Top Pick Stats: 244/705 (-$226.00) Best Bets: 30/64 ($7.00); Spot Plays: 13/64 (-$39.10) Best Bet: AMERICAN HISTORY (Race 10) Spot Play: STEAMER (Race 2) Early Pick-5: 2,6/1,2/4/2,6/2   $1.60 Late Pick-5: 1,5/1,9/3,8/3,6/2   $3.20 Race 1: ONTARIO SIRES STAKES GRASSROOTS CONSOLATION: 3 YEAR OLD FILLIES. (6) TALL DARK LADY has been sharp when racing on or near the lead. She draws perfectly in this short field and should be the one to catch. (2) HIGHLAND DELIGHT was overmatched against top level stakes competition, but has posted decent finishes at the Grassroots level, and should provide a much better price than the #6. (1) SOMETHING IN BLUE has been just a fringe type, though she has the speed to contend if the early speed falters. [DRF HARNESS: Get Harness Eye PPs for this card] Race 2: NW $3,500 LAST 4 STARTS OR NW $5,500 LAST 8 STARTS. AE: OPT. CLM. $20,000. (1) STEAMER is a horse who is improving every week, and now gets a class drop which should help his cause. I think he gets the job done tonight. (2) VERACRUZ is a similar type to Steamer, and is another who tends to improve when dropping to a level like this. It’s all about the trip for these mid-pack types. (4) NO ANGEL LIKE ME was near his best last week when coming up with a near miss second. I’ll look for him to grab a piece tonight. Race 3: ONTARIO SIRES STAKES GRASSROOTS CONSOLATION: 3 YEAR OLD COLTS & GELDINGS. (4) TIP OF TIME runs over this group on paper. If he can sustain on the front end, he will be tough to beat. (2) DEVILS WISH may not have the pop to run down rivals, but his staying power is very good. A pocket trip could see him pull an upset if he brings his best. (6) WICKED EXPRESS could be first to the lead, but he has struggled to finish the job this year. I’ll use him underneath. Race 4: FILLIES & MARES, NW $2,500 LAST 4 STARTS OR NW $5000 LAST 8 STARTS. AE: OPT. CLM. $20,000. AE: N/A $1,745 P/S IN 2024-2025. (2) GIMMIE A CORONA is practically in the house already with how hard she has been knocking at the door. McNair gets the call tonight and will look to push her over the top. (6) ALLSMOKEANDMIRRORS comes up with a big effort every now and then, but it should be expected here off a big class drop. (3) ONE LAST BET tends to stall after getting in contention. She can hold on for a piece tonight. Race 5: FILLIES & MARES, NW $9,000 LAST 4 STARTS OR NW $18,000 LAST 8 STARTS. AE: OPT. CLM. $50,000. AE: N/A $2,020 P/S IN 2024-2025. (2) SO MUCH MORE is the class of this group. She comes off two sharp qualifiers; I’ll look for her to return a winner. (7) SHES GOT IT ALL is hit and miss when trying the front, but I would expect her to carry her speed a bit farther tonight against this group. (1) BETTERNOTMACHME gets a deserving shot at these types after two straight wins. She is razor sharp right now and should be used somewhere. Race 6: ONTARIO SIRES STAKES GRASSROOTS CONSOLATION: 3 YEAR OLD COLTS & GELDINGS. (1) SUNDAY SHOES held on for the win after making a first over move to the lead. He is facing a similarly inconsistent group, but I think he repeats. (5) WENDELL BLUE CHIP might finally get aggressively handled, but we’ve kind of been saying that for weeks now. This is the perfect spot to get aggressive and see what you have. If not now, when? (6) SOLO C P comes off a sharp win at Grand River after being off for a month. McClure gets the call and may look to fire out if nobody else does. Race 7: POP UP SERIES: H&G STARTERS FOR PURSE OF $12,000 OR LESS IN L3 STARTS (W/O $45,000 IN 2025 N/E). AE: NW $25,000 IN 2025 (MIN 10 STARTS). L2. AE: L1 STARTERS. (1) STONEBRIDGE HELIOS finally put it all together last week and looked good doing so. The price likely won’t be worth a win bet, but another effort like that gets him back to the winner’s circle. (9) RIPASSO was a horse I took a shot with last week, and he annoyingly finished second at a double digit price after nearly swooping the field. I have to use him again, but his strategy just isn’t conducive to wins. (2) ARTIES IDEAL was a sharp second behind odds on favorite Myultimate Snowy A last week. He can hold on for a piece if positioned up close. Race 8: ONTARIO SIRES STAKES GRASSROOTS CONSOLATION: 3 YEAR OLD FILLIES. (3) P L STEVIE has the clear best resume in this field, but will need to be positioned accordingly when turning for home. She was aggressively handled last week; We could see that again. (8) SHAMPOO GIRL has the ability to make some noise, but needs to stay out of her own way. The post doesn’t help. (2) HADLEY got a pure tightener under her belt last week. She could be better tonight and finish in the money. [DRF HARNESS: Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter] Race 9: FILLIES & MARES OPEN 2. (6) CAVIAR N CRACKERS hasn’t been out of the Preferred in months. Despite her form tailing off as of late, she still looms as a top mare on the grounds in any given week. (3) ABSOLUTION was a transportation scratch last week, which didn’t allow her to participate against Sylvia Hanover. Her form prior to the scratch speaks for itself. (4) GLENBORO is a hard knocking mare that was an upset player for a few weeks at the top level. She could trip out here. Race 10: POP UP SERIES: H&G STARTERS FOR PURSE OF $12,000 OR LESS IN L3 STARTS (W/O $45,000 IN 2025 N/E). AE: NW $25,000 IN 2025 (MIN 10 STARTS). L2. AE: L1 STARTERS. I’ll settle with (2) AMERICAN HISTORY who was a very good second behind a pumped up winner in last week’s mandatory Hi-5 payout race. The veteran still has some tricks up his sleeve. (9) EARLY ACTION ships in from some very sharp performances at Rideau, and the speed matches up fairly well. Look for him to show some pop when shipping in. (1) DELIGHTFUL LEADER is another grinding type when racing at the middle conditioned ranks. He is usually put in play no matter who is driving and can grind out a finish in the money.