Top Pick Stats: 271/787 (-$249.20) Best Bets: 35/72 ($13.70); Spot Plays: 15/72 (-$35.20) Best Bet: SUNDAY SHOES (Race 8) Spot Play: NEW RULES (Race 9) Early Pick-5: 4,5/2,4/3,6,7/5,7/5,6   $9.60 Middle Pick-5: 2,6/2,4,6/3/2/5,7   $2.40 Late Pick-5: 3/2/5,7/3,4,6/1,3   $2.40 Race 1: 5 YEAR OLDS & YOUNGER, NW 2 RACES OR $30,000 (OS $37,500) LIFETIME. (5) IM A PAPI HANOVER was in tight quarters near the wire last week after appearing to have some pace left. A cleaner trip could see him score at a square price. (4) TROOPER HANOVER got a second over trip behind the eventual winner last week, and raced fine after being off for nearly a month. The biggest note is leading driver James Macdonald getting the call, which should drive his price down drastically. (3) LYONS DUKEY was able to sustain his first over move and finish a solid second. He should be able to get into the race in a variety of ways, and is a logical use on most tickets. [DRF HARNESS: Get Harness Eye PPs for this card] Race 2: POP UP SERIES: OS 3 YEAR OLD COLTS & GELDINGS NW $100,000 IN 2025 AS OF OCT 1ST. AE: OPT. CLM. $50,000 FOR OS 3 YEAR OLD COLTS & GELDINGS. LEG 2. (4) ALIMONY MIKE was able to deal with the pocket horse forcing him three wide and went on to get the job done. He can work out a similar trip in a short field; I’ll give him the nod to repeat. (2) PIERRE IN PARIS conceded defeat to Sunday Shoes at the eighth pole, because that rival had already opened a lead that was insurmountable. He is racing well in recent weeks and deserves respect. (3) WEARING THE GREEN is likely to be the first horse to the lead, but usually doesn’t sustain that move in the stretch. I’ll look for him to hold on for a piece. Race 3: POP UP SERIES: OS 3 YEAR OLD FILLIES NW $100,000 IN 2025 AS OF OCT 1ST. AE: OPT. CLM. $50,000 FOR OS 3 YEAR OLD FILLYS. LEG 2. (7) MEDLEY SEELSTER was able to grind down her main rival after a first over move, and there was no real danger from the back. This series looks like a perfect spot for her. (6) SHESAMANALISHI had to settle for second behind Medley Seelster after making a move to the front in the early stages. I expect those two to battle again and be the main players. (3) TH MONICA gets major post relief after a trip around the track from post ten. I would expect her to be much better tonight. This race sets up very logically on paper. Race 4: NW $6,000 LAST 4 STARTS OR NW $12,000 LAST 8 STARTS (W/O $17,750 LAST 8 STARTS N/E) AE: 4 YR OLDS NW $24,750 IN 2025. (5) SPARKS FLY made a bold move to the front against a tougher group, and was then completely empty in the stretch. I’ll look for a rebound effort after a few weeks off to refresh him. (7) PHOENIX will probably win now that I am off his bandwagon, but his style just makes him too susceptible to things going wrong. Last week’s race was an anomaly, to be fair, but I’ll go a different direction. (6) VILLEFRANCHE AS gave just enough in the bottom condition for leading driver James Macdonald, who is back in the sulky tonight. She took advantage of tiring horses last week and was able to close for a check. I think J-Mac can get enough out of her to finish in the money. Race 5: CLAIMING $20,000 FOR NW $30,000 (OS $46,750) LIFETIME. ALLOWANCES FOR AGE. AE: NW OF A RACE L8. AE: OS 4YO N/A $1,165 P/S IN 2025. (5) BOYD BAY was able to angle to the outside at the top of the stretch after rivals tired outside of him, but was unable to catch the stout Bettor On Ice. His gate speed usually puts him in a strong spot off the car; I can see him tripping out here. (6) D A SUPER GLO got into a live cover flow that included the likes of Trooper Hanover, and had plenty of pop in the late stages in what was his first start on Lasix. I can see him putting forth another good effort and potentially adding some value to exotics. (7) PARTY IT UP hasn’t had the best of trips since being claimed in late August, and is a horse who knows how to win. Borth could handle him a little more aggressively tonight. Race 6: NW $13,250 LAST 4 STARTS OR NW $24,000 LAST 8 STARTS. AE: NW $100,000 LIFETIME. (6) DAHLQUIST HANOVER was unleashed on the front last week and hit three quarters in a time that you don’t often see for trotters, no matter the level. He reasonably got tired, but was already in another zip code. This group features a few that are stepping up from much weaker conditions. If that race didn’t take too much out of him, he can roll again. (2) R PEAKY BLINDERS angled out from the pocket in his latest, but