WINTER MEET STATS: 321-93-51-43 / $533.80 (-$108.20) BEST BETS: 20-9-6-0 / $42.00 (+$2.00) SPOT PLAYS: 23-5-3-3 / $19.20 (-$26.80) BEST BET: WESTERN JOE (5th) SPOT PLAY: ENRICO PALLAZZO (12th) Race 1: Meadowlands Amateur Drivers Club 1 Pace - Pick 5 (7) APERTIF went a ridiculously awful trip last week and still only missed by a nose. While he’s no lock in this spot versus a very good field, you have to give him the edge since trip may not be a factor in whether he wins. (6) WHAMMER JAMMER is your off the pace option if you believe the early pace is going to be frantic, and there is a reasonable chance of that scenario. Others have more pure speed but he can grind them down. (5) GALLIE GETAWAY went fast on the front while parking out a foe last time and still dug in nicely to lose by less than a length. I’ll use this guy underneath only but respect that he could win with the right trip. (3) GOOD ROCKIN is arguably the sharpest horse in the field. That said, he’s missed a few weeks and won’t have Yogi in the bike since he owns the #9. [DRF HARNESS: Get Harness Eye PPs for this card] Race 2: Trackmaster Series 74.5 (NW L2/2L4 75/75.65) or less (1) ALBERT A’ SCOOTIN hails from a barn that has won almost as many races at the meet as the rest of the trainers in the field combined. Veteran gelding has been chasing some sharp foes in the claiming ranks and took a big step forward in his last outing. He faces a very dull group tonight. (2) HOMESTRETCH WES has been the dullest of the dull but offers hope in the way of a barn change. Former trainer is 3-for-60 here this meet while the current has two wins in 12 starts. (7) HOUND ON THE BEACH was used hard without results in his last two starts here in this class and perhaps different tactics will be employed this time around. [DRF BETS: Wager on tonight's Meadowlands card at DRF Bets.com!] Race 3: Non-winners 2 (NW L2 3) races or $20,000 (NW L2 $30,000) life/Maidens draw inside - Survivor 7 (7) TWIN FURY was behind a pair of gappers in his 2025 debut and a good 13 lengths off the leaders when he finally pulled at the five-eighths marker. He sprinted home through traffic very nicely and should only improve with that effort under his belt. (5) STATESIDELCKDWN GB just missed last tie and won his prior start at this level; one to beat. (2) ODDS ON BROWARD took a shot and couldn’t sustain last time. A smoother trip could produce better results and the switch to Zeron is a clear plus. (6) KURT LONGJOHN adds Lasix tonight; helps? Race 4: Winners 2-4 (NW L2 5) races or $50,000 life/NW 2 races in 2024-25 (1) CHEERS HANOVER showed good improvement in his second qualifier and more than enough ability as a 2-year-old to believe he can be at least a 1:53 trotter. (7) SOAR HIGHER had every chance to win his first start of the year off a great trip but just couldn’t get past Rock My Universe. A similar effort puts him in the win picture tonight and any improvement would make him close to a standout; Pick 5 must-use. (10) LUKE’S BAR has been knocking at the door and now Dunn joins the team. (3) YANNICK G KEMP comes off a very nice qualifier where after gaining position he didn’t have to do anything since the leader drifted and Zeron never moved a muscle in the lane. This guy has a clear chance if ready to roll but the barn hasn’t won yet this year and the drive will most likely lean to the conservative side. Race 5: Trackmaster Series 83.5 (NW L2/2L5 84/85.45) or less (9) WESTERN JOE has been climbing the ladder with complete ease and while this field contains more capable foes his class and form may be too much for them. (5) BOBCAT BAY should be firing out as usual and there is a reasonable chance that he’ll be sitting the pocket behind the top pick. (3) T DOG is perhaps not quite as sharp as he was a month ago but he remains a trip threat with the right pace setup. Race 6: Winners 3-7 (NW L2 8) races or $100,000 life - $50K GTD Pick 4 (1) ZEPPOLE HANOVER lands in a good spot from my perspective where he can push away just a bit and make one brush to the front when the early dust settles. There are some nice horses in here so don’t take too short of a price. (6) RUSH IN took the conservative route as expected in his first start of the year. I’m torn here on whether Zeron will elected to show early speed. If only I could tap into his thoughts. (4) CRUSH KILL DESTROY is almost certain to push hard away from the gate and while I don’t view him as one of the best, he should get a nice piece of the exotics. Race 7: Trackmaster 80.5 (NW L2/2L4 81/81.5) or less/NW $742 p.s. in 