Top Pick Stats: 62/210 = -$69.40 Best Bets: 6/21 = –$16.70 Spot Plays: 3/21 = $-16.90 Best Bet: NIGHTIME DANCER (RACE 8) Spot Play: RISING INTEREST (RACE 1) Early Pick 5: 8/5/6,9,10/1,5,6/3 = $1.80 Late Pick 5: 8/3,4,7/4/2,7/4,5,6 = $3.60 Race 1: 5 YEAR OLDS & YOUNGER, NW 3 (FM 4) RACES OR $56,000 (OS $65,750) LIFETIME. AE: OS 4 YEAR OLDS NW $32,000 IN 2025 (8) RISING INTEREST will be making his 3YO debut off a strong, winning qualifier. He was aggressively handled and was under tight lines to Tyler Borth, who scored easily in that morning prep, going gate to wire. This gelded son of The Bank was taking on Gold company as a freshman, and hooks a group I think he can take on with success at first asking off the shelf, and is my clear top choice in this group. (7) PENTELLER HANOVER finished 3rd in his latest after failing to hit the board in his start prior. He turned some heads after uncorking a vicious, late rally to score in his 2025 debut, but has not shown that same turn of foot in his two starts since. He merits respect if he’s on his game, but is one that I’ll be playing against in this spot. (5) SCINTILLATING TOM has failed to hit the board over his last five starts. He draws well and will have every chance to hit the ticket in a group that hasn’t been consistent as of late. (3) FABULOUS FREDDIE wasn’t much of a factor in his latest, but has hit the board in half of his ten starts this season; he can land on the ticket. [DRF HARNESS: Get Harness Eye PPs for this card] Race 2: PREFERRED. (5) LOGAN PARK will be making his 2025 debut after a career year in 2024. He is coming off two strong qualifiers and is undoubtedly the one to beat in this spot. (6) AMIGO VOLO was a strong winner in his latest and has been no worse than 2nd over his last four tries at this level. He will have every opportunity to grab a big piece, but will need to find more to beat the one above. (3) GHOSTLY CAPSER grabbed a share in his season debut in a 4th place finish. He got away towards the back of the pack in a short field and is one that should be able to take a step forward here and can grab another share. (2) QUEBEC HANOVER left out aggressively and was a distant 2nd to a strong winner. He should be able to get away in a good spot early and can hang around for a piece. [DRF BETS: Wager on tonight's Mohawk Park card at DRF Bets.com!] Race 3: CLAIMING HANDICAP $30,000 TO $40,000. ALLOWANCES FOR AGE & SEX. (10) NAZARE was a dominant winner in his latest after being put on the engine, en route to a gate-to-wire score. He was claimed out of that contest and will now race for new trainer, Kyle Fellows, and will retain the services of Doug McNair, who guided him to that victory in his latest; top call. (9) B STONEY could never get going in his latest and finished 3rd to the choice in his latest. He has won four of his last six starts and will now race for new trainer Dave Menary; he is an obvious contender. (6) HOWMAC VICTOR was a distant 2nd to the choice. He draws well and should be involved early in the mile, but will need to find more to get the best of the two above. (7) BET THE BB was never a factor from pp10 in his latest. He failed to hit the board but should be able to have better luck in doing so with an improved draw here. Race 4: NW $14,000 LAST 5 OR NW $28,000 LAST 10 STARTS.  AE: NW 5 RACES OR $110,000 LIFETIME. (1) LENIS is a perfect 3-3 to kick off his 2025 campaign, after being on a 2+ year hiatus. He takes a step up in class here but has looked razor sharp, winning in any which way he’s been asked, and should have an opportunity to continue his winning ways here. (6) MY BUDDY SAM was forced to drive onto the lead after not being able to get a seat early on. It ended up being the winning decision, as he was able to fend off a pocket sitter who took his shot in the lane to secure the victory. He draws well and remains at the same class and is one of the main contenders here. (5) MYRETIREMENTDREAM is coming off a pair of qualifiers as he gears up for his 4YO campaign. This son of Il Sogno Dream found the winner’s circle just once as a 3YO but was taking on Gold/stakes company for most of the year. He has the ability to get the job done with the right trip, but might be focused on getting a good mile under his belt with the start of the Canadian Graduate Series being later in the week. (4) SID THE KID is coming off back-to-back 2nd place finishes. He was unable to get to the pace setter off a clean trip in his latest but should be able to stick around for a good piece here. Race 5 : NW $4,000 LAST 5 OR $7,000 LAST 10 STARTS. (3) LIVINTHEBEACHLIFE plunges in class here after failing to hit the board over his last five tries. He draws inside and should find his way back into the winner’s circle against this group. (8) THUNDER COUNTRY ships in from Miami Valley and will now race for trainer Dean Nixon. He is coming off a single qualifier where he was an even 5th in that contest and is one that could hit the ticket with the right trip. (6) SHOW STOP flashed good, late speed in his latest outing. He hasn’t raced in over one month since and might need this start. He’s one to monitor for next time. (5) CONTROL THE GOLD hasn’t hit the board over his last five tries but is one that can round out the exotics in this spot. Race 6: POP UP SERIES: NW $15,000 (F&M $18,750) IN 2025 OR NOT AVERAGING $1,400 (F&M $1,750) PER START IN 2024 OR 2025 (MIN 8 STARTS). LEG 1. (8) PHOENIX gets to plunge in class as he fits this new Pop Up Series. He has been taking on much tougher company over his last few tries and is the clear cut choice to get back