Top Pick Stats: 136/405 (-$134.40) Best Bets: 16/36 (-$15.20); Spot Plays: 9/37 (-$28.50) Best Bet: SAFE CONDUCT (Race 9) Value Play: PHOENIX (Race 7) Early Pick 5: 8,9/1,5/1/2,5,7/1,6   $4.80 Late Pick 5: 4/5,7,8/6,7/4/1,3   $2.40 Race 1: 2 YEAR OLD FILLIES: NW 1 RACE OR $8,000 LIFETIME. NO ALLOWANCES. (9) COLD CREEK CALI was given a shot on the front and cruised against Prospect horses. I would expect McNair to be equally as aggressive tonight. (8) TALBOT KRISTEN was no factor last week after having to work from so far off the pace. Look for her to also show early speed. (4) SAVOUR THE MOMENT has raced better thus far when off a helmet and could benefit from the provided early speed. (2) KOSMIC KRISP made a break in her latest after a couple of solid Prospect tries. She could show more on the big track. [DRF HARNESS: Get Harness Eye PPs for this card] Race 2: 5 YEAR OLDS & YOUNGER, NW 3 (FM 4) RACES OR $50,000 (OS $62,500) LIFETIME. (1) COVER BAND was a strong second in his latest after sitting a pocket trip. He should have every chance to stalk the pace and win the sprint home. This could be the time for (5) RIGHT HERE HANOVER, though I’m kind of tired of saying that. He just missed two starts ago, and McClure is back in the bike tonight. (2) RISING INTEREST looked set for a better effort in his latest, but broke at the start. He can hit the board. (3) THE TIME MACHINE gets Louis Roy in the bike who piloted him to a winning trip the last time they teamed up. He can hold on for a share. Race 3: NW $6,000 LAST 5 STARTS OR NW $16,000 LAST 10 STARTS. (1) P L RAINBOW DASH got the setup she needed, but was still beaten by a tripped out Hasty Bid. It’s time for her to get a win this year. (4) SERENITY CRUISE has been racing well at Grand River and should almost certainly be put in play with Jamieson piloting. He could get a good trip here. (2) ALL GAS NO BRAKES tried that method last week but got picked off in the late stages. The speed he has on both ends of the mile should be enough for him to at least hit the board. (7) CADILLAC MOON had no response after getting slowly shuffled from the leading spot. The shorter field helps, but I’ll still use him underneath. Race 4: POP UP SERIES: NW $50,000 (F&M $62,500) IN 2025 (MIN 12 STARTS). AE: STARTERS FOR A PURSE OF $11,000 OR LESS IN ONE OF LAST 3 STARTS. LEG 1. (7) MY BUDDY SAM should take plenty of support after his improved effort last week. He should be even tighter coming into tonight and can get the job done. (5) EMMA TOWN BUD has had a great year out of town, and is a recent Preferred staple at Rideau. He should be forwardly placed, and could add sneaky value to exactas. (2) VERACRUZ comes off an easy win at Grand River, and could capitalize on the early speed potentially provided. He likes to sustain his outside moves. (4) MYRETIREMENTDREAM had every chance to go by, and looked ahead at one point in the stretch, but snatched defeat from the jaws of victory again. Borth should give him another go up close. Race 5: POP UP SERIES FINAL: H&G THAT HAVE STARTED FOR A PURSE OF $7,500 OR LESS IN ONE OF LAST 3 STARTS. AE: NW $20,000 IN 2025 (MIN 10 STARTS). (6) LIVINTHEBEACHLIFE showed no signs of slowing down in leg two and looms as the horse to beat. He draws perfectly and should be odds on again. (1) DOWS UP was gapped a couple lengths off the pack for a majority of the race before swinging way wide and closing extremely well. These horses have shown to be susceptible from week to week. Closers usually capitalize on that. (5) BETTER SUNSET makes constructing exotics difficult, because he looked done at the top of the stretch as his cover, Booming Economy, was strolling away from him, but he battled back in the stretch to only miss by two lengths. He will be an inflated price and could deserve another look. (4) BET THE BB battled hard to only miss by a neck after trying to wire the field. He could be tough if sitting behind the #6. Race 6: NW $18,750 LAST 5 STARTS.  