2026 MEET STATS: 5 - 20 / $40.64 (+$0.64)
BEST BETS: 2 - 2 / $8.32 (+$4.32)
SPOT PLAYS: 1 - 2 / $19.94 (+$15.94)
BEST BET-CHEVRON ART N (3rd)
SPOT PLAY-C-BET HANOVER (9th)
Race 1 - NAADA Winter Series Leg #2 Trot
(3) MUSKINGUM was sharp at the Meadowlands not all that long ago and tonight she gets some post relief off her recent efforts over there. (1) VALI HANOVER didn't threaten from post six last week but moves inside to the pole position tonight and I wouldn't be surprised if that results in more aggressive tactics. (6) HUNTERS GAL comes over from the Meadowlands off three straight on-the-board finishes but appears to lack speed off the gate. I'll slot underneath.
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Race 2 - 40000CLM Trot
(3) CACTUSTOTHECLOUDS didn't come through as the favorite last week but hopefully that means an improved price is coming tonight as he gets to team up with Jason Bartlett again and moves in a couple of notches on the gate. (1) MAHONE SEELSTER won at this level on the front-end a week ago and the same thing could certainly happen here as he departs from the pole position. (4) WHEELZABLAZIN has hit the board in four of his last seven tries and was third in the event taken by MAHONE SEELSTER last Thursday.
Race 3 - NW7500L5 / Winners in Last Start of the Base Class NW5000L5 Pace
(5) CHEVRON ART N prevailed handily from the eight-hole versus NW5000L5 company last Tuesday, and I think has room to build on that tonight from a better post. (1) COALFORD TOPGUY GB comes south into the stable of leading trainer Per Engblom and has been racing well in Canada, including a victory most recently at Flamboro Downs. (2) GREAT SOMEWHERE has a similar profile to my top selection as he is hiking up after tallying against bottom level foes a week ago. He moves in from post four to the two-hole.
Race 4 - 3-6YO 20000CLM Pace
(4) ON DAYBOO didn't have the smoothest of trips last time as he was two-wide a couple of times and didn't threaten. I'll give him another try here in the hopes of a better journey and result against a wide-open group. (1) UWAITILLGOFIRST debuts for new connections in sharp form from up in Canada, including three wins from October 29 to November 12. (3) ROSE RUN ASTRO posted a third in this class a week ago and slides in a couple of slots on the gate here.
Race 5 - 40000CLM Trot
(3) B NICKING led a long way before he wound up second last week and I think could be sharper tonight as that was his first outing since New Year's Eve. (5) ENERGY KING rallied by my top selection to triumph a week ago and gets to partner with Bartlett again tonight. (2) PEDAL ON METAL doesn't have a recent victory by has hit the board in four straight appearances, so I'll toss him in the mix underneath.
Race 6 - 15000CLM Pace
(2) DANCE ON THE BEACH closed with pace in a second-place finish a week ago and landed another inside post this time. (4) J B GRAM finished in the runner-up spot behind a well-meant victor last Thursday and gets a driver switch to Bartlett tonight. (5) ROCKINBILLY'SDREAM held off my top selection after he cut the mile last week and has Yannick Gingras back to steer him again.
Race 7 - Invitational Trot
(7) CECIL HANOVER wound up with an impossible journey in the MGM Grand Prix Trotting Series final and tired but gets co-owner Gingras back in the bike here and he hit the board a couple of times in the prelims of the MGM Grand Prix Trotting Series. (5) BENJAMIN HANOVER is back with Scott Di Domenico after a couple of starts in Ohio and has won at the top level at Yonkers before. (2) BRONZER comes in with four straight results in the trifecta between here and the Meadowlands and has an inside post to work with.
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Race 8 - NW20000L5 / Winners in Last Start of the Base Class NW15000L5 / NW10 PM Races LT / 60000CLM Trot
(4) DIPLOMACY captured three straight races at Yonkers to cap off 2025 and returns to the half-mile oval here off a third at the Meadowlands on 1-11. He also gets reunited with Bartlett. (2) VLAHOS comes in with back-to-back victories, including a front-end tally in this class last week. (6) CHIPPER DALE lost Bartlett's services to DIPLOMACY but is on an extended run of sharp form. George Brennan gets a chance to team up with him.
Race 9 - 25000CLM Pace
(4) C-BET HANOVER gets to move in from post seven to the four-hole this time and had five straight on-the-board results to close out 2025. Last week's appearance was also his first outing since 12-17, so I think he could have needed the race. (2) THEFLYINGROCK steps up tonight but beat $20,000 claimers by 10 lengths last Wednesday and hasn't been outside the trifecta in his last six trips behind the gate overall. (1) DELIGHTFUL DUDE got the job done in game fashion at this level on 1-21 and also owns victories against $25,000 claiming company back on 11-12 and 12-10.
Race 10 - F&M 20000CLM Pace
(6) SEA STORM debuts for a stable that often does well with first-timers, is in good form from out of town and gets Gingras in the bike. (7) BIG CITY DAISY will have to overcome a bad post but had four wins and a second in five starts at this level to end out her 2025 campaign. (3) FIGHT NOT FLIGHT had pace in the stretch in another solid effort last Wednesday. She makes her initial appearance for these connections off a claim and moves in from the six-hole to post three.