into the winner’s circle here. (3) EYES OF JUSTICE finished 4th in his latest after starting from the back of the pack from pp10. He draws inside and will have every chance to find a big piece, but will likely be racing for place here. (1) PESO HANOVER has hit the board over his last two tries and is one that can add to that here. (6) UPNAWAY BLUE CHIP is coming off a 3rd place effort in his latest. He draws well and should be aggressively handled in this spot, giving him a chance for a share. Race 7: NW $4,000 LAST 5 STARTS OR NW $13,750 LAST 10 STARTS. AE: OPT. CLM. $25,000. (3) CRYSTAL BALLER wasn’t much of a factor in his latest, in a class he should’ve been more competitive in. It was his first pari-mutuel start in one month, but he was coming off an even qualifying effort in preparation for it. I’ll give him a whirl on top in this spot and hope he can reach back for some recent form, because he’s good enough to get the job done here. (4) EDEN ONTHEHILL was locked in behind rivals but found a seam late where he squeezed through to be 2nd to a dominant winner. He has been a runner-up finisher in both starts in 2025 and will be involved early on in the mile; contender. (7) ARCHEMIDES rallied nicely to be 3rd in his most recent try. He has been no worse than 3rd over his last three tries, and is one that will need the pace scenario to set up for him, but will be a major threat if he has speed to chase; using. (10) FIGHT SONG takes a dip in class to a level where he was 2nd in a few starts ago. He opened up a big lead but got leg weary late, but is one I’ll leave off multi leg tickets because of his draw. Race 8: POP UP SERIES: HORSES & GELDINGS NW $7,500 IN 2025 OR NOT AVERAGING $900 PER START IN 2024 OR 2025 (MIN 8 STARTS). LEG 1. (4) NIGHTTIME DANCER is coming off a 6th place finish at Flamboro Downs. He had no chance in that contest when getting away at the back of the pack during some poor race conditions. He draws well here for this Pop Up Series and picks up James MacDonald, who has three wins in six starts when paired together. He’s the one to beat here. (3) GOING FAST is coming off a dominant score in his latest in what was his first start for new trainer Des Tackoor. He added Lasix in that contest and made some equipment changes and was confidently handled in that victory. He will be the biggest threat to the one above. (5) TORONTO closed nicely for a share in his latest. He draws well and should have every opportunity to hit the ticket in this spot. (9) BETTER SUNSET was 2nd in his most recent effort. He draws outside and can land on the ticket. Race 9: NW $8,000 LAST 5 OR NW $22,000 LAST 10 STARTS. AE: OPT. CLM. $50,000. (2) DAHLQUIST HANOVER will make his first start of 2025, after failing to hit the board in his first two tries. He was shuffled towards the back of the back after being stuck being a tiring rival on the rail, but trotted well to be 4th when finding a seam. He draws inside and should be sitting on a good effort here. (7) TOP MAST converted as the heavy chalk in his first start of 2025. He came off cover and won by open lengths and he’ll have every opportunity to double up. (4) COLD SNAPS notched her first win of the year in her latest try. She was winless in eight tries leading up to that contest, but rallied off cover to break the goose egg. She loses James MacDonald to the one above, but picks up Tyler Borth here, and should be brimming with confidence. She’s a threat with a trip. (3) NASEY has hit the board in 4 of his last 5 starts and should land somewhere on the ticket here. [DRF HARNESS: Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter] Race 10: CLAIMING HANDICAP $12,000 TO $16,000. ALLOWANCES FOR AGE & SEX. ENTER IN MULTIPLES OF $1,000. (4) DIRTY LIL PIGLET steps up to a more difficult claiming class, after what was a dominant score in his latest. He has been no worse than 2nd over his last five tries since adding Lasix, and will look to keep his perfect streak intact when racing for trainer Des Tackoor, who is 2-2 when racing under his care; top call. (6) MACH IMPACT is coming off a nice score in his latest despite drawing pp9. He draws much better and is one of the main contenders here and will have every chance to double up. (5) KYLES ART hasn’t hit the board over his last five tries. He was claimed out of that contest by trainer Shayne Barrington, who has had two wins and a third with this guy when under his care; using. (2) SPEAK OF WAR finished 3rd in his latest after trying to go on a speed mission. He can land somewhere on the ticket here. Race 11: POP UP SERIES: HORSES & GELDINGS NW $7,500 IN 2025 OR NOT AVERAGING $900 PER START IN 2024 OR 2025 (MIN 8 STARTS). LEG 1. (3) YYC ON THE HORIZON made a sweeping move at the 3/4 pole to clear to the lead at odds of 60/1. He faded at the head of the lane in that contest and was 6th but was taking on tougher company. He should find this group more to his liking. I’ll give him the nod. (4) BETTOR OF THE WEST was one I pegged as a spot play last week and he didn’t have much to offer when coming first over against a strong winner. He faded to 4th in that contest and can be in contention with the right trip. (7) CALL ME IT hasn’t hit the board in his last two tries after winning three starts back. He’s a trip dependent horse and tends to pop up with good efforts when least expected. (2) FABRIZIO N made a miscue off the gate and was out of it early in his latest. He can hit the ticket if he stays to task here. (1) BROOKDALE MIKI comes off a third-place effort at London. He draws inside and should be closing late for a piece.