024 - $50K GTD Pick 4 (7) LEXUS KODY will blow this field away if he can stay trotting. (6) STABLE GENIUS was put on the engine and that clearly didn’t work. If he leaves again he’ll likely be sitting behind the top pick. (9) KEG STAND draws into a tough spot from a difficult post in his 2024 debut. He’s a good horse that needs some luck. Race 11: Play Meadowlands NW $5,000 final (6) SHOOBEE DOO A flaunted his class in his second start for this barn and I expected we’ll see another big effort here. That said, this is no easy spot. (4) REVOLVER N left, was shuffled, found traffic and finished mildly last time. Veteran has the ability to win here if the trip works out. (5) JK FLIRTIN sat a perfect trip and bested pacesetter (2) KOLBY TWO STEP last weekend. Either could win with a smooth journey. Race 12: Winners 3-5 (NW L2 6) races life/Opt. $50,000 Clm./4YO NW $2,000 in 2024 (8) COMBUSTION and (9) ERVIN HANOVER are two 4-year-olds who changed hands over the winter and are making their debuts for new connections. Both were stakes-placed last year, each qualified back with a strong effort and are entered under the AE condition. (4) BATTLEFIELD was given absolutely no chance last week as he sat at the back of the pack. He moves inside a few slots and could fire out here. [DRF HARNESS: Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter] Race 13: Non-winners $5,000 in last 4 (5) CAVEMAN A was used up in the first quarter at Pocono last time and tried late in the mile. He’s back at The Meadowlands two classes under where he was previously and is one of many in with a chance on the win end. (3) HEZA REAL DIAMOND was a winner when last in this condition and he’s capable of keeping up with almost any pace scenario when right. (9) SLING SHOCK was last seen here racing in NW14000, so this is a huge drop. The Preferred class at Freehold isn’t an easy spot and that is where he’s been lately. Race 14: Trackmaster 74 (NW L2/2L4 74.5/75.10) or less Series (1) SELECT FRIDAY didn’t have much of a chance from post 9 the last time he had a catch-driver in the sulky. Barn is winless at the meet, which is a concern, but this is a very soft group. (7) SLICK N QUICK has some good races in this class and he’ll be coming late if the trip works out. (4) BETTOR’S VILLE made a nice move to the front last time before tiring. Perhaps a better timed move will make the difference.