Top Pick Stats: 14/45 (-$28.70) Best Bets: 2/3 ($3.30); Spot Plays: 1/4 (-$1.10) Best Bet: SOUTHWIND MAC (Race 1) Spot Play: BOOTHILL HUDY (Race 10) Early Pick-5: 7/1,3/1,5,6/1,5/2,7,8   $7.20 Late Pick-5: 1,4/1,8/1,5/1,4/7,9   $6.40 Race 1: NW $2,500 LAST 4 STARTS OR NW $5000 LAST 8 STARTS. (W/O $10,000 LAST 8 STARTS N/E). AE: OPT. CLM. $20,000. AE: N/A $1,500 P/S LAST 8 STARTS. (7) SOUTHWIND MAC was a solid third when shipping in from Rideau. Tonight is his second start on Lasix, and he picks up Doug McNair who is likely to get more out of him. (3) ROYAL BELUGA had a quick half set in front of him and was able to pick up many positions in the stretch. He should be passing horses late, but will he start his move early enough to get into contention? (2) MISTER MAGIC gets post relief tonight and should be set for another in the money finish. He was extremely reliable last season. [DRF HARNESS: Get Harness Eye PPs for this card] Race 2: FILLIES & MARES, CLAIMING $20,000 FOR NW $30,000 (OS $37,500) LIFETIME. ALLOWANCES FOR AGE. AE: N/A $1,760 P/S IN 2025-26. (1) SIDE EFFECTS added another sharp win to her resume last week. She shows no signs of slowing down at this level. (3) LADY WICKED took some money last week against Side Effects and finished a solid second. She could end up with a pocket trip. (7) CATCHMEGRACEFULLY has been chasing the top pick in her last two efforts, and now ends up with another poor post draw. She can hit the board again. Race 3: 5 YEAR OLDS & YOUNGER, NW 2 (FM 3) RACES OR $20,000 (OS $27,000) LIFETIME. (6) MY WAY didn’t have the best gait last week, but he made his middle move to get into the race, and finished a fine third behind a revved up Stovid. I’ll try him again tonight. (5) FRENCH VODKA was between horses at the top of the stretch after the outside flow suddenly developed, and then he rolled off stride at the eighth pole. He has yet to break his maiden, but the ability is there if he minds his manners. (1) RESOLVED ISSUES put it all together last week and broke her maiden in emphatic fashion. I like to use horses who are stepping up after winning at lower conditioned levels. Race 4: CLAIMING $20,000 FOR NW $36,000 (OS $52,300) LIFETIME. ALLOWANCES FOR AGE. (1) BETTOR B HOME SOON took a step forward last week in what was his second start after a month off. He finds a weaker group of horses tonight; I’ll give him the nod. (5) HAKA TIMATANGA is another horse who is improving and could be utilized early in the mile to get himself a better position. (8) HASSELHOFF drops from the Valedictory series where he was chasing better horses. He will need to work out a trip from the high draw, but can still get a piece. Race 5: FILLIES & MARES NW 2 RACES OR $31,000 (OS $38,000) LIFETIME. AE: N/A $1,645 P/S IN 2025. (2) VALIDUS was running in a touch in the stretch, but that was the best effort we’ve seen from her in a while. She has a big chance if she works out a trip. (7) DAFFY HANOVER came up a little short last week given the trip she had, but she was following a quick pace. I wouldn’t dismiss her. (8) PIER HO EMERALD has been getting closer to a win, with last week being her best mile in a month. She could trip out if forwardly placed. Race 6: CLAIMING $20,000 FOR NW $60,000 (OS $88,000) LIFETIME. ALLOWANCES FOR AGE. (4) STRONGMAN HANOVER sustained his middle move and was able to get the job done last week. He is in sharp form right now. (1) WICKED EXPRESS looked home free at the top of the stretch after being bet down to the even money favorite, but was tracked down by a class dropping Shanes Dream. He has struggled to finish when on the lead in the past. (2) AMBITIOUS MIND was never going to make up enough ground from where he was, but he continued to grind all the way to the wire and got a check. I can see him getting another piece. Race 7: 5 YEAR OLDS & YOUNGER, NW 1 (WINNERS FOR A PURSE OF $9,000 OR LESS 2 RACES) RACE OR $9,000 LIFETIME. NO ALLOWANCES. (1) SATU WANIA is inching forward and looks like she could be set to take the next step against this group. Others have gotten many chances. (8) DULCES SUENOS DEO took too much money last week, and came up short again like we are used to at this point. He has the best turn of foot in the stretch, but needs to be positioned accordingly. (7) STORMONT FULLALIFE gave his bettors the ultimate tease at 12-1. He raced well in that effort. If he is forwardly placed again, he should be a contender. Race 8: 5 YEAR OLDS & YOUNGER CLAIMING HANDICAP $50,000 TO $60,000. ALLOWANCES FOR AGE & SEX. ENTER IN MULTIPLES OF $1,000. (5) CHIC CHOC ROSE was never losing last week despite the diminishing margin. I think she goes to the front and gets the job done again. (1) FLASHCHAP has been a threat to trip out in the past, and last week showed why, even if she came up short. She can sprint with anyone in this field, and if Roy positions her right, she could pull off the upset. (4) SUNDAY SHOES has enough tactical speed to get him into a stalking spot. This could play out eerily similar to last week’s event. [DRF HARNESS: Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter] Race 9: NW 3 (FM 4) RACES OR $76,500 LIFETIME. (1) OCEANVIEW NIKKI got a trip around the track when shipping in from PEI, but showed some interest late in the mile, and now gets a big post switch. She should take some money this week. (4) STOVID all of a sudden put things together last week and cruised to a win. She steps up, but a repeat of that effort makes her dangerous. (5) RADCLIFFE was a sharp second from off the pace when racing at this level. This group could produce cheap speed for him to capitalize on. Race 10: CLAIMING $20,000 FOR NW $36,000 (OS $52,300) LIFETIME. ALLOWANCES FOR AGE. I’ll take my chances with (9) BOOTHILL HUDY from the high draw. He looked very good last week and is in sharp form. (7) NEVER ASSUME took a bad shuffle last week, but was moving well in the late stages with minimal urging from Jamieson. A better trip can see him be competitive here. (6) CHEF rebounded nicely last week with a head victory. He draws well again and should be forwardly placed with Roy in the bike.