CHAMPIONSHIP MEET STATS: 331-112-52-42 / $601.40 (-$60.60) BEST BETS: 24-11-6-1 / $48.00 (+$0.00) SPOT PLAYS: 23-4-3-7 / $45.20 (-$0.80) BEST BET: CONVERSANO (11th) SPOT PLAY: SECURITY PROTECTED (13th) Race 1: Non-winners $12,500 (NW L2 $14,000) in last 5 or 9 (NW L2 10) races life/TM 88 (NW L2 90) or less - Pick 5 (2) VICIOUS showed good improvement in his second start for the Bongiorno barn but was unlucky to get in against a legitimate Open horse like Ruthless Hanover. I’m looking past his 1-for-32 record the last two years and focusing on that step forward as well as the back class that shows a 1:49 winning mile at The Meadows as a 4-year-old. (8) KOPI LUWAK is another with a 1:49 and change mile on his resume a couple of years ago and he’s off a nice confidence-building win at Pocono. I can see him firing out in this spot and taking a run at a win. (4) WAFFLE BLUE CHIP is a 3-year-old that has done well this year while kept in somewhat softer company. He returns here after missing six weeks but this barn fires fresh. (7) CAPTAIN CRUSADER A is a capable horse if he gets a quick pace to set him up. [DRF HARNESS: Get Harness Eye PPs for this card] Race 2: Tompkins-Geers 3YO C&G Pace (5) SMOOTH DREAM remains undefeated in eight 2025 starts and while he’s no lock here, you have to respect him as the horse to beat. (2) MANOLETE will probably be put in play and sit no worse than a pocket trip behind the top pick. He’s got a clear win chance if on the favorite’s back. (6) BEACH CLUB MONTY is another Pelling trainee returning from a long break considering it is the middle of the summer. There is some ability here but the competition is tough. Race 3: Miss Versatility Open Mare Trot - Survivor 7 (5) ELISTA HANOVER was spectacular in the Hambletonian Maturity and while I don’t expect we are going to see that same aggressive forwardly-placed performance tonight, the short field should afford her the opportunity to win regardless. (1) DIAL SQUARE S was used in the Six Pack and came up wanting late in the mile. Connections gave her four weeks off to freshen her up and they tend to do well off the bench. (2) M-M’S DREAM was really good two starts back and average at best last time. Your guess is as good as mine on which horse shows up tonight. Race 4: Open Handicap Pace (4) VOUKEFALAS was used to the front, got shuffled to third and just wasn’t the same horse in the stretch as we’ve seen in previous weeks. With his position on the gate and given that some of these will be eyeing the Sam McKee next week, he could most certainly steal this race. (6) SABONIS was huge in his Graduate final win and almost as good in the Haughton when he finished third in an identical time. While this seems like it will be more of a maintenance mile, he rarely misses the board at 23-for-25 lifetime. (8) MAXIMUS MIKI proved he belongs in the conversation with the big boys after winning his Haughton division. He could leave hard and win but my money is on a more conservative steer after the tough mile two weeks back. (5) A BUCKABETT HANOVER was also used hard last time and he remains winless on the year after being named the top older pacer in 2024. I can’t back him at this point but he’s not impossible on the win end given the right setup. Race 5: Tompkins-Geers 3YO C&G Pace (5) CAPTAIN OPTIMISTIC really hasn’t been himself since perhaps the NA cup elimination on June 7. That said, the barn in general is winless in 21 starts here this month, so maybe he deserves a bye. There have been some subtle signs of a turnaround lately and if this guy is right he will beat these. (6) TWIN FURY is clearly going to the front and his form is undeniable, but if the top one shows up I don’t think he can win. (2) SUGAR MAN rallied nicely to best a softer group last time. He’s another that needs the top one to be at less than 100%. Race 6: Hambletonian 3YO Open Trot (1st division) - $50K GTD Pick 4 (4) MONSERRATE stepped up his game in a big way last time in the Dancer to prove to those that didn’t believe that he is in the upper echelon in the 3-year-old trotting ranks. After much consideration on who may be handled aggressively here, he was the winner as Miller likely has to leave hard or fire with a fast uncovered brush to avoid being first-over from this post. (1) FASHION GREEN is the big unknown in this group as he’s never faced better than Sire Stakes foes. Undefeated gelding looked very good last time and I do believe he can step up his game. (2) EMOTICON LEGACY has yet to lose this year and will be the chalk on Saturday. I can’t really knock him other than to say that there are some talented horses in here who will offer better value. (6) MR MOUTON is another horse that has to prove himself on the stakes scene and get down to the needed 1:50 and change speed. It seems the talent is there. Race 7: Hambletonian Oaks 3YO Filly Trot (1st division) (7) LADY LANDIA was raced purposely off the pace in her 3-year-old debut last time and rallied very willingly for second behind a filly that would be the heavy favorite to win the Oaks if she was eligible. Breeders Crown winner from last year seems highly likely to fire off the gate tonight and use different tactics. (4) DELANEY HANOVER tried to leave in the same race as the top pick but had way too much company and ended up parked the entire mile, including