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Northfield Track Announcer Ayers Ratliff’s free handicapping tips are provided for our IdaBet.com players.

Remember, due to their draw schedule, picks are made in advance and do not account for scratches or late driver changes.

From the “Ayers Above” FRIDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 29

Race 1: 2- Friskie Town– Draws into a race where several could win; this one gets the slight call over the others to take tonight’s opener. 1- Balinska Hanover – Looks to be tough in here if she minds her manners. 9- A Million Thanks – Could be a factor with a clean effort. 3- Mcnickels Mcdimes – Should get a good trip from the inside.

Race 2: 2- Jimmy Rip – Drops in class and draws the inside looking to improve off a couple tough efforts. 5- Richerthanrayno – Looks to be tough at this level of competition. 7- Shark Control – Draws tough this week and is dropping in class, Dayton shippers do very well here. 9- Fight Night– Could add value from the second tier.

Race 3: 9- Ashtoreth Hanover – Taking a big drop in class tonight after a game third place effort last out, expect more this week. 7- Sea Danser – Looks to be successful upon a return to Northfield Park. 1- Forever Lucky – didn’t get the best of trips last time out from the 2nd tier, inside post should play to her advantage.

Race 4: 4- It’s a Horse – Dropping down to face easier after not advancing last time out, one to watch. 2- Sure Thing – Another with a big shot in here. 3- Lima Legend – Could add value from an inside post this week. 8- Pembroke Snapshot – Has as good of a shot as any in here to complete the Superfecta.

Race 5: 1- Lyons Chantelle – Draws the inside this week and hasn’t been able to show herself with the tough posts as of late, look for a strong bid. 4- Rosescape – Has the ability to be prominently placed on this ticket. 7- BB Radar – Should get a good trip from the outside. 3- Crow Foot – Could garner a minor...

While winter’s chill has been covering the Northeast of late, the action – as well as the payoffs – at the Meadowlands have been white-hot.

Racing resumes at the Big M this evening for the final race week of 2017 with a 10-race program that gets underway at 6:35 p.m. The track will then come back with back-to-back 14-race cards on Friday and Saturday with the same earlier-than-normal winter post time, which will be in effect through the end of February.

There will be many opportunities for bettors over the course of the three programs, as of the 38 races, 34 of them have full 10-horse fields. Couple that with Pick Fours and Pick Fives that have a low takeout of 15 percent, and you have the recipe for a post-Christmas score.

“The winter meet offers great opportunities for vertical and horizontal bettors,” said Big M chief operating officer and general manager Jason Settlemoir. “The full 10-horse fields combined with the long stretch at the Meadowlands makes racing a little more unpredictable, which makes the pools larger because the bigger payouts now become possible. We’re looking forward to a great 2018.”

Given how things went last weekend, he has good reason to be optimistic:

·         All-source handle on Saturday night totaled $2,771,241

·         The Pick Four pool on Friday was $68,192 and $64,196 on Saturday

For our IdaBet players, here are the Thursday Picks for Monticello. Happy Wagering!

1ST RACE: 6-2-1-5

2ND RACE: 6-3-1-2

3RD RACE: 3-6-1-4

4TH RACE: 1-2-5-3

5TH RACE: 4-5-2-3

6TH RACE: 2-6-7-1

7TH RACE: 4-1-6-2

8TH RACE: 1-5-7-2

9TH RACE: 1-2-3-6

10TH RACE: 5-4-7-3

11TH RACE: 5-2-7-8