Top Pick Stats: 220/662 (-$246.50) Best Bets: 26/60 (-$5.20); Spot Plays: 12/61 (-$37.70) Best Bet: FLANAGAN SUNSHINE (Race 9) Spot Play: CHICKABELL (Race 5) Early Pick-5: 1,6/5,7/2,6/2,7/5   $3.20 Late Pick-5: 4,8/3,4,9/5,8/3/4,8   $4.80 Race 1: FILLIES & MARES, 5 YEAR OLDS & YOUNGER, NW 2 RACES OR $30,000 (OS $46,000) LIFETIME. AE: 3 YR OLDS NW $1,750 LAST 4 STARTS. (1) BONHOMIE HANOVER has had to pace some big miles to even be in contention for some money when racing at a level higher than this. She faces an easier group tonight that she can take care of if she puts up similar speed. (6) YS FLOWERNUMBERTEN is just 1-for-27, but peppers the place spot regularly. She also gets away from the likes of Rocks Shadow and Laneside Incontrol. I like her chances to track and produce a good finish. (4) FIRST CAST was mired at the back last week, and eventually moved off cover to close and finish fourth. This is an interesting class move for her. I’ll look for her to hit the board tonight. [DRF HARNESS: Get Harness Eye PPs for this card] Race 2: FILLIES & MARES, WINNERS OF 2 BUT NOT MORE THAN 5 RACES OR $80,000 (OS $100,000) LIFETIME. (5) ALWAYS DAWN was a sharp second after a two-move effort. It helped that she got a perfect second over trip, but she once again produced a strong race around the Mohawk oval. She seems to really like it here, and she got James Macdonald’s nod over two other contenders. (7) LANESIDE INCONTROL was a rival that J-Mac chose against. She also got a second over tow, but couldn’t finish the job when Rocks Shadow came calling. McNair should be aggressive with her. (2) MARGOSGOTTHECARGO was a horse who started her career with six straight wins, and five of them came at Mohawk. She has had a strong showing at four with four wins in eight starts, and can get herself into the race, but may be just a touch too far back to make a real impact on the early speed types. Race 3: FILLIES & MARES, NW $12,000 LAST 4 STARTS OR NW $29,500 LAST 8 STARTS. AE: NW 6 RACES LIFETIME. (6) ANGOSTURA HANOVER puts herself at a bit of a disadvantage at these upper levels, given her closing style, but when she gets in gear, she can challenge for the win any week. I’ll give her a slight nod. (2) COCO JO JO is better than what she showed last week, but when it was time to perform, she went backwards. She could trip out tonight, which could spark her right back into form. (5) MS QUICK SAND has gotten two checks with Louis Roy in the bike. She has been holding her own as she climbs up the class ladder and could add a little value to exotics. Race 4: FILLIES & MARES, NW $6,000 LAST 4 STARTS OR NW $14,750 LAST 8 STARTS. AE: OPT. CLM. $30,000. AE: N/A $2,030 P/S IN 2024-25. (7) CHARMBO STORMY was aggressively handled off the drop in class, and was able to work out a perfect pocket trip en route to a season best mile. I would expect her to be on the move in the early stages again. (2) FATED FIRE can have decent staying power when grinding into the race, and could get some fast fractions to chase. She could set up as a value play in this spot. (8) MADRID A has more than what she has shown in the last two efforts. McNair hops back in the bike and is likely to have her blasting as well. Race 5: FILLIES & MARES, NW $3,100 LAST 4 STARTS OR NW $8,100 LAST 8 STARTS. AE: OPT. CLM. $20,000. (5) CHICKABELL drops back to a level where she should be competitive. The trips had not been working out for her, and then she shipped to Grand River and was aggressively handled, resulting in two nice efforts. I think McNair can get her in a good spot at a square number. (4) KIERA SEELSTER held off her main challenger last week, resulting in her third win in her last six starts. J-Mac should get plenty of respect. (1) SUPERIOR DELIGHT couldn’t quite reach Kiera Seelster when returning