WINTER MEET STATS: 377-106-65-56 / $621.60 (-$132.40) BEST BETS: 24-9-9-0 / $42.00 (-$6.00) SPOT PLAYS: 27-6-4-4 / $22.00 (-$32.00) BEST BET: FEARLESS FURY (12th) SPOT PLAY: OUTCRY (7th) Race 1: Meadowlands Amateur Drivers Club 1 Pace - Pick 5 (4) LOU ON THE BEACH couldn’t get in gear at Yonkers but he’s back on the big track where he was racing well and lands in a very soft spot for a hot barn. (6) BETTER THAN SOME was raced conservatively and was just ok late in his debut for the new barn. He can certainly show more in start two. (8) IAMMRBRIGHTSIDE N raced well when last seen and he’s capable of showing a bit of early speed; using underneath. [DRF HARNESS: Get Harness Eye PPs for this card] Race 2: Trackmaster 71 (NW L2/L4/2L8 71.5/72.15/72.25) or less (3) FASHION CANTAB returns to The Meadowlands and you have to like the spot. He should be able to sit close to the pace with the aggressive Siegelman taking over and have every chance at a victory. (9) BBC SPORTSBOY was used hard to the front and paid the price as he weakened late. A smoother trip could produce a better result. (1) CAMPBELLINI raced well in his first start in the Spicer stable and his first try in a month. Any slight improvement would put him in the picture for win honors. Race 3: Trackmaster 68 (NW L2/L4 68.5/69.15) or less - Survivor 7 (7) AINTNOHOLLABACKGRL just missed as my best bet last week and I’m not ready to get off the bandwagon quite yet. Any smooth trip can see her in the winner’s circle. (4) JUST MY MAMA was at a distinct disadvantage from post nine last time. She moves inside and is a big threat. (3) EA MUSHU failed for the first time at this level in a long time. Driver change to Andy Miller is an upgrade. Race 4: Trackmaster 74.5 (NW L2/2L4 75/75.5) or less In a race with little form and seemingly lacking much early speed, we’ll try (3) BARBOSSA HANOVER to get the win. He should have an easier path to the front than last week when he fired out from post 10 in 26 4/5. (7) HARRY HANOVER is the other likely leaver. He elected to try different tactics last time and it didn’t produce better results; back to the front? (10) HOUND ON THE BEACH will probably need a bit of luck to overcome the post but he’s as good as any in here with the right trip. Race 5: Meadowlands Amateur Drivers Club 1 Pace (7) BIONIC hasn’t been seen in a bit more than a month but he does come out of a qualifier where he was chasing much better and that should have him tight. Lasix went on for that qualifier and perhaps that is the missing piece of the puzzle that was causing him to race poorly. (10) PHELGON is back in the amateur ranks where he won last time by over four lengths. (8) FERDINAND A will be firing to the front and he’s always capable of wiring the field. (1) URBAN RENEWAL won convincingly versus lesser a week ago. Race 6: Winners over $12,500 in last 4 or $50,000 life/NW $12,500 L4 or 9 races life draw inside - $50K GTD Pick 4 (6) LEXUS KODY rated more than I would’ve liked and ended up getting outsprinted to the wire last time. Now that Herbertson knows the horse a bit better hopefully he’ll try to get clear a bit in the final turn. (1) AETOS KRONOS S got the job done at first asking on these shores. He’ll need to go faster this week but is the likely favorite. (2) CHAPERCRAZ raced well in defeat to #1 in his 2025 debut. He can certainly improve. Race 7: Trackmaster 74.5 Final (5) OUTCRY spent most of the first turn on the rim and then attacked first over only to lose to a fresh horse with an easier trip. The price should be right here on a sharp horse due to the presence of (4) NATIONAL SPORT, who won both preliminary legs of the series and his last three starts in this TM74 class; clear chalk but far from unbeatable. (8) CAPTAIN PLANET owns a pair of seconds behind National Sport. If they mix it up too much on the engine this guy could be coming at a nice price for the money. (7) SUNSHINE’S FINEST has been right there each week; trip threat. Race 8: Trackmaster 74 or less/TM 77 or less draw outside - Pick 6 (4) MIGHTY DEO jumped it off again at the start but recovered with a sharp effort and a 27 4/5 final quarter. If he can just keep his head