Woodbine Mohawk Park: Analysis for Monday 6/23

Top Pick Stats: 255/735 = -$78

Best Bets: 18/68 = –$10.60; Spot Plays: 19/68 = +2.40

Best Bet: NIGHTIME DANCER (3^rd)

Spot Play: TIGNANELLO (10^th)

Early Pick 5: 5,9/2/3/2,5/2,7,8 = $2.40

Late Pick 5: 1,5,9/1,6,7/5,6/5,8/7 = $7.20

Race 1: POP UP SERIES: NW $30,000 (F&M $37,500) IN 2025 (MIN 10 STARTS).

(9) WILLOWTIME cruised to an easy victory in the opening leg of this Pop-Up series. He stands out from a class standpoint in this series and should be tough to take down here even from an outside draw. He gets the call to repeat, but I won’t single. (5) MISTER MAGIC was aggressively handled from the outside and was able to trot home to grab the place spot behind the choice. He has a middle of the gate draw to work with and I’m expecting a similar approach this evening; he can grab a good piece. (4) MYRETIREMENTDREAM made a first over bid on the backside and fought hard towards the end of the mile, but got picked off up the inside by a rival with a cleaner trip. He is winless in 10 tries but should be sitting on a good effort vs. this group. (6) PESO HANOVER was able to grab the show spot in his latest. He has hit the board in 10 of his 13 starts this season and will have every chance to land on the ticket here.

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Race 2: PREFERRED 2.

(2) PEMBERTON seems to be rounding back into form, especially given what we’ve seen from him over his last two efforts. He has been outpositioned in both of those efforts with driver JBR in the bike, but finished up those outings with very strong trot late. He will pick up the services of James MacDonald after a couple of conservative approaches and will be tough to beat here. (3) SID THE KID rounded out the super in his latest in what was a tough group. He draws inside here and might try to bottom out this group here this evening, but he’ll need to find more to fend off the choice.(4) GHOSTLY CASPER was up against it in his most recent try in a 5th place effort. He was a strong 2nd vs. this group two starts back and will have every chance to get a good piece. (1) NASEY found himself back in the win column after missing the board in his start prior. He has been racing well over his last several tries and is one that should have every chance to close late for a share.

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Race 3: NW $3,000 LAST 5 STARTS OR NW $10,000 LAST 10 STARTS (W/O $15,000 LAST 10 STARTS N/E).

(3) NIGHTIME DANCER is coming off a 4th place effort at Grand River where he wasn’t much of a factor. He stayed along the inside for most of that mile but had some good pace when angling out in the shorter stretch. He was 3rd at this level two stats back, but missed close to three weeks coming into that contest and might fare better in this spot. (1) CRUISE HANOVER was aggressively handled and in his latest and was a part of some quick panels early, before coming to a complete walk. He was sneaky good in a higher class than this one two starts back, where he appeared to have some pace behind rivals. He takes a further drop down in this spot and if he works out a clean, stalking trip, he could prove tough to fend off; using. (5) ROCKABILLY REBEL N has only hit the board once over his last six tries, with that 2nd place finish coming at this very same level two starts back. He draws the middle of the gate and is a main player this evening. (4) ULYSSES is winless in nine tries this year but can close late for a share.

Race 4: POP UP SERIES: NW $30,000 (F&M $37,500) IN 2025 (MIN 10 STARTS).

(2) TYMAL RIGGS was conservatively handled from pp8 on a night where horses from off the pace had a tough time getting a big piece of the action. He finished up with some solid trot in that mile to get up for 5th. He draws inside and should be able to put forth another good showing, but will need to be closer to the action to find himself in the winner’s circle. I’ll give him top billing here. (5) DAHLQUIST HANOVER is coming off consecutive victories. He tripped out in his most recent at Grand River and made a strong brush move two starts back on the big track, opening up a sizable lead that was too much for his rivals to overcome. He draws well and he will be a big threat here. (3) COLD SNAPS was forced to qualify after making miscues in back to back outings. She was a distant 4th in that prep, but added trotting hopples during that outing. She got around the track nicely and is one that has the ability to get a big piece in this spot if she minds her manners. (8) NO ANGEL LIKE ME followed up a nice second-place showing with a victory in her latest. She displayed versatility doing it on the lead, but will likely have to revert to racing from a target by virtue of her starting spot this evening. She’s likely just good for a piece here.

Race 5: CLAIMING $50,000. ALLOWANCES FOR AGE & SEX.

(7) WINMEBAK raced big in a 3rd place effort last time out, after tiring on the lead and in what were some quick panels. He was handled conservatively in his first two outings of 2025, but raced with conviction by driver Jonathan Drury. We should be expecting him to want to go forward off the gate here, and is one that could be a main danger with a helmet to chase this evening; top call. (8) DIRTY LIL PIGLET is coming off a winning effort, where he stopped the clock in a career best, 1:49.2. He’s been ultra sharp since entering the barn of Des Tackoor, who added Lasix to him upon claiming him. He draws outside but has enough gate speed to be put in play, and is one that could prove tough to catch if he’s as sharp as he was last week. (2) DRAGONONTHEBEACH didnt’ get away in a great spot early but benefitted from some quick panels. He hung on to score by a nose and could once again prove tough to fend off this evening. (6) KYLES ART has been sharp, winning 4 out of his last 6 tries. He draws well here and should have every chance to close for a share.

Race 6: NW $9,000 LAST 5 STARTS OR $21,000 LAST 10 STARTS. AE: OPT. CLM. $50,000. AE: NW $35,000 IN 2025 (MIN 5 STARTS).

