MEET STATS: 335-114-73-46 / $618.10 (-$51.90) BEST BETS: 24-14-4-2 / $52.40 (+$4.40) SPOT PLAYS: 24-7-5-2 / $47.80 (-$.20) BEST BET: KARL (12th) SPOT PLAY: RUTHLESS HANOVER (8th) Race 1: Continental Victory 3YO Filly Trot - $50K GTD Pick 6 (7) EMOJI HANOVER comes with the risk of a very short price after everyone watched her close like a freight train to just miss the Oaks finals last weekend. Trainer Blais reaches out to a new driver in MacDonald and I’m betting on seeing at least some early speed. (2) CHAPARMBRO forgot to show up in the Oaks elim but is better than that effort. Let’s hope we see her on the lead or in the pocket here. (1) SAMBUCA HANOVER came to the rim and lacked any stretch firepower last time. This spot is obviously easier but maybe not so much that she’ll get a win; using underneath. [DRF HARNESS: Get Harness Eye PPs for this card] Race 2: $248K Cane Pace 3YO C&G This field came up short but there is certainly plenty of talent. We haven’t seen the best from (1) CAPTAIN’S QUARTERS since the North America Cup. He took it easy in the Meadowlands Pace elim and was done in by his post position in the final. There are no excuses here and I think he’ll be driven with purpose. (3) LEGENDARY HANOVER was off-the-charts good in the Pace final and if that horse shows up again the rest are likely racing for second. (2) MIRAGE HANOVER won easily last weekend on a track that I thought was playing a bit slow, so toss out the time. He’s capable given the right setup. [DRF BETS: Wager on today's Meadowlands card at DRF Bets.com!] Race 3: Muscle Hill 3YO C&G Trot - $75K GTD Pick 5 (6) FRENCH KRONOS has good performances recently behind horses like Karl and Secret Agent Man. Face Time Bourbon colt has been fairly consistent and there is plenty of versatility to his game; should be fair value. (2) CABALLERO was unlikely to make the Hambletonian after drawing post nine in his elimination and the break certainly doesn’t inspire confidence for this week. He’s a one-run type so be careful not to take too short of a price. (5) SIR PINOCCHIO adds the trotting hobbles on the big track this time to ensure he trots the mile. He’s likely to be heading to the front and that should have him in winning position. Race 4: Continental Victory 3YO Filly Trot (4) SISTER MARY MAUDE has looked very good on the NY circuit and notice her only recent defeats came to one of the Hambletonian Oaks favorites R Melina. Crazy Wow-sired filly has the early speed to make the top and looks good in a field full of question marks. (8) SEVENMEARAS finished up very nicely in her first qualifier and was a professional winner in her latest mile. If she steps up off those miles a victory is well within her grasp. (5) COOL MA BELLE has been closing for shares lately but could be an interesting player if the pace is pressed  by #7 and #9 from the outside of the gate. Race 5: $101K Shady Daisy 3YO Filly Pace - Pick 4 (5) STONECOLDTREACHERY has been a better horse since adding Lasix a couple of starts back. Last time she got caught in the pocket and (2) CAVIART BELLE got the jump on her, but she did pace home willing when clear. Treachery has a shot to pull off the upset against a filly I’m hesitant to bet because she’ll be heavily favored and tends to race from off the pace. (7) ROCKET DEO has looked very good each week with the exception of when she had post nine in the Silverman. Any reasonable trip would give her a chance here. (1) MIRACULOUS DEO tucked and finished up steadily last time. McCarthy chose here over my top pick. Race 6: $240K NJ Sire Stakes 2YO C&G Trot Final - Survivor 7 This is an interesting race with many possible winners depending on trip and potential improvement from these 2-year-olds. (1) NORDIC CATCHER S flashed good trot at both ends of the mile and I’ve been left with the feeling that there is more in the tank we haven’t seen yet. (6) PRECISE LANDING is a bit of a head case but clearly has the speed to go with any in here if he minds his manners. I’ll be using him in multi-race tickets (even though Zeron jumped ship) just in case he behaves since the price will be right. (3) DON’T ASK FOR MORE is interesting because he picks up Tetrick this week. (5) TACTICAL DYNASTY brushed at the slowest part of the mile and sprinted home for the win in a perfect drive by Gingras last time; lean towards passing as the chalk. (4) GO BOOM is a good horse but another underlay in my