Top Pick Stats: 152/456 (-$158.20) Best Bets: 18/42 (-$19.20); Spot Plays: 9/43 (-$40.50) Best Bet: SAFE CONDUCT (Race 2) Spot Play: P L RAINBOW DASH (Race 6) Early Pick 5: 1,4/1/2,7/1,4,8/3,4   $4.80 Late Pick-5: 8/9/5,7/1,3/6,7,8   $2.40 Race 1: 5 YEAR OLDS & YOUNGER, NW 2 (FM 3) RACES OR $20,000 (OS $32,500) LIFETIME. (4) WISDOM HANOVER just missed as the big favorite last week. He should be able to get the fractions he wants up top. I’ll try him again. (1) FRENCH VODKA was aggressively handled in two straight morning preps and looked very good. He should be in contention turning for home if sitting close enough. (2) ULTRA MYLES raced better in his latest, which was a welcome sight. He is another who could sit close and pounce if he brings his best. (3) FIREFLIESNTHUNDER was expected to step forward when adding Lasix, but was just even in the stretch again. He will be fighting to hit the board. [DRF HARNESS: Get Harness Eye PPs for this card] Race 2: PREFERRED. (1) SAFE CONDUCT gets another try from me after being the one that was moving best of all in the stretch. It was going to be tough to catch the leaders after a :58 1/5 middle half, and it was. (2) AMIGO VOLO was not caught after getting that aforementioned middle half. The double millionaire should get some respect again. (5) FASHION FRENZIE is likely to be Roy’s choice here. He is another classy horse who brings a good effort most weeks. (4) R PEAKY BLINDERS has impressively worked up the ranks and gets a deserving shot at these top trotters. He can work out a good trip and get a piece. Race 3: 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 L3 STARTS. LEG 2. AE: LEG 1 STARTERS. (7) MY BUDDY SAM held off all of his rivals after blasting from the gate and getting to the lead. I would expect a similarly aggressive steer in leg two. (2) FLIRTY DANCER used a first over blitz to get to the lead and held off a charging rival from off the pace. He has found a spot where he can remain extremely competitive. (4) VERACRUZ was moving well down the center of the track and passed rivals late to hit the board. He is versatile and can get into the race in a variety of ways. If you didn’t think (6) MISTER MAGIC had a nose for the wire, you should now. He has rattled off four wins in a row and should be forwardly placed again. This is the week that the streak breaks, in my opinion. Race 4: 2 YEAR OLD FILLIES: NW 1 RACE OR $9,600 LIFETIME. NO ALLOWANCES. (8) J M OOH LALA has shown that she can race in multiple ways already and should be able to step forward in the speed department when transitioning to the big track. (4) TAKES NO BULL looked to have some potential when racing in July and was able to show it with a front-end trip in her morning prep. We’ll see how she can handle the big track in a race environment. (1) FRONT AND CENTER showed potential right away in Grassroots competition, but her form has been going in the wrong direction. Look for J-Mac to get more out of this filly tonight. (5) UNA MOMENTA was in a perfect spot when second over, but was ultimately flat in the stretch. After being off for nearly a month, can we expect more when the going gets tough? Race 5: NW $17,250 LAST 5 STARTS OR NW $27,500 LAST 10 STARTS.  AE: MARES. (4) PEMBERTON was hugely overbet last week given his usual style of racing, but after a couple tighteners at this level, why can’t he be more forwardly placed? He can use that to his advantage when soaring home over the top. (3) WILLYS HOME RUN has not had the season many have expected her to have, but comes off a solid qualifier that she can build from. (8) RICKY RESOLVE puts in a quality effort nearly every week, and when he grinds into the race, he doesn’t usually fade. He could add some value to exotics. (5) EMOJI HANOVER was making her second move to get into the race, but ended up making a break. She is another classy mare who hasn’t yet put it all together. Race 6: NW $6,000 LAST 5 STARTS. AE: N/A $1,825 P/S IN 2024 OR 2025. AE: NW $100 LAST 3 STARTS. (8) P L RAINBOW DASH was left chasing the aforementioned