(9) TACTICAL STRIKE stayed trotting in her latest after switching to the pace in the midst of her stretch driver two starts back. She appeared to be in a really tough spot turning for home last week, but made up a lot of ground in what was a defeat by the slimmest of margins. It was a very strong showing and she should prove tough to go against in this spot off that effort, even from the outside. (5) ROBERTSON DE was conservatively handled from an outside draw in what was his first start of 2025. He angled out late and flashed some trot in a 7th place effort. He has the ability to be competitive in this spot with a more aggressive steer, and we could see that this evening now that he has a start under his belt; using. (1) R PEAKY BLINDERS is one who has had bad luck in terms of the trips he’s worked out. He isn’t the easiest to get off the wings of the gate and that’s been his demise all season. He looked like he was going to get a good piece last two starts back before an interference break, and flashed some good trot to be 4th. He can get a big piece with a clean trip, but that’s a big if. (4) P L RAINBOW DASH rounded out the super in her latest, but didn’t have as much trot late in the mile as we’ve seen from her in starts prior. She is one that always closes well late for a share and that’s something we can expect here. James MacDonald picks up the driving duties this evening.

Race 7: ONTARIO SIRES STAKES: GOLD LEG 2. 3 YEAR OLD TROTTING COLTS & GELDINGS.

(6) P L SPENCER was a sick-scr in the Goodtimes final but will be in to go for this upcoming Gold. He was a strong winner in the first leg in what was a strong showing. He draws better than he did in that outing, and might offer up a bit more value than you’d think given his scratch last time out. I’ll side with him to take leg 2. (7) LMC WAGON WHEEL was 4th in the Goodtimes Final in what was a big mile for that group. He has been racing really well – especially at the end of his miles – since entering Ben Baillargeon’s barn and could be sitting on a big effort if he can work out an easier trip this evening. (1) RITCHIE RITCH has been razor sharp this season, with 5 wins in 8 tries. He tested the waters vs. Gold company and passed with flying colors, scoring in dominant fashion. He was a winner in an overnight last week but was a little bit bumpy gaited late, and will have to navigate from the rail in a race where plenty will be vying for early positioning. He’ll have every chance if he’s on his game but his starting spot this evening could be trouble. (9) GALEN ERSO was a winner in his Goodtimes elim two starts back but made a miscue in the final. He changed bridles in that elimination win which resulted in a more engaging effort. He draws outside and can hit the ticket.

Race 8: NW $9,000 LAST 5 STARTS OR $20,750 LAST 10 STARTS.

(5) AMERICAN HISTORY came into his most recent effort having not raced in over one month. He was 8th in that contest but still paced home well, and could be sitting on an improved effort being back on a regular rotation. I’ll give him the nod here and hope he can find his past form in this spot. (6) PACINO HANOVER hasn’t hit the board in 5 tries and will take a drop in class in what should be a much more manageable spot. He never had a chance in his latest but finished up nicely to round out the super. He draws well and should be able to work out a good trip and could prove tough to take down. (1) WHICHWAYTOTHEBEACH was 2nd to a strong winner who was dropping down several classes. He draws the pole position this evening and can push out and secure a good spot. He can get a big piece. (2) NAZARE hasn’t hit the board over his last three tries and hasn’t been much of a factor in those outings. He can land somewhere on the ticket here.

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Race 9: NW $6,000 LAST 5 STARTS (W/O $18,500 LAST 10 STARTS N/E) AE: OPT. CLM. $30,000.

(8) WATERFALL wasn’t able to trot from the moment he stepped foot on post parade and it stayed that way as he approached the gate. I’m not sure what went amiss that night, but he was a horse sitting on a good performance given what we saw from him in his seasonal debut. He’s back in to go this evening and is one I’ll side with him in this spot hoping he can bounce back. (5) SPARKS FLY was 3rd in his most recent outing in what was tougher company. He draws the middle of the gate here and should be pointed forward off the gate and will be the one they’ll have to catch this evening. (7) ALL GAS NO BRAKES didn’t hit the board in his latest but had a bit of trot late. He was Billy Davis Jr.’s choice over another rival here and he can land on the ticket. (2) VERACRUZ made a miscue in his latest. He has been racing better as of late, offering more pop late in miles than we’ve seen during a stretch this season. He gets reacquainted with Scott Young, who is familiar with this guy and he might be able to work out a better trip this evening.

Race 10: NW $6,500 LAST 5 STARTS (W/O $23,500 LAST 10 STARTS N/E) AE: OPT. CLM. $30,000.

(7) TIGNANELLO was claimed off a victory at Rideau Carleton two starts back, and was brought to Mohawk to race for new trainer Kyle Fellows. He drew the second-tier in that contest and wasn’t able to work out a clean trip, having not seen a set of pylons throughout that mile. He finished with good pace in that outing despite that. He has his nose on the gate this evening and is one I’ll side with in this contest, in hopes he can get a cleaner trip. (5) HP LIS SHADOW hasn’t been much of a factor over his last two outings, but drew poorly in both of those contests. He draws the middle of the gate in this spot and can bounce back with a stronger showing if he can work out a trip more to his liking, (1) THE GREEK FREAK didn’t have much to offer last time out, in what was his 6th start of the year. He had not raced since late February coming into that outing but was coming off a strong qualifying effort in preparation for the contest. He has the ability to take down this group when at his best, and is one that is worth using if he finds his form. (2) STASH IT AWAY was a dominant winner in his latest in his first start for new trainer Anthony Montini. He hooks a tougher bunch, but faces a group that hasn’t been all that sharp as of late. He’s coming into this effort with confidence and could work out a nice trip. (8) WARRAWEEFORLAURA is winless in seven tries this year, with two, on-the-board finishes. He draws outside but can close for a share.