others had fresher legs and he had to settle for a minor check. A similar trip could play out tonight, and Louis Roy tends to get more out of this horse than any other driver. (7) ALL GAS NO BRAKES tends to add some value when racing in these upper levels if he can find a live helmet. I would count on him being in contention for a piece. Race 7: NW $2,800 LAST 4 STARTS OR NW $7,100 LAST 8 STARTS. AE: OPT. CLM. $20,000. (2) HUNGRY MAN finds a prime drop and pop spot if he can get away from the car in decent order. I could see a quarter move occurring and him being the horse to catch at the top of the stretch. (4) LETS GET ROCKED might have the best nose for the wire on the grounds right now. He has been beating a variety of horses in this class, and deserves plenty of respect again. (6) LARCENY is talented enough to win at this level, but is just the trickiest horse to gauge week after week. The tote board and will pays should tell us plenty about him. Race 8: POP UP SERIES: OS 3 YEAR OLD COLTS & GELDINGS NW $100,000 IN 2025 AS OF OCT 1ST. AE: OPT. CLM. $50,000 FOR OS 3 YEAR OLD COLTS & GELDINGS. LEG 2. (3) SUNDAY SHOES opened up an insurmountable lead in leg one and could not be caught. He comes into tonight having won three straight in dominating fashion; I can’t pick against him. (2) FIREFLIESNTHUNDER has been picking up shares in shorter fields as of late, and has enough pop to sneak into second if the trip works out for him. (4) CALL ME PARKER was a horse I took a shot with last week, but he raced just evenly against that group and had to settle for fourth. He is the natural exacta partner for the heavy favorite in this race, but I’ll use him underneath and try to get a little value out of the exacta. Race 9: OPEN 2. (2) NEW RULES absolutely needed a tightener off the bench, but the way he stepped forward last week was extremely impressive. J-Mac took a little longer than I expected to flip off cover, but he knew what he had and drew away with little urging. He can step up and challenge these horses. (5) OSCEOLA always tends to bring his best with Doug McNair in the bike. He draws perfectly tonight and should be in a good spot off the car. (7) GAINES HANOVER got late pulled on by the pocket horse, but was still not making up too much ground on the pair in front of him. He is the x factor in this race, because he could get any kind of trip. Race 10: NW $9,000 LAST 4 STARTS OR NW $20,000 LAST 8 STARTS. AE: OPT. CLM. $50,000. (7) DEVILS ARCH fits much better at this optional 50,000 claiming level in my opinion, and last week’s tightener should allow him to blast and last if Plante wants to try that. I’ll give him the nod. (5) MYFRIENDJOSE is another who can shine at these upper levels when placed up close. He is another who got a tightener last week from an outside post, but will need to mind his manners. (3) NASEY’s form has tailed off slightly in the last few starts, and now he comes off a sick scratch. He might be a step short in this spot; I’ll use him underneath. [DRF HARNESS: Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter] Race 11: CLAIMING HANDICAP $30,000 TO $40,000. ALLOWANCES FOR AGE & SEX. ENTER IN MULTIPLES OF $1,000. (6) BOLD SPIRIT was aggressively handled last week and produced a down the road score that we have come to expect of him every few weeks or so. The short field should give him every chance to repeat if good enough. (3) HIGHLANDBEACHLOVER was nowhere to be found last week after getting away last. He will need to get away in better order tonight, but that is made easier by only facing five other rivals. (4) CENTURY INSPECTOR jumps up with a winning effort at this level every now and then, and Plante got plenty out of him last week. He is likely to go off as an overlay. Race 12: NW $1,000 LAST 4 STARTS (W/O $9,250 LAST 8 STARTS N/E). AE: N/A $700 P/S IN 2025 (MIN 10 STARTS). AE: OPT. CLM. $12,500. (3) FLYING ART A went a huge mile last week considering he was parked out for much of the race. He ducked back inside towards the back of the pack, but still had enough left to split horses and nearly steal second. The post relief pushes him over the top, in my opinion. (1) RAYS KREDIT had a big turn of foot when flipping off cover and was able to draw away. He should be able to grind into contention again. (4) WILDRIVERBUMBLEBEE gets a key driver change tonight after a subpar effort against tougher horses at Flamboro. The drop and presence of J-Mac could mean he likely goes off as an underlay.