MEET STATS: 307-108-65-41 / $587.00 (-$27.00) BEST BETS: 22-14-4-2 / $52.40 (+$8.40) SPOT PLAYS: 22-7-4-2 / $47.80 (+$3.80) BEST BET: SOIREE HANOVER (6th) SPOT PLAY: DRAWN IMPRESSION (8th) Race 1: Meadowlands Amateur Drivers Club 1 Pace - Pick 5 (5) FERDINAND A had a very tough trip last time so it was understandable that he tired late. Early speedster remains in form and is capable of setting or chasing fast fractions and coming out on top. (7) SUNSHINE’S FINEST is probably best from off the pace but he does have some versatility in his game and often offers good value on the board. (8) MACHLICIOUS has early speed and form. He should be cutting the pace or sitting the pocket behind the top one. (6) BRAZEN BRAZILIAN is another horse in form for a barn that has been doing good work recently. I lean to using him underneath but respect his chances. [DRF HARNESS: Get Harness Eye PPs for this card] Race 2: Trackmaster 77.5 (NW L2/2L4/L10 78/78.58/78.98) or less/NW $601 in last 4 - Survivor 7 (7) BAILEYS ROCK N won in this class two starts back and wasn’t bad in an amateur race last time. (1) T DOG is an in-form horse that only needs a reasonable trip to threaten. (5) MINGO JOEL still has no wins to his credit in 2024 but he’s clearly racing better now. [DRF BETS: Wager on tonight's Meadowlands card at DRF Bets.com!] Race 3: Miss Versatility Mare Trot I’m going to take a swing for the fences here with (2) WARRAWEE XENIA. Winless since 2022, the connections put hobbles on her last time and the results were certainly better. Now McClure can perhaps keep her closer and see if she can relive her glory days. (5) TACTICAL MOUNDS is clearly the one to beat off a 1:49 4/5 win. (4) M-M’S DREAM hasn’t been worse than second yet in 2024. She drifted out a bit too much for my liking last time but I do leave open the possibility that she’ll get a boost from the switch to Gingras as David Miller likely won’t get here on time from The Meadows. Race 4: Tompkins-Geers 3YO Filly Pace - Pick 6 (8) STONECOLDTREACHERY did all she could with a 26 2/5 kicker in her first start with Lasix. The price should be much higher against the better competition tonight and I still think there is more in the tank. (2) CAVIART BELLE is clearly the one to beat here off a 1:49 mile, but things set up pretty nicely for her that night. (4) TARRIFIC is a fast filly that still has to prove her class. (7) ODDS ON STENO should be much tighter in her second start after five weeks on the sidelines. She left out of there, got hung wide and backed up on the rim in a brutal journey. I wouldn’t be shocked if she woke up here. Race 5: 4&5YO Open Handicap Trot Going to play the cold Nancy Takter trifecta here with a trio of her students. (7) WINNER’S BET was done in by a brutal second-tier starting slot in the Hambletonian Maturity. His nose is back on the gate here and I expect Dunn to put him in play. (5) PRETENDER was driven hard in his 5-year-old debut at Philly and that mile should do plenty to get him fit. (4) HASTY BID has proven capable given the right setup. Race 6: Hambletonian Oaks Elim #1 - $50K GTD Pick 4 (5) SOIREE HANOVER came first over and battled nicely last time, serving notice that she’s ready to peak at the right time. The gloves come off here in preparation for the biggest race of her career on August 3. (1) FRENCH CHAMPAGNE put up a career best clocking after a six week rest. If she moves forward off that mile this Svanstedt trainee will give the top one all she can handle. (2) CHAPARMBRO should sit reasonably close, save ground and get into the lower exotics. Race 7: Tompkins-Geers 3YO Filly Pace This race is about as wide-open as you can get for a stake and the horse that works out the best trip is probably going to win. I see (4) FLAWLESS likely to head to the front and work out no worse than a pocket journey. (7) REIGNING JADE switched tactics and held off all comers very gamely last time in a NW2. Can she find similar success against this group? Perhaps. (8) SWEET GAL closed nicely last time but wasn’t getting close to some of the best 3-year-old fillies in the sport. She can be involved at a price with a smooth trip. Race 8: Hambletonian Oaks Elim #2 - Pick 5 (7) DRAWN IMPRESSION had to work hard in the Zweig to make the front and there is no shame in losing to Date Night Hanover, perhaps the top filly right now, and a nose tip to the pocket sitter for second. In the qualifier she followed her male stablemate from the pocket and was never shown daylight. There is more than meets the eye on this gal and the price will be right for a barn that brings them here ready. (1) WARRAWEE MICHELLE did little as expected from post eight in her second start of the year. This should be the week we see what she has in the tank and I’ll be using her at good odds. (3) BUY A ROUND disappointed me in the Del Miller when she couldn’t get by the leader. I might use her on some Pick 4 tickets. (4) ELISTA HANOVER will likely be the favorite as she is riding a long winning streak. That said, has she really beaten any of the best fillies? I respect her chances but won’t be supporting her at the windows. Race 9: Hambletonian Elim #1 I think we see a bit more early speed off the gate here from (6) KARL to avoid what happened last time when he floated away and had to work hard to make the top. This colt has only raced twice in two months, so I don’t expect that tough race has taken anything out of him. (3) HIGHLAND KISMET is the only other horse in the field I fear, but I worry about the trip he’s going to get this week. At this point I’m not certain whether he can go with the top pick but there’s certainly a decent chance. (10) SITUATIONSHIP will be firing to the front without a doubt and I doubt anyone can stop that. Does he sit the pocket behind Karl? Race 10: Hambletonian Oaks Elim #3 - $50K GTD Pick 4 (5) DATE NIGHT HANOVER is the horse to beat going into the elimination round of the Oaks. The trip could get interesting here with some speed to her outside, but I think she is clearly best of this division. (6) SENORITA PALEMA will be firing off the gate to the top and that should set her up for a good trip and a high exotics slot. (3) CHAPALONIA is a filly I still think has ability and now the hobbles go on. Does that right the ship? Miller opted off. Read into that what you want. Race 11: Hambletonian Elim #2 Here’s another race that could get a little crazy. A bunch of horses on the outside of the gate have early speed and I’m not sure there is a horse in this field that isn’t thinking making the final is possible. (5) PRIVATE ACCESS chased Highland Kismet hoe in the Goodtimes and blew them away in a Zweig consolation while going a faster time than the main event winner. The return qualifier was good and the price should be right. (3) SECRET AGENT MAN has been super in his last two and if the breaking issues are truly in the rearview mirror he’s clearly the one to beat. (1) T C I was just ok in the Dancer. Can Burke get him to the next level? I have mixed feelings but might take a shot at 7-2 if others jump ship. (7) DAME GOOD TIME has proven that he can trot with the best but I believe it will take the perfect trip for him to win. Race 12: Tompkins-Geers 3YO C&G Pace It is not often you see Gingras choose off a Takter horse to drive for Chris Ryder. I was leaning (9) GEM QUALITY'S way regardless as he has been racing better with Lasix added, but that decision pushed me over the top. (3) MIRAGE HANOVER is another very logical contender exiting the Meadowlands Pace. You have to think he’ll be forwardly placed here. (6) REMEMBER THE ALAMO has proven capable of stepping up when he gets away from the elite of this division. [DRF HARNESS: Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter] Race 13: Non-winners $14,000 in last 4 or 9 races life/TM 88.5 (NW L2 89) or less (6) ZANATTA was in over her head versus Twin B Joe Fresh last time. There are no excuses for failure here. (2) TAKING THE MIKI A got a good pace setup and rallied nicely last time. She lands a good post and finds another field with some early speed to set her up. (4) AVF CLAIRE hasn’t missed the board in her last three starts in this class. Race 14: Non-winners $7,500 (NW 2L5 $8,250) in last 4 or $8,915 in last 5 (2) COMMAND raced better on the class drop last time and while this race came up tough for the class, it looks like an easier spot than last week. (6) CAPTAIN COWBOY returned from vacation with a nice mile and might offer some value as he moves up the condition ladder. (3) PRIMARY COLORS was even last time while only finishing a couple of lengths behind the top pick. His best is certainly good enough to win here.