WINTER MEET STATS: 293-85-49-36 / $492.00 (-$94.00) BEST BETS: 18-7-6-0 / $31.20 (-$4.80) SPOT PLAYS: 21-4-3-3 / $14.20 (-$27.80) BEST BET: SPEAKER OF PEACE (9th) SPOT PLAY: HYPEBEAST (2nd) Race 1: Meadowlands Amateur Drivers Club 1 Pace - Pick 5 (1) SAILOR’S SHADOW posted a win in this class two starts back and was a good third last time. He’s the clear horse to beat tonight but far from a lock. (2) PREMIER JOY A has been stuck in post 10 the last two starts. This is a good spot if he’s feeling good. (4) BARGAIN SHOPPER also gets a better post as this guy searches for his first top three finish of the year. Eight-year-old has some class and perhaps he’ll be able to muster it up. (3) HASHTAG MONEY has been racing well every other start at Pocono and this is supposed to be a good week. [DRF HARNESS: Get Harness Eye PPs for this card] Race 2: Non-winners $2,000 (NW L2 $2,300) in last 4/NW $3,000 L4 draw outside (1) HYPEBEAST made a nice first-over bid for the lead last time before weakening some to be third. That was his best race of 2025 and perhaps a sign that a big mile is in the offing. (5) GAZOO hasn’t been very good lately. That said, he gets a big class drop out of some salty amateur races and picks up a new pilot. (6) MANHAWK was purchased online for $26,500 by Capone and I wouldn’t be surprised at all if this 4-year-old awakens. (8) DON’T JUDGE A BOOK has some early speed in his arsenal and would become an interesting player, at least underneath, if Mann left hard. Race 3: $10,000-$12,500 Claiming Handicap - Survivor 7 (2) AS ALWAYS was a $30,000 claimer when last seen in the Engblom barn and facing much cheaper than that here I’m willing to roll the dice that he’ll unlock the class within. (5) I’LL HUNT YOU DOWN goes for five straight here as he finally bumps up in claiming price. He’s certainly sharp enough to win again. (8) FREDNECK is also in good form as he comes back here from a trip to Pocono; using underneath. Race 4: Meadowlands Amateur Drivers Club 1 Pace (8) APERTIF overcame post 10 last week and gets to move in a couple of slots this time around. He’s clearly the one to beat and can probably overcome a somewhat difficult trip. (7) GALLIE GETAWAY has two seconds in a pair of starts in the amateur ranks lately; big danger. (1) ROJAN’S WAY wasn’t great last time but he’s better than that and should stick somewhat close from pylon position. (9) LYONS LIBERTY gave it his all last time. He’s a contender with a smooth trip. Race 5: Non-winners 2 (NW L2 3) races life/Maidens draw inside (3) BULLDOZER let the field get away from him on the backstretch but hit his gear in the stretch to finish a fast-closing 26 4/5 while dealing with a touch of traffic. He dropped over three seconds in that mile off his qualifier and I’m hopeful that experience will benefit him. (4) ALWAYS B COLOUR IR was pacing in two minutes overseas so the 1:52 mile was a bit of an eye opener in terms of what he can accomplish. Rare pinto with an amazing coat could certainly score at first asking on these shores. (6) STAY FOCUSED rated and sprinted nicely in his return qualifier. Has he truly improved over the winter? We’ll know more tonight. Race 6: Winners 3-7 (NW L2 8) races or $100,000 life - $50K GTD Pick 4 (2) GREY HORIZON had no chance last time from an outside post versus much better and more seasoned foes. I’d like to see him leave around the #1 and sit second or third with a chance to pounce late. (6) REMEMBER THE ALAMO has missed a few weeks but he’s won after missing time already. Four-year-old should be firing to the front here. (7) RUSH IN may be the best horse in the race but there is almost zero chance he’s being handled aggressively this week. Race 7: Non-winners $7,500 (NW L2 $8,390) in last 4 (6) CAPTAIN UP has been keeping company lately with horses that are simply better than him. Tonight he lands back in his comfort zone and most certainly should be firing off the gate. (7) BELMONT ROYALE N missed by just a head in his last appearance in this class after a no-shot mile from post eight at Pocono last time. (5) HANDLELIKEAPORSCHE leaves every week but lacks closing power. I can see him making the front more easily this