2024-25 (4) GAZOO takes a clear step up the class ladder off a very nice effort where he was second. You’ll get another good price on this guy again and he is more than capable of beating this field. (2) JOHNNY CHIP couldn’t handle the TM83 types but this group should be up his alley. (6) WARRAWEE TOTAL was used too hard on the engine last time out but had an extra week to recover. He’s comfortable in this class if the trip is a bit better. Race 8: Trackmaster 89 (NW 2L4 89.5) or less/NW 8 races life - Pick 6 (7) ASWEETBEACHHERE comes with the uncertainty of how hard she’ll be used in her 4-year-old debut, but you have to like that they put her on the engine in her qualifier and she blitzed through the mile while never asked late. As long as she isn’t lower than 5-2 I’ll take a shot and hope for the trip to be reasonable. (4) TONY’S MOM missed by just a neck in this class last time out and the post is much better this week. (2) TAKE YOUR PICK won convincingly last time and has gotten home first in three of her last four starts. (9) STONECOLDTREACHERY dealt with lots of traffic last time and had plenty left late in the mile. That said, this field is better from top to bottom and the post switch is far from ideal. Race 9: Non-winners $7,500 in last 4 (2) FLASH MOVE was dealt three tough posts in a row at Pocono and that is a recipe for failure. He moves to the inside of the gate tonight for a good barn and seems as dangerous as any in here. (8) HANDLELIKEAPORSCHE will gun off the gate as usual and get a big piece of this. Sooner or later he’ll get away with a soft enough pace to win. (5) DEUCE HANOVER raced ok to be third behind #8 in his first start for this barn last week. This looks like a good spot for him to fire out. Race 10: Non-winners $14,000 (NW 2L5 $15,400) in last 4 or 10 races life/TM 89.65 or less - $50K GTD Pick 4 (3) CAPTAIN CRUSADER A is as sharp as any horse in this field and most people may think he’s in a bit too tough to win, so there should be some value. Last time he was backed into by a tired foe and finished up willingly when clear. (8) MAC’S DELIGHT comes off a win versus many in this field; post is only concern. (2) PRIMARY COLORS has speed and form along with a bad case of seconditis. (4) SOARING NOW was perhaps a bit flat coming back from two months on the sidelines. He should be tighter now, especially from the better post; Pick 4 worthy. Race 11: Trackmaster 83.5 (NW L3 84.2) or less I’m going to roll the dice here with (8) PEACE TALKS, who comes off two even miles at Yonkers and now stretches out on the big track. She fits with these in terms of speed and won’t be heavily backed at the windows. (7) STAYING WITH EMILY went a monster mile last week only to be disqualified for interference. If she can come close to that mile the rest will have their hands full. (3) SANTAFE’S APPETITE takes a plenty large class drop and at her best will be tough in here. The only issue is that she is pace dependent. Race 12: Trackmaster Series 77.5 (NW L2/2L4/L8 78/78.91/78.75) or less (2) ENRICO PALLAZZO, named after the famous character from the movie Naked Gun, hasn’t really had much chance to show what he has in the tank. After finishing fast in his qualifier, he drew poorly in both pari-mutuel starts and showed good late energy in both. Four-year-old finally draws inside and now Dunn knows him a bit better; all systems go! (9) FENDI HANOVER is undoubtedly the sharpest horse in the field as he climbs the class ladder for the third straight week. He can handle it. (7) LITE N SWEET has won in this class over this track in the past. Will he fire out having not raced since November? [DRF HARNESS: Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter] Race 13: Trackmaster Series 74.5 (NW L2/2L4 75/75.65) or less (5) NATIONAL SPORT drops to a more comfortable level this week and should awaken. (3) SUNSHINE’S FINEST has now won three straight and adding Dexter Dunn to the team won’t hurt his chances here; big threat. (4) LOU ED ZEPPELIN comes off a dead-heat victory in this Trackmaster class last weekend. Race 14: $7,500-$10,000 Claiming Handicap (1) HES A SWEETHEART showed clear improvement in his second start for this barn and the inside post gives him more options than some of the other logical contenders. (6) ROJAN’S WAY has been keeping better company in the amateur ranks lately and should be firing to the top in this spot along with Pocono invader (10) KAK’S ROCKIN SHARK. The latter is risky on the win end given his post and current 2025 record, but he can get a piece of this race.