together into the first turn, perhaps he’ll show what is in the tank. (7) HOOFBEATS DE VIE drops back down to TM74 where he was second twice recently. In his last try in this class he had a bit of a troubled trip and finished very well. (9) GOOGOO EYES held on for the win in this class a week ago. The trip will be key for him moving outside. Race 9: Trackmaster 74.5 (NW L2/2L4 75/75.5) or less (4) MONEYMAKESHERHAPPY was overbet as expected last week. She was poised to finish second behind a runaway winner but made a miscue in mid-stretch. I’m willing to give her a second chance versus a softer field at what should be a much better price. (1) DUCK INTO THE NITE bumps up in fine form for a barn that is firing on all cylinders. (5) QUEEN SUN RYSER was used to the front and chased strong winner last time. She’s sharp and a picks up a higher percentage driver. (3) TESLA POWER is worth a look on the switch to Dexter Dunn. Race 10: Trackmaster 83.5 Final - $50K GTD Pick 4 (7) TARANAKI was parked for three-eighths of the mile, posted a fast half and three-quarters on the engine, and powered away to a very convincing victory last weekend. It’s hard to see him losing but I’ll stop short of saying he’s a complete lock. (2) SWINWITHTHECURRENT was stuck in an impossible spot last week and then ran into plenty of stretch traffic before finishing up willingly. He can play with these and should offer fair value. (5) BOBCAT BAY is faster off the gate than any of these but maybe not sharp enough to get more than a minor exotic award. Race 11: Non-winners $7,500 (NW L2 $8,300) in last 4/TM 81.25 or less (6) S I P stays in the same class on paper but faces a much softer group in his second start back in the U.S. after a tour overseas. It remains to be seen whether he still owns the speed to go a 1:51 mile with the top dogs, but he should be able to muster the 1:53 or so it may take to win here. (10) DRIBBLING BI is back at a level where he has a chance of winning. The post will hurt but early speed is in his arsenal to overcome it. (9) DIRE STRAITS has some class. His debut mile for this barn was solid as you aren’t winning many races from third-over at Pocono. I fear we may get one more conservative mile and Dunn joining the team means a shorter price is coming. Race 12: Trackmaster 71 (NW L2/L4/L6/L8 71.5/72/72.35/72.65) or less (7) FEARLESS FURY came up short last time after missing more than six weeks of action. It is also worth noting that he came into that race, which went in a crazy 54 3/5 to the half, off just a 2:01 qualifier at Monticello. Five-year-old is down to speed now and should be ready to show more. (3) PACK YOUR BAGS has been a very consistent performer at the TM71 level. His last three efforts have resulted in a win, second and fourth (from 10 hole). (1) SAILOR’S SHADOW exits the amateur ranks. Note that this guy owns the fastest win time of the group in 2025. [DRF HARNESS: Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter] Race 13: Non-winners 2 (NW L2 3) races or $20,000 (NW L2 $30,000) life/Maidens draw inside (8) DIPLOMACY is one of two horses in the race that will have its driver stop by for just this race as McCarthy will come from Yonkers to steer. Four-year-old owns the fastest win in the field, faces some younger foes, and hails from a barn that sent out two winners off the bench last weekend. (2) TOP GUN HANOVER brings Gingras over from Yonkers to drive. Sophomore won his last qualifier by eight lengths under just some light taps of the whip and will look to get trainer Nancy Takter in the 2025 win column. (5) CRAIGIEBURN handled the turns better last time. Sooner or later this guy is going to win, though the waters are getting deeper as the 3-year-olds return. Race 14: Trackmaster 68 (NW L2/L4 68.5/69) or less (9) EVER M made two moves and came up short late last weekend. He drops down a notch and figures to be firing to the front again tonight. (7) COLE ON THE BEACH takes a similar step down the condition ladder and although he appears to lack form, don’t be surprised if he awakens. (1) BIG BAD BILL gets major post relief and should be able to stick close to the action without having to work too hard.