WINTER MEET STATS: 181-55-23-24 / $321.20 (-$40.80) BEST BETS: 12-3-3-0 / $12.20 (-$11.80) SPOT PLAYS: 13-2-3-2 / $7.80 (-$18.20) BEST BET: FRANCO TOTEM N (2nd) SPOT PLAY: HANDLELIKEAPORSCHE (11th) Race 1: Non-winners 2 (NW L2 3) races life/Maidens draw inside - Pick 5 (6) STATESIDELCKDWN GB seemed to be purposely taken off the gate in his U.S. debut and he really wasn’t bad after that tardy start as he came the final quarter in 26 seconds. Miller opted off for #2 trained by one of his main guys Holloway, but I’m still expecting a forward move from this guy. (5) QUANTUM is lightly raced but has displayed signs of some ability. The return qualifier was sharp; using in Pick 5. (8) IMGOINGTOJACKSON is the most obviously appealing horse on paper after back to back second-place finishes in this class; early speed! [DRF HARNESS: Get Harness Eye PPs for this card] Race 2: $7,500 Claiming (1) FRANCO TOTEM N reaches a new low in terms of claiming price and I have to think this classy old guy will make his presence felt versus a blank field. (3) ALBERT A’ SCOOTIN is eligible to improve on the barn change. Fellow 12-year-old like the top pick has the early speed to get into the race. (9) DARK HORSE gets a key driver change here to Zeron while dropping in claiming price. Race 3: $10,000 Claiming - Survivor 7 (8) HELLO GORGEOUS really hasn’t been that bad in his last two starts while facing much better horses that would mostly be 1-5 in this spot. Maybe his seemingly dull lines and high off odds recently will get us a good price. (1) HECANDANCENCRUISE dropped to this claiming price last Saturday and while he didn’t dance he certainly cruised to victory; big threat again. (5) JOHNNY CHIP has won twice in his last five starts at this level. (7) WISE THINKING raced better last time; finding form? Race 4: Trackmaster 77.5 (NW L2/2L4/NW1since7-24-24 78/78.5/79.27) or less (2) SPIRIT OF TRUTH tends to perk up when he draws inside as evidenced by a win and a second in his last four starts in this condition. As long as he isn’t the favorite I’d take a shot here. (4) FERRAGAMO HANOVER came up second best for the second straight week, though he’s been stuck in two fast 1:52 1/5 miles both times. This race figures to go slower. That said, he’s still four for 59 lifetime. (6) SAULSBROOK HERO blew away the competition in his first start for this barn; clearly capable. (9) MASK ON MASK OFF drops down but draws outside. Race 5: Non-winners $3,000 in last 4/TM 77.5 (NW L2/2L4 78/78.70) or less/International Women’s Race (1) OAKWOODJUSASNOB IR was taken back in her U.S. debut and wound up in an awful spot behind dead cover in last. She paced home willingly enough once straightened away in the stretch and I expect she’ll provide good value for one of the more accomplished drivers in this race. (10) MISS CHANTILLY N worked out a golden trip to win her debut for this barn and now we must ask if the barn chance made a big difference or it was just a great drive by Tritton. This gal has the early speed to overcome the post and there is no doubt she has the best driver in the field in the bike. (3) FIGHT NOT FLIGHT should be a HUGE price with a 3-for-32 career record and a driver with a similar 4-for-55 record with the lines. That said, she had plenty of pace in the stretch last week while stuck in all kinds of traffic. Four-year-old may be coming around. (7) TRUMPS GIRL drops down to the level of her last win, and she’s another with some early zip in her arsenal. Wish I knew more about this UK-born driver. Race 6: Winners 2-4 (NW L2 5) races life/4YO w/TM 77.55 or less - $50K GTD Pick 4 (8) NUCLEAR rallied wide from last to be second most recently behind an impressive winner with an apparent future. I’m not certain whether he’ll be raced more aggressively here so I’ll be looking for at least 2-1 to be on board. (4) BONAPARTE was used to the front twice at Pocono and came up second both times. He’s back on the big track now and hopefully he’ll be able to track a target, perhaps (5) CAPTAIN BAZINGA, who has done his best work on the front. (6) GREY HORIZON is a complete unknown coming in from Century Mile. We’ll find out what he has in the tank tonight. Race 7: Trackmaster 80.5 (NW L2/2L4 81/81.5) or less (2) WARRAWEE TOTAL had a ton of company leaving the gate, never found the pylons, gained less than ideal cover at the half and rallied very well to be a closing second behind a horse that had a huge lead. Veteran pacer has been getting better with each recent start and seems poised for a win. (10) MAYHEM HANOVER drops down a notch on the Trackmaster scale and is certainly capable of overcoming the tough post at a