AE: OPT. CLM. $70,000. AE: NW OF 7 RACES OR $135,000 LIFETIME. (4) R PEAKY BLINDERS won rather easily last week after strolling to the lead at the half. I say strolling because Louis wasn’t asking, and the :55 3/5 speed didn’t bother him. I can’t pick against him after two strong wins. (5) MYFRIENDJOSE is back in sharp form and has versatility that others don’t show from week to week. Last week’s race was weird; He looked to be going backwards before re-engaging and just missing. Do with that what you will. (1) HASTY BID was expected to be forwardly placed with last week’s post relief, and ended up with a perfect pocket trip and win. Other early speed may force a quarter move tonight. (6) PEMBERTON should be passing horses late, but may be too far back. You’ll get a square number if you like him; I’ll use him underneath. Race 7: NW $9,000 LAST 5 OR $17,500 LAST 10 STARTS. AE: N/A $2,715 P/S IN 2024-2025. AE: OPT. CLM. $50,000. (8) PHOENIX sat inside for most of the mile but was making up ground when angled out. He should be tight coming into tonight and could benefit from showing some early speed. (7) KEVIN ANTHONY was making a menacing first over move from off the pace, but was forced three-wide after others woke up. He should provide extreme value if he gets a setup. (5) TRUFFLES TOO gets J-Mac back in the bike who could give him a speed try. He’s 1-for-27 this year, but we’ve seen plenty of “weird” results at Mohawk lately. (3) SOUTHWIND DOMINO, I predict, will take too much support after a perfect trip. He can sit close again and get a piece. Race 8: CLAIMING HANDICAP $30,000 TO $40,000. ALLOWANCES FOR AGE & SEX. ENTER IN MULTIPLES OF $1,000. (7) B STONEY raced well to finish third from off the pace. He was further behind the eight ball when the half popped up in :56 3/5. The speed will be there for him to chase tonight. (6) DIRTY LIL PIGLET has been off for three weeks, though that rest was likely necessary after many big miles in a row. It’s difficult to imagine him not being ready to roll. (2) FOREFATHER paced home extremely well in his latest and can take advantage of tired rivals to hit the board. (4) CENTURY INSPECTOR will take support because of McNair’s nod, and could be another early speed threat. I’ll use him underneath. [DRF HARNESS: Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter] Race 9: PREFERRED. (4) SAFE CONDUCT got a tightener under his belt in his return to the races, and despite the step up to the top level, he finds a group lacking Logan Park and Gaines Hanover. He can get the job done if he steps forward. (5) AMIGO VOLO was a strong second two starts ago behind Logan Park, and should be forwardly placed this week with J-Mac. He could get all the front-end respect if this turns into a merry-go-round. (6) NASEY pulled a huge upset in the Earl Rowe last week against the top trotters in Canada. However, his recent track record at Mohawk in the top class isn’t great. You make the call. (1) FASHION FRENZIE didn’t fire in the Earl Rowe, and has been regularly chasing rivals at this level. His best could win, but I’ll play against. Race 10: POP UP SERIES CONSOLATION: H&G THAT HAVE STARTED FOR A PURSE OF $7,500 OR LESS IN ONE OF LAST 3 STARTS. AE: NW $20,000 IN 2025 (MIN 10 STARTS). (3) BLAST OF SUNSHINE was flying in the final sixteenth and managed to get a check. I like his chances of getting a setup in here at a square price. (1) SAUBLE ACE got McClure’s nod and will probably be on the lead after a quarter move. There is every chance someone gets to the lead and takes the field the rest of the way, and it could be him. (7) WRY could get an aggressive steer this week and show up with a much improved effort. Someone has to go, why not him? (5) ULYSSES has been racing fine in recent weeks, but he didn’t move forward with the pop I was expecting last week. He will be battling if the race falls apart. (10) CRUNCH HANOVER was a decent third last week behind the big favorite, but will have to work out a trip from post ten. He can close to round out tonight’s Hi-5.