opinion; using underneath only. (10) HIDALGO may be the most talented horse in the race, but you get post 10 and a horse whose gait hasn’t been quite right. If he’s straightened out, watch out! Race 7: Preferred Pace (6) MAXIMUS MIKI owns a stellar 5-3-1-1 record over this track in 2024 and has been very sharp in Pennsylvania as well. There is a reasonable chance he’ll get lost in the wagering shuffle here. This guy loves to grind on the rim. (4) ACT FAST raced very well in the Graduate series and opened my eyes to his capability as in upsetter in a field like this one. He’s as fast as any in here given the right trip. (5) HUNTINTHELASTDOLAR has the early speed to make the top and is nicely drawn today. The only concern is a four week gap since his last race. (2) OAKWOOD ARDAN IR is highly likely to be the favorite in here and while he’s a serious win candidate, I don’t think he’s separated himself from this field in terms of ability. Race 8: $220K Sam McKee Memorial Open Pace (9) RUTHLESS HANOVER took the night off in the Haughton and just followed the field around the track while finishing up willingly with no shot. I’m confident that the gloves are coming off this week and he’ll be flying off the wings of the gate as he loves to do. Don’t be shocked if he doesn’t look back. (6) IT’S MY SHOW never saw the pylons in the Haughton last time and raced as well as he has this year to be fourth. He’ll need some pace help here but is in a field that should be putting up big numbers up front. (2) ABUCKABETT HANOVER goes for the Meadowlands stakes hat trick today and is clearly the one to beat, but I’m not excited about taking even money or less on a horse that has been getting some sweet trips in those victories. (8) ALLYWAG HANOVER is still seeking his first win of the year. Last year he was winless coming into the McKee and he walked away victorious. (1) KEN HANOVER hasn’t had ideal trips of late; capable with the right journey. Race 9: Vincennes Trot - $100K GTD Pick 4 (6) LEXUS KODY returns here from Hoosier where he was racing very well. He was second in this race last year and has a huge chance to make amends. (5) ASTEROID found the going in the Crawford too tough versus the best older trotters. This field looks to be right up his alley and he could be sitting the pocket behind the top one. (2) ONCE IN A LIFETIME hasn’t been on this track in over a year so it is tough to determine whether he is fast enough to win. What I like is he’ll be coming from off the pace and there is certainly a possibility that the fractions will be hot. (9) UP YOUR DEO comes off a break at Yonkers that I can’t hold against him. With the right setup he could win. Race 10: $160K John R. Steele Memorial Mare Trot (7) BOND makes her 4-year-old debut here and if anyone can have a horse ready after eight-plus months on the sidelines it is Ake Svanstedt. She sprinted nicely when asked in her comeback qualifier and you know she can race well from on or off the pace. (1) M-M’S DREAM has hit the board 41 times in 44 career starts. That’s just amazing! She comes off a win last week and is clearly in the win conversation. (9) TACTICAL MOUNDS has to fire off the wings of the gate and it all comes down to whether we get the 7/13 mare or the 7/27 one. (3) SPECIAL WAY has been racing well all year without a win to show for it. Those taking a positive view will point to bad luck and that she is finally facing only girls while those on the negative side will look at the lack of wins and her facing older foes like #1; your call. Race 11: $282K John Cashman Memorial Open Trot (6) SOUTHWIND TYRION was able to stop the clock in an eye-popping 1:49 2/5 the last time we saw him five weeks ago. As mentioned earlier, this barn excels at having horses ready off the bench and the post is ideal to either fire out or look to work out live cover, though I prefer and expect to see early speed. (4) IT’S ACADEMIC didn’t beat the best field in the Spirit of Massachusetts but still picked up a victory despite going the last half uncovered. Unless (3) JIGGY JOG S fires out this week he could be perfectly lined up behind her cover. The latter hasn’t finished worse than second in years and no doubt will put up a fight here; respect. (8) WINNER’S BET steps up to face older foes for the biggest test of his career. He’s another contender given the right trip. (7) CHAPERCRAZ should be firing off the gate and that fact