price. (3) CAVIART CAMDEN bested a softer group on the engine and that isn’t really his best game. If he works out a trip, watch out! (8) CAPTAIN MARVEL closed well with no shot after chasing slow fractions last time; needs pace help. Race 8: Trackmaster 83.5 (NW L2/2L4 84/85.45) or less - Pick 6 (2) ALTA BLUES A was so good last weekend that the connections protected him in a Trackmaster race rather than dropping him in for a tag again. Nine-year-old is certainly capable of repeating. (1) SPEAKER OF PEACE arrives for a barn that tends to do well when they show up here. Drennan won four of 10 races from January to May in 2024 over this surface and this guy shows lines that make him competitive in here. (6) BOBCAT BAY could fire to the front tonight without too much early speed signed on. Race 9: Non-winners $12,500 in last 4 or in 2024-25 or 8 races (NW L2 9)-$75K (NW L2$80K) life/TM 87 (NW L2/2L4 87.5/88) or less (4) DE LA HOYA HANOVER sizzled in his qualifier but drew outside at Pocono in his return off the bench and didn’t get into the race. Start two should mean we see some early speed. Stratton opted for (8) REMEMBER THE ALAMO, who raced very well in victory versus softer last time and now he actually makes starts in consecutive weeks. The last time he did that he raced better in start two. (6) SOUTHWIND GENDRY was a bit flat in his return, though he was facing the best horses currently on the ground. In start two last year he was more aggressive. Do we see that tonight? (2) SPORTY M THREE has won two straight but I’m just not ready to back him on the win end versus an ever better bunch. Race 10: Winners over $12,500 in last 4 or $50,000 life - $50K GTD Pick 4 (7) MAD MAX HANOVER is the best horse on the grounds right now and when he gets the top it’s nearly impossible to pass him. That won’t last forever as others return from winter vacation but you have to respect him. (6) FOR ONCE INMY LIFE was second best to the top pick last time and might just have to settle for that fate again unless Stratton elects to try and seat his main rival. (4) ACT FAST got a useful start under his belt last week and I wouldn’t be shocked if he stepped up and won with a surprise late burst. Race 11: Non-winners $5,000 (NW L2 $5,500) in last 4 (8) HANDLELIKEAPORSCHE was a good second last week even though you can’t see it in the program as he came out of a race that was declared a no contest after it was complete. Still, that mile showed his return effort was no fluke and I’m on board hoping for a good price. (2) SPIRIT OF STLOUIS N was used hard last time from the outside post and couldn’t last the mile. He drops again tonight and while this is a salty NW5000, he can compete with a smoother journey. (7) STELLAR YANKEE won in this class last time before the race was canned as mentioned above. He loves this class but lands in a difficult spot while moving to the outside of the gate. Race 12: Non-winners $2,000 (NW L2 $2,300) in last 4 (2) ROCKIN THE ACES didn’t quite get the trip I was hoping for last week when he showed some early speed and spend a bunch of time on the rim. Miller picks up the drive now and he sticks over a couple of other options; that’s a plus! (7) STRAIGHT TALK drops back down and picks up McCarthy. I can see him taking a shot for the front here. (1) HYPEBEAST is another horse who was on the outside too long last time. He can play with these on his best. (3) CALIBER has the ability but hasn’t hit the board yet this year. [DRF HARNESS: Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter] Race 13: Non-winners $3,000 (NW L2 $3,300) in last 4 (5) STONEBRIDGE REEF made two moves to wind up in the pocket and was trapped in that spot until mid-stretch when he was able to get the lead only to lose to a fresh foe from behind. Being his first start three months you can expect this classy guy might improve. (7) BET A BUNDLE is the other one I’m certainly using on my Pick 4. He’s had no shot in his first two starts back from a short vacation and now we get McCarthy added to the team from a better post. (3) LIKE A SHADOW drops to a level where he tends to hit the ticket. (9) VIVA LAS VEGAS N makes his first career start on the big track and perhaps that will unlock his past ability. Race 14: Trackmaster 74.5 (NW L2/2L4 75/75.5) or less (2) SAULSBROOK RAPTOR rallied for third from a difficult spot last time when coming back from two months on the sidelines. He moves way inside on the gate now and deserves a follow-up play. (1) STONE COLD SAVAGE and (6) JOJO’S PLACE are both dropping back down to the level of their last win. (3) HARRY HANOVER drops out of claimers and enters a new barn; maybe.