Top Pick Stats: 41/129 (-$49.60) Best Bets: 4/11 (-$6.10); Spot Plays: 6/12 ($10.70) Best Bet: ROYAL FLUSH DEO (Race 1) Spot Play: DAHLQUIST HANOVER (Race 8) Early Pick-5: 4/1,3/4,6,7/2,9/2,9   $4.80 Late Pick-5: 2,4/5,7/6,7,8/3,9/6,8   $9.60 Race 1: 5 YEAR OLDS & YOUNGER, NW 1 (WINNERS FOR A PURSE OF $9,000 OR LESS 2 RACES) RACE OR $9,000 LIFETIME. NO ALLOWANCES. (4) ROYAL FLUSH DEO likely had more to show in the stretch of his recent morning prep, but he came up on the two leading horses and had nowhere to go. I think he puts in a big effort tonight. (3) GREEN GRASS GROWS continues to step forward, even if it’s just slightly. He got around the off track just fine last week. (10) GREEN GOOSE tried a trio of Grassroots races last season and got a couple checks. I expect her to step forward for connections that tend to have trotters ready. [DRF HARNESS: Get Harness Eye PPs for this card] Race 2: NW $2,500 LAST 4 STARTS OR NW $7,000 LAST 8 STARTS. (W/O $10,000 LAST 8 STARTS N/E). AE: OPT. CLM. $20,000. AE: N/A $1,225 P/S IN 2025-2026. (1) CROWN MONARCH hasn’t shown the most in his two Mohawk starts, but the drop in class should help significantly. J-Mac should have him forwardly placed. (3) BUCK DANCER had his win streak snapped last week, but raced well from off the pace. Hard to ignore a classy veteran like him. (8) DELCREST BRENT is a reliable closer who is getting back to form after some time off. He can close for a piece. Race 3: 5 YEAR OLDS & YOUNGER, NW 2 RACES OR $33,500 LIFETIME. I’ll try (6) SOUTHWIND MAC again after he spoiled last week’s try with an early break. It was an off track, though, and two back he lacked room in the stretch. (4) CHECK MASTER looked to be sitting on a win if he could mind his manners, and he did just that. He has taken significant support lately. (7) RESOLVED ISSUES got a check in his first start at this level. He should be able to float out for position and have a chance to hit the board. Race 4: CLAIMING $20,000 FOR NW $30,000 (OS $37,500) LIFETIME. ALLOWANCES FOR AGE. (9) VOLCANIC had some questions to answer when coming off the bench, but did so with extreme confidence. Despite the wide draw, he is hard to look past. (2) HAKA TIMATANGA got into a stalking spot last time and it paid off big time. He has the gate speed, but might be stuck first over if he can’t quite generate it from this post. (4) BETTOR BEAST races off the claim after a string of strong finishes. He could work out a stalking trip here. Race 5: WINNERS OF 3 (FM 4) BUT NOT MORE THAN 5 (FM 6) OR $82,000 (OS $100,000) LIFETIME. AE: 4 YEAR OLDS & YOUNGER OPT. CLM. $80,000. ALLOWANCES FOR AGE. (2) SUPERSONIC HANOVER was unleashed on the front last week and absolutely romped. He is in career best form right now. (9) FLASHCHAP is better when racing from mid pack and finding a live helmet. I don’t think Roy will be dead set on getting to the lead from this post. (4) CHIC CHOC ROSE didn’t get her kind of trip last week and paid for it late. She gets her regular pilot back in the bike who should get her into a stalking spot. Race 6: 5 YEAR OLDS & YOUNGER, NW 1 (WINNERS FOR A PURSE OF $9,000 OR LESS 2 RACES) RACE OR $9,000 LIFETIME. NO ALLOWANCES. (4) ACROBATIC spotted the field some ground when making an early miscue, but ended up recovering well to finish best of the rest in a snowstorm. She will have to mind her manners. (2) KINNDER ICECUBE just missed last week after a speed try. He had a tough trip two starts ago where he made multiple moves. (8) DULCES SUENOS DEO continued his streak of good finishes without a win. He is a reliable use on most tickets if you are playing exotics. Race 7: CLAIMING $20,000 FOR NW $60,000 (OS $75,000) LIFETIME. ALLOWANCES FOR AGE. (7) HASSELHOFF gets a more than capable catch driver this week after a solid second behind Haka Timatanga. He should be forward again. (5) MAKEMEALEGEND was a decent fourth in his Mohawk debut. A bit more gate speed could get him into a stalking spot. The price is gone now. (8) VOGUE BLUE CHIP had been racing fine at this level before he took a couple months off. His qualifier was fine; He can get a piece in his return race. Race 8: NW $6,000 LAST 4 STARTS OR NW $12,000 LAST 8 STARTS. AE: N/A $2,250 P/S IN 2025-26. (8) DAHLQUIST HANOVER has had no chance in his last two efforts given the trip and competition. Look for a potential speed try on the drop in class. (7) TACTICAL STRIKE was closing best of all in her Mohawk return and nearly swept the field in the stretch. Despite the lack of wins, she gets around this track extremely well. This is an extremely defensive use of (6) SPARTAN GENERAL in my numbers, and he can’t consistently stay flat for the life of him, but I cannot ignore the James Macdonald effect. I’m extremely curious how much support he takes. [DRF HARNESS: Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter] Race 9: NW $12,500 LAST 4 STARTS OR NW $24,000 LAST 8 STARTS.  AE: OPT. CLM. $70,000. AE: NW $150,000 LIFETIME. AE: N/A $2,500 P/S IN 2025-26. (3) VERACRUZ should be an overlay in this spot with the presence of Pemberton. He has shown more than enough gate speed to get himself into a stalking spot. (9) PEMBERTON will take tons of action given the drop in class and J-Mac picking up the lines. I’ll use him in multis, but value can be found anywhere else against horses like this. (6) COVER BAND just got up in the final few strides after racing through a snowstorm. He has been sharp since returning from New Jersey. Race 10: FILLIES & MARES NW 3 RACES OR $40,500 LIFETIME. (8) MAGGIES TOUCH was a wrapped up winner by double digit lengths in her return to action. She steps up in class, but I think she can handle it. (6) GREENLEAF made a strong move in what was also her return to the races. She has prior lines that show gate speed, making her versatile. (5) DAFFY HANOVER wasn’t close to her best last week, but a rebound could be expected if she is forwardly placed again.