being first-over for a while. Considering the trip, finishing fifth and losing by eight lengths wasn’t bad. There is ability here and perhaps we see it in just her third start of the year. (2) LASTING DREAM wasn’t given much of a shot in the Zweig but rallied with a nice win versus cheaper. She’s untested and may have more ability than people think. (1) R DUTCHESS hasn’t been worse than second in 2025 but seems unlikely to offer the value I’d want. Race 8: Hambletonian 3YO Open Trot (2nd division) - Pick 6 (4) SUPER CHAPTER landed in the softest division and that fits with his season in general where he’s been in the right place at the right time all year. Take nothing away from his ability as he’s clearly near the top of this crop in terms of talent. Dunn should place him on the lead here and the race could be over. (3) GAP KRONOS S had an expected off week in the Dancer but now the real racing begins again. Gingras is back in the bike and should be firing out to hopefully sit the pocket behind the top pick. (7) MAXIMUS MEARAS S wasn’t bad in his 2025 debut but is still playing a bit of catch-up. I have to believe the plan is to go a conservative mile and do just enough to make the final where they’ll pull out all the stops. Race 9: Hambletonian Oaks 3YO Filly Trot (2nd division) (5) MISS BELMAR gave everyone a taste of how good she can be with an open-lengths win last weekend. She takes a clear step up in company here but certainly could be up to the task as the likely second choice behind (6) WHAT A BID HANOVER. The latter rarely gets a good trip and sometimes it just doesn’t matter as she is that talented; clear player. (4) WALSPEA seems to be moving forward each week and there is no shame losing to Yo Tillie. I can definitely see Smedshammer firing her off the gate and trying to steal this race. (2) VOGUISH is better than she looks on paper and I’ll probably use her on at last one Pick 4 ticket. Race 10: Hambletonian 3YO Open Trot (3rd division) - $50K GTD Pick 4 (3) GO DOG GO used his quick burst of speed to get the best of (7) MARYLAND in the Dancer last time and he has a nice post edge here. My money says McCarthy will float out and make an early move to the front while awaiting his rival. As long as the “Dog” isn’t the heavy fave, he’ll likely be a single for me. The latter has been second every start as his connections continue to handle him with kid gloves. They did let him out a notch last time with a float and brush move, but the top one accelerated too quickly and as much as he battled he couldn’t regain position. Dunn is likely going to need to get him to high speed earlier and that is probably being reserved for the final. (4) LANDING ON TIME certainly impressed last time with a 1:51 1/5 mile at Mohawk where he was wrapped up in the last few steps. I might be willing to take a flyer with him on a Pick 4 ticket at 8-1 or higher. Race 11: Hambletonian Oaks 3YO Filly Trot (3rd division) (1) CONVERSANO was stuck in post 10 last time and while the trip wasn’t bad, she just couldn’t find enough late versus two fillies that would likely be the favorite in here. The inside post tonight allows her the opportunity to let the dust settle and use her quick burst of speed to make the top. (5) R CHARM took a step forward finishing second behind Yo Tillie last time. Does she have another move forward in her arsenal? (2) DEARLY BELOVED has now won three straight and looked very good last time if you overlook a small skip of a step on the final turn. (6) EL NIGHTWISH has ability but wasn’t very good last time. Race 12: Tompkins-Geers 3YO Filly Pace (6) MIKI AND MINNIE again proved that she is by far the best filly in this division. I expect her to take care of business. (11) RODEO DRIVE DEO was handled too aggressively last time and when called on for a second move she was on the empty side. Her best races have come when she can relax and pounce. That trip seems more likely from the second tier. (5) THREE TIMES BETTOR only saw the pylons for a few seconds in her last start and then spent a bunch of time uncovered. A better trip can produce a better result. [DRF HARNESS: Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter] Race 13: Non-winners $12,500 (NW L2 $13,750) in last 5/TM 87 (NW L2 89.75) or less (9) SECURITY PROTECTED has been racing pretty well but just been facing sharper and better foes. He drops out of stakes action tonight and while some will be turned off by him landing the outside and seemingly possessing no early speed, he has displayed that talented in the past. This is a great spot to gain confidence. (1) CELEBRITY BAMBINO should be a player in here if he can behave. (3) WINTER SOLDIER went a big mile returning from five weeks on the sidelines. (8) AMAZING CATCH exits the same races as the top pick but hasn’t looked very good. Race 14: Trackmaster 80.5 (NW L2 82.5) or less (6) HAGGARD was used to the top and then pressed uncovered last time yet somehow hung around nicely to only lose by three lengths. He could be coming to form and you should get a fair price. (10) LITE N SWEET was blocked and appeared to have plenty left in the tank last week; post hurts. (7) MIDNIGHT NATION has found early speed of late and was super in victory last time. (3) FENDI HANOVER won his last start in this class; Herschberger chose off my top pick.