to the 20K claimer where she has had plenty of success. She could be outsprinted from the rail, though, resulting in an early quarter move into a fast pace. Race 6: POP UP SERIES: H&G STARTERS FOR A PURSE OF $12,000 OR LESS IN LAST 3 STARTS (W/O $45,000 IN 2025 N/E). AE: NW $25,000 IN 2025 (MIN 10 STARTS). LEG 1. I guess I haven’t learned my lesson yet with (4) STONEBRIDGE HELIOS, but last week’s mile is more than good enough to win here. He flew home two back for the new barn, and now J-Mac returns to the bike. I think he finally gets the job done again. (8) BLAST OF SUNSHINE can be forgiven for his latest where he got away last from post ten. He is usually involved a little more than that, which is what I’ll count on tonight. His grinding style can carry him a long way. (6) REIGN SUPREME comes off two grinding efforts at Grand River. One resulted in a win, but he faded in the other due to fast fractions being set up top. I would expect Borth to leave out a little bit. Race 7: NW $3,600 LAST 4 STARTS OR NW $5,000 LAST 8 STARTS. AE: OPT. CLM. $20,000. (9) P L ROBERT G gets a sizable class drop that he should take advantage of if he is able to pick up a few positions off the car. From there, I would trust his grinding ability. (4) FABULOUS FREDDIE saved every inch of ground in what was his first pari-mutuel start since April. If he minds his manners and steps forward, he could wind up providing exotics value in this race. (3) MISTER MAGIC has made this class his home for a few months now, and lost by less than a length when returning to the level. He is always usually in contention when turning for home. Race 8: 2 YEAR OLD FILLIES: NW 1 RACE OR $8,000 LIFETIME. WITH ALLOWANCES. (5) FAVORITISM might be given favoritism from the bettors, as most Gallucci trainees seem to be when they debut. Her lone morning prep came against the stakes filly A Clean Deal. Look for top connections to have her ready to roll. (8) ALEKSOVA was a fast closing fourth in her debut after getting away at the back. She made up a lot of ground in the back half and could be in a contending spot if she sits close enough. (3) DOCS GIRL FRIDAY looks like a project type on paper, but she is slowly but surely stepping forward, and anything that the Cullen barn sends out of late deserves some respect. [DRF HARNESS: Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter] Race 9: 3 YEAR OLD COLTS & GELDINGS: GRASSROOTS OR PROSPECT STARTERS NW $21,000 LAST 5 STARTS. (3) FLANAGAN SUNSHINE was aggressively handled when adding Lasix and knifed through horses to just miss behind Nickel And Dime who got the jump on the outside. I think he could take advantage of a vulnerable group this week. (7) WEARING THE GREEN was an okay fourth in his first start in nearly a month. He should be tighter coming into tonight and should show more gate speed. (1) LOOKATMEGOAMIGO keeps Louis Roy, but he might keep torching money if he comes up empty as he did last time. You would expect him to rebound, but others are making progress. Race 10: POP UP SERIES: H&G STARTERS FOR A PURSE OF $12,000 OR LESS IN LAST 3 STARTS (W/O $45,000 IN 2025 N/E). AE: NW $25,000 IN 2025 (MIN 10 STARTS). LEG 1. (8) MYULTIMATE SNOWY A gets a sizable class drop into this Pop-Up and keeps leading driver James Macdonald after he drove in his last two starts. He has the speed to take care of business tonight. (4) SOMETIME SOMEWHERE has plenty of staying power if he is able to fire his fastball successfully. Last week, he wasn’t, and he didn’t end up getting a check. He draws well and should be forwardly placed. (1) LARRY KARR faded back to fourth after firing out and clearing to the lead in the early stages. Plante gets plenty of speed out of horses, and especially horses like him who can still fire out and get into position.