time and sitting pretty behind the top pick. Race 8: Winners over $12,500 in last 4 or $50,000 life - Pick 6 (4) SEA CAN took a couple of months off and has come back with a vengeance. I always worry when a 6-year-old doesn’t have a mark on a big track but he’s only been in the Burke barn for a short time so I’m going to look past it. Dunn’s first win of 2025? (8) SISTER MARY MAUDE raced well in her first start since November and might decide to leave the gate with that start under her belt. (6) OUTSIDE THE FIRE bested weaker last time. He remains a threat in here but demand some value. Race 9: Trackmaster 83.5 (NW L2/2L5 84/85.45) or less (7) SPEAKER OF PEACE had absolutely no shot last time from post nine, especially after he took back to last and they crawled on the front end. I see a change of tactics coming this time around. (1) WARRAWEE YANKEE brushed and went too fast last week. Maybe he can sit a trip this time and make some magic. (4) T DOG sat and wasn’t done any favors chasing the same slow pace as the top pick; big threat with better trip. (6) JOHNNY CHIP won at first asking for new connections and now goes for three straight. The class jump tonight is sizable. Race 10: Non-winners $12,500 (NW L2 $14,000) to $17,500 in last 4/TM 87 (NW L2/2L4 87.5/88) or less - $50K GTD Pick 4 (2) MAC’S DELIGHT came from the clouds with a monster 25 3/5 final quarter last time to pass half the field. If McCarthy keeps him close a winner’s circle visit could be in his future. (8) SOUTHWIND GENDRY has come back to the races strong. Millionaire has the speed to make the front by the backstretch and he may not look back when he gets there. (4) PRIMARY COLORS has speed and decent form but just doesn’t seem to be good enough to beat the top two without a perfect trip. (7) MY AUGUST MOON A was super last time and he can be a part of this with a smooth trip. Race 11: Non-winners $12,500 in last 4/TM 87 or less (5) ABSOLUTE POWER did the heavy lifting on the engine last time and came up a length short. From top to bottom this is a softer field and an easier trip will make all the difference. (1) MADRID A sat the pocket at Yonkers most recently and never really had a clear path late. Whether she had more left is debatable but she did win her last start over this track. (8) TAKING THE MIKI A continues to be in top form and only needs a smooth journey from the outside post to have a chance for at least a board spot. Race 12: Trackmaster 80.5 (NW L2/2L4 81/81.5) or less (8) WESTERN JOE woke up with a big win last weekend that included bookend 27-second quarters. Classy millionaire seems capable of handling the class jump to this condition which is more of a TM77-80 than a straight TM80. (3) STRAIGHT TALK has picked up his game in recent weeks; needs decent trip. (7) DRACARYS Z took the same paper class hike as the top pick last time and was a good second. I fear he is trip dependent though. (5) LOUIS LITT N gets a driver change to Dunn. If he isn’t bet off the board because of it I could take a positive view. [DRF HARNESS: Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter] Race 13: Trackmaster 74.5 (NW L2/2L4 75/75.69) or less (6) JOJO’S PLACE romped in his last go-around at the TM74 level and there is no reason to believe a similar effort won’t occur. (3) CAPTAIN PLANET posted a huge mile last weekend to be second behind a runaway winner. Anything close to that performance again would produce a good result. (1) B LIKE CRUISER has been stuck outside lately at Pocono. This isn’t a bad spot and Boyd chose here. (8) EURO STEP is interesting in that he has shown good closing ability and if the two to his outside fire out and cause a hot pace you may want a potential closer on your ticket. Race 14: Trackmaster 74.5 (NW L2/2L4 75/75.69) or less (3) SPINDOCTOR HANOVER gets a barn change and adds Lasix tonight. I’ll take a long look at him in the post parade before making a final decision but I lean his way in a field without a standout. (5) THE OPENER is unquestionably the sharpest horse in the race; class jump. (7) FENDI HANOVER actually moves up two levels on the TM ladder but a repeat of his last mile would be more than enough to win.