Flirty Dancer who got the jump on her with a first-over blitz. McClure will have to at least float out with her from this post; I’ll try her one more time. (5) ALL GAS NO BRAKES faded back to fifth after trying the front end again. He could trip out from up close this week. Horses can easily bounce back with trips like that. (4) JOHNNY BUCKSHOT makes sense in his third start back, as he is dropping in class again. He had a strong season last year and could start rolling towards that form. (7) KEVIN ANTHONY closed very well from off the pace in his latest. He should be working from the back again, but a live helmet could get him into contention. Race 7: NW $3,000 LAST 5 STARTS OR NW $9,000 LAST 10 STARTS. AE: NOT AVERAGING $1,080 PER START IN 2025. (9) TACTICAL STRIKE takes a drop in class that is hard to ignore. She should be driven like the best horse in this race. (2) WATERFALL was a game third after cutting quick fractions on the lead. He has been stringing together good efforts since his qualifier. (8) RISING INTEREST looked set for an improved effort two starts ago but made an early miscue. He put forth a solid tightening effort last week that should have him stronger if the driver decides to go forward. (1) VICTOR INVICTUS gets a drop in class and should be moving well in the late stages. If he finds a live helmet, he could take advantage of cheap speed. Race 8: CLAIMING HANDICAP $30,000 TO $40,000. ALLOWANCES FOR AGE & SEX. ENTER IN MULTIPLES OF $1,000. (7) DIRTY LIL PIGLET got the job done after a first over trip. The few weeks off didn’t seem to bother him. He comes right back a week later to try and repeat. I think he gets the job done. (5) CENTURY INSPECTOR set the pace last week but had to settle for third when Dirty Lil Piglet came calling. I think he will be creating the fractions again off the claim and can get a big piece. (6) B STONEY just isn’t going to get the job done from that far back unless things really melt down. The track is just too fast right now. He continues to pick up decent checks when he isn’t winning. (1) BET THE BB got a check in last week’s Pop-Up Final but was only over a length back. He has the speed on both ends of the mile to step back up and get a piece. [DRF HARNESS: Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter] Race 9: 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 L3 STARTS. LEG 2. AE: LEG 1 STARTERS. (1) DAHLQUIST HANOVER got a good drive two starts ago by J-Mac, but got gunned down and outsprinted by the white hot R Peaky Blinders. If he is ready to go off the sick scratch, I would expect a strong effort at a somewhat square price. (3) EMMA TOWN BUD picked up the leading driver on the grounds when shipping in and finished a very strong second. He looms as a main threat again this week. (2) MUSCLE FASHION just missed in what was his first start since March. He can step forward in his second start back and potentially provide upset potential. (6) TYMAL RIGGS has been facing tough conditioned company at Grand River. He can work from off the pace and get a piece. Race 10: NW $3,000 LAST 5 OR NW $8,750 LAST 10 STARTS. AE: NOT AVERAGING $900 PER START IN 2025 (MIN 10 STARTS). AE: NW $1.650 LAST 3 STARTS. (6) BLAST OF SUNSHINE was a horse who I thought could work off a helmet last week and pull a slight upset, but he was involved in a pace duel that ultimately took him out of contention. I’ll try him again. (7) ENFORCER battled extremely hard throughout the mile and just missed again. This is a horse that loves to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. (8) CRUISE HANOVER was a solid second in the rain last week. I would expect another aggressive steer and for him to hold for a solid piece. (1) LARCENY finally put it all together and pulled off the upset at a square number. We’ll see if he can repeat an effort like that. (4) LETS GET ROCKED has been working from well off the pace against some classy and fast claimers. The drop in class could see him be more aggressively handled, but I’ll slot him in underneath to round out the Hi-5.