The Meadowlands has a 14-race card in place with the headliner coming in Race 9, the Arthur J. Cutler Memorial Free For All Trot with a $155,200 purse. The 0.50 Early Pick 4 starts in Race 6. The sequence has a $50,000 guaranteed pool with a 15% takeout, and it will be my focus.

Comments and selections below are based on a fast track.

Race 6

2-Southwind Gendry (5/2)-Comes off a sharp win from post 7. Steps up and faces a solid field but should be racing near the top of the stack with this post draw. Has won 28% of Big M starts and David Miller should have in play from start to finish.
4-Billy Clyde (8-1)-Makes the 1st start of the year and this is the debut performance with the Schnittker barn. Will look for a price and hope the 5-year-old fires hot off the bench. If so, could top the one above and offer a very nice price. Has an impressive record at M1 hitting the board in 13 of 16 and has posted 7 wins.

Race 7

4-Dire Straights (6-1)-Comes off a necessary start and should be tighter after being used hard to get an early lead. Finished a beaten 3rd but the two that finished ahead are not in this field. Could be ready for a complete effort and might be overlooked at the windows.
6-Oh Well (9/5)-Comes off a good try to finish to 2nd to #8 in last and did rally with a 54.4 back half. Gets a post edge over some main players and will probably be driven aggressively off the gate. Should be dialed on high this week.

Race 8

2-Nuttin But Finesse (12-1)-Rallied nicely down the lane last week but was not used off the gate from post 7. Does good work when raced near the top of the stack. This will be 3rd start at M1 and will look for a more aggressive steer. Stratton can keep the longshot close and be in the mix at the wire.
3-Stonebridge Reef (9/2)-Has only 1 win in the last 6 Big M starts but has been right there at the wire in every race. Was just nipped near the line by the one below in last. Todd McCarthy takes over for Gingras, starts inside, can offer a solid price and like the one above should be racing with the leaders.
4-Jilliby Dynamite A (5/2)-Was aided by some fast fractions but not knocking the last win because the rally down the lane was impressive. Not sure this race will set up the same way and could be bet down off the morning line.

Race 9

1-Venerate (9/2)-This 5-year-old was sold for $410,00 in October after only banking $85,926 last year. Comes off a pair of qualifiers and the last one was a strong effort. The price is right to use, and it wouldn't be a shock if Melander finds the key to the trotter and this season turns out to be much better than 2022.
4-Bella Bellini (5/2)-Was handled conservatively in the lone start this year and should be closer to the top in the early going tonight. An aggressive steer could be coming with a good purse on the line. Best to respect, but hoping the champion mare won't be bet down to a tiny price.

0.50 Early Pick 4

2,4/4,6/2,3,4/1,4
Total Bet=$12

Check me out on Twitter!