alone will get him into the exotics on my tickets. Race 12: $1,050,000 Hambletonian 3YO Trot - $125K GTD Pick 4 Barring a disastrous trip like he had in the Dancer, I find it hard to see how (1) KARL loses this race. The rail isn’t always the ideal starting spot but let’s keep in mind that a good portion of the horses in this field will have no interest in being near the lead. That should allow Gingras to let Karl trot out at his comfort zone and make a quick brush to the front once the dust settles. (9) PRIVATE ACCESS is one of the few who I feel confident will be gunning off the gate and he is coming off a very nice effort after missing a few weeks of action. The outside post only adds to his appeal for me on the price front. (4) T C I certainly gets some credit for the rebound performance but he was also allowed to set pedestrian fractions and won by just a neck to #9 in his elimination. I’m assuming he’ll be forwardly placed and that is what I like most. (8) SIG SAUER is the big wild card of the race for me. If he drew inside I’d have him ranked higher because I think with the right trip he can give Karl a bit of a hard time. That said, I don’t see him firing off the gate hard and I’m finding it hard to find who will give him live cover other than maybe Highland Kismet. Race 13: $240K NJ Sire Stakes 2YO Filly Trot Final Watching these during the series I’ve always felt that (7) KENDRA was just a tad more talented than the rest. Last time she was bottled up in the pocket and that caused her to settle for third. I’m certain Gingras will look to have her in a better spot this week. (3) LADY LANDIA sprinted home very nicely in her debut mile but broke for no apparent reason most recently. Don’t discount her here at what should be big odds. (6) CHAMPAGNE PROBLEMS has raced well from on or off the pace and that versatility will serve her well in a field of young filly trotters. (8) MY HONOR came home in 26 2/5 in her debut to just miss and then last time chased slow fraction which cost her a win chance. She’s another filly that will see her odds rise dramatically today for no major reason other than facing a stronger overall field. Race 14: $525K Hambletonian Oaks 3YO Filly Trot There are at least a half-dozen horses who can win the Oaks and what sticks out most for me is the amount of potential early speed players along with those from the inside who are clearly going to be moving early if they can. The above factors along with others are why I land on (6) BUY A ROUND. First, she is most definitely going to be coming from off the pace and has a handful of good horses to follow to her inside. Second, she has a freaky turn of speed and displayed that when she attacked first-over in her elim. Third, she’s expected to race without shoes in the final and that should move her up as well. (1) ELISTA HANOVER took on the intense heat from the top pick and was emboldened by the challenge. She earned my respect. (9) DATE NIGHT HANOVER was a bit flat in the Oaks elim but was super in her two prior starts. Reports are she is shedding the shoes for the final, which is how she raced in her dominating Zweig victory. (2) WARRAWEE MICHELLE finally showed life in her third start of the year. She’s only a few weeks removed from throat surgery and more improvement is certainly possible. [DRF HARNESS: Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter] Race 15: $146K Lady Liberty Mare Pace Perhaps I’m a glutton for punishment but I’m going back to the well one more time in hopes that (3) SYLVIA HANOVER can defeat her rival (7) TWIN B JOE FRESH. The former certainly responded to Tetrick joining the team last time and gets the real test against Joe Fresh, who does get a slight handicap this time drawing outside. (4) GRACE HILL raced well in the Clara Barton and perhaps she can move forward again off that mile. (10) ALWAYS B NAUGHTY was shuffled to last coming out of the same race. Post 10 is going to provide some issues but the talent is there. Race 16: Non-winners $14,000 in last 4/TM 89.5 (NW L2/2L4 90/90.5) or less (4) MCCRUNCH faces a strong field of older foes but I like that this finally looks like a spot where he can sit off a fast pace and take aim late. (6) PRIMARY COLORS comes off a career best mile and would prove quite tough with a repeat. (2) MAD MAX HANOVER couldn’t touch #6 a week ago but perhaps if the pace is